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Post by Sideshow Bob on Aug 8, 2011 8:49:39 GMT -6
espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4681671/lonyae-miller-makes-case-hes-better-choiceAs the old saying goes, you can’t make the club in the tub. That’s especially true when your replacement runs with the opportunity.
With Lonyae Miller impressing coaches on a daily basis, Tashard Choice could be in trouble or trade bait.
Miller might have made a run at the third running back role even if Choice had stayed healthy. But the 6-foot, 232-pound second-year running back has really taken advantage of the extra reps he’s getting because of injuries to third-round pick DeMarco Murray and Choice, who strained his calf on the opening day of camp and is expected to miss 2-4 weeks.
“If someone goes down, you’ve got to step up and fill their shoes,” Miller said after a strong performance in Sunday’s Blue-White scrimmage, when he scored a couple of touchdowns. “I feel like I’ve done that.”
Actually, it’s not just about filling Choice’s shoes. Miller has a chance to prove that he’s a better fit on the Cowboys’ roster than Choice.
Choice has been productive in limited opportunities with the ball in his hands, rushing for 1,064 yards and eight touchdowns on 222 carries and catching 53 passes for 426 yards in three seasons. However, he struggles in pass protection and on special teams, with owner/general manager Jerry Jones publicly pointing out the latter flaw.
Miller, who went undrafted after backing up San Diego first-round pick Ryan Mathews at Fresno State, showed after being promoted from the practice squad in December that he could contribute on special teams. He’s opened eyes with his powerful slashing running style in camp, but he’s really impressed coaches as a pass protector.
“The biggest area I think he’s improved is recognizing the defensive fronts when it comes to pass protection,” running backs coach Skip Peete said. “He’s done a lot better in that aspect. He’s done a good job of picking up blitzes. He’s just playing very physical right now.”
Miller’s talent has always intrigued the Cowboys. He’s a big back who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and put up 26 225-pound bench press repetitions during his pre-draft workouts.
But Miller struggled during his rookie training camp, playing hesitantly and making a lot of mental mistakes. That’s no longer a problem for the lone tailback who attended all of the Cowboys’ player-run offseason workouts.
Miller not only knows his assignments, but he’s displayed an advanced understanding of the offense. He’s been an effective runner in part because he’s done an excellent job of setting up his blocks. As Miller said, he’s playing faster and smarter.
“The light has kind of come on,” Peete said. “He’s playing with a lot more confidence. We knew he was a good runner. Now he’s taking his instincts and doing what he has to do to help the play be successful."
Added head coach Jason Garrett: “As much as anything else, he’s matured. The physical ability was always there.”
If Miller keeps this up, it’s likely that Choice’s run with the Cowboys is coming to an end.
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Aug 8, 2011 10:00:37 GMT -6
Wow...maybe Tashard and a pick can land us a decent CB or G.
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Post by mexicanjunior on Aug 8, 2011 12:12:47 GMT -6
If Choice is cut, I predict he will gain 1000 yards within the next 2 seasons for another team...stupidest move ever.
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Aug 8, 2011 18:05:00 GMT -6
If Choice is cut, I predict he will gain 1000 yards within the next 2 seasons for another team...stupidest move ever. Nah...RBs are a dime a dozen. The guy won't play special teams and can't pick up the blitz. Are you happy if your RB can gain 4.5 yards per carry but ends your season by getting your QB killed? None of this is "done" but he has had time here to get better at those things, and he really hasn't. You would think if you are the 3rd RB and the OWNER calls you out (like Jerry did last year about special teams) you'd set your mind to getting that corrected. He hasn't. That should tell you something about it. Miller is supposedly tearing up camp. Let's see what preseason looks like, and let's see if Choice can get healthy and get out there and TAKE his job. That is the thing about RBs. The good ones will go out there and get what they want. If he is good enough, he isn't going anywhere. |
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Post by mexicanjunior on Aug 9, 2011 6:44:28 GMT -6
If Choice is cut, I predict he will gain 1000 yards within the next 2 seasons for another team...stupidest move ever. Nah...RBs are a dime a dozen. The guy won't play special teams and can't pick up the blitz. Are you happy if your RB can gain 4.5 yards per carry but ends your season by getting your QB killed? None of this is "done" but he has had time here to get better at those things, and he really hasn't. You would think if you are the 3rd RB and the OWNER calls you out (like Jerry did last year about special teams) you'd set your mind to getting that corrected. He hasn't. That should tell you something about it. Miller is supposedly tearing up camp. Let's see what preseason looks like, and let's see if Choice can get healthy and get out there and TAKE his job. That is the thing about RBs. The good ones will go out there and get what they want. If he is good enough, he isn't going anywhere. Honestly, if I was him, I wouldn't bother trying to work hard in preseason just to earn the privilege of being the 3rd RB on this team. The guy has already proven he can be a productive starter and probably feels slighted here, hence why he isn't even bothering to push through injuries or play special teams to make an impression. He probably wants out and I really don't blame him... |
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Aug 9, 2011 8:57:43 GMT -6
Wow...maybe Tashard and a pick can land us a decent CB or G. i would definitely be on board with this the main thrust of the issue is apparently choice is completely worthless (in the coaches' eyes) on special teams, while miller is good on special teams |
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Aug 9, 2011 8:58:40 GMT -6
Nah...RBs are a dime a dozen. The guy won't play special teams and can't pick up the blitz. Are you happy if your RB can gain 4.5 yards per carry but ends your season by getting your QB killed? None of this is "done" but he has had time here to get better at those things, and he really hasn't. You would think if you are the 3rd RB and the OWNER calls you out (like Jerry did last year about special teams) you'd set your mind to getting that corrected. He hasn't. That should tell you something about it. Miller is supposedly tearing up camp. Let's see what preseason looks like, and let's see if Choice can get healthy and get out there and TAKE his job. That is the thing about RBs. The good ones will go out there and get what they want. If he is good enough, he isn't going anywhere. Honestly, if I was him, I wouldn't bother trying to work hard in preseason just to earn the privilege of being the 3rd RB on this team. The guy has already proven he can be a productive starter and probably feels slighted here, hence why he isn't even bothering to push through injuries or play special teams to make an impression. He probably wants out and I really don't blame him... do you think he should be 1st team rb over felix the scat??? |
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Post by mexicanjunior on Aug 9, 2011 9:05:51 GMT -6
Honestly, if I was him, I wouldn't bother trying to work hard in preseason just to earn the privilege of being the 3rd RB on this team. The guy has already proven he can be a productive starter and probably feels slighted here, hence why he isn't even bothering to push through injuries or play special teams to make an impression. He probably wants out and I really don't blame him... do you think he should be 1st team rb over felix the scat??? Yep...more durable and hits the hole more consistently (that's what she said)... |
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Aug 9, 2011 13:12:40 GMT -6
do you think he should be 1st team rb over felix the scat??? Yep...more durable and hits the hole more consistently (that's what she said)... WWWWWWWWWWWWOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW that's highly questionable |
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Aug 9, 2011 14:18:21 GMT -6
do you think he should be 1st team rb over felix the scat??? Yep...more durable and hits the hole more consistently (that's what she said)... Then his character should be called into question. If you're the man, get your ass out on the field and prove it. Otherwise, quit being a whiny bitch and just accept your fate. He isn't "slighted" here. He came to camp as the #2 and quite possibly the #1 (with Felix going back to the change-up role he was so good in as a rookie). But instead of getting out there and getting with it, he gets hurt. Then he gets butt hurt because of something the MEDIA said. The Cowboys didn't announce they were going to trade him or anything like that. If he is the man, it will show. If not, good riddance. I'm tired of the whining on this team. |
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Post by mexicanjunior on Aug 9, 2011 14:42:08 GMT -6
Yep...more durable and hits the hole more consistently (that's what she said)... Then his character should be called into question. If you're the man, get your ass out on the field and prove it. Otherwise, quit being a whiny bitch and just accept your fate. He isn't "slighted" here. He came to camp as the #2 and quite possibly the #1 (with Felix going back to the change-up role he was so good in as a rookie). But instead of getting out there and getting with it, he gets hurt. Then he gets butt hurt because of something the MEDIA said. The Cowboys didn't announce they were going to trade him or anything like that. If he is the man, it will show. If not, good riddance. I'm tired of the whining on this team. Whininess or not...he is the best RB this team has and that will prove out if he is released. If he becomes a starter somewhere else, guaranteed that he is more productive than anything currently on this roster. I would be shocked if Felix can start and finish 10 games this year without some kind of injury and Murray seems like a Sherman Williams starter kit. Only time will tell I guess... |
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Aug 9, 2011 15:08:50 GMT -6
Then he needs to prove it. Emmitt didn't just SAY he wanted to be great. He was great.
If Choice wants to start, maybe he should start by suiting up and stepping on the field.
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Aug 9, 2011 15:40:52 GMT -6
sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/cowboys/2011/08/felix-jones-is-no-longer-satisfied-with-just-sharing-the-ball-he-wants-to-be-the-best-back-in-the-le.htmlFelix Jones is no longer satisfied with just sharing the ball, he wants to be the best back in the league
By Clarence E. Hill Jr.
San Antonio _ A year ago, Felix Jones was just trying to earn a larger role in the Cowboys offense and possibly stake a claim as the best back on the team.
But that was before he unseated Marion Barber as the featured back last season and came into training camp this year as the undisputed No. 1 option following Barber's release.
Now, Jones is not only looking to become the Cowboys first 1,000 rusher since Julius Jones in 2007 but he wants to be the best back in the league.
"I want to be the best running back in the league," Jones said. "That's what I want to do. That's what you strive for. You strive to be the best. You don't want to be second, you want to be the best."
Hearing Jones talk about being the best back in the league is strong given his media shy and seemingly unselfish past. He has never been the go to guy in the backfield dating back to high school. He was the explosive second option in college at Arkansas behind Darren McFadden. And he was drafted in 2008 by the Cowboys to be a speedy change of pace option to Barber's bruising style.
For the last three years, Jones frequently talked about being happy with his role, while saying he didn't care about how many carries he got. But this new role has him looking at things from a different perspective.
Jones is eager to prove to everyone one he can be a featured back. He carried a team-high 185 times for 800 yards and one touchdown last season. His 185 carries represented 43.2 percent of the team’s rushing attempts, including quarterback sneaks and scrambles. It was 39 more carries than he had in his first two seasons combined.
"I feel I have to come in and prove a point," Jones said. But there is no pressure. It's more excitement. This is definitely an exciting period."
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Post by mexicanjunior on Aug 9, 2011 16:17:32 GMT -6
Then he needs to prove it. Emmitt didn't just SAY he wanted to be great. He was great. If Choice wants to start, maybe he should start by suiting up and stepping on the field. Choice did that for the last 2 years and still saw wasted carries and token starts for Marion Barber just because of his contract...Now, instead of drafting some blocking help in front of him this draft, they waste a 3rd round choice on someone that will take more of his carries away instead of one of the best guard prospects in the draft (Will Rackley)...I don't blame him for being bitter, guy has been shafted since he proved in the Pittsburgh game in 2008 as a rookie that he could play. |
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Aug 9, 2011 17:09:40 GMT -6
New regime...quit hanging on to the past with Wade. We know that was flawed, get over it.
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