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8/1/02
Email Dan
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Feel better, live better. I have been to the last three of four
training camps and this season in San Antonio is very different.
The buzz and excitement of the opening Saturday morning practice
was too much not to take a jaunt down I-35 to spend a weekend along
the River Walk.
Here are my impressions.
Getting out of Dallas on a Friday is a pain, and this Friday was
no different. We got into San Antonio just 40 minutes after the
(mandatory players' attendance) kickoff rally started. Not knowing
how long this was going to last, we buzzed around the brightly lit
Alamo Dome and switched to plan B. We checked into the hotel and
decided that getting a feel of a city with a unique flavor of nightlife
was the top priority.
We rushed back downtown and parked into one of the large city lots,
stumbled down the steps and proceeded to scope out the wild life.
Like Miss Cleo on the phone, it was easy to predict what we found,
good food and drinks with waiters already name-dropping what celebrity
sat in what chair. Us lessors could only look admiringly on at the
empty stool. We crashed through the Marriott sometime around midnight
and Mickey Spagnola plus some of the defensive Cowboys Coaching
brain trust was passing pleasantries only meters way. Lots of females
trolling the lobby and bar area, but none looking for me, I am afraid.
Back into the night and we wound up closing up a place called Howl
at the Moon, a BIG thumbs up for some adult entertainment. A fuller
report will be on the boards (wink).
The next morning we arrived at 9:45am for the 10:30am opening of
the Dome. The doors were closed and a line already stretched back
over a hundred yards. We read about the problems with the parking
lot outdoor field and there was not one disappointed fan (or player
from what I gathered) that both practices were to be held indoors.
Once the doors opened, we skipped down the hall and got perched
in the middle (top 2nd row from rails) entranceway the players came
in from the locker room. HBO and dozens of other news teams were
on hand catching the excitement of the first day's event. The arena
was very comfortable. Before the team took the fields, highlight
clips of the 2001 season rolled along to loud party music.
In the morning practice, the music and videos quieted down while
the team worked out. The crowd was very accommodating. We cheered
pass completions, field goal kicks and any other nice individual
play. I am no coach but this is what I think about the fantasy players.
Emmitt Smith is the man. The crowd cheered loudly and long when
he made his entrance. When he would run simple drills or touched
to ball, cheers and chants would spring out all over the Dome. He
looked good and the team seems focused to attaining the record as
early as possible for him. I expect his production to tail off as
the season progresses beyond his record setting day. The scoop is
that they want an extended audition for Emmitt's probable successor.
The merchandising strongly features Emmitt's Rush for History. I
snagged a couple of caps and banners for my brothers in Carolina.
Troy Hambrick looks larger and faster than Emmitt. He seemed to
hit the off tackle a little quicker, but again, I am no coach. I
will say this, if you do have Emmitt on your fantasy teams and do
not have Troy Hambrick, you should make efforts to acquire him,
now. Lots of moderately talented backs have been made into 1000-yard
rushers or high scoring goal line specialist and Troy is in the
position to take over for the Cowboys next season. If Troy does
not get an extended run at the end of the season, look for the Cowboys
to draft a running back early next spring.
Joey Galloway was back shagging puts with the Rocket, Antonio Bryant,
Reggie Swinton and a couple of other aspiring talents. They may
rotate Galloway and Rocket into punt return duties on a special
call basis, so keep an eye on that if your leagues give you Special
Teams points.
Joey Galloway was running very well but still drops too many passes.
I have been down on him since before the trade with Seattle. In
the free papers being passed out with Roster info, it listed Joey
as playing and starting all 16 games last year. It sure did not
seem like it, but the quarterback situation was such a mess, last
year is an incomplete for all of the receiver corps. On the positive
side, the new schemes should give him a chance to make some big
plays. If they throw him into the punt returning rotation, bump
him up a few more notches if you get special teams points.
Rocket Ismail looked to be in fine form as well. On one of the radio
interviews he mentioned the potential of adding punt return duties
to his list also. He did not sound so enthusiastic and cautioned
"not (returning) all the time because of the increase chance
of taking a big hit". Both of those guys are somewhat brittle
so take them, but not either one as your number 1 receiver. If you
get these guys as your number 2, you will need to dip in quickly
for another number 2 (alternate) to compensate for your injury exposure
and the uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Antonio Bryant. This guy does have some moves. Apparently the coaches
are preparing him for the 3rd receiver slot by the routes he was
running (curls, slants and outs). His moves are very sharp and he
has a burst of separation. All of the talk about his bad attitude
needs to be considered, but remember it was not from going out smoking
rope or beating up women. His head problems are one of ego on the
field. He believes himself to be a star. The coaches (college and
pro) all say he is a hard worker. A risk, in some people's minds,
but don't you want someone on the flanker position who wants to
take the ball and kick some butt along the way?
Ken-Yon Rambo is another tall receiver that had some good moves
and catches during the two practices I observed. A recommendation
only for the deep keeper leagues, he may blossom here as the Brittle
Brothers are locked into the starter slots. Once one or both of
these guys takes some Hard Knocks(r), Antonio Bryant and Ken-Yon
Rambo will get more opportunity to start and play.
The tight ends did not impress me much but their work is more in
the short game, which they might not have featured much during the
two practices I saw.
During the noon break, we walked from the Alamo dome to downtown.
Basically we followed the path the players are required to ride
on bicycles from the Marriott. I was appalled. They have to cross
through congested city traffic and the route is no more secure than
some city school crossing zones. While this season, with the attention
by HBO and the marketing of the team, is an interesting diversion,
it is not a very good way to prepare for a NFL season. The route,
especially is a bad mistake. Some nut-job in a car could cause worldwide
headlines. Please, light a candle with me and say a prayer of protection
for da Boys.
Further mistakes of marketing awaited the afternoon practice. Some
spare got on the PA system and proceeded to distract the crowd from
what they (or at least I) came to watch. The "marketing geniuses"
decided the middle of 7 on 7 drills was the time to "Meet Goober
and Aunt Bee". It was very distracting for me, much less the
coaches who was resorting to using hand signals to communicate across
the field. This was unnecessary. The team needs to be able to hear
the coaches while they are setting up protections and planning schemes.
It was loud and foolish. Not only was I assaulted with some idiot
trying to get the crowd to do the Wave (isn't that so last century
- please lets move on), but I was further beaten down by the rotation
of "Lets give it up for (sponsor x - too many to list)".
I realize everyone has already been bought and sold so many times
that you can't escape commercialization of any public event, but
there has to be some limits if you want to produce a good product
on the field.
One note of optimism, while the shill was trying to get the crowd
to start a "Super Bowl, Super Bowl" chant, most of us
just sat on our hands. Shouldn't we be shouting "Winning Record?
Winning Record" before making airline reservations for San
Diego (or wherever the Super Bowl is being held this season)! I
took it as a sign that the majority of fans on hand are not completely
stupid. The marketing folks took it to mean the crowd was tired.
"Super Bowl", maybe someday and hopefully soon, but please,
lets keep some perspective on reality.
One weird factoid of this afternoon's practice, Dave Campo and I
finally agree on something - that announcer and the loud music during
practice has got to go! Here is a good suggestion for the shilling
and crowd interaction, move the "Meet Andy and Opie" moments
to the hour or so before the practice and shill all the sponsors
then, if you must.
Overall, it was a very unique event. I was glad to have seen the
Most Outrageous Training Camp in the history of the NFL. One I hope
they do not repeat. In our euphoria and love for our team, I am
concerned about a particular form of blindness setting in. For all
the wonder and beauty of the Light, there must be, by consequence,
darkness. There are a lot of Cowboy haters and American haters out
there. Seeing that long sloped ribbon of concrete between the stadium
and down town through the eyes of a sniper gives me a chill. Pray
for my boys. I hope Jerry has not sold them to the Devil by accident.
:: comments to dan
sez
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