Dallas Cowboys News: Going Back To Cali

Training Camp Headed Back To Oxnard In 2012 - Dallascowboys.com
The Cowboys will sign a three-year contract with the city of Oxnard, pending finalization between the Cowboys and city officials, that will see the team practicing in California through 2014. The initial reports indicate that the Cowboys will be there for the entire camp.

"We look forward to going back to California next year. We are also exploring avenues to have a continued Dallas Cowboys presence in San Antonio, because it has always been a special home for the Dallas Cowboys. The support of the City and the fans in San Antonio are outstanding."

At this point, the most likely scenario is that some OTAs or preseason practices will be held in San Antonio, but not training camp.

Tony Romo says rib is healed - ESPN Dallas
Tony Romo believes he is fully healed. He didn't take a pain-killing injection against the Seahawks and is thinking about getting rid of the Kevlar vest he's been wearing.

Stopping the run a key priority against the Bills - FOXSportsSouthwest.com
The Cowboys have given up 401 rushing yards in the past two games, after allowing only 418 rushing yards in the first six. Sure, Sean Lee has been missing, but that's only part of the story. Matt Mosley writes that the Cowboys are working hard to get things fixed:

Beginning with Wednesday's padded practice, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan went out of his way to make stopping the run the top priority. Several players told FOXSportsSouthwest.com that Ryan had an extended walk-through session while installing "run fits" for the Bills so that players would better understand their responsibilities. After the Eagles game, a few players in the front seven started trying to do too much as individuals.

And Anthony Spencer thinks the Cowboys will get their issues fixed:

"Things that are fixable," linebacker Anthony Spencer said after watching film. "That’s probably the positive thing about it is because the things we are messing up on can be corrected."

Patience paying off for Cowboys' Laurent Robinson - Star-Telegram
Carlos Mendez provides an interesting wrinkle to the Laurent Robinson story:

Receivers coach Jimmy Robinson, then with the Green Bay Packers, had evaluated [Laurent Robinson] in the 2007 draft. In August, he and the Cowboys got a firsthand look at him when they practiced twice against the Chargers and played them in a preseason game.

"I had a pretty good grade on him coming out," said Robinson, in his first year as Cowboys receivers coach. "Liked him a lot. I thought he showed explosiveness and speed and ability to catch the ball down the field. Good hands. He's a guy that hasn't surprised me with what he's done."

Felix misses practice again - Star-Telegram
While Jones did some running this week, he did not practice on Thursday. At this point, it looks unlikely that he'll play on Sunday.

With Austin out, Cowboys could call up WR Harris from practice squad - The Dallas Morning News
The Cowboys are a little thin at wide receiver, and also are not set at kick- and punt returner, so Harris could be an option - if the Cowboys find a way to clear a roster spot.

"I think it's a last-minute decision," Harris said. "I'm still on the bubble on if I'm going to be active this week or not. So I'm just going out and working hard every day. Just taking it day-by-day. If they bring me up, that's good. If not, I'm going to continue to work hard."

Troy Aikman: I disagree with Jimmy Johnson, Garrett can do both jobs - SportsDayDFW

"I don’t think being a head coach is too big for Jason," Aikman said Thursday morning during his weekly appearance on 1310 "The Ticket" (KTCK-AM). "I don’t think being an offensive coordinator is too big for him. And I don’t often, but I’d probably disagree with Jimmy, to think that Jason Garrett can’t handle both jobs, I’d have a hard time believing that."

McBriar optimistic he can play Sunday - Star Telegram
Mat McBriar kicked in practice and said he was optimistic that he could play on Sunday. However, the nerve damage in his foot has not improved, and McBriar is still using two braces, one to walk around with and one to kick with. McBriar describes himself a "pretty gimpy", so seeing him punt the ball on Sunday is far from a foregone conclusion.

Murray should stampede the Bills in fantasy's Week 10 - NFL.com
NFL.com crowns DeMarco Murray as the fantasy starter of the week: DeMarco Murray vs. Bills:

Murray has been a beast since taking over the starting role in Dallas, averaging a ridiculous 8.4 yards per carry in his last three games. He should find continued success against the Bills -- their defense has allowed 10 touchdowns to running backs and has lost NT Kyle Williams for the season.

Stats that Matter: Learning From Buffalo - Bob Sturm
Sturm takes a look at red zone efficiency and turnover differential and compares the Cowboys and the Bills. It's not pretty.

Touchbacks up nearly 30 percent thanks to new rule - San Antonio Express-News
Good to see that somebody is keeping count: After nine weeks and 130 games in 2010, there were touchbacks on 241 of 1,275 kickoffs. That's 18.9 percent. Through the first nine weeks this year, there's been a whopping 608 touchbacks on 1,315 kickoffs for a rate of 46.2 percent. Technically though, touchbacks are up by 30 percentage points. If they were up by 30 percent, touchbacks would have increased from 18.9 percent to 24.6 percent.