Training camp thread...

Genghis Khan

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I read SI.com's NFC East preview yesterday and they said Harris was sensational in offseason workouts and would be the Cowboys breakout player in 2013.

I find it hard to believe. Maybe at PR, but it seems much more likely he will get lost in the shuffle on offense.
 

Cotton

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Cowboys to wear pads during practice

July, 21, 2013

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com


OXNARD, Calif. – The NFL is mandating players must wear full pads to play in games this season. Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett is mandating the Cowboys wear them in practice.

At his opening team meeting of training camp on Saturday Garrett told the players to get with the equipment staff and find the right kind of pads for practices and games or they will not practice.

“You’ve got to be able to carry your pads to be a good football player,” Garrett said. “If you go out in shorts or in these pads that you’re not going to wear in the game and then come game time you’re wearing something different than what you’ve been practicing in, that’s not good for you. You want to feel comfortable. You want to feel like you’ve been there before, so we’ll do that in practice as well.”

Linebacker Sean Lee did not wear thigh or knee pads in his first three seasons. Most of the skill players on both sides of the ball did not wear all of their pads for fear of being slowed down even a little.

“I think at first it’ll be an adjustment, but I don’t think it’s too big of a deal,” Lee said. “It’ll be good because you can practice in them and feel good.”
 

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Frederick Gets First Reps With Romo, Talks Playing Time At Guard

Posted 12 minutes ago

David Helman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer




OXNARD, Calif. – Lost in the hubbub of Tony Romo’s return to practice was his inevitable linkup withTravis Frederick.

The Cowboys spent the 31st pick in the draft on a new center to put in front of Romo, and Sunday marked the first official exchange since the franchise quarterback returned from offseason surgery.

“It was a great opportunity for me to finally get some snaps and start working on some timing,” Frederick said. “It’s just a little bit different with every person, so you’ve just kind of got to get used to that.”

Fittingly enough, after an offseason spent working with backups Kyle Orton and Nick Stephens, Frederick said there were some adjustments to be made with Romo, including a botched snap.

“I think that kind of comes along with everything else. You get a chance to get feedback from him when you’re making calls and things like that,” he said. “But I think really what’s most important is making sure the offensive line is working well together, and making sure we can fit the pieces in together. I think every chance you get to work with Tony behind you, you’re building that relationship. So it all just kind of builds up together.”

Sunday marks the beginning of the first-ever training camp for all the Cowboys’ rookies, though to this point the workload hasn’t changed much from what Frederick and his classmates accomplished during offseason OTA’s and minicamp.

“It was good – very similar to OTA’s and things like that,” he said. “Obviously it’s going to pick up a little bit once we get full pads on. We haven’t had those on since I’ve been here, but I think it was a good start.”

The difference will be felt quickly for Frederick, however. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Saturday, and repeated after the team’s first walkthrough Sunday, that he intends to give Frederick a chance to play guard in some capacity during training camp.

“We have a little bit of a plan for him to play some guard early on in this training camp, so we’ll continue with that plan,” Garrett said. “But really what you have to do is look at who’s available to you.”

Injuries to the likes of Nate Livings, Mackenzy Bernadeau and Ronald Leary are likely to expedite that process, as Garrett alluded to. Frederick said the loss of some of the line’s regulars creates some differences, though he added that it’s good to gain familiarity with as many combinations as possible.

Frederick spent time at guard during his college career at Wisconsin, and he said it’s not an issue to play at either position.

“I just do what they tell me to do,” Frederick said. “So whether I’m playing center or playing guard, I’m going to do my best to not only make myself better but hopefully plug in and make the team better as a whole.”

Photos from the morning walkthrough on day one >>

 

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Frederick: Guard reps will make him better center

July, 21, 2013

By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com


OXNARD, Calif. – First-round pick Travis Frederick will work at guard for the first time as a professional Sunday afternoon.

The 6-foot-3, 311-pound Frederick has significant experience at both positions, starting at guard as a junior and center as a senior at Wisconsin. He focused solely on center during OTAs and minicamps in the spring but will see some action at guard in training camp, beginning with the first official practice.

“It’s a challenge because you’re switching spots and you have different responsibilities, but it’s also kind of a blessing in the fact that you get a chance to play both positions,” Frederick said. “At center, you kind of have to know what’s going on. You have to know what the guards are doing and what the tackles are doing, so by playing guard, you can get a real physical feel of what the guards need.

“Maybe I’ve been playing center and maybe I’ve been thinking, ‘Oh, that’s enough help to give a guy’ or something like that, but as a guard I go in there and I’m not getting enough help. I go, ‘OK, now I understand that I’m not giving him enough help.’ So I think that it’s going to help me as a center and help me as a guard because I’m going to be able to pick up that position and learn those intricacies.”

The Cowboys planned to work Frederick some at guard regardless of the circumstances. The value of his flexibility is especially apparent with the team’s top three guards – Nate Livings (foot), Mackenzy Bernadeau (hamstring) and Ronald Leary (calf) – sidelined by what the team hopes are minor injuries.
 

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Carlos A. Mendez ‏@calexmendez 1m
Cowboys have set up a play clock on the practice field. Not there last year. They want to play fast, no doubt.

_________________________________

It sounds like we are really working on controlling the tempo of the game. Very good news.
 

Texas Ace

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I said two seasons ago this guy was already started down the other side of the hill. He is at the same stage that previous malingers on the squad have attained. Get the contract then begin the injury process followed the next season missing training camp then start every third game before going out with an injury. Next phase sit on the bench for as long as the team will keep you. This exercise will get you three years pay with about seven games played in total. Not a bad system.
I've said it a million times and I'll say it again - he hasn't done a damn thing since 2009 and should have been cut prior to the 2012 season.
 

Cotton

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Now healthy, DeMarcus Ware says he's getting ready for 'no-holds-barred' practicing in training camp

DeMarcus Ware said training camp won’t be like OTAs and mini-camp for him. He’s going to go full speed, and he won’t have to wear a brace or harness for the sake of his shoulder.

“I’m ready to go full go,” the veteran defensive end said Sunday as the Cowboys got ready for their first practice of training camp. “Especially once you get the pads on. Once you put those on, it’s no-holds-barred when you get in there.”

Ware is coming off of shoulder surgery in the offseason to repair an injury that slowed him severely in the last half of last season. At one point in the season finale against Washington, he couldn’t lift his arm.

“I don’t even want to think about that last game,” he joked.

Then he thought about how much he was limited a year ago, when his sack production dipped from 19.5 in 2011 to 11.5.

“Playing at least eight games where you’re not at least totally healthy, your mind sort of has to take over, but your body is not doing what your mind is telling it to do,” Ware said. “And now being able to do everything, go out and play, feel whole again, feels really good.”

Ware said the transition back to the 4-3 from the 3-4 will be easier than the switch the other way around seven years ago.

“You go from a defensive end to a linebacker, you have to drop a little bit more, you have a little bit more formations and everything you have to worry about because you have to drop,” he said. “And now you’re just putting your hand down in the dirt, reading formations. You’re pass-rushing 90 percent, actually 99 – I would say 94 percent of the time.”

He smiled at his own joke, evidence of the good mood he was in. He allowed himself to hint about the larger team goal.

“The last two seasons, being 8-8, we’re here working to do better than that,” he said. “Not just going out and saying we’re trying to make the playoffs. Who wants to just make the playoffs? We’re trying to get to where we need to be, ’cause we want to taste a little bit of that apple.”

Carlos Mendez
 

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Todd Archer ‏@toddarcher 36s
Cowboys cheerleaders made it through routine to open camp without a pulled hamstring.

:lol
 

Cotton

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Jerry enjoying his favorite part of the team:

 

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A frustrated Bernadeau disappointed in himself, can't wait to return to health

Guard Mackenzy Bernadeau will be sidelined at the start of training camp for the second straight year after being placed on the physically unable to perform list by the Dallas Cowboys.

Bernadeau suffered a hamstring injury during the pre-camp conditioning test on Saturday and was unable to finish. He will remain sidelined until he regains his health and passes the test.

It's the continuation of a frustrating turn with the Cowboys for Bernadeau who missed most of training camp last year because of knee and hip injuries.

Bernadeau had hoped for a fresh clean start in 2013

"I let myself down," Bernadeau said. "My whole point was being here on time and being prepared to compete so I'm more frustrated than anybody. It's frustrating. It’s the second year in a row not starting off camp. You want to be out there with team but you still have to be healthy."

Bernadeau said the injury is minor and believes he will return soon.

But its huge setback for a Cowboys offensive line that is also beginning camp without fellow starting guard Nate Livings (foot) and top backup Ronald Leary (calf), who are both on the non-football injury list.

David Arkin and Kevin Kowalski worked with the first team at guard on Sunday.

"Unfortunate, but that’s the way the game goes," offensive line coach Bill Callahan said. "A lot of guys stepped up into those positions and roles. We’ll get them back in a couple of days, I think. It’s one of those things that happens. You can’t plan for it. You just adjust and adapt off it."

Clarence Hill
 

Cotton

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Todd Archer ‏@toddarcher 1m
Reminder - no pads til Wednesday. League rules.
 

boozeman

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Scout’s Notebook: First Walkthrough Gives Look At Depth

Posted 1 hour ago

Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout






OXNARD, Calif. – Some thoughts from the field in Oxnard after the first walkthrough of camp:
•Jason Garrett likes to say that injuries are part of the game in the NFL and I couldn’t agree with him more. The first thing I learned a long time ago is that no one feels sorry for you. This league will test your resolve and your ability to adjust. For this offensive line, the ability to adjust has come very early in camp. When the first group broke the huddle today, it was Tyron Smith and Doug Free at the tackles with Travis Frederick at center, but Kevin Kowalski was in Nate Livings’ spot on the left side and David Arkin was on the right side for Mackenzy Bernadeau. With that group, the next trick for the coaches was going to be how they were going to play the backups. Rookie tackle Edawn Coughman took some reps on the left side at guard, which was the first time that I had seen him play inside this spring, and free agent Ray Dominguez out of Arkansas was on the right side. Garrett has a plan to use rookie Travis Frederick at some point at guard and maybe even Phil Costa, who doesn’t have the bulk for the position but could be forced into action if needed. In standing behind the drills at practice today and watching the line work, it appeared that Livings should be back with the group before Ronald Leary and Bernadeau do. For Livings, it about the cut on his foot being healed enough for him to practice.
•It was interesting to see Lance Dunbar getting the first shot with the ones behind DeMarco Murray. I can see Dunbar in the role as the third down back in this offense with the thought that Phillip Tanner would be the second back, but that wasn’t the case. There were several plays where Dunbar received praise from Bill Callahan with his ability to read the blocks and hit the hole at the right spot. We got our first look at Joseph Randle but it was behind both Dunbar and Tanner. Seeing Randle live, he has some jump in his game. There is a burst there along with the ability to catch the ball on the move. Kendial Lawrence got some work as well but he wasn’t as noticeable as either Dunbar or Randle. I am looking forward in these next several weeks to see the learning curve of Randle and how he handles these practices. It’s clear that the talent is there but how quickly he picks up his assignments will tell you how fast he plays. It’s clear he is off to a good start when he received chances.
•With Jay Ratliff out of the lineup with the strained hamstring, Jason Hatcher and Sean Lissemore took the majority of the reps inside at defensive tackle. On the reps where I was studying their work, it appeared that Hatcher was playing the “Under Tackle” or the 3 and Lissemore played as the “Nose” or 1 technique. With the twos, Ben Bass and Nick Hayden were getting the reps, with Ikponmwosa Igbinosun and Jeris Pendleton working with the threes. Nick Hayden appears to be a player that Rod Marinelli really likes as part of his rotation. There were several moments in the individual period where he was working with him one-on-one on his technique. Pendleton is a player that I do not know much about, but I do like what I see in his size. At 324 pounds, we will see if he can play quick enough to make himself a factor for a roster spot in this scheme.


•At safety, Will Allen continues to work with Barry Church, which was something that we saw from the last minicamp before the break. Matt Johnson and J.J. Wilcox worked with the twos which I thought was a nice combination. It was Wilcox that showed up plenty in the OTAs and minicamps, but this morning Johnson was around the ball and in position when several passes went to the outside to the tight ends and backs. He was in great shape to make the close on the ball. Another area of Johnson’s game that I really liked was his communication with Orlando Scandrick. There were several plays where Callahan went to what the defense calls a “Nasty” split by the receiver tight to the formation, which Johnson and Scandrick were able to sort out with no problem. Running with the threes were Eric Frampton and Danny McCray but look for Jakar Hamilton to also get some work there.
 

Cotton

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Nick Eatman ‏@nickeatman 1m
Quick eye test observation .. This new QB Tanney .. He's got an arm now..no clue what he can do in a game but throws a good ball
 

Cotton

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Listen to the fans yell, whistle and cheer when Jerry unveils a #13 jersey as a gift to the host city. Why do they yell so much? Only two players have ever worn #13. Jerry Rhome (65-68) and Vanderjagt. GO COWBOYS!!!!

Oh wait, the #13 is more indicative of something about Jerry. :budd
 

boozeman

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Listen to the fans yell, whistle and cheer when Jerry unveils a #13 jersey as a gift to the host city. Why do they yell so much? Only two players have ever worn #13. Jerry Rhome (65-68) and Vanderjagt. GO COWBOYS!!!!

Oh wait, the #13 is more indicative of something about Jerry. :budd
Fans still chanting "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry."
by Calvin Watkins 6:28 PM
 
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