The most encouraging news from camp after three days appears to be on the offensive line. Depth appears to be emerging. Word after Monday's early practice is that LG Larry Allen will don pads and join the team Monday afternoon. The Cowboys will not require Allen to retake the test. The coaching staff feels Allen has lost enough excess weight and has improved his cardiovascular conditioning enough to practice. Allen's absence gave Stephen Peterman three days of uninterrupted work at LG. The coaches praised Peterman's work during the mini camps. His emergence was one reason Allen has been discussed as an option at RT, a position he has not played since 1994.
Allen will return to his recent spot at left guard. The Cowboys will continue to rotate players at RT. This morning Jacob Rogers got his turn there with the first team. We probably won't know until the first preseason game if Dallas has somebody who can play right tackle with confidence.
Andre Gurode may be working his way out of Parcells' doghouse. The former RG played his way out of the starting lineup last year and Parcells admitted the talented Gurode was an "enigma" whom he could not motivate easily. Today Parcells said that Gurode "is playing much better at center than he did at guard." Gurode got a turn in the pivot with the first team, ahead of Al Johnson.