AURORA, Ohio -- During Randy Gregory's draft visit, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli showed the rookie film of Simeon Rice to display the type of pass-rusher Gregory could be at the NFL level.
As the offseason has progressed, the old defensive coordinator has continued to prod his young stud with lessons of the past and players who succeeded with similar, slender body types.
"I watch a lot of Simeon," Gregory told NFL Media's Tiffany Blackmon from the Rookie Symposium on Thursday. "His length is probably the biggest thing I've taken notice of. He uses it very well and that's something I've really been trying to do. My long arm I think is getting better in camp and it's only going to get better the more I play, and Jason Taylor, he's real athletic, tall guy, long, kind of myself. So they're real athletic. They do a lot of good things and I'm gonna take the things that Coach Marinelli preaches and get off the ball. I'm trying to get off the ball as much as I can."
Rice compiled 122 career sacks, went to three Pro Bowls, and played his prime under Marinelli in Tampa where the duo won a Super Bowl ring.
The Cowboys also want Gregory, who played collegiately at Nebraska, to increase his weight. To that end, Gregory said he's up to 242 on the scale and is supposed to clock in to training camp next month at 245. Gregory added he's not worried about the added weight getting him out of shape after his conditioning troubles early in OTAs.
Aside from packing on the pounds, Gregory said he's been working feverishly on his technique.
"You got to really be a technician," he said. "That's why guys like J.J. Watt, Aldon Smith, Rice, guys like that, that I've looked at and tried to model my game after, they are just technicians and they do certain things really, really well."
Gregory has a long, long way to go to even be mentioned in the same sentence with those players. But if he gets close, the Cowboys could have nabbed the steal of the draft.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast welcomes back Colleen Wolfe to discuss non-Super Bowl contenders, and an all-new 'Orr You Kidding Me.' Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
