2:36 PM Thu, May 08, 2008 |
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Albert Breer 
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In Todd's internet column, which Tim referenced earlier,
his look at the team's young receivers forecasts Isaiah Stanback to be
one of the "most watched" guys in the team's upcoming OTAs and veteran
minicamp.
I had a chance to catch up with Stanback last month, and he reported
to me that he'd cut 12 pounds, getting down to 210 after struggling
with injuries last year. And he thinks that, plus some of the personal
work he'll get with receivers coach Ray Sherman, will make a world of
differennce in 2008.
"Most of last year, I was on scout team, learning on the go,"
Stanback said. "My coach, his focus was mostly on the guys that were
going to play. So now, in the offseason, I get to work a lot with him
one-on-one and he's been teaching me a lot. I've picked up a lot of
stuff. A lot of drills I wasn't allowed to do before, I'm able to do
now."
One thing that did affect his progress too were foot and shoulder
injuries that shelved him for weeks at a time, and put him behind as he
made the move from college quarterback to pro receiver.
"It was a very frustrating year," Stanback said. "But what was
supposed to happen happened, and I learned from it. I'm still doing a
lot of learning. This offseason's been real important for me, but I've
had fun doing it.
"I've slimmed down a little bit, like they wanted me to. And I've
been learning, and I will be during these OTAs, to become a receiver.
Last year, I was learning on the go."
When Jerry tabbed him in the fourth round of the 2007 draft, he was
looking at an impressive 6-foot-2 athletic specimen to be developed.
Stanback knows the tag "developmental" doesn't last long. Pretty
soon, he's going to have to turn potential into production, and that's
what he says he's working towards.
"That's why I'm so excited about this offseason," he said. "I'm
excited about all the minicamps, all that kind of stuff. I just want to
do it, so I can become the kind of player I need to be to help this
team."