Post by Terd Ferguson on Sept 14, 2011 16:37:30 GMT -6
Looks like Derrick Dockery might be taking over for Nagy at LG.
www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=69C352C6-DE3F-D6C7-DE0FE541D76450B4
IRVING, Texas – For the first time in team history, the Cowboys started two rookie offensive linemen on opening night, but the full-blown youth movement may not last much longer.
On Wednesday, the Cowboys gave a number of first-team snaps to 10th-year veteran guard Derrick Dockery rather than rookie Bill Nagy, the seventh-round pick who started against the Jets. Nagy was also limited in practice and was listed with a neck injury.
Offensive line coach Hudson Houck said the Cowboys would decide later in the week if Dockery was ready to play, less than two weeks after he signed with the team.
"That's what we're trying to do, work him in," Houck said. "It's a new system for him – technique, the plays are a little bit different, so we'll see at the end of the week how that goes."
As for Dockery, he's speaking as if the weekend's starters have already been decided.
"I think it's an excellent opportunity for me," Dockery said. "I want to take full advantage of it. We're playing a talented, tough team in San Francisco, so it's going to be a very tough matchup for the first game. So I'm looking forward to the opportunity.
I'm just thankful to the Dallas Cowboys, Mr. Jones, Coach Garrett, Coach Hud, for just giving me this opportunity."
Dockery, who has started 111 of his 117 career games, was a third-round pick of Washington in 2003, and played four years with the Redskins to start his career. He spent two years in Buffalo, then returned to Washington for 2009 and 2010, but was limited to only five appearances last year because of a knee injury.
The native of nearby Garland, Texas was without a team during training camp, but signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys on Sept. 5.
The Cowboys had originally intended to start veteran Montrae Holland after releasing Leonard Davis early in training camp, but he reported to San Antonio in poor shape and battled injuries. Nagy performed well during the preseason, but Dockery's apparent quickness to grasp the offense has hastened his rise to the starting lineup.
"It's coming along," Dockery said. "I'm in my playbook every day, every night. It's coming to me pretty easily. I've been in a similar offense before, so the terminology is pretty (much) the same, little wrinkles here and there. So I'm just talking to Tony (Romo), talking to (Doug) Free and (Kyle Kosier) to see, as far as the snap counts, some of the little details that might help me when I'm out there playing."
The Cowboys have admitted they were looking to go young on the line, but apparently will now do that with just first-round tackle Tyron Smith and center Phil Costa, who is in his second year. As of right now, they believe Dockery is better than Nagy.
"We like him, that's why we brought him in," Houck said. "So we want to see how comfortable he is with the offense ... he's an experienced guy. He knows how to play the game, he knows protections and he knows the technique, and I don't think he'll be overwhelmed playing a game. He's played a lot of games, and he can contribute that way, and probably help our center who hasn't played in as many games. I think the experience is definitely a factor."
www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=69C352C6-DE3F-D6C7-DE0FE541D76450B4
IRVING, Texas – For the first time in team history, the Cowboys started two rookie offensive linemen on opening night, but the full-blown youth movement may not last much longer.
On Wednesday, the Cowboys gave a number of first-team snaps to 10th-year veteran guard Derrick Dockery rather than rookie Bill Nagy, the seventh-round pick who started against the Jets. Nagy was also limited in practice and was listed with a neck injury.
Offensive line coach Hudson Houck said the Cowboys would decide later in the week if Dockery was ready to play, less than two weeks after he signed with the team.
"That's what we're trying to do, work him in," Houck said. "It's a new system for him – technique, the plays are a little bit different, so we'll see at the end of the week how that goes."
As for Dockery, he's speaking as if the weekend's starters have already been decided.
"I think it's an excellent opportunity for me," Dockery said. "I want to take full advantage of it. We're playing a talented, tough team in San Francisco, so it's going to be a very tough matchup for the first game. So I'm looking forward to the opportunity.
I'm just thankful to the Dallas Cowboys, Mr. Jones, Coach Garrett, Coach Hud, for just giving me this opportunity."
Dockery, who has started 111 of his 117 career games, was a third-round pick of Washington in 2003, and played four years with the Redskins to start his career. He spent two years in Buffalo, then returned to Washington for 2009 and 2010, but was limited to only five appearances last year because of a knee injury.
The native of nearby Garland, Texas was without a team during training camp, but signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys on Sept. 5.
The Cowboys had originally intended to start veteran Montrae Holland after releasing Leonard Davis early in training camp, but he reported to San Antonio in poor shape and battled injuries. Nagy performed well during the preseason, but Dockery's apparent quickness to grasp the offense has hastened his rise to the starting lineup.
"It's coming along," Dockery said. "I'm in my playbook every day, every night. It's coming to me pretty easily. I've been in a similar offense before, so the terminology is pretty (much) the same, little wrinkles here and there. So I'm just talking to Tony (Romo), talking to (Doug) Free and (Kyle Kosier) to see, as far as the snap counts, some of the little details that might help me when I'm out there playing."
The Cowboys have admitted they were looking to go young on the line, but apparently will now do that with just first-round tackle Tyron Smith and center Phil Costa, who is in his second year. As of right now, they believe Dockery is better than Nagy.
"We like him, that's why we brought him in," Houck said. "So we want to see how comfortable he is with the offense ... he's an experienced guy. He knows how to play the game, he knows protections and he knows the technique, and I don't think he'll be overwhelmed playing a game. He's played a lot of games, and he can contribute that way, and probably help our center who hasn't played in as many games. I think the experience is definitely a factor."
