The No-Huddle Notebook is your dose of Cowboys coverage that takes a look at everything surrounding America’s Team.
The Cowboys have not been in Oxnard for training camp for very long, but there is no shortage of news surrounding America’s Team. From a shift in offensive personnel and staffing to a new, energetic defensive backs coach that exudes confidence, the excitement around the Cowboys is very high.
Dak Prescott is looking to elevate his game, and he has some new receivers, and old ones, to get integrated into the new-look offense.
Let’s get right into it.
Dak, Tavon Austin impressing
It’s hard to read too much into a day or two of training camp, but it is always encouraging to know that the franchise quarterback looks good. Gil Brandt, the former VP of player personnel and a highly respected media member, had some positive things to say about Dak Prescott, calling no. 4 “one of the bright spots”.
.@dak has been one of the bright spots here at #CowboysCamp. Tavon Austin (@Tayaustin01) also looks really good. There's a lot of enthusiasm at this camp ... and a lot of young players -- they have only 4 players on the roster that are 30 or older.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) July 27, 2018
Prescott, as our own Dave Halprin wrote on, is working on his footwork and mechanics in order to play at a higher level in 2018. That can’t hurt as he plays with a fresh set of receivers and weapons, along with the return of Ezekiel Elliott.
It remains to be seen what kind of changes will actually be made to the offense this season. The hope is a more dynamic offense that allows Dak to make plays by going through his progressions to find the open man while also keeping the defense honest with his legs when needed, can take the Cowboys to another level when you add Zeke to the equation. Regardless, Prescott acknowledges that he has to be better — that is something that you have to love from the man with the keys of the franchise.
Dak Prescott: "I have higher expectations for myself than I think anyone has. I’ll continue to be that way. I had high expectations for myself last year and didn’t meet them, so its about raising those expectations & doing everything I can to make sure I surpass my expectations."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 27, 2018
Brandt also mentioned that Austin has looked good in practice as well. The former top-10 selection has had his ups-and-downs as a professional player, but he certainly has the skill-set to be a dynamic weapon for this offense. Linehan will have the ability to get Austin the ball in a variety of different ways in addition to the former West Virginia star handling return duties on special teams.
Dak to Tavon Austin pic.twitter.com/QzIAztJav9
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 27, 2018
Getting Dak and Tavon on the same page and in a rhythm will be critical as this offense looks to regain its 2016 form in which Dak and Zeke caused headaches for defensive coordinators and opposing units week-in and week-out.
Bease is hungry — for more than just sauce
Dak and Zeke got the hype for 2016, but Cole Beasley had a phenomenal year during the dynamic duo’s rookie seasons. The shifty slot receiver became a favorite target of Dak’s en route to winning 13 games and earning the NFC’s top-seed two seasons ago. It was fun to watch Bease get up open each and every week all over the field.
However, defenses were able to make Bease a non-factor for much of last season. Coordinators schemed him and out and made it harder for Prescott to deliver the ball to no. 11. That only escalated when Ezekiel Elliott was forced to serve his six-game suspension in the middle of the season.
Now, with new players in the receivers room and with Dez out of town, Bease is seen as leader in the locker room as the SMU product looks to rebound in 2018. He, like everybody else, had heard the chatter of the lack of weapons that Dallas has — and he doesn’t take that too lightly.
Bease talked to the media about how the things that Linehan is installing at practice will make the offense “100% better” and that he does not appreciate being “written off”.
“A hundred percent that will make us better,” Beasley said of the changes. “Just moving guys around and not knowing what they’re going to run in those spots. That gives opposing teams a new challenge defending us. That will be good for us.”
“I think people are expecting less from us because there are a lot of younger guys and there is no Dez Bryant or Jason Witten,” Beasley said. “I feel like we’re being written off because they’re different. We don’t have the big, tall receiver who is going to go up and get fade balls all the time.
”We’ve got guys who can do a lot of other things and guys who can run. It’s going to be different. I like the group of guys we have and I’m expecting great things.”
A motivated Cole Beasley is something that all Cowboys fans want to see. Here’s hoping that this carries over to the rest of training camp into the regular season.