2020 Training Camp Thread

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Observations from Cowboys training camp: Trevon Diggs makes the most of extra snaps

By David Moore

10:52 AM on Aug 25, 2020


FRISCO — Trevon Diggs knew the jump from college to the NFL would be an adjustment, especially against the backdrop of a pandemic.

But hey, football and life are all about adjustments. That’s what the Cowboys second-round pick told reporters a few days before the veterans reported to this training camp. His intention was to keep his head down and go to work.

“Try to compete every day,’' Diggs said when only the rookie class was at The Star in late July. “That’s my goal, to compete for a starting spot.‘'

Diggs doesn’t appear to have a spot in the starting lineup at the moment. But with more days like the one he had Tuesday, he’ll give himself a chance.

Chidobe Awuzie didn’t take part in team drills. The veteran corner tweaked his right knee one day earlier and watched Tuesday’s session from the sideline. That gave Diggs and Chris Westry more snaps in practice.

Diggs made the most of it. He broke up a slant pass in the end zone intended for Noah Brown to prevent a touchdown. He ran step for step with Michael Gallup down the field to break up another play. He showed good technique at the point of attack when he dropped down to help in the run game.



He doesn’t make plays every day in practice, but he makes them more often than not. Tuesday may have been his best day yet.

• Dak Prescott and Gallup connected on the most spectacular play of Tuesday’s session. Gallup was lined up along the left sideline and took off. Cornerback Anthony Brown kept up with him initially. As Prescott lofted the ball downfield, Gallup got separation. The ball traveled more than 40 yards before it dropped behind Brown and ahead of safety Donovan Wilson, who was closing over the top. Gallup adjusted slightly to his inside shoulder and clearly made the catch before falling to the turf just short of the end zone.
• Leighton Vander Esch has looked good in this camp at middle linebacker, so good that a familiar refrain echoed through the Ford Center after one play. Tony Pollard took a pitch around the right side. Vander Esch weaved his way through traffic at full speed to get to Pollard and exploded, knocking the running back to the ground. The Wolf Hunter let out a howl and his defensive teammates joined in, slapping him on the helmet and shoulder pads for the play.
• Travis Frederick’s retirement has left veteran Joe Looney as the team’s starting center. He’s no Frederick, but he filled in nicely for Frederick during the 2018 season and he’s doing so again. But something happened Tuesday that hasn’t happened in this camp — Prescott and Looney bobbled the exchange, leaving the ball on the ground for the defense to recover.
• Reggie Robinson, the team’s fourth-round pick out of Tulsa, hasn’t had too many moments in this camp. But he had one Tuesday. The rookie corner was getting some work at safety and made a nice play in the back of the end zone, breaking up a pass intended for tight end Charlie Taumoepeau.
• Connor Williams didn’t practice, giving Connor McGovern a lot of snaps at left guard.
• Greg Zuerlein took a series of six kicks between the 33- and 46-yard line on Tuesday, making all of them. He hasn’t missed any kicks in this camp.
• Tight end Blake Jarwin split the seam down the middle for two big gains in practice. But it’s questionable he would have made the second catch. The reason: safety Xavier Woods arrived at the same time as the ball and pulled up rather than blasting his teammate.

“You don’t have to show it in practice, just save it for the game,’' Woods said. “I mean, I know on the back end we can’t hit guys in that type situation so we just save it for the game.


“Just to know that I’m there, that’s all that matters.‘'

What would have happened if Jarwin wasn’t a teammate and this play had taken place in a game?

“That probably would’ve been his last play,’' Jarwin said

 

[Stasheroo]

I still can't believe they didn't even try to upgrade at punter.

I see two possible reasons why:

1. The team still believes in Jones and attributes his poor performance to coaching and injury.
2. Bones Fassel loves to run trickery on special teams, and Jones is a terrific athlete that allows him to keep those tricks in his quiver.

 

[Stasheroo]

21st century football. Long missing in Dallas.

 

[Simpleton]

Diggs is a bit raw with his technique and only really had 2 full seasons playing CB in college so it's not a surprise that it's taking time to get him up to speed. I never thought he was a surefire day 1 starter necessarily, but someone who would grow into the role and likely take over a starting position, or maybe a nickel role as the year goes on.

His ball skills are worth the extra developmental time it may take because once he gets there, it's going to be something.

 

[ravidubey]

Diggs is a bit raw with his technique and only really had 2 full seasons playing CB in college so it's not a surprise that it's taking time to get him up to speed. I never thought he was a surefire day 1 starter necessarily, but someone who would grow into the role and likely take over a starting position, or maybe a nickel role as the year goes on.

His ball skills are worth the extra developmental time it may take because once he gets there, it's going to be something.

NFL family bumps prospects up at least a round I feel

 

[Cowboysrock55]

NFL family bumps prospects up at least a round I feel

You think Diggs was a third round talent?

 

[Simpleton]

NFL family bumps prospects up at least a round I feel

He was a legit top 50 prospect, I don't think anybody would've batted an eye had he gone late 1/early 2.

 

[ravidubey]

He was a legit top 50 prospect, I don't think anybody would've batted an eye had he gone late 1/early 2.

I’m joking here, though there’s a grain of truth.

There is a level of confidence that comes when grading a talented player on the success of former players at his school drafted at his position in the NFL and I think that goes double for players from football families.

Let’s just say having a brother playing in the league at such a high level didn’t hurt his prospects.

 

[boozeman]

 

[1bigfan13]

Doesn't feel like it because there's none of the familiar preseason buildup, but we are exactly 2 weeks away from the start of the NFL season.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Doesn't feel like it because there's none of the familiar preseason buildup, but we are exactly 2 weeks away from the start of the NFL season.

Yeah it's very weird. I don't have any of the usual exciting build up. I'm sure when games start I'll get that feeling but it's just not the same.

 

[1bigfan13]

Diggs is a bit raw with his technique and only really had 2 full seasons playing CB in college so it's not a surprise that it's taking time to get him up to speed. I never thought he was a surefire day 1 starter necessarily, but someone who would grow into the role and likely take over a starting position, or maybe a nickel role as the year goes on.

His ball skills are worth the extra developmental time it may take because once he gets there, it's going to be something.

I didn't view him as a starter for this season either. I thought he'd be our 4th best CB this season as I think the experience and talent of Brown, Chido, and Lewis would be too much for him to overcome in season one.