Next Up: Stanback
Posted: August 18, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
Miles Austin’s sprained MCL means more reps for the guys down the receivers totem. This means Isaiah Stanback will get more reps, as he’s running 5th, behind Austin and Sam Hurd.
He’s still learning the position, having missed San Antonio’s camp with his foot in a walking boot. All his peers were complementary of him in Oxnard, especially Patrick Crayton, who said he’s just beginning to understand how to rely on his technique to build on his incredible physical skills.
He’s not as far along as Austin was, but let’s remember this is Austin’s third year on the roster. Stanback has been working very hard, staying after practice to quiz both Ray Sherman and Bruce Read on receiving and special team’s techniques. He’s eager to get on the field any way possible and made as impression as a kick returner. He may become one of the preferred two there because he worked very hard on his blocking when kickoffs went to the other deep returner. He’s also good with the ball in his hands, posting a 32 yard return early against Denver.
He’s been running hard and catching everything thrown his way in the games, but the reads have not brought the ball his way as much as he would like, working with the third units. He’ll get his reps with the second unit now.
Make the most of it, sir. The team needs you.
Austin’s setback raises the question of whether Dallas will keep six receivers or pursue a veteran. This might open the door for a Danny Amendola, but he might be looking for a practice squad spot shortly thereafter if Austin makes a speedy rehab. Much will depend on how guys like Erik Walden, Courtney Brown and Marcus Dixon do. Dixon has yet to make the field and is looking more and more like a practice squad candidate, though the coaches are eager to get him on the field.
Know that there won’t be any quality receivers available this time of the year, unless a team loses its mind. Two weeks ago, I had former Cowboys’ scout and Galloway & Company regular Bryan Broaddus on my show and asked him how hard it is to obtain a wide receiver at this time of the year.
He recounted an offer he fielded for the Cowboys years ago:
“For some reason the Bengals were fed up with T.J. Houshmanzadeh and they really liked James Whalen, a light, speed tight end from Kentucky we had at that time. They offered to swap them straight up and I was ready to make the deal… I asked them, ‘do you want me to file the papers right now?’ [with the NFL] and they took a step back and said, ‘let us think about this overnight.’ They didn’t follow through on the deal. That’s the closest I’ve ever come to seeing a deal for a good receiver. They’re just not available…”
Any receiver Dallas did claim would likely not be better than what’s already on the roster, would be trying to learn the playbook from scratch and would be a placeholder until Austin is healthy again.
Dallas can re-gain Terry Glenn, but if the team feels Austin can play consistently as he has the last two weeks, why stand in his way? The Cowboys are guardedly optimistic he can return for Cleveland, and even if he misses one game, Austin seems the best option at the moment.
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Tom Willis
Whoever even suggested Whalen for Housmenzdah needs to be retroactively fired with all pay returned in full.
One minor issue on possibly re-signing Glenn: If we sign him for week 1, we’re on the hook for his entire annual salary. If we wait til week 2, we could cut him at any time thereafter without salary consequence.
Yeah, but if Austin is ready by game two, why bring Glenn back?
I doubt we do bring Glenn back unless there are further injuries.
A carryover from last thread. Possbly trading for Beck from the Fins. I’d be in favor of sending them a 6th or 7th rounder to get a guy with 1 year starting experience who someone thought was worthy of an early 2nd round pick. The point was made that Johnson can’t go on forever. It seems like Bartel might not have what it takes. Not saying that Beck does either, but at least there’s some actual game film on him. Bring him in and let him develop. As a #3. When BJ retires, he’s ready for #2.
Is Beck that much better then Bartel though?
Seems like a waste of resources to me.
It’s clear Bartel doesn’t have it. Too indecisive and not very accurate.
Beck was a 2nd round pick in ‘07. Parcells took Henne in the 2nd this year so he’s gonna go with his guy. I have not seen Beck but I think he’s a much better prospect than Bartel sight unseen, given how highly he was drafted and that he played at BYU in a pro style offense under Gary Crowton, who was the Bears OC before he went to Provo.
If Beck has the potential to be a starter in this league, then no, its not a waste of resources. From what I saw of him, he looked like he could develop with time.
My knowledge of Bartel is not first-hand. But from what I’ve seen and read, I really question if he has the ability to be an effective starter down the road.
Obviously I’m not an player evaluation expert. But I do know that I’d rather have a developing starter level QB than a developing starter level WR as the 53rd player on my roster.
Beck has something Bartel will never have–accuracy.
I would just go with Bartell. If I were the Cowboys cutting Bartell in favor of an additional player at another position is a lot easier than cutting a guy like Beck, whom you’ve given up compensation for.
anyone read peter king?
whats this righteous indignation today over not enough NYJ fans coming to see Favre’s first game?
king has railed in the past about how owners are wrongly charging regular season prices for pre-season games, then he turns around and takes the fans to task for not coming to a pre-season game??
make up your mind peter, then go get some coffee.
Rafael-
Just to support your thesis A particular Arizona WR just asked the Cards to trade him. (he just signed a new contract too?) The Cards are more willing to put up with a fun filled year of distraction and hissy-fits rather than entertain the thoughts…although Dallas was mentioned as a possible trade option for mr. Boldin.
BTW- Whalen, Dan Campbell, and Whitten were fighting it out for the TE spot. One broke a jaw, the other couldn’t catch. Whalen looked like the best bet for our team. So add a pissed off loudmouth WR into the mix and Whalen looked like a bargain. Starting TE for disgruntled (underachieving) WR.
Also saw that Antonio Bryant was fighting with 4 other WR’s for a slot in TB…Among the others is Ike Hilliard, Maurice Stoval, and Michael Clayton. These are backups.
How much would you have to pay for Beck?
likely a low round pick, wouldnt pay much else.
Is there a Chance the DP will just cut Beck?
Chris Henry is out there, though he is banned for the first four games. He woudl not cost a thing and might be able to be signed on the cheap.
sorry mean BP not DP
Beck will come cheap. Opportunities to land young QB’s with potential cheaply don’t come around everyday.
And if we wait for him to be cut someone will pick him up of waivers before we get a shot. You grab him not to be the 3rd QB this year but to potentially be the #2 for the next several. And if we grab him now he has a whole year to study the offense and get comfortable with some of the players, greatly increasing his chance of being able to handle the number 2 role in 2010.
It’s certainly worth considering and apparently Dallas is;
Miami Herald - “It is true the Dallas Cowboys are mildly, and I do stress mildly, interested in quarterback John Beck. The Cowboys have winked, hand-signaled, called or e-mailed the Dolphins (however it is they do it) that they would be willing to part with a low-round draft pick for the second-year player.”
I think it was Donny who wanted CB Eric Wright really bad a couple of years ago. Well I’m glad we didn’t get him he looked horrible tonight against the first team.
Manning to Hixon had 2 Td’s on him in the first quarter! He looked lost.
How about we give up 1 of those extra DB’s or something we would cutting for BECK?
Miama needs all sorts of help at almost all positions.
Friday’s game could prove interesting from a psyche perspective. Since the Denver debacle, the general tone of the players’ and coaches’ comments has been, well, now we are going back home, and hey, the third preseason game is where you want to establish the proper physicality and mindset for the starters for the upcoming season because the fourth game no one of import plays very much at all, etc. In other words, is there too much pressure being put on Friday’s game to cure all that ails the team? Should the starters falter again on Friday, I would hope they’d be mentally strong enough to put the preseason behind them and come out ready to play Week 1 against the Browns, when it really counts.
Ah…So I read that at about the same time Boldin and Fitzgerald signed new contracts…Well, apparently Boldin’s was a restructuring, with a promise to get him back what he is due after the salary cap issues were clear to the mgmnt. That never came to fruition, so he was left out in the cold.
I agree with him then. A man’s word is all he’s got, if he doesn’t have that, then I won’t work for him. My solution is simple…Trade him to Dallas for a sixth rounder, and give Dallas a first rounder out of remorse. Then sign Antonio Bryant to see what a “trouble maker” really tastes like.
Only my home state of AZ could screw up such a great thing as Boldin and Fitz with an up-and-comer like Matt Leinart. WTG Cards!!! And you wonder why AZ fans wear blue and silver?