OXNARD, Calif. – Competing is nothing new for Jameill Showers, who once battled for the starting job with Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M before transferring to UTEP.
That's where he got to play the last two seasons before ending up as a rookie free agent with the Cowboys, who return three quarterback from last year's team. And that's why Showers is doing everything he can to stick around, however it starts with his play at quarterback.
There are many areas to Showers' game that he needs to improve on, especially his lack of touch as a thrower, where he struggles to take pace off the ball. However, he has great raw talent. His arm strength is fantastic, and he can throw the ball on a rope. He hasn't been given license to unleash his arm much on deep balls yet, but when he does, it will be exciting to see. Another advantage to his game, which incidentally is an area where Dustin Vaughan struggles, is his pocket poise. He can feel pressure, and is calm enough to escape it, stepping up in the pocket and finding either a launch point or escape lane.
The pressure is high on Showers as he goes into the preseason games. He could potentially show enough that they keep him over Dustin Vaughan as the third quarterback on the 53 man roster, or alternatively, he could be cut and never see another NFL roster. Although the pressure is high, Showers seems to be relishing it. He exudes calmness, and told me that he's enjoying the experience, and that "it's a dream come true for me to be here."
The ex-Miner is doing everything possible to stick, including playing special teams. He said that "It kind of started off as a little joke. Coach Bisaccia (special teams coach) came up to me and said, 'I could get you some reps on special teams', and I was like, do what you gotta do, coach. Now I'm on all four (special teams units) of them." He hasn't looked out of place on the units either, showing enthusiasm to get his hands dirty in the physical part of the game. With his strong frame and plus-athleticism, it suits as another way to get him on the field.
Here's more of the interview with quarterback Jameill Showers:
On why he joined the Cowboys:
"I spoke to Coach (Wade) Wilson (Cowboys quarterback coach) on the day of the draft, and I felt like we just clicked, and I just chose them from there."
On his expectations as a Cowboy:
"I've been dreaming of football since I was a little kid, and going to the NFL was one of my biggest dreams. Right now, it's just a case of taking advantage of every opportunity I'm given.
What is your ultimate goal for this camp?
"I'm trying to make the team", and while that may seem unrealistic on the face of it, it might not be.
On his most memorable moment so far as a Cowboy:
"Just going in and seeing my locker and jersey. That was the moment I first thought, wow, I'm actually here."
On having to compete with Brandon Bridge at rookie minicamp:
"It's competition. You'll have competition wherever you go. They're bringing him in, and it lit a fire under me immediately. All of us have been competing our whole lives, so that's what we've got to do."
On what he does away from the field at camp:
"You got meetings, and in between meetings, eating and studying, and that's pretty much all I have time for. I'm not really in a position where I can go off and relax. Any time I have the chance to learn some more, I do that."
On the biggest difference off-the-field from college to the NFL:
"The amount of time you need to spend to learn the game. They try to simplify it for you, and you can pick it up pretty quick from that, but then you have a play, and you can run that play eight different ways against 10 different defences, so you constantly have to be on your toes.
