SmilesAustin
02-15-2008, 05:25 AM
Is this an indication of things to come? Pay particular attention to the quotes from both Jones and McFadden toward the end of the story. Apparantly McFadden is a life-long Cowboys fan :)
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http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=1...1ABCBC7E4061127 (http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=1A800832-AFA8-D371-51ABCBC7E4061127)
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
February 14, 2008 6:27 PM Change Font Size A A A A
MCKINNEY, Texas - The NFL Draft is still more than two months away, yet it seems it's never too early to project destinations of some of the top available prospects.
And for various reasons, Arkansas running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones both have been linked to the Cowboys as possible first-round picks.
Now, whether either of the former Razorbacks ever play in Dallas remains to be seen.
But where they end up in the draft might very well hinge on what they've been learning here in Dallas for the last month or so.
McFadden and Jones, two of the top running backs in this year's upcoming draft class, are taking part in a six-week training program led by former Olympic gold medalist sprinter Michael Johnson.
The two backs are among a group of eight draft prospects working out at the Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney, Texas, just north of Dallas.
The program is designed solely to get the players ready for the upcoming scouting combine, which takes place Feb. 20-26 in Indianapolis.
So for the last month, players such as McFadden and Jones have been working to increase their times in the 40-yard dash as well as trying to improve their quickness, which will be put on display in a variety of agility drills at the combine.
"I feel like you can always get better," McFadden said Thursday after another grueling workout. "I don't feel like I've reached my full potential of playing football. I feel like you can always get better. By me being here is helping me to get better."
McFadden, the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy the past two years, also won the Doak Walker Award each of the last two seasons as the nation's top running back. McFadden will pick up the trophy in a ceremony Friday night in Dallas.
Some projections rate McFadden as the top prospect in this year's NFL Draft, which takes place April 26-27. However, this is the time of year when highly-rated players are scrutinized the most. Although there are no more games to be played, players certainly can help or hurt their stock by their performance in the combine.
That's why Johnson has been running these programs for several years with the intention of preparing these players for what to expect in Indianapolis.
Since 2001, Johnson has used the training and competition philosophy he developed during his career to help more than 50 top draft prospects prepare for the NFL combine, including Cowboys players Tony Romo, Roy Williams and Marc Colombo, who actually was in attendance Thursday to speak to the players about the combine process, from the workouts to the line of questions they will receive from NFL teams.
"This really isn't about football at all," said Johnson, a five-time Olympic gold medalist who currently holds the world records in the 200 and 400 meters. "What we do here is try to get these guys ready. But it's not that hard, especially with guys like Darren and Felix. These guys are incredible athletes already. What we do is try to clean up a few things that they're doing technique-wise."
McFadden and Jones have been working out with Johnson since the middle of January, along with a group that includes University of Texas wide receiver Nate Jones, offensive tackle Tony Hills, cornerback Brandon Foster and defensive tackle Derek Lokey; Texas A&M tight end Joey Thomas; and Tulsa linebacker Nelson Coleman.
In addition to learning from a proven sprinter in Johnson, the players are using state-of-the-art training equipment at the performance center, which opened last June.
In fact, the most beneficial part of the training has been the use of video enhancement, which records the workouts and allows the players to view their technique with the help of Johnson and his top assistant, Lance Walker, who worked with the Cowboys for three seasons as an assistant to strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek.
"When a person can see what happens, it makes it a lot easier," Johnson said. "I can tell them all day long. But when a guy can see what he's doing wrong, he can walk right back up there and correct what you just saw. Some habits take longer to break. But that's what is so great about this class. These guys take what you give them and fix it on their own. You don't have to tell them twice."
Johnson also said this group of players has a sense of confidence that makes his job much easier.
And it's that same confidence that will serve them well at the combine, although it has been standard lately for highly-projected players to not work out. However, McFadden and Jones are both prepared to participate, not only in the drills, but in the 40 as well.
Over the years, the combine's playing surface has built a reputation of being a "slow track." Walker said he doesn't expect that to be the case.
"If you can run, you can run," Walker said. "And these two can really run. They're freaky-like, the way they can find that extra gear. It's really amazing. They were already fast coming in here. But I think we've been able to help them out, too."
And if that's the case, they certainly will help their draft status.
With McFadden already projected as a top pick, his chances of coming to Dallas likely would hinge on the Cowboys making a move by trading one, maybe both of their first-round picks (22nd and 28th overall). There had been speculation that the Dolphins, who have the No. 1 overall pick, are interested in acquiring Cowboys running back Marion Barber in a package deal for the top pick. However, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said he has no intentions of trading Barber.
But Jones, an Arkansas native and alum, has also acknowledged McFadden as one of the nation's best football players. He attended a game last October when McFadden rushed for 323 yards against South Carolina.
"I guess that was a good game for him to go to," McFadden said. "I don't really know what's going to happen. It's not up to me anymore. I would love to play for the Cowboys. I grew up in Arkansas (Little Rock) and I've always been a Cowboys fan. So if it happened that way and I came up here, that would be great."
Felix Jones, who has played alongside McFadden for three years and also declared for the draft after his junior season, said playing for the Cowboys has been on his mind for several years as well.
"We always watched the Cowboys when I was a kid," said Jones, a native of Tulsa, Okla. "It would be great to wear a star on my helmet. I'm not sure how it's going to pan out. But you can't worry about it. It doesn't really matter which team takes you. I just want to go somewhere and do the best I can."
Felix Jones averaged a whopping 9.1 yards per carry last season and averaged 31.3 yards on kickoff returns, earning him an All-American selection.
Acquiring Jones might make the most sense for the Cowboys, considering he should be available when they pick at No. 22, or possibly No. 28. Jones is more of a scat-back with exceptional quickness and four career kickoff returns for touchdowns. That style might be a better complement to Barber, who is expected to re-sign with the Cowboys as a restricted free agent.
"Playing in Dallas would be a dream," Jones said. "If that's how it works out, that would be great. But who knows what's going to happen? Right now, I'm just trying to get better and that's what we're doing here working with Michael Johnson. I've really enjoyed my time down here in Dallas."
Now, only time will tell if Jones, or even McFadden, will have an extended stay in the area.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=1...1ABCBC7E4061127 (http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=1A800832-AFA8-D371-51ABCBC7E4061127)
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
February 14, 2008 6:27 PM Change Font Size A A A A
MCKINNEY, Texas - The NFL Draft is still more than two months away, yet it seems it's never too early to project destinations of some of the top available prospects.
And for various reasons, Arkansas running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones both have been linked to the Cowboys as possible first-round picks.
Now, whether either of the former Razorbacks ever play in Dallas remains to be seen.
But where they end up in the draft might very well hinge on what they've been learning here in Dallas for the last month or so.
McFadden and Jones, two of the top running backs in this year's upcoming draft class, are taking part in a six-week training program led by former Olympic gold medalist sprinter Michael Johnson.
The two backs are among a group of eight draft prospects working out at the Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney, Texas, just north of Dallas.
The program is designed solely to get the players ready for the upcoming scouting combine, which takes place Feb. 20-26 in Indianapolis.
So for the last month, players such as McFadden and Jones have been working to increase their times in the 40-yard dash as well as trying to improve their quickness, which will be put on display in a variety of agility drills at the combine.
"I feel like you can always get better," McFadden said Thursday after another grueling workout. "I don't feel like I've reached my full potential of playing football. I feel like you can always get better. By me being here is helping me to get better."
McFadden, the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy the past two years, also won the Doak Walker Award each of the last two seasons as the nation's top running back. McFadden will pick up the trophy in a ceremony Friday night in Dallas.
Some projections rate McFadden as the top prospect in this year's NFL Draft, which takes place April 26-27. However, this is the time of year when highly-rated players are scrutinized the most. Although there are no more games to be played, players certainly can help or hurt their stock by their performance in the combine.
That's why Johnson has been running these programs for several years with the intention of preparing these players for what to expect in Indianapolis.
Since 2001, Johnson has used the training and competition philosophy he developed during his career to help more than 50 top draft prospects prepare for the NFL combine, including Cowboys players Tony Romo, Roy Williams and Marc Colombo, who actually was in attendance Thursday to speak to the players about the combine process, from the workouts to the line of questions they will receive from NFL teams.
"This really isn't about football at all," said Johnson, a five-time Olympic gold medalist who currently holds the world records in the 200 and 400 meters. "What we do here is try to get these guys ready. But it's not that hard, especially with guys like Darren and Felix. These guys are incredible athletes already. What we do is try to clean up a few things that they're doing technique-wise."
McFadden and Jones have been working out with Johnson since the middle of January, along with a group that includes University of Texas wide receiver Nate Jones, offensive tackle Tony Hills, cornerback Brandon Foster and defensive tackle Derek Lokey; Texas A&M tight end Joey Thomas; and Tulsa linebacker Nelson Coleman.
In addition to learning from a proven sprinter in Johnson, the players are using state-of-the-art training equipment at the performance center, which opened last June.
In fact, the most beneficial part of the training has been the use of video enhancement, which records the workouts and allows the players to view their technique with the help of Johnson and his top assistant, Lance Walker, who worked with the Cowboys for three seasons as an assistant to strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek.
"When a person can see what happens, it makes it a lot easier," Johnson said. "I can tell them all day long. But when a guy can see what he's doing wrong, he can walk right back up there and correct what you just saw. Some habits take longer to break. But that's what is so great about this class. These guys take what you give them and fix it on their own. You don't have to tell them twice."
Johnson also said this group of players has a sense of confidence that makes his job much easier.
And it's that same confidence that will serve them well at the combine, although it has been standard lately for highly-projected players to not work out. However, McFadden and Jones are both prepared to participate, not only in the drills, but in the 40 as well.
Over the years, the combine's playing surface has built a reputation of being a "slow track." Walker said he doesn't expect that to be the case.
"If you can run, you can run," Walker said. "And these two can really run. They're freaky-like, the way they can find that extra gear. It's really amazing. They were already fast coming in here. But I think we've been able to help them out, too."
And if that's the case, they certainly will help their draft status.
With McFadden already projected as a top pick, his chances of coming to Dallas likely would hinge on the Cowboys making a move by trading one, maybe both of their first-round picks (22nd and 28th overall). There had been speculation that the Dolphins, who have the No. 1 overall pick, are interested in acquiring Cowboys running back Marion Barber in a package deal for the top pick. However, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said he has no intentions of trading Barber.
But Jones, an Arkansas native and alum, has also acknowledged McFadden as one of the nation's best football players. He attended a game last October when McFadden rushed for 323 yards against South Carolina.
"I guess that was a good game for him to go to," McFadden said. "I don't really know what's going to happen. It's not up to me anymore. I would love to play for the Cowboys. I grew up in Arkansas (Little Rock) and I've always been a Cowboys fan. So if it happened that way and I came up here, that would be great."
Felix Jones, who has played alongside McFadden for three years and also declared for the draft after his junior season, said playing for the Cowboys has been on his mind for several years as well.
"We always watched the Cowboys when I was a kid," said Jones, a native of Tulsa, Okla. "It would be great to wear a star on my helmet. I'm not sure how it's going to pan out. But you can't worry about it. It doesn't really matter which team takes you. I just want to go somewhere and do the best I can."
Felix Jones averaged a whopping 9.1 yards per carry last season and averaged 31.3 yards on kickoff returns, earning him an All-American selection.
Acquiring Jones might make the most sense for the Cowboys, considering he should be available when they pick at No. 22, or possibly No. 28. Jones is more of a scat-back with exceptional quickness and four career kickoff returns for touchdowns. That style might be a better complement to Barber, who is expected to re-sign with the Cowboys as a restricted free agent.
"Playing in Dallas would be a dream," Jones said. "If that's how it works out, that would be great. But who knows what's going to happen? Right now, I'm just trying to get better and that's what we're doing here working with Michael Johnson. I've really enjoyed my time down here in Dallas."
Now, only time will tell if Jones, or even McFadden, will have an extended stay in the area.