The most encouraging notes from training camp and preseason belong to Kevin Ogletree and Gerald Sensabaugh. These two key additions to the roster, in addition to a healthy Barber, Romo, and Felix Jones, makes for a potentially exciting season.
Last year, Dallas was plagued with injuries at the wide receiver position. Both Miles Austin and Sam Hurd were out with injuries for significant portions of the season, leaving Dallas somewhat thin at receiver with Terrell Owens, Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, and Isaiah Stanback. With those first three, you’d think the Cowboys could’ve done just fine. But we all know Romo and Williams didn’t click and T.O. was too busy creating conspiracy theories to focus on silly little things like running routes.
This is a brand new year; one in which the experience level drops off significantly after the #2 receiver position. Without T.O. pushing Crayton to the #3, Wade Phillips is still looking for that receiver who will be reliable enough to consistently own that third starting slot.
Right now, Miles Austin seems to have that sown up. But Miles has been nursing a hamstring injury and was injured for parts of last season. Sam Hurd’s in the same spot, recovering from a summer long injury. Which begs the question: who will be the #3 receiver throughout the season? With Hurd and Austin so seemingly easy to break, Kevin Ogletree stands a decent chance at that #3 spot by November.
Granted, if everyone can stay healthy, it’s a tougher climb for sure. Injuries are the perfect time for a rookie to prove himself on the field. Otherwise, as we’ve seen with Jenkins and Scandrick, the coaches have a hard time sitting the higher paid players.
Ogletree appears to have that “it” factor, though. He’s been dynamic enough in the preseason to warrant some playing time this year.
If, God forbid, Roy Williams were to go down, however, Sam Hurd is slated as his replacement. It’s just how things work out. So in the case that Roy gets hurt, you could see Hurd, Crayton, and Austin lining up, which means Ogletree is one injury away from a starting role.
As a junior at Virginia, Ogletree also returned 15 kickoffs for 274 yards (18.3 avg.), so don’t be surprised if you see him return a few kicks down the road as well.
Keep an eye on him. I’ve got a feeling that all he needs is an opportunity to make it in this league.
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I totally agree with this article. I’ve followed Ogletree since his time at Virginia and the only reason he wasn’t a bonified star there is because the kid had 12 different inaccurate quarterbacks in the three seasons there. I find it amazing that when your quarterback leads the ACC in interceptions, you have a receiver who is third in receiving. Now he’s in the position where he has proven NFL quarterbacks to get him the ball and the rest is a no brainer. I can’t wait to see what this kid is really capable of when given the opportunity! Dallas really landed a quality WR with this guy.