Training Camp Thread...
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5 things I’ll be watching with Dallas Cowboys practicing for first time in pads
Brandon George
Published: August 1, 2015 12:00 pm
OXNARD, Calif. – Finally, today is the day that we actually get to see some hitting at Dallas Cowboys training camp. The players will practice in pads for the first time after two days of individual drills.
With the Cowboys now ready for some 11-on-11 offense vs. defense in practice, we’ll start to see some position battles take shape and find out more about this class of rookies.
The opening ceremony of training camp is at 4 p.m. CT today and the first padded practice begins at 5:45 p.m. CT today. We’ll be tweeting live updates all evening.
Here are five things I’ll be watching on the first day of padded practices:
* How does rookie DE Randy Gregory’s speed hold up in pads against LT Tyron Smith: Speed is Gregory’s best asset. We saw the second-round pick beat the Pro Bowl left tackle a few times in offseason practices, but that was before the pads were on. There has been a lot of talk about if Gregory is big enough to withstand the physical left tackles in the game. We’ll begin to find out how Gregory holds up against one of the league’s top left tackles. Does Smith put Gregory on his back side or will the rookie withstand the big man?
* Does Joseph Randle begin to cement his spot as the Cowboys’ starting running back: Let’s face it, with veteran Darren McFadden out with a hamstring injury, the starting running back job is Joseph Randle’s to lose. Randle has always been the likely choice to replace DeMarco Murray. Let’s see how he looks in pads today against the first-team defense. This will begin to show us if he can produce against NFL starters consistently.
* What kind of energy level does Greg Hardy bring to this defense: If the first two days are any indication, Greg Hardy will bring an intensity to this defense that is needed. Hardy has been as aggressive and physical as any player the first two days of individual drills. He brings the energy level up another level. It’ll be interesting to see him face off against LT Tyron Smith with the pads on.
* A position battle to watch is for the starting left guard spot: Ron Leary started every game last season at left guard for the Cowboys. Will he hold onto his starting spot in training camp or be overtaken by undrafted rookie La’el Collins. We’ll begin to see how this position battle shapes up now that the pads are coming on for practices.
* Can WR Dez Bryant and LB Sean Lee ease into things: The Cowboys want receiver Dez Bryant and often-injured linebacker Sean Lee to ease into things in practices this training camp. But those two players have one speed: all-out. So, can Lee and Bryant dial it down in practices with the pads coming on today. Bryant didn’t practice with his teammates all offseason and the Cowboys want him to take it easy early on. Lee missed all of last season with a torn ACL and will be in his first padded practice Saturday since 2013.
Brandon George
Published: August 1, 2015 12:00 pm
OXNARD, Calif. – Finally, today is the day that we actually get to see some hitting at Dallas Cowboys training camp. The players will practice in pads for the first time after two days of individual drills.
With the Cowboys now ready for some 11-on-11 offense vs. defense in practice, we’ll start to see some position battles take shape and find out more about this class of rookies.
The opening ceremony of training camp is at 4 p.m. CT today and the first padded practice begins at 5:45 p.m. CT today. We’ll be tweeting live updates all evening.
Here are five things I’ll be watching on the first day of padded practices:
* How does rookie DE Randy Gregory’s speed hold up in pads against LT Tyron Smith: Speed is Gregory’s best asset. We saw the second-round pick beat the Pro Bowl left tackle a few times in offseason practices, but that was before the pads were on. There has been a lot of talk about if Gregory is big enough to withstand the physical left tackles in the game. We’ll begin to find out how Gregory holds up against one of the league’s top left tackles. Does Smith put Gregory on his back side or will the rookie withstand the big man?
* Does Joseph Randle begin to cement his spot as the Cowboys’ starting running back: Let’s face it, with veteran Darren McFadden out with a hamstring injury, the starting running back job is Joseph Randle’s to lose. Randle has always been the likely choice to replace DeMarco Murray. Let’s see how he looks in pads today against the first-team defense. This will begin to show us if he can produce against NFL starters consistently.
* What kind of energy level does Greg Hardy bring to this defense: If the first two days are any indication, Greg Hardy will bring an intensity to this defense that is needed. Hardy has been as aggressive and physical as any player the first two days of individual drills. He brings the energy level up another level. It’ll be interesting to see him face off against LT Tyron Smith with the pads on.
* A position battle to watch is for the starting left guard spot: Ron Leary started every game last season at left guard for the Cowboys. Will he hold onto his starting spot in training camp or be overtaken by undrafted rookie La’el Collins. We’ll begin to see how this position battle shapes up now that the pads are coming on for practices.
* Can WR Dez Bryant and LB Sean Lee ease into things: The Cowboys want receiver Dez Bryant and often-injured linebacker Sean Lee to ease into things in practices this training camp. But those two players have one speed: all-out. So, can Lee and Bryant dial it down in practices with the pads coming on today. Bryant didn’t practice with his teammates all offseason and the Cowboys want him to take it easy early on. Lee missed all of last season with a torn ACL and will be in his first padded practice Saturday since 2013.
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All this move tells me is that the ROSTER IS SET and they need cheap bodies to practice with.
It doesn't look like we are interested in veterans, which fits the pattern once camp starts. We usually get real lazy and recycle schlubs.
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Hopefully he was humbled a bit. But I don't think he has turned a corner, just learning how to manage his words better. Until he starts playing confident, it doesn't matter if he pretends he says he has changed his outlook on his prospects.
I look at oft-injured guys one of two ways. Some are snake bitten but are capable "IF" because they are smart, determined and passionate. Claiborne does not strike me as that at all. He seems to fall into the physically talented but mentally weak category that lack the ability or desire to rebound.
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Cowboys Camp recap/look ahead: Day 4, here come padded practices
David Moore
Published: August 1, 2015 12:31 pm
The push to the regular season continues with the first padded practice of this training camp. Here’s a look at what happened yesterday and what lies ahead.
Tony Romo is held out of the afternoon practice. No, it’s not his back. It’s his eye. The quarterback has developed a large stye under his left eye about the size of a football. OK, it’s not that large, but it’s significant enough that the training staff will treat and evaluate today whether or not he’s able to return.
Loretta Lynch was a topic of conversation. Usually, when a football team talks about the U.S. Attorney General, you wonder what trouble its players or management has gotten into. In this case, it is Lynch who unknowingly provided the mantra for the Cowboys season. After watching an interview with in April around her confirmation hearing, head coach Jason
Garrett came up with the message of “We define ourselves’’ for this team.
Club officials began the day believing a left rib strain would limit Greg Hardy in practice over the weekend. It didn’t. The defensive end took part in all of Friday’s work and should do so again Saturday.
What to expect
The first padded practice always brings a jolt of energy and is the official kick-off to training camp. Consider what took place the last two days in practice a soft opening.
More than and hour-and-a-half before the players take the field this afternoon, the Cowboys will stage their opening ceremonies for their fans in Oxnard. Will this be the year owner Jerry Jones parachutes onto the practice field?
Quote
From running back Darren McFadden:
“I want to go out and show everybody the type of player Darren McFadden is,” he said. “He’s not the type of guy who is just out here trying to collect a check or anything. I want to be out there, putting in work. I want to show people that I can run the ball in this league still…I am a grinder. I am a fighter.’’
David Moore
Published: August 1, 2015 12:31 pm
The push to the regular season continues with the first padded practice of this training camp. Here’s a look at what happened yesterday and what lies ahead.
Tony Romo is held out of the afternoon practice. No, it’s not his back. It’s his eye. The quarterback has developed a large stye under his left eye about the size of a football. OK, it’s not that large, but it’s significant enough that the training staff will treat and evaluate today whether or not he’s able to return.
Loretta Lynch was a topic of conversation. Usually, when a football team talks about the U.S. Attorney General, you wonder what trouble its players or management has gotten into. In this case, it is Lynch who unknowingly provided the mantra for the Cowboys season. After watching an interview with in April around her confirmation hearing, head coach Jason
Garrett came up with the message of “We define ourselves’’ for this team.
Club officials began the day believing a left rib strain would limit Greg Hardy in practice over the weekend. It didn’t. The defensive end took part in all of Friday’s work and should do so again Saturday.
What to expect
The first padded practice always brings a jolt of energy and is the official kick-off to training camp. Consider what took place the last two days in practice a soft opening.
More than and hour-and-a-half before the players take the field this afternoon, the Cowboys will stage their opening ceremonies for their fans in Oxnard. Will this be the year owner Jerry Jones parachutes onto the practice field?
Quote
From running back Darren McFadden:
“I want to go out and show everybody the type of player Darren McFadden is,” he said. “He’s not the type of guy who is just out here trying to collect a check or anything. I want to be out there, putting in work. I want to show people that I can run the ball in this league still…I am a grinder. I am a fighter.’’
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Broaddus: What I'm Looking Forward To On The First Day In Pads
Saturday, August 01, 2015 12:43 PM CDT
By Bryan Broaddus
OXNARD, Calif. -- I am looking forward to that first rep of one-on-one pass rush between Greg Hardy and Tyron Smith. These two have already had some interesting practices feeling each other out -- this will be a battle.
I am looking forward to seeing if Joseph Randle can take these practices where he doesn’t have real competition for his spot and get off to the type of start that will put some distance between himself and Darren McFadden. That journey starts today.
I am looking forward to seeing Ronald Leary putting all this talk of competition for his position to rest.
I am looking forward to seeing if Brandon Carr can build on what he was able to accomplish that final month of last season and finally become that player that I believed he would be when he signed on in 2012.
I am looking forward to seeing if Byron Jones is really as comfortable on the field as he appears to be. Nothing seems to bother him and that is rare for a rookie.
I am looking forward to that first “POP” that Sean Lee puts on a ball carrier.
I am looking forward to seeing if Devin Street has really benefited from Dez Bryant being out all of OTAs and minicamps, or will one of these other receivers step up and pass him for his spot?
I am looking forward to see if all this size and strength that DeMarcus Lawrence has added in the offseason physically pays off. Is he that defensive lineman that we are overlooking?
I am looking forward to seeing if Damien Wilson is the next Anthony Hitchens. I think he has a chance.
I am looking forward to seeing if Corey White winds up as the most useful defensive back on this roster.
I am looking forward to Randy Gregory proving me wrong about his lack of pass rush moves coming out of Nebraska.
So much to look forward to.
Saturday, August 01, 2015 12:43 PM CDT
By Bryan Broaddus
OXNARD, Calif. -- I am looking forward to that first rep of one-on-one pass rush between Greg Hardy and Tyron Smith. These two have already had some interesting practices feeling each other out -- this will be a battle.
I am looking forward to seeing if Joseph Randle can take these practices where he doesn’t have real competition for his spot and get off to the type of start that will put some distance between himself and Darren McFadden. That journey starts today.
I am looking forward to seeing Ronald Leary putting all this talk of competition for his position to rest.
I am looking forward to seeing if Brandon Carr can build on what he was able to accomplish that final month of last season and finally become that player that I believed he would be when he signed on in 2012.
I am looking forward to seeing if Byron Jones is really as comfortable on the field as he appears to be. Nothing seems to bother him and that is rare for a rookie.
I am looking forward to that first “POP” that Sean Lee puts on a ball carrier.
I am looking forward to seeing if Devin Street has really benefited from Dez Bryant being out all of OTAs and minicamps, or will one of these other receivers step up and pass him for his spot?
I am looking forward to see if all this size and strength that DeMarcus Lawrence has added in the offseason physically pays off. Is he that defensive lineman that we are overlooking?
I am looking forward to seeing if Damien Wilson is the next Anthony Hitchens. I think he has a chance.
I am looking forward to seeing if Corey White winds up as the most useful defensive back on this roster.
I am looking forward to Randy Gregory proving me wrong about his lack of pass rush moves coming out of Nebraska.
So much to look forward to.
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Not that weird. That is what you do with fringe athletic guys you know have no other shot.
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Second day in a row he has done that.
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It's good to see, even if nothing comes of it. He's at least putting in the effort.
Genghis Khan
The worst version of myself
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