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Monday, June 10, 2002 1:52:51 AM
NFC Notes: Nothing's Shocking
by Rick Kamla - Senior Editor, Fanball.com
Friday, June 7, 2002
Once upon a time, Jane’s Addiction released a mesmerizing album called “Nothing’s Shocking.” Though it has fallen out of radio rotation, those who know still run it, and it’s gritty message still applies to 14th overall pick Jeremy Shockey, one of the most heralded tight end prospects in NFL history.
Green Bay’s Bubba Franks, taken with the 14th overall pick in the 2000 draft, entered the NFL with lots of hype only to brick-hand more passes than Chris Webber’s bricks clutch free throws. Despite that negative precedent, I am not worried about Shockey, who is dropping nothing but jaws in offseason workouts.
According to the New York Times, after taking snaps with the second team for the first two days of a recent minicamp, Shockey was elevated to the first team, at which point he badly beat Michael Barrow on a pretty pass connection with Kerry Collins.
Everyone from offensive coordinator Sean Payton to All-Pro defensive lineman Michael Strahan is digging the humble Shockey, who is working out with the receivers rather than the rest of New York’s brutish tight ends. In fact, Payton is so psyched about his new toy, he has come up with several new schemes designed to utilize Shockey’s size and speed.
Shockey’s addition to New York’s offense should have a positive effect on Collins, who missed throwing to Pete Mitchell last year, and No. 1 receiver Amani Toomer, who needs talent around him to play with more consistency. However, Jeremy’s presence could buzz kill Tiki Barber, who won’t catch quite as many passes out of the backfield, and Ike Hilliard, who isn’t necessarily the No. 2 option anymore.
Can Shockey challenge Tony Gonzalez and Marcus Pollard for tight end supremacy?
When you ask Fanball.com editors Jeff Haydock and Ben Vickers, they quickly respond “Hell, yeah.” However, if you ask yours truly, I’ll give him 600 yards and five scores, and call it a helluva debut release.
The West Coslet Offense?
In case you hadn’t heard, the Cowboys’ new offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet. Yes, the same Bruce Coslet who lost millions of games with the Bengals. Yes, the same Bruce Coslet who helped destroy the Jets’ offense a few years ago.
No matter, as Cowboys’ head coach Dave Campo already likes what he sees from Coslet, who is installing a likeness of the West Coast Offense. Stop laughing.
“I like it,” Campo recently told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about Coslet’s boisterous style. “He’s got juice. He’s enthusiastic and he’s extremely competitive. I think that picks everyone up.”
According to the Dallas Morning News, owner/general manager Jerry Jones hired Coslet to install the WCO and figure out a way to consistently complete deep balls to speedy receivers Joey Galloway and Raghib Ismail.
Coslet intends to do so by establishing a running game to draw in the safeties, who won’t be around to help the corners when Quincy Carter airs it out for Greedy and Rocket.
"You want to keep the safeties honest," Coslet told the DMN. "When they start getting involved and sticking their noses where they don't belong, then we want to make them pay by throwing it over their heads."
Also aiding Carter will be Coslet’s trademark play-action fakes, which helped turn Boomer Esiason into one of the best quarterbacks of his time. Coslet is showing his quarterbacks tapes of Esiason to help them learn the perfect ball fake.
"That's been a big part of my offense for a long time," Coslet told the DMN. "I started doing it early, very early in my career. But for the fakes to work, you have to have a successful running game."
Speaking of the running game, Coslet is aware of the fact Emmitt Smith needs only 540 yards to break Walter Payton’s all-time rushing record. In fact, he even admits that the chase for the record could affect his play calling.
"I'm going to try my best to get him the record as fast as we can get it," Coslet recently told the Forth Worth Star Telegram.
Smith enters the 2002 season 539 yards behind Payton's mark of 16,726.
Last year Emmitt was openly critical of coaches, teammates, and ownership alike, but he’s down with Coslet – for now.
“I really like what Coslet is doing,” Smith told the FWST. “There is an advantage to getting everybody on the same page. That was the problem last year.”
Foreseeing a rock-bottom season for the Cowboys a year ago, I stayed away from Emmitt last summer and never made a move for him during the season. Hey, at least one of my preseason vibes was true.
I’m singing a different tune this year. No, not some cheesy Roy Rogers’ number about campfires and pinwheels. The tune I’m singing is that I wouldn’t be shocked to see Emmitt parlay Big D’s overall offensive improvement into 8-10 TDs.
Rick Kamla can be reached at rkamla@fanball.com
]
Breaking Clay Makes My Day!
by Rick Kamla - Senior Editor, Fanball.com
Friday, June 7, 2002
Once upon a time, Jane’s Addiction released a mesmerizing album called “Nothing’s Shocking.” Though it has fallen out of radio rotation, those who know still run it, and it’s gritty message still applies to 14th overall pick Jeremy Shockey, one of the most heralded tight end prospects in NFL history.
Green Bay’s Bubba Franks, taken with the 14th overall pick in the 2000 draft, entered the NFL with lots of hype only to brick-hand more passes than Chris Webber’s bricks clutch free throws. Despite that negative precedent, I am not worried about Shockey, who is dropping nothing but jaws in offseason workouts.
According to the New York Times, after taking snaps with the second team for the first two days of a recent minicamp, Shockey was elevated to the first team, at which point he badly beat Michael Barrow on a pretty pass connection with Kerry Collins.
Everyone from offensive coordinator Sean Payton to All-Pro defensive lineman Michael Strahan is digging the humble Shockey, who is working out with the receivers rather than the rest of New York’s brutish tight ends. In fact, Payton is so psyched about his new toy, he has come up with several new schemes designed to utilize Shockey’s size and speed.
Shockey’s addition to New York’s offense should have a positive effect on Collins, who missed throwing to Pete Mitchell last year, and No. 1 receiver Amani Toomer, who needs talent around him to play with more consistency. However, Jeremy’s presence could buzz kill Tiki Barber, who won’t catch quite as many passes out of the backfield, and Ike Hilliard, who isn’t necessarily the No. 2 option anymore.
Can Shockey challenge Tony Gonzalez and Marcus Pollard for tight end supremacy?
When you ask Fanball.com editors Jeff Haydock and Ben Vickers, they quickly respond “Hell, yeah.” However, if you ask yours truly, I’ll give him 600 yards and five scores, and call it a helluva debut release.
The West Coslet Offense?
In case you hadn’t heard, the Cowboys’ new offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet. Yes, the same Bruce Coslet who lost millions of games with the Bengals. Yes, the same Bruce Coslet who helped destroy the Jets’ offense a few years ago.
No matter, as Cowboys’ head coach Dave Campo already likes what he sees from Coslet, who is installing a likeness of the West Coast Offense. Stop laughing.
“I like it,” Campo recently told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about Coslet’s boisterous style. “He’s got juice. He’s enthusiastic and he’s extremely competitive. I think that picks everyone up.”
According to the Dallas Morning News, owner/general manager Jerry Jones hired Coslet to install the WCO and figure out a way to consistently complete deep balls to speedy receivers Joey Galloway and Raghib Ismail.
Coslet intends to do so by establishing a running game to draw in the safeties, who won’t be around to help the corners when Quincy Carter airs it out for Greedy and Rocket.
"You want to keep the safeties honest," Coslet told the DMN. "When they start getting involved and sticking their noses where they don't belong, then we want to make them pay by throwing it over their heads."
Also aiding Carter will be Coslet’s trademark play-action fakes, which helped turn Boomer Esiason into one of the best quarterbacks of his time. Coslet is showing his quarterbacks tapes of Esiason to help them learn the perfect ball fake.
"That's been a big part of my offense for a long time," Coslet told the DMN. "I started doing it early, very early in my career. But for the fakes to work, you have to have a successful running game."
Speaking of the running game, Coslet is aware of the fact Emmitt Smith needs only 540 yards to break Walter Payton’s all-time rushing record. In fact, he even admits that the chase for the record could affect his play calling.
"I'm going to try my best to get him the record as fast as we can get it," Coslet recently told the Forth Worth Star Telegram.
Smith enters the 2002 season 539 yards behind Payton's mark of 16,726.
Last year Emmitt was openly critical of coaches, teammates, and ownership alike, but he’s down with Coslet – for now.
“I really like what Coslet is doing,” Smith told the FWST. “There is an advantage to getting everybody on the same page. That was the problem last year.”
Foreseeing a rock-bottom season for the Cowboys a year ago, I stayed away from Emmitt last summer and never made a move for him during the season. Hey, at least one of my preseason vibes was true.
I’m singing a different tune this year. No, not some cheesy Roy Rogers’ number about campfires and pinwheels. The tune I’m singing is that I wouldn’t be shocked to see Emmitt parlay Big D’s overall offensive improvement into 8-10 TDs.
Rick Kamla can be reached at rkamla@fanball.com
] Breaking Clay Makes My Day!
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