IRVING, Texas - Sixth-round pick Stephen Hodge was accustomed to covering receivers as a safety/outside linebacker in TCU's 4-2-5 scheme. He never expected inside linebacker would become his niche with the Cowboys.
"It's a big adjustment for me because I've never played inside linebacker," said the 6-0, 234-pound Hodge. "I've got to throw out the whole playbook, learn the playbook and just learn to read blocks and fight off tackles and just make plays."
Hodge and the rest of the Cowboys' 12 draft choices reported for work on a muggy, overcast Friday, participating in the first of a three-day rookie mini-camp here at Valley Ranch. Eight rookie free agents and seven first-year players joined the 2009 class for two light workouts. Three more are scheduled between Saturday and Sunday.
This weekend's 27-man roster isn't large enough for full team work, but the Cowboys treat the rookie camp as more of a group teaching session that helps them adjust to the club's system and practice routine. The veterans begin their organized team activities (OTA's) later this month and will hold a mini-camp with the rookies in mid-June.
This year's post-draft orientation is particularly beneficial because like Hodge, many of those dozen draft picks are adjusting to new positions in Dallas.
"This camp is very important for these guys along with the rest of the off-season program once they get back," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said. "We bring in the rookies by themselves. Some teams bring in the whole group. I just think they get lost if they start with the whole group where they're way behind.
"We can start with the basics with these guys and move along at their pace."
Hodge was impressive in Friday's afternoon session, breaking up several passes against tight ends and running backs. The Cowboys feel his experience at safety will help him adjust to one-on-one coverage at the weak inside linebacker spot.
The Cowboys have specific plans for each of their picks, but many also face a position learning curve:
Third-rounder Jason Williams, the Cowboys' top overall selection (No. 69), is transitioning from a hybrid stand-up linebacker position at Western Illinois to the Cowboys' traditional weak inside (Mo) linebacker spot.
Fellow third-rounder Robert Brewster made 41 of 48 career college starts at offensive tackle but is expected to try his hand at guard.
Fourth-rounders Victor Butler and Brandon Williams are making an Anthony Spencer-like shift from defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker, where coverage duties are added to their natural pass-rushing skills.
Fifth-rounder DeAngelo Smith, a smooth cornerback at Cincinnati, is working at safety along with former All-ACC selection Michael Hamlin.
Add quarterback Stephen McGee to that list - sort of. The fourth-rounder isn't changing positions, but the Cowboys will develop him in a traditional system instead of the option-read offense he ran for three years at Texas A&M.
McGee and rookie free agent Rudy Carpenter worked extensively with Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson in the morning and afternoon practices. McGee showed good arm strength and awareness but realizes he has plenty to learn.
"Just being quick, just being fast," he said. "There're different drops with different pass plays. It could be a five-stop drop but there's big five, quick five. There's just different things you have to learn and probably the hardest part of the offense, (Wilson) said, is learning the different drops especially with the different plays."
Other than McGee, the majority of the Cowboys'12 drafted rookies must contribute on special teams to crack the 53-man roster in 2009. Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones has said his team is committed to improving its coverage in the kicking game, and many of their '09 selections were accomplished special teams players in college.
That doesn't mean the Cowboys drafted them strictly for that purpose, however.
"What I meant was immediately - and that allows us to keep them on the 53 - you'll have some special teams contribution," Jones said Friday. "And these guys, many of them eventually, I think, will be able to compete for starting jobs in the NFL."
One player who could help quickly on defense is Jason Williams. The Cowboys lost nickel linebacker Kevin Burnett in free agency, and although veteran acquisition Keith Brooking has been a three-down player throughout his career, Williams' 4.4 speed could be an asset in sub-packages next season.
"He's a very fast linebacker," Cowboys linebackers coach Reggie Herring said. "He's raw, but that's in a good way. He doesn't have any bad habits.
"You've got to start from scratch with these guys. They've got to learn a new language, new terminology, new stance, new steps. Everything's Day One. So I'd say for the first day we did good."
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