Depth slows Cowboys down, but not out
Dave Christensen had no choice but back off on Saturday.
Back off with intensity, pace and physical play?
No, Christensen and the Cowboy coaching staff had to whittle down the plays run in the scrimmage from about 120 to 85. The reason was obvious and unfortunate. The Cowboys' depth is a little thin at this time.
“We cut it back before we even started today, because we were two deep,” Christensen said. “I would have run 120 plays if we were three deep. We had to cut it back.”
Is Christensen and his staff concerned about the large number of players struggling with injury at this point of the spring drills? Not at this time.
“We have to become a much more physical football team,” he said. “We’re going to improve on it, but now we have some guys banged up because of our emphasis of being physical. But that’s part of the program -- the program is not going to change.”
What he is concerned about is the players being able to go at his pace.
“We have a tempo that we use here,” he said. “We set the tempo and the players will get to the tempo. They’ll get in better shape, they’ll train harder and they will become better athletes going through our program. They’ll learn from what they are going through right now.”
Knock on wood, most of the current injuries and even illness will be healed by fall drills. Yes, many of the players who will likely miss the rest of spring drills would have benefited from being out on the field.
But to play for Christensen, the old saying, "I'm just pacing myself," won't do. When the Cowboys get in their ultimate shape, these injuries will likely be less and less as we go.
Back off with intensity, pace and physical play?
No, Christensen and the Cowboy coaching staff had to whittle down the plays run in the scrimmage from about 120 to 85. The reason was obvious and unfortunate. The Cowboys' depth is a little thin at this time.
“We cut it back before we even started today, because we were two deep,” Christensen said. “I would have run 120 plays if we were three deep. We had to cut it back.”
Is Christensen and his staff concerned about the large number of players struggling with injury at this point of the spring drills? Not at this time.
“We have to become a much more physical football team,” he said. “We’re going to improve on it, but now we have some guys banged up because of our emphasis of being physical. But that’s part of the program -- the program is not going to change.”
What he is concerned about is the players being able to go at his pace.
“We have a tempo that we use here,” he said. “We set the tempo and the players will get to the tempo. They’ll get in better shape, they’ll train harder and they will become better athletes going through our program. They’ll learn from what they are going through right now.”
Knock on wood, most of the current injuries and even illness will be healed by fall drills. Yes, many of the players who will likely miss the rest of spring drills would have benefited from being out on the field.
But to play for Christensen, the old saying, "I'm just pacing myself," won't do. When the Cowboys get in their ultimate shape, these injuries will likely be less and less as we go.
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