COVERITLIVE.COM

11:08

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel - The Dallas Cowboys just ended their minicamp. I'm here to answer your questions about the team.

11:19

[Comment From Dianna O]
I would like to know how Felix Jones is doing

11:23

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel -

Hi Dianna,
Felix suffered a calf contusion on a running play in practice Monday. Coach Phillips said he'll be ready for training camp next month, as he expects of all of the injured players. Felix probably could have played if this were a game week, but they wanted to keep him out as a precaution. No need to unduly risk anything for minicamp.

11:28

[Comment From Dianna O]
Awesome. Thank you. I hadn't heard anything about him for a couple of days. I'm di_atribe on Twitter, btw. Hi!

11:28

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel - Oh i know you... hahaha

11:29

[Comment From Guest]
I'm from out of town. Why are the Dallas Cowboys called the Dallas Cowboys?

11:31

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel - Maybe they should be the Arlington Cowboys or Valley Ranch Cowboys or North Texas Cowboys... way back when they actually played in Dallas and even practiced in North Dallas.

11:36

[Comment From J]
Should the Cowboys be interested in Brandon Marshall? What do you think they'd have to give to get him?

11:39

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel - Short answer is they're not interested in him, by all accounts. He's a very talented player, but a nut case and those are the type of players they've been trying to get rid of. The Cowboys set the market with what they gave up for their current #1 receiver, Roy Williams -- first, third and sixth-round picks. Not going to happen it would be investing too much in one position and would leave them without a first-round pick again.

11:44

[Comment From Kat5643]
Aaron, you've been Dallas's most eligible bachelor for some time now. Any thoughts on tying the knot with a lucky girl anytime soon?

11:45

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel - That is quite the personal question. I have a wonderful girlfriend.

How 'bout a football question... please.

11:49

[Comment From John]
Do you think the cowboys would consider putting marion back in a "closer" role. He seemed to be pretty limited in his ability as a starter.

11:52

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel - John,
I think they are and probably will. Coach Phillips has eluded to that and with Felix Jones and Tashard Choice they have an excellent trio.
You get the most out of players by having them do what they do well and Barber is an excellent closer.
I would, out of respect, have Barber start games. Then I would use a lot of Felix in non-traditional roles, which they are experiementing with (having him motion out wide or in the slot) and then use Choice to ensure Barber is rested for the 4th quarter.
We'll see better balance with the running backs this year. All the Cowboys have to do is see the success the Giants have had witht their backs.

11:52

[Comment From J]
What's the biggest question, in your mind, going into camp?

11:55

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel - What interests me most is how the players respond to change. Wade Phillips has preached change and the locker room has undergone a lot of change in personality. T.O. and Greg Ellis were key figures in the locker room, in very different ways. Back to Wade, it's very hard for people to change who they coach and it's not going to be anything dramatic, but I think he has to know Camp Cupcake won't cut it.

From a positional standpoint, wide receiver, corner, OLB and nose tackle depth are all areas that are worth watching because of the lakc of experienced depth. Most of the starting positions are locked up.

11:56

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel - should be how they coach

and lack

11:59

[Comment From wizard...]
Coach Chimbel, Is it all hype or does Gerald Sensabaugh coverage skills better than the former safety Roy Williams?

12:03

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel - Sensabaugh is a much more athletic player. He's faster and has better range. There is a reason everyone always talked about moving Roy to linebacker.

Sensabaugh played a lot of coverage, like Darren Woodson did for the Cowboys, from the safety position.

Coach Phillips thinks that coverage ability will allow them to play more man defense and maybe not have to leave their base defense since they're worried about how their safety will matchup.

But it's worth watching how Sensabaugh holds up in run defense. He's 20 pounds lighter than Roy.

12:05

[Comment From B]
In your discussion with Joe Trahan during mini-camp, Joe mentioned a general "sloppiness" that was being seen. Do you think this is because there is an attitude that it is "just" mini-camp, or is this a forewarning of what could come this season?

12:11

WFAA.com's Aaron Chimbel -

There are a few reasons for the sloppiness... one is that the coaches are installing a lot of new things, plays, schemes, formations, etc. to see what works and what doesn't. So from that aspect it will probably be a little sloppy.

The Cowboys also have quite a few new players, so they're still learning.

The team has had a sloppiness problem under Coach Phillips, which is one of the things he's going to try to "change" this season, as he puts more attention to detail.

They're also doing more to address the problems. Players come out when they have a false start or off sides and the quarterbacks and centers have been working on snaps before and after practice.

If it continues throughout training camp and the preseason, then it's definitely an area of concern.

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