bobbee1011 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/jtaylor/stories/080909dnspotaylor.4c5b8cb.html 09:19 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 Column by JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News SAN ANTONIO – Certain NFL players are so gifted athletically we can only describe them as freaks. The Cowboys have three: DeMarcus Ware, Felix Jones and Martellus Bennett. You won't get any arguments from their teammates or coaches. No one in the front office will dispute it either, especially because Jerry Jones thinks their athleticism will translate into more wins. See, it's one thing for any athlete to impress me or you. That happens all the time because just about every NFL player is athletically superior to 99 percent of the population. Of all the kids playing high school and college football only 1,440 are good enough to suit up each Sunday. While the Cowboys have had nine Hall of Fame players, only a few athletic freaks have played in Dallas – and most of them played for Tom Landry. There have been few freaks in the Jerry Jones era. Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman were among the greatest players in franchise history, but they didn't dazzle you with their athleticism. Not the way Bob Hayes did. Or Randy White. Or Deion Sanders. Ware, Jones and Bennett regularly perform feats that leave their teammates speechless. One of those moments occurred last week in practice. The Cowboys called a misdirection play in which quarterback Tony Romo sits to pee fakes a handoff up the middle and then flips the ball to Felix Jones, who's zooming around left end. "DeMarcus was chasing him, and he couldn't quite catch him – and we know he can run," scouting director Tom Ciskowski said. "If we can run that play against DeMarcus, we can run it against anyone." Ware couldn't quite catch Jones as he turned up the sideline, in part, because Jones' speed caused Ware to take a bad angle. Jones, nicknamed McNasty by Marion Barber, frequently causes players to do that because they underestimate his speed. "Felix was talking to him, saying, 'Come get me. Come get me,' " coach Wade Phillips said with a laugh. Jones, who averaged 8.9 yards on 30 carries, scored on runs of 33 and 60 yards last season. He also returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. Now you know why getting Jones the ball in position to make big plays is at the top of Jason Garrett's priority list. "Felix has told me he has five gears," center Andre Gurode said. "He says I still haven't seen them all yet." Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson would probably disagree after Jones' 60-yard touchdown run. "Felix put his foot in the ground to suck Woodson in and then he cut back outside while going full speed," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "Normal people can't do that. Normal people slow down and gather themselves when they make a cut, but a step later he was running full speed again." Ware, who's as fast as most running backs, wears custom-fitted shirts with a 19-inch neck and a 39-inch sleeve. In his massive hands, a softball resembles a golf ball. "I eat because of these arms," Ware said laughing. Remember a couple of years ago against Atlanta when he jumped up at the line of scrimmage to intercept Mike Vick's pass, stiff-armed the quarterback and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown? Then there was the crossover pass-rush move against Washington tackle Chris Samuels, resulting in a sack. "It was like an Allen Iverson crossover," linebacker Bradie James said. "He was so quick. It was a move like Reggie Bush would make." Ware didn't even remember the move. See, athletic freaks make moves instinctively. It's why they're special. It's what makes them worth the overpriced tickets. "DeMarcus can stop and start like Franco Harris," Phillips said. "Once he gets the tackle to stop moving his feet, DeMarcus blows past them before they get going again. Not many players can do that." Sometimes, a player's freaky athleticism reveals itself subtly. Take the 6-6, 265-pound Bennett, who can sink his hips to get in and out of a cut like a slot receiver. Did I mention he can contort his body to grab passes at his shoe laces or behind him with the same ease as a pass that hits him in the numbers? Bennett's talent is why formations with two tight ends will take up a chunk of the playbook. Just the other day, he made a diving grab along the sideline with his body parallel to the ground. Earlier in the same practice, Bennett reached behind him and easily corralled a pass. He's going to create the same types of mismatches Jason Witten does because he's too fast for linebackers and too big for safeties. Bennett displayed some of his athleticism last season against Washington with a leaping 25-yard touchdown grab over a defender in the 14-10 win, and with a 20-yard catch and run on a screen pass against the Eagles in Week 2. "When he almost took that screen pass to the house, I was like, 'Wow,' " Crayton said. "He showed his athleticism and power. "He said the only reason he didn't score is that he didn't see the guy who tackled him. If he had, Martellus said he would've made a move on him." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botched Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 How can Jones and Bennet be that good? They don't even start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redskins:Victory_or_Death Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Ware didn't even remember the move. See, athletic freaks make moves instinctively. It's why they're special. It's what makes them worth the overpriced tickets.See even the Cowboys players know the ticket prices are ridiculous! Wait till he gets a load of the pizza prices... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tr1 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Jean Jacques is the biggest home on DMN. Anticipate his column expounding the over-hype of the pukes' team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Califan007 The Constipated Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Bennett displayed some of his athleticism last season against Washington with a leaping 25-yard touchdown grab over a defender in the 14-10 win, and with a 20-yard catch and run on a screen pass against the Eagles in Week 2. "When he almost took that screen pass to the house, I was like, 'Wow,' " Crayton said. "He showed his athleticism and power. "He said the only reason he didn't score is that he didn't see the guy who tackled him. If he had, Martellus said he would've made a move on him." So, Bennett has "freakish talent", but poor field vision, apparently lol :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tr1 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 And, haven't Bennett and Jones missed time in camp. That's some kind of 'freakish.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmitty_199 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 How can Jones and Bennet be that good? They don't even start. Well they were both rookies last season, and both will be starting this upcoming season. (Bennett since we'll be running a majority of 2 TE sets) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmitty_199 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 And, haven't Bennett and Jones missed time in camp.That's some kind of 'freakish.' Getting banged up has nothing to do with freakish athletic ability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doncherry Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Jean Jacques is the biggest home on DMN.Anticipate his column expounding the over-hype of the pukes' team. you are definitely right about that, he is almost as bad as Mick who writes for Dallascowboys.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redskins:Victory_or_Death Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Getting banged up has nothing to do with freakish athletic ability.And having "freakish ability" has nothing to do with actual on-field performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brave Little Toaster Oven Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 I thought the 'freakish talent' was going to be sucking a golf ball through a garden hose :paranoid: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Blue Joe Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 None of those guys are athletic freaks. They're just good athletes. Neither Bennett or Jones were even the best athlete at their position during their draft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farbod21 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 :hysterical: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Califan007 The Constipated Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 you are definitely right about that, he is almost as bad as Mick who writes for Dallascowboys.com. doncherry and tr1 agreeing on something Cowboys-related...I need a drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirClintonPortis Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 DeMarcus Fare Fair, Shelix Bones, and Kwiki-Mart-tell-us Ben-net are indeed freaks. In that they have freakish names.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoCalMike Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Reggie Bush has a lot of "talent" as well. Will Felix Jones turn out to be another Reggie Bush or poor-man's Reggie Bush, where he has the speed and athleticism to take it the house on any given play, but he doesn't have the armor to be a 25-30 carries-a-game back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmitty_199 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Reggie Bush has a lot of "talent" as well. Will Felix Jones turn out to be another Reggie Bush or poor-man's Reggie Bush, where he has the speed and athleticism to take it the house on any given play, but he doesn't have the armor to be a 25-30 carries-a-game back? You could be right, but the good news is unless there's a rash of injuries at the RB position Felix wont be asked to take 25-30 a game anytime soon. None of those guys are athletic freaks. They're just good athletes. Neither Bennett or Jones were even the best athlete at their position during their draft. If DeMarcus Ware isnt an athletic freak, please please, enlighten me on who is. Guys his size and strength just shouldnt be that quick and shouldnt be that fast.. which is why he's the top pass rusher in the game. The other two.. eh it's a stretch. While Bennett has physical abilities few TE's have(speed, agility, vertical) he hasnt really done much yet, so at this point it's only potential. Same with Felix Jones, while he's made some amazing plays, he hasnt played near enough yet to prove anything. Both do possess some physical abilities rare for their position though, but at this point that's all it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Blue Joe Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 If DeMarcus Ware isnt an athletic freak, please please, enlighten me on who is. Guys his size and strength just shouldnt be that quick and shouldnt be that fast.. which is why he's the top pass rusher in the game. OK. I'll give you Ware. But to claim the other two are is ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyRomoProBowl Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 OK. I'll give you Ware. But to claim the other two are is ridiculous. Ware....he is no freak just your average guy with a great scheme to work with...... Im with you though on the others, To call them freaks or anything special is premature to say the least...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWFLSkins Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 :koolaid: Column by JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News :puke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWFLSkins Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/08/martellus-bennett-plans-to-practice-tomo.html After some strange talk about the effect moonrocks had on his sore knee, Martellus Bennett vowed to practice tomorrow YEah, he's a freak, a freaking loonie tune. Black Olympics, Moonrocks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmitty_199 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 OK. I'll give you Ware. But to claim the other two are is ridiculous. Agreed, it was foolish for mosley to write an article about this at this point, he should of saved this one on file until they actually proved a little something on the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Blue Joe Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Ware....he is no freak just your average guy with a great scheme to work with......Oh that's right. I forgot that Greg Ellis put on a mask and ran for him at the Combine. And Wade Phillips sat on one side of the complex so that the ground would be tilited downhill during his 40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmitty_199 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Oh that's right. I forgot that Greg Ellis put on a mask and ran for him at the Combine. And Wade Phillips sat on one side of the complex so that the ground would be tilited downhill during his 40. You forgot Jerry pays off the OT to let Ware have a free sack when the games already out of reach.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tr1 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 doncherry and tr1 agreeing on something Cowboys-related...I need a drink. One shot of Cavalino, one shot of Grand Marnier and the juice of one large lime. Make sure you pour it on plenty of ice. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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