Byron Jones of Dallas Cowboys out for shoulder injury - Todd Archer, ESPN
Dallas cornerback Byron Jones will miss time with a left shoulder injury sustained in practice yesterday, Archer reports.
Byron Jones is likely going to miss practices against the St. Louis Rams on Monday and Tuesday and could miss the second preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. But Jerry Jones said that would be more of a precaution than a necessity.
Byron Jones was hurt on a collision with fellow cornerback Morris Claiborne. While covering tight end Jason Witten down the middle of the field, Jones got turned around and ran into Claiborne, who was covering receiver Nick Harwell on a crossing route.
"We feel like it's not as bad as it could've been and that it may involve a few days here of special attention but over the long but short run this coming week, he should be back out here," Jerry Jones said. "I don't know if he'll be here for San Francisco, but we're not talking about out long, the way I hear it tonight."
Cowboys first-round pick Byron Jones injures left shoulder | Drew Davison, The Star Telegram
There was some intial concern that the injury was to the left shoulder, which Jones had surgery on, but Jerry Jones isn't concerned.
"That sure was a concern because that was the shoulder he had fixed [that ended his season early at UConn last year]," Jerry Jones said. "If we had to do anything we could probably do some playing, but under the circumstances we’ll just rest him real good and call it a good thing it worked out."
Cowboys 2015 Training Camp Practice Summary: Capping Off A Physical Weekend - Blogging The Boys
The always reliable Rabblerousr leads off today's camp coverage with observations from a physical practice that revisited work on the run game (with a new wrinkle) as well as red zone and goal line material. Here's an excerpt.
During this second full team period, we were treated to a heavy dose of the standard running repertoire. Earlier in practice, however, we were treated to a new wrinkle. In the screen period, the offense ran through a play where they lined up with two RBs in the backfield and faked a jet sweep to one direction, then turned to throw a screen pass in the other. Later, in position group work, when the backs and QBs got together to work on steps and timing for handoffs, we saw a coach acting as the jet sweeper. Now that they have introduced this package, expect to see it in coming practices ...
Rabblerousr will have a fuller camp report out a little later today, so stay tuned.
Dallas Cowboys fight with each other on eve of practices with Rams - Todd Archer - ESPN
Things were feisty at Dallas Cowboys camp in advance of practices with the St. Louis Rams, as Tyler Clutts and Jeff Heath got into a skirmish. Archer has all the details and adds an observation about the run game.
The "hellified running" that Gary Brown spoke of on Saturday showed up from Joseph Randle on Sunday. Randle was explosive in the run game, busting one run in the play-action period thanks in part to a Gavin Escobar block. In situational work he found another gear after lulling Wilcox to sleep for a big run. Randle looks like he is past whatever issue he had with his oblique strain.
JUST CHILL: 10 Thoughts from Sunday’s Cowboys practice | Clarence Hill, The Star Telegram
Hill closes his 10 thoughts with an observation about Randy Gregory:
Randy Gregory is getting stronger and stronger and better and better. He will likely never have the ideal weight to play defensive end. But he has the speed and strength. He displayed a nice bull rush against tackle R.J. Dill. Owner Jerry Jones said Gregory has been everything they hoped for. "The thing is he is taking the coaching good," Jones said. "He is retaining the technical aspects of what he is doing. We all know he can be better there. He has natural gifts. Because I know the coaching he is exposed to and how he is working I know he is going to improve, but I wouldn’t want to ask for too much than we are seeing from him as we see it. He is everything I could have hoped for right now."
Sun. Practice Recap: After Chippy Practice, Cowboys Move On To Rams | Dallas Cowboys
Practice standouts at practice yesterday, according to this report, were Gavin Escobar and Devin Street.
Gavin Escobar – The third-year tight end showed his value as a red zone target in a big way on Sunday. The Cowboys did red zone work in both one-on-one and full-team drills, and Escobar featured prominently in both. He bullied all kinds of coverage, from both cornerbacks and safeties. He skied over Byron Jones and Jeff Heath for touchdowns on two separate reps, and was just a pain for anyone to cover.
Devin Street – The second-year wide out caught some criticism for a slow start to training camp, but he is clearly heating up. After a nice night against the Chargers on Thursday, Street has put together back-to-back strong practices this weekend. He once again burned the defense on the exact same play action pass that was so effective on Saturday. Later on in practice, he came down with an acrobatic touchdown grab over Morris Claiborne on a ball that was slightly overthrown.
Cowboys look for Dez Bryant, Tyron Smith preseason debut Aug. 29 - Dallas Cowboys Blog - ESPN
The Cowboys are hoping that Dez Bryant and Tyron Smith will be full participants in practice beginning on Aug. 25, two days after the San Francisco game.
Dallas Cowboys Twitter mailbag: Strong showing from rookies - Todd Archer, ESPN
Archer reiterates what has emerged as a kind of consensus opinion: The Cowboys rookie class showed up well in their first NFL game.
It was hard not to get excited about the rookie class. Byron Jones was solid, although he needs some work. Randy Gregory had a sack and brought some pressure as a pass-rusher. Damien Wilson took his strong practice work to the field as well. La'el Collins had a strong performance. I liked what Devin Street and Dustin Vaughan, although not rookies, did. I was disappointed in the younger receivers, such as Deontay Greenberry and George Farmer. They had chances to make plays and didn't get it done. People shouldn't get carried away with the results. It should mostly be about individual performances. The Cowboys had more good than bad from players that you had expectations for before the game began.
Broaddus: 12 Thoughts from training camp | Dallas Cowboys
Broaddus offers up a dozen observations, two of which we'll highlight here.
I believe that we are closer to seeing Morris Claiborne take snaps as a full-time player. In talking with him after practice, he said that this is the best that he has ever felt in a training camp since he has been with the team. In just watching him work you can see his movement is no longer limited and there is no limping after he takes a rep.
Starting to see more of Ryan Russell having success at defensive end as well as tackle. The decision by the coaches to move him inside appears to have helped his game overall. His technique has improved and you can definitely see that by improving in that one area, his production and confidence have improved, as well. He is doing a much better job of just cutting it loose and attacking the blocker.
Dallas Cowboys could have decision to make with Rolando McClain - Todd Archer, ESPN
Archer explains that PUP could be an option for McClain, if the linebacker doesn't get back to health soon.
If the Cowboys choose to keep McClain on PUP to start the season, his suspension would run concurrently, so he would effectively miss five games with the Cowboys’ bye coming in Week 6.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett on TE Gavin Escobar: ‘I certainly have no regrets about us drafting him’ | David Moore, Dallas Morning News
Escobar has had a slow start in the NFL, but that doesn't bother Garrett.
"We feel good about what Escobar has done since he’s been here,’’ the Cowboys head coach said. "You know, a lot of people say when you drafted a guy that high, they want him to come in and be an immediate starter. What he needs to focus on is taking full advantage of his opportunities and trying to get better each and every day, and he’s certainly done that.
"He’s the right kind of guy, he works really hard at getting better every day and we’ve seen that progress. When he gets an opportunity, he’ll be ready for it.
"Again, I certainly have no regrets about us drafting him. We like what he’s done and he’s going to be better and better each and every day he’s out there."
"Gavin’s arch has a lot to do with the guy who is our starting tight end,’’ Garrett said. "He’s pretty good. It’s hard to get those reps when Jason Witten is in front of you. We recognize that.
"Gavin’s role is a bit different. He is a guy who naturally catches the ball very well, I think we saw that the other night in the game and we’ve seen it since he’s been here. And he’s getting better at the other things. He’s gotten himself a little bigger, he’s a little stronger, his technique is better. He’s learning how to bend. He is competing better as a blocker. So he’s really developed a great deal since we drafted him and we like his progress.’’
Cowboys to sign former TCU WR David Porter, waive George Farmer | Dallas Cowboys
The club is expected to release rookie George Farmer, and sign David Porter, who was recently cut by the Broncos. Porter caught 39 balls for 392 yards during his senior season with TCU last fall.
How to draw Tim Tebow |
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It’s Tim Tebow’s Birthday; Here’s How To Draw Him Perfectly - Uproxx.com
The secret is in the release, as you can see in the image on the right.
Rams Set to Practice in Oxnard with Cowboys - Stlouisrams.com
The Rams will be on the field with the Cowboys today and tomorrow, then practice alone on Wednesday while the Cowboys have a day off.
"The players are looking forward to it," head coach Jeff Fisher said on Saturday, adding that he’s been in contact with Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett. "He has a really good practice schedule together, so we’ll get quality work out there. We’re just going to use this as an opportunity for both teams to improve."
The offensive line with the most highly drafted players last year was in... St. Louis? - Football Perspective
Just as the Rams are about to show up in Cowboys camp, Chase Stuart reminds us that draft pedigree alone does not necessarily make an offensive line. St. Louis ranked 30th in pass blocking and 29th in run blocking in 2014, even though no other offensive line had as strong a pedigree in 2014 as the Rams.
LT Jake Long (1st rd) / Greg Robinson (1st), LG Roger Saffold (2nd rd), C Wells (7th), Davin Joseph (1st), RT Joe Barksdale (3rd). However, of the six players, only two were picked by the Rams.
The Cowboys only rank sixth in O-line draft pedigree according to Stuart, who multiplies a players draft value with the number of games started to arrive at a draft value for the entire O-line.
You might be surprised to see Dallas at "only" number six, given that the Cowboys famously had three Pro Bowl linemen who all were drafted in the first round. But Travis Frederick was the 31st pick and Zack Martin was the 16th pick, so there’s less value there than with the average first round pick. And while Tyron Smith was the 9th overall pick, Ronald Leary wasn’t drafted, and Doug Free was a fourth round selection.
James Harrison returns trophies, says his sons didn't earn them - CBSSports.com
Harrison has no use for your participation awards. And here's the proof, via his latest Instagram post:
"I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best...cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better...not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy. #harrisonfamilyvalues"