Training Camp Thread...

[Cowboysrock55]

When Free was dinged early in OTA's I was hoping Collins would take his spot and never look back. Clearly he wasn't ready for that, but certainly you'd think he's the new swing tackle with Green's injury history.

I just think Free is that establish veteran that our coaches wouldn't even consider replacing in the starting lineup. So instead they look at Leary as the most likely spot for Collins to get a shot and that's why they moved him there.

 

[Cotton]

Even with suspension, Greg Hardy has to carry the load

Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer

With Dallas Cowboys training camp starting next week in Oxnard, California, we offer up a position-by-position preview.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Who's back: Jeremy Mincey, Tyrone Crawford, Nick Hayden, DeMarcus Lawrence, Terrell McClain, Ken Bishop, Jack Crawford, Ben Gardner, Lavar Edwards, Ken Boatright, Davon Coleman, Chris Whaley

Who they added: Greg Hardy (free agent), Randy Gregory (second-round pick), Ryan Russell (fifth-round pick), Efe Obada (free agent)

Who's gone: Henry Melton, George Selvie, Anthony Spencer, Josh Brent, Amobi Okoye

Roster spots available: eight, nine or 10

Key question: What kind of production will the Cowboys get from Hardy?

Had Hardy's suspension remained at 10 games, then it would have been difficult to expect him to make a dramatic difference to the Cowboys. Now that it is four games, then he can be a game-changer. While he has some financial incentive to rack up sacks this season, Hardy is on a one-year contract and has an incentive to put up big numbers so he can get a big contract from the Cowboys or another team in 2016 and beyond.

Last season, the Cowboys had a number of players either in the final year of their contracts or on a one-year deal who produced. That is a real incentive.

Hardy has 27 sacks in his last 32 games. Last year, Mincey led the Cowboys with six sacks and Dallas recorded just 28 as a team. They need to affect the quarterback more. A gimpy Aaron Rodgers not getting pressured in the playoff game last January still haunts this team, which is why they needed Hardy, baggage and all.

Hardy has the ability to play all four spots along the defensive line and that will allow Rod Marinelli to seek out potential mismatches in pass rushing situations. The Cowboys look to have a good blend of pass-rushers in Hardy, Mincey, Lawrence and Gregory, but Hardy needs to be the leader even if he is missing six games.

Quick thought: The Cowboys are trying to build the defensive line the way they have built the offensive line in recent years. Hardy was their prime free-agent pick but he's on a one-year "make good" deal that can help him and the Cowboys if it works out. But the best way to build is through the draft.

The Cowboys figured that out on the offensive line by taking Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin in the first round after going the free-agent route to patchwork a line together. In the past two years, the Cowboys have taken Lawrence and Gregory in the second round and hope to see them blossom.

Lawrence did not have a sack in the regular season but came on strong in the playoffs. Gregory fell to the second round because of off-field problems but showed potential in the spring.

In addition to Hardy, Mincey, Tyrone Crawford, Hayden and Jack Crawford are set to be free agents when the season ends. Tyrone Crawford is a key piece to the future. Hardy could be. The other players are "bridges" to the future. The building of the defensive line has to continue.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Quick thought: The Cowboys are trying to build the defensive line the way they have built the offensive line in recent years. Hardy was their prime free-agent pick but he's on a one-year "make good" deal that can help him and the Cowboys if it works out. But the best way to build is through the draft.

The Cowboys figured that out on the offensive line by taking Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin in the first round after going the free-agent route to patchwork a line together. In the past two years, the Cowboys have taken Lawrence and Gregory in the second round and hope to see them blossom.

Lawrence did not have a sack in the regular season but came on strong in the playoffs. Gregory fell to the second round because of off-field problems but showed potential in the spring.

Our defensive end situation is like night and day from last year.

 

[Simpleton]

The front office could've figured out the draft was the best way to build the DL long ago if they read this board.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

The front office could've figured out the draft was the best way to build the DL long ago if they read this board.

Well that and lucking into Hardy on the cheap is a minor miracle.

 

[ravidubey]

Our defensive end situation is like night and day from last year.

True, though we are weaker at DT. Overall the team has taken a big step forward, especially if Lawrence, Lee, and even fricking Claiborne actually play.

 

[p1_]

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 2015

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 2015

It's official, bitches. Camp opens today.

 

[dallen]

Super Bowl 50 in San Fransisco seems like a fitting 6th title.

 

[p1_]

Moore: Subtraction of Ryan Williams doesn’t mean Cowboys are adding Ray Rice, Chris Johnson

David Moore Follow @DavidMooreDMN Email dmoore@dallasnews.com
Published: July 28, 2015 1:19 pm


Those who doubt the Cowboys can get through the season with their current core of running backs — and that list outside of the organization is substantial – continue to insist the club will pursue Chris Johnson or Ray Rice.
Related

The release of Ryan Williams before the club departs for training camp has done nothing to quiet that talk.

That doesn’t mean anything is about to happen.

The Cowboys believe that a combination of Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar can fill the void left by DeMarco Murray’s departure. You might not believe that, but it doesn’t matter at this point. The Cowboys do, and they are committed to letting this competition play out in training camp.

Williams’ knee issues didn’t sneak up on the Cowboys. He had two scopes on his left knee this offseason, the second after the end of the June mini-camp. Injuries compromised his ability to compete for a spot to the point where the club had plenty of time to sign Johnson, Rice or some other veteran to compete at the start of camp if that’s what they wanted.

The truth is the Cowboys coaches and personnel department don’t believe that Johnson and/or Rice is better than who they have on the roster right now.

Can that change? Sure. If Randle, McFadden and Dunbar don’t rise to the occasion, the club will seek options. If one of those three are hurt and out for an extended period, it will force the club’s hand.

The Cowboys running back by committee approach — and who forms that committee – is subject to change. But Williams’ release won’t force any change at the moment.
Important dates

July 28: Team charter arrives in California
July 30: First team practice
Aug. 9: Blue/White scrimmage
Aug. 13: Dallas at San Diego, 9 p.m. (preseason)
Aug. 23: Dallas at San Francisco, 7 p.m. (preseason)
Aug. 28: Head back to Dallas
Aug. 29: Dallas vs. Minnesota, 6 p.m. (preseason)
Sept. 3: Dallas vs. Houston, 7 p.m. (preseason)
Sept. 13: Dallas vs. New York Giants, 7:30 p.m. (Week 1)

 

[dallen]

We could just go full Bad Boys and sign every toxic piece of shit other teams cut

 

[boozeman]

From the kickoff PC:

 

[mcnuttz]

F editing this post anymore. If you want to see it in a clean format, here's the link:http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2015/07/29/scout%E2%80%99s-notebook-picking-pet-cats-camp-same-sean-lee-returns


==========================================================================
Scout’s Notebook: Picking Pet Cats For Camp, The Same Sean Lee Returns

Wednesday, July 29, 2015 6:28 PM CDT

By Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout

OXNARD, Calif. – Our first day at training camp is winding to a close, and from here on out we’ll have real Cowboys practices and games to talk about.
Until then, I have a handful of thoughts and notes from our early time in camp – musings from Wednesday’s introductory press conference and from around the facility.
Here’s to a full month of football:

No Joke

Stephen Jones has always had a great sense of humor and I have learned over the years of being around him to know that there is no joking around in this situation with Jeremy Mincey. What Mincey has failed to understand is that regardless of how well he played last season, this front office still went out and got an elite rusher in Greg Hardy and drafted Randy Gregory. As important as Mincey might believe he is to this squad, there are others that are just as talented -- or in some cases, even more talented -- ready to take his spot and that is no joke.

Just Wondering?

​

Jerry Jones said there were Mondays after games where as a staff they sat around and talked about not getting Lance Dunbar enough touches. Coming from a guy that studied the same tape each week as Jones, I could understand where he was coming from. There were certain down and distance situations where I would have tried to put the ball in his

hands. As much as I want to believe Jones that Dunbar will get more opportunities, the reality is that his words appear to be just that -- words. For ​

Lance Dunbar

to get more of an opportunity in this offense it is going to take Jason Garrett and Scott Linehan to make that happen. With that being said, I hope they were listening.​

Pet Cats

Today on our Talkin' Cowboys/Break radio show, I was asked who my Pet Cats were for the upcoming training camp. On offense, I went with receiver Deontay Greenberry. On defense, I chose linebacker Damien Wilson. What I liked about Greenberry is that I get that feeling he is fearless in the way that he approaches the game. There was that practice in the rookie minicamp when he showed no regard for his body by laying out for a ball before crashing violently into the turf. What was outstanding about that play was that he still managed to catch the ball. From that point on, I was aDeontay Greenberry fan. What I like about Wilson -- and this goes back to his college days at Minnesota -- is that he would have made every single tackle had he not been held the majority of the time. This is a bold statement butDamien Wilson has a real chance to be this year's Anthony Hitchens -- mark it down.

Welcome Back Sean

I happened to be hanging out with Sean Lee last night before dinner and we were visiting about the offseason when Gary Brown and Darren McFaddenwalked by. Without stopping Brown told Lee to please take it easy on his running backs, especially in the one-on-one pass blocking drills. In typical Sean Lee fashion he fired back at Brown and McFadden: "Don't count on it." It’s great to be back in Oxnard.

 

[mcnuttz]

Cowboys won't have structured plan in place for Tony Romo


OXNARD, Calif. -- Last summer, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo didn't practice more than two straight days while the team was in training camp, because of his surgically repaired back.
The Cowboys will have a plan for Romo's back this summer, but the quarterback will set it.

"Tony did a really good job this offseason; he practiced virtually in all of the OTAs, some days were more full than others, and we'll just kind of watch him," coach Jason Garrett said. "We don't have a plan right now saying he's going to practice two days, be off a day, whatever. But as training camp goes on, we'll develop that plan based on how he's feeling, how he's handling the workload. You'll probably see him practice a lot; you'll probably see him have some off days. There's nothing structured at this point."

Romo was held out of the final day of the June minicamp like a few players as the Cowboys called an end to their preseason.

Romo said on a few occasions this offseason was his best in years because of all the work he was able to put in. He had to play catch-up last summer after a discectomy kept him off the field in the spring. He missed the 2013 offseason after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from his back.

After throwing three interceptions in the season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Romo altered his practice schedule, taking Wednesdays off for the rest of the season. He finished the year with 34 touchdown passes and just nine interceptions, while leading the league in Total QBR, passer rating and completion percentage.

"Tony is definitely better than he was in the past," owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "From the standpoint that physical is not all about your high jump or broad jump, [that] physical is about execution, the taking of what you can do physically, measurably and executing with it, I would say to you that he's physically better at executing than he was a year ago or two years ago. It has everything to do with his savvy, in my mind."

 

[mcnuttz]

Cowboys glad there is no Dez Watch at training camp

Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer

OXNARD, Calif. -- Training camps are often filled with headaches but the Dallas Cowboys took care of perhaps their biggest headache by signing Dez Bryant to a five-year, $70 million deal to weeks ago.

They can only imagine what it would have been like had they not agreed to a deal with Bryant by July 15. There would have been daily questions about when Bryant would arrive in Oxnard, California, or if he would arrive at all.
Bryant was unlikely to show up for training camp if he had to play this season on the $12.823 million franchise tag and there were questions as to whether he would have shown up for the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the New York Giants.

"The Dez Watch is something that wouldn't have been welcomed by Coach [Jason] Garrett, his teammates, and certainly by Jerry [Jones] and myself," executive vice president Stephen Jones said. "We wanted to avoid that. He's a big reason for our success last year, the energy he brings to not only the field during a game, but to a practice field, a workout or meeting. His presence is a big deal. To have him here from Day 1 is a big part of what was pushing us as well. He's a leader on this team and he's a big part of it. We wanted to have him here."

Bryant showed up on a handful of occasions in the offseason program for workouts and went through individual drills in one organized team activity. He showed up for the final day of the June minicamp but only as a spectator.
His absence gave opportunities to receivers like Terrance Williams and Devin Street to get more work, which was a plus for Garrett and the coaches. It also left something a void.

But they're glad they won't feel that void when they practice for the first time on Thursday.

"It's interesting, when you have a guy like that with such a presence in some ways you feel his absence more," Garrett said. "I've played with guys throughout my career, we've coached guys on our team throughout our careers where this guy might be a great player but he doesn't quite have that persona or that personality on the field, and when he's not there you miss him but some of the residual impact isn't quite as significant.

Dez is one of those guys who you miss him because of the kind of player he is but also because of his personality and the energy that he brings."

 

[mcnuttz]

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett to WR Dez Bryant: ‘What the hell? Good to see you, man’

David Moore Follow @DavidMooreDMN Email dmoore@dallasnews.com

Jason Garrett was on a brisk walk across the parking lot to his room Wednesday afternoon to prepare for his opening speech to the team when Dez Bryant appeared around the corner of the building.

Bryant met the Cowboys in Oxnard rather than taking the flight from Dallas with the majority of his teammates. It was the first time he and Garrett had spoken in person since the receiver signed his five-year, $70 million contract.

“What the hell? Good to see you, man,’’ Garrett said as he broke away from another conversation to give Bryant an enthusiastic embrace.

As the two chatted, a golf cart carrying Jerry Jones back to his room drove by.

“Dez, Dez, come over here,’’ the owner shouted.

“Better go see the big man,’’ Garrett said.

Bryant and Jones shook hands and spoke briefly. The owner’s wife, Gene, was also on the cart.

“I’m so happy for you,’’ she told Bryant as they drove off.

Garrett and Bryant then moved to a spot in the shade to continue their conversation for a few moments before breaking it off to get ready for the team meeting.

 

[mcnuttz]

R. McClain, McFadden Placed On PUP List To Start Camp; Keith Rivers Retires

Thursday, July 30, 2015 12:22 PM CDT

By David Helman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

OXNARD, Calif. – The Cowboys have made several roster moves to open training camp, headlined by the decision to place Rolando McClain and Darren McFadden on the physically unable to perform list.

The news comes one day after Cowboys officials hinted that the team has several candidates for the PUP – though none of them are considered serious problems.

McClain is still in the process of rehabbing his offseason knee surgery, which limited him during OTAs and minicamp. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday that the linebacker would likely be limited in the early going.

“Rolando’s coming off a couple different things that he’s dealt with over the offseason. And initially he’s probably not going to be practicing very much,” he said. “He did very little with us over the offseason. He was trying to rehab that knee. He’ll still be in that mode. He looks good physically, but he’s probably not going to be on the practice field right at the outset.”

​

McFadden was hindered by a hamstring injury during the spring, and that same hamstring will limit him to start training camp.
Unlike the regular season PUP, the Cowboys can activate players from the PUP at any time during the preseason. The hope is that McFadden can be moved to the active roster after he’s had some extra time to monitor the injury.

“Just because a guy starts on PUP doesn’t mean he’ll be there long,” said Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones. “A lot of times they start there to get a good feel for them and then move right off. I don’t expect it to be a difficult situation for us on the numbers of PUP.”

In addition, the Cowboys moved veteran linebacker Keith Rivers to the reserve/retired list, opening up a roster spot in the process. Rivers signed a veteran minimum deal during free agency, and he was considered a candidate for the strong side linebacker job that was vacated by Bruce Carter.

The Cowboys also designated 2015 draft picks Chaz Green and Mark Nzeochafor the PUP – which isn’t overly surprising. Team owner/general manager Jerry Jones revealed in June that Green had undergone surgery on his hip and would likely be limited to start camp. Nzeocha is still rehabbing the ACL tear he suffered in October while playing his senior college season with Wyoming.

 

[dallen]

It's time!

 

[mcnuttz]

Scout's Notebook: Four Players I'm Watching In The Early Going

Thursday, July 30, 2015 11:53 AM CDT

By Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout


OXNARD, Calif. – A few more bullet points this morning from Cowboys training camp, as we get set to see our first action of the 2015 preseason.

More specifically, I wanted to highlight four players I’ve got my eye on at the opening of camp – and for a variety of different reasons. These are guys I think have something to prove when the Cowboys begin the process of whittling down this roster for the start of the regular season.

Different Player?

​

I need to keep an eye on Brandon Carr this training camp. There have been a couple of different times where I have observed him and the other defensive backs working on their own and I have to say that this is the best that I have seen him look, technique-wise. All this offseason talk about his contract might have lit a fire.

Running Back Talk

I didn’t read too much into what Jerry Jones said about Joseph Randle and how much confidence he has in him being an every down back. There is no question that Randle will get his shot, but Jones has to be careful in talking too much about Darren McFadden because of where he went to school -- Arkansas. If Jones comes off too strong then people don’t give McFadden the credit for his talent instead of being from Jones' school. McFadden is the most complete back on this roster, regardless of where he went to school.

Serious or Not?

In my career I have been around players that have so much talent, but for some reason or another never live up to those expectations. If there is a player in this camp that invokes those thoughts for me, it's Davon Coleman. When Coleman first arrived on the scene as a rookie out of Arizona State I thought that this front office stole one. His tape was outstanding. His ability to make plays for such a big man was impressive to say the least. Then he makes the team, starts opening day and you are thinking he is on his way. But then he doesn’t look like the same player and later finds himself on the practice squad for the remainder of the season. What was once so promising turns into disappointment. If Davon Coleman is going to make this 53-man roster again, he’s going to have to showcase his talent, but more importantly he is going to have to be more serious about his job each and every day. There is a spot in this defensive line rotation, especially at tackle, for him, but if he doesn’t change his approach he will be just another one of those players that didn’t work out and that would be a shame.

Linebacker Upgrade

I really do like what the front office did with their switching out of Andrew Gachkar for Cam Lawrence before camp opened. Gachkar is a much better special teams player, plus in those games where the club might get nicked up at linebacker he is better suited to come in and finish a game without the fear of getting exposed at the position. Gachkar is an every down player, where Lawrence really was only an option on early downs. The depth and the quality of the group is improved by this move.

 

[dallen]

 

[fortsbest]

The line can block the same, the question becomes if the guy running has the same chemistry with them as Murray did. They knew how to block for him and he knew how to run behind them.

I would think that the line blocks what the line blocks. They make big holes and it is the back's job to pick them and get through them. Not their job to adjust to each back that comes along.