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Pick a Texan Challenge

Brice McCain is going to take a huge step forward this year.

On offense I'm loving the potential of Keyshawn Martin as a bigtime slot receiver.
 
I'll take Sherrick McManis and Devier Posey.

Since they probably won't play starter's snaps in the regular season I'll also take Rashard Butler and Bradie James for the regular season.
 
badboy said:
My understanding from Wade Phillips is Alan played safety in Phillip's last season rather than corner. I did not watch Dallas this past season. Are you saying he played corner? I thought he was a back up and the reason they drafted Claiborne was the CB starters again played poorly. I thought Alan had little playing time at all in 2011, besides if KJ and McCain can improve under Texans DB coaching, I am hopeful Ball can.
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Ball was a reserved at both CB and safety in 09.
He played mostly ST.

Wade moved him to safety in 2010 when the Cowboys decided not to resign Ken Hamlin (big mistake - I mentioned this last year when I looked at Wade's defense in 2010.)
Ball played poorly there, but he didn't have much experience to begin with.
2010 Starter: Alan Ball (free safety)
"Where some corners adapt well when moved to free safety (see: the Saints’ Malcolm Jenkins), Ball fared quite poorly. His -9.7 rating placed him 78th amongst the 85 safeties who played in at least 25% of their team’s snaps, and he showed virtually no ballhawking ability whatsoever (his two interceptions and one pass-defensed would represent a strong half for the Ravens’ Ed Reed). As a result, Ball is moving back to corner, where he’ll likely be battling Scandrick for playing time in the nickel and dime defenses."

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/07/11/idp-fantasy-football-time-to-overhaul-cowboys-secondary/
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Last year, they brought in Abram Elam to play FS and moved Ball back to CB.
He was the #4 and played quite a bit (498 snaps) since Newman, Jenkins, and Scandrick all had some form of injuries.
http://bloggingthebeast.com/2012/02/20/full-season-snap-count-notes-cowboys-defense/
 
Texn4life said:
I'll take Sherrick McManis and Devier Posey.

Since they probably won't play starter's snaps in the regular season I'll also take Rashard Butler and Bradie James for the regular season.
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McManis has looked really good this TC. He's had a few plays where he was picked on but he's also made quite a few plays too. He's bigger than McCain as well which is a plus.
 
Now TC has started, anyone else want to select a player to report on? Those of you who have a player, anything to report? Don't forget to search for info that the rest of us may have missed. There are several guys no one has chosen.
 
Interesting article on Brandon Harris, not sure if any of you chose him?
http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexan...-rookie-year-harris-making-impact-for-texans/

I think he’s about 10 pounds lighter. He’s changed his body. He’s a very bright guy. He’s got a high football IQ.

“He had a great spring. He’s having a great camp, and I’m excited about him. He’s not a 4.3 guy. He’s a 4.5 guy, but with his football IQ, he’s going to play a long time.”

This from Vance Joseph.
 
Looks like I may have to choose another player as Ball deserves to be cut after this first game. "tell me no lies and keep your hands to yourself" would be good song for him.
 
Ryan said:
Both my guys Brandon Harris and Keshawn get solid grades. Give Harris a B+ and Keshawn an A-.
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yeah I like Martin but Harris was a guy I had mocked and was stunned to see Smith trade back up into 2nd round to get him. I was dancing around the living room like George Michael at his first disco.
 
Chris Myers played the first quarter. He looked good. No obvious issues. Moved some guys out of the way.

Mercilus came in at the end of the 1st with the rest of the 2s and then played through the beginning of the 4th. He played the weakside. He got a sack and a half and really touched the QB 3x. He's stronger than I expected. He drove a couple of those tackles back and then shed them. When we went 4 down, he had his hands on the ground and on one of those plays, he had a nice stunt to get some pressure up the middle. I was surprised to see him dropping off into coverage several times. He showed a really good motor; when there were passes, he'd peel off coverage and then hustle down to the receiver. When there were running plays, he pursued. He did get eaten up a couple of times on the run plays but he was more of a load than I expected him to be.

The bottom line is that he did not look lost out there.
 
The Pencil Neck said:
Chris Myers played the first quarter. He looked good. No obvious issues. Moved some guys out of the way.

Mercilus came in at the end of the 1st with the rest of the 2s and then played through the beginning of the 4th. He played the weakside. He got a sack and a half and really touched the QB 3x. He's stronger than I expected. He drove a couple of those tackles back and then shed them. When we went 4 down, he had his hands on the ground and on one of those plays, he had a nice stunt to get some pressure up the middle. I was surprised to see him dropping off into coverage several times. He showed a really good motor; when there were passes, he'd peel off coverage and then hustle down to the receiver. When there were running plays, he pursued. He did get eaten up a couple of times on the run plays but he was more of a load than I expected him to be.

The bottom line is that he did not look lost out there.
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what I saw also. I still think Barwin is gone after season.
 
So, Mr. Mercilus got a lot of work in the game Saturday night. Just a few observations and I'll probably re-watch him again before our next preseason game.

Against the run, he didn't really do much to impress me. He's fairly quick but he didn't seem powerful to not get pushed around a little bit. He did drop into coverage once that I can remember and just kinda covered an empty spot in the field nobody around, the play was to the opposite side of him so it's no harm no foul.

He was decent as a pass rusher, but I got the feeling that Wade was throwing out more blitzes than what we are used to seeing in the preseason. He did make some good stops and the 1.5 sacks was very nice. His first sack he straight pushed the RT backwards about 5 yards then just lunged/jumped inside to grab Derek Anderson. The .5 sack was a nice quick run around the arc on the LT and fortunately the rest of the Panthers O-line gave up the ghost and let everybody through to party on Clausen.

Overall though I'm encouraged and I do think he will make an impact this season, but with Reed and Barwin ahead of him (And Braman looks pretty damn good himself) he's not going to start, and that is probably a good thing.
 
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Quick comment on my two players Garrett Graham and Brice McCain from the first preseason game.

Graham was targeted four times. Had three catches for 44 yards. Kubiak has been talking him up during training camp. Here's what he said about Graham yesterday:

(on TE Garrett Graham) “Well, he’s a very much-improved player, and we’ve seen that the last two weeks; it didn’t just happen last night. He’s come a long way. He’s bigger, stronger, he’s faster. He’s had a great offseason with (strength and conditioning coach) Cedric (Smith). Cedric really did a heck of a job with him. And if he continues to step the way he has in his first few weeks, it’s going to be a really nice year for him. I’ve been very impressed with his play.”
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Brice McCain had three tackles with one assisted tackle. That scramble by Cam Newton up the middle for 15 yards before sliding, McCain was the first to touch him, so he got credited for the tackle.
 
Hey it's game one and almost no one is posting on their players. Come on dudes, where is your input? lol I was very surprised to see the guy I selected to make the roster. At 6'2" 197 pounds 27 YOA he should be in his prime, but prime what I am not sure. Mutterings on the radio as I station hop, say he has gotten better but would he not have to? I thought the whole purpose of signing him was he was familiar with Wade's system and was a vet. Could have fooled me. I hope to eat crow and he develops.
Alan Ball cornerback (well, maybe)
 
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