Thread Tools

Display Modes

**gruntbygod** · 08-02-2007, 11:33 AM

Quote:

The drill was called "three-spot," pitting the Cowboys' offensive and defensive units against each other beneath a smattering of fan noise in the Alamodome seats.

Inside linebacker Bradie James found himself running smack into San Antonio's single largest structure besides the dome itself: 6-foot-6, 354-pound offensive tackle Leonard Davis.

"I'm not going to last too much longer," James said, "if I do that 16 games."

Fortunately for James, that isn't part of his job description in new head coach Wade Phillips' style of 3-4 defense.

James and the rest of the Cowboys' inside linebackers won't be asked to confront massive offensive linemen like Davis on a regular basis. Phillips' scheme, which calls for more one-gap play with the nose tackle shaded between the opposing guard and center, shields the inside linebackers from guards and allows them to shoot gaps rather than simply hold their ground.

Last year, James bulked up to 260 pounds to meet the physically-taxing demands of the position under former head coach Bill Parcells. He entered this year's training camp around 245, his rookie playing weight back in 2003.

Second-year linebacker Bobby Carpenter is dropping from 258 to the 250-253 range for the same reasons as James.

"Do I look more fit?" he says.

Under Phillips, thin (in football terms) appears to be in.

"Schematically we're pressuring," James said. "Everybody's moving around, so you want to be faster, you want to be quicker. Not saying that we weren't fast last year, but sometimes when you lose some weight it helps you move around and get to the ball a little bit faster."

Several defensive starters besides James also made a concerted effort to slim down in the off-season. Defensive linemen Marcus Spears, Jason Ferguson and Chris Canty realized their new roles required better stamina since Phillips believes "a big guy that can run is better than just a big guy."

So Ferguson and Canty worked on their conditioning with Cowboys strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek. Both say they got leaner rather than lighter.

Spears, who played at 315 pounds last year, reported to camp at 304 and wants to weigh in the 295 range when the season starts.

"I'll be a beast when I get to that size," he grinned.

"It has a lot to do with what we're doing now. You're not stagnant. You're not staying in front of guys and you don't have to hold as much ground. It's more, hit a guy, get off him and make a play instead of trying to hold him up."

That front-seven pursuit - or front-eight, considering safety Roy Williams will move closer to the line of scrimmage in certain packages - is a hallmark of Phillips' defenses, which historically produce high sack totals and tackles for loss. Last year, San Diego collected a league-high 61 sacks in the Phillips' 3-4.

Ferguson, who failed to register a sack last season for the first time in his 10-year career, has played a one- and two-gap system in Dallas and New York and says his basic responsibilities are the same. But the single gap could allow him to break into the backfield more often.

Make no mistake, Phillips knows his defensive linemen will have to "stuff people when it's time to." But a lighter, more agile group can be more disruptive with stunts and zone blitzes.

"If you keep on playing head-on football, you're going to wear down," defensive coordinator Brian Stewart said. "We don't play head-on football."

Phillips has been pleased with his entire team's conditioning and claims every player made their reporting weight in San Antonio. Much of the credit goes to Juraszek, who tries diligently to adjust his program based on what the coaching staff emphasizes to the individual players.

"The simple fact that he was going to do a little more change of direction and aggressive movement, we changed our stuff in the off-season to fit the philosophy that he set," Juraszek said.

Said Canty: "I think the defense is forcing us to run a whole lot more. That's made us slim down, just all the running that we've had to do to prepare to be in this defense. Obviously we've all slimmed down considerably but I think Joe has done a good job of keeping us strong and keeping us in shape."

Juraszek said players like James made a "long-term decision" to slim down over a period of months, which allows them to get leaner but still maintain their strength.

The Cowboys' defensive backs also saw the benefits of playing at a different weight. Williams looks noticeably lighter at 221 pounds, a full eight pounds below his listed 229 playing weight last season. The four-time Pro Bowler said he actually dropped 26 pounds this off-season by starting a weight program after a few too many vacation days.

"He was like a little kid at Christmas," Juraszek said. "He never fought us and he always made his weight. But he even getting a little bit lighter, he goes, 'You know what? This is a better place for me.'"

The same can be said for several of his teammates, who believe fewer pounds will keep them fresher during a long season.

**RoyWilliams** · 08-02-2007, 12:23 PM

What the hell was Roy eating lol.

**BeastJacobs** · 08-02-2007, 12:27 PM

They were eating high protein low carb foods. The players took it upon themselves to lose weight. That defense is flying around and making plays. They're lookin' really good.

**RoyWilliams** · 08-02-2007, 12:31 PM

No i mean to gain 28 pounds lol.

**BeastJacobs** · 08-02-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyWilliams

No i mean to gain 28 pounds lol.

Hehe, Lots, and lots and lots of Calories.

**Serrated Shadow** · 08-02-2007, 01:21 PM

It would be great to see James improve, hell it sounds like our linebacking core is going to be bonkers this year. i've heard all good things about Ware, James, Carpenter, and Ayodele.

**RoyWilliams** · 08-02-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serrated Shadow

It would be great to see James improve, hell it sounds like our linebacking core is going to be bonkers this year. i've heard all good things about Ware, James, Carpenter, and Ayodele.

James is who i want to improve. We gave him some dough and he didnt play well last year. Hopefully now, with all the pressure being off of him, and being 15-20 pounds lighter, we will see him flying all around making big plays.

**Serrated Shadow** · 08-02-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyWilliams

James is who i want to improve. We gave him some dough and he didnt play well last year. Hopefully now, with all the pressure being off of him, and being 15-20 pounds lighter, we will see him flying all around making big plays.

That would be great, because he's on the hot seat i'd say. Carpenter's improving fast, and is looking for more playing time i'm sure.

**RoyWilliams** · 08-02-2007, 01:37 PM

Man its great having so many LBs.

Thread Tools Display Modes

View more football photos

Thread Tools

Display Modes