Cowboys News: Why Dallas is high on rookie Michael Gallup; Randy Gregory a roster lock?

The Oxnard plans for Randy Gregory and Kavon Frazier - Mike Fisher, 247 Sports
Fish touches on a couple of Cowboys defenders who have yet to make their appearance in pads this training camp in this article, and suggests that Randy Gregory has locked up a spot on the 53-man roster.

Randy Gregory remains on the NFI list with Frazier, but the reinstated defensive end did not appear at all limited on Tuesday as he worked out under the one-on-one supervision of strength-and-conditioning boss Mike Woicik.

That extra seven pounds (up to 242 pounds from his skinny drafted weight three years ago) makes him “look the part,” as one staffer put it to me. I’m told ownership has already all but decreed that Gregory is going to make the final 53. Meanwhile, coach Jason Garrett has already said he wants Gregory to play in some preseason games.

Those start just over a week from now. The third one is “almost real football,” a dress rehearsal for guys who are going to make the team.

Randy Gregory’s time is about to come.

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These two Cowboys have impressed in training camp, but will it continue into preseason? - Jean-Jacques Taylor, SportsDay
Many of the Cowboys receivers have demonstrated their ability to separate from the cornerbacks, but rookie Michael Gallup has a skill that separates him from his fellow receivers. Jean-Jacques Taylor explains.

Question: Why are so many media members so high on Michael Gallup? What is his ceiling?

JJT: I never speak for other media members. I only speak for me. He’s a big, fast receiver and the coaches and front office like what they see. He’s good at making contested catches and the Cowboys need a playmaker.

Question: Going into this season, is Allen Hurns the No. 1 receiving option? Will Michael Gallup surpass him during the season?

JJT: Hurns is the only receiver on the roster with a 1,000-yard season to his credit. He’s still young with upside, so it’s normal to expect him to have a nice season. We’ve never seen Gallup play in a NFL game, so it’s going to take a few regular-season games before we know what Dallas has in Gallup.

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For more camp coverage, come back at 8:00 AM ET for a full summary of all the highlights from the fifth day of Cowboys practice in Oxnard.

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Why the Cowboys really like WR Michael Gallup, including this significant sign from Dak Prescott - David Moore, SportsDay
Gallup continues to turn heads in practice, despite having a case of the dropsies on Sunday.

Moore: He looked really good the first few days of camp; didn’t look so good on Sunday before they had their first day off of camp. That’s to be expected for a rookie: Not every day is going to be peak efficiency. But they really like how he’s picked up the offense, he’s very smooth. They like his movement, how he gets off the line of scrimmage, good size, pretty good speed. He’s really a player they’re intrigued by and everything they’ve seen in the offseason program and early in this camp reinforces that they believe he’ll be able to help them in the receiving game from Day 1.

Tavon Austin talks about leadership, his role, and the Cowboys’ offensive weapons – Calvin Watkins, The Athletic
Calvin Watkins had a chance to spend some time with the Cowboys new “web” back to gain some insight, including another rave review of Cowboys receiver coach Sanjay Lay.

How do you fit in this offense with your skill set?

They put me in different positions, seeing what I can do. Our receiver coach (Sanjay Lal) is probably one of the best that I ever played for, he makes me a better and better player every day. I can see it. I can’t ask for more than that.

What is it about Sanjay Lal that helps your game the most?

He’s a players coach, man, just the way he breaks down certain angles for us, certain stunts how to get us in and out of our breaks faster than what we thought he was doing especially for me. He’s hard on me, always.

What does that mean, he’s hard on you?

Anything, any wrong step. I can still get out the step fast, but it was wrong, regardless. He not going to bite on it too much but at the end of the day he will still bring it up. ‘Like it was a good play, but it ain’t going to work all the time.’ Those are the type things I like to hear.

While Wilson’s injury creates opportunities for some of the new receivers, it’s a returning practice squad player who just got new life in Dallas.

Lance Lenoir embarrassing DBs at Cowboys training camp - Patrik Walker, 247 Sports
With the injury to Wilson, the door might have swung open for second-year UDFA wideout Lance Lenoir, who is making a lot of noise in camp.

Undrafted out of Western Illinois in 2017, the Dallas Cowboys saw something in Lenoir that made them ink him to a deal that keeps him in tow through the 2019 season. Although overlooked during the draft process, mostly due to his attendance at a small school, Lenoir has impressive skins on the wall at the position prior to landing in the NFL. A two-time All-Area and three-time All-Conference player at Crete-Monee High School just south of Chicago, he took his talents four hours west to Macomb, IL to make a collegiate name for himself.

Lenoir is winning a lot of battles against whomever he’s gone against, from Anthony Brown to camp standout corner, Byron Jones.

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Cowboys' Cedrick Wilson: Going to IR - RotoWire Staff, CBS Sports
The Cowboys wide receiver position group just got a little smaller after a shoulder injury has derailed the season of the Boise State rookie.

Wilson was believed to have suffered a torn labrum at Saturday's practice, and Tuesday's transaction appears to have confirmed as much. Depending on the severity of the issue and how the Cowboys emerge from the preseason, health-wise, he could be a candidate for IR/designated to return, but a decision won't be made on that front until the regular season.

Cowboys WR Cedrick Wilson to IR, sign Ricky Jeune after workout - K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire
The loss of Wilson isn't the worst thing that could happen as the team had a cluster of receivers it was going to have to choose from come cut time. This makes that decision a little easier.

Placing Wilson on IR solves the issue of trying to sneak him on the practice squad, but it does stunt his growth. Players on injured reserve cannot practice. Dallas would have to place Wilson on the initial 53-man roster in order to designate him for return, so doing this in the preseason effectively ends his season.

His absence opens up the possibility for Lance Lenoir to possibly work his way onto the roster, and it also gives Jeune a place to showcase his skills for the next month.

2018 Los Angeles Rams Roster Preview: Wide receiver Ricky Jeune - Skye Sverdin, Turf Show Times
After going undrafted, Jeune was signed first by the Los Angeles Rams as a potential weapon for Sean McVay and his offense.

Jeune certainly has the skill set to compete for an NFL job. His speed is virtually identical to Robert Woods’ speed, but he’s 3 inches taller and about 20 pounds heavier, which has helped him become a highly effective blocker. Although he will have to transition from the Yellow Jackets’ option offense, it really isn’t hard to imagine him clearing lanes for Todd Gurley downfield against NFL defensive backs.

Jeune is also a very capable big play receiver, averaging a staggering 20.2 yards per reception over the last three seasons in the ACC. Pro Football Focus gave Jeune the 3rd highest Passer Rating When Targeted score among receivers drafted in 2018. At 24 years of age and battle tested against ACC (as well as against Georgia, Tennessee, and Notre Dame) competition, Jeune seems equipped to make a statement in camp and preseason.

Notes & News From Tuesday Morning Walkthrough - Bryan Broaddus, Dallas Cowboys
Broaddus gives us a quick little injury rundown prior to Tuesday’s practice, including an update on that other bubble receiver who is bit nicked up.

Noah Brown’s hamstring injury doesn’t appear to be as serious as Wilson’s shoulder problem, but the second-year receiver did not participate in walkthrough while he recovers. Brown has not practiced since the Cowboys put on pads, but receivers coach Sanjay Lal said he is “on the way back” to the field. With both Brown and Wilson limited by injury, it makes sense why the coaching staff might want an extra wide receiver to handle the workload.

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Seahawks, Cowboys in staring match for Thomas - ESPN Video
Brady Henderson and Todd Archer analyze where Seattle and Dallas stand on a potential move that would make Earl Thomas a Cowboy, and Archer suggests the Cowboys are content to wait out the Seahawks, but by September 9th things may become more urgent.

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How being called a 'snake' by Dez Bryant helped make Sean Lee the apparent heir to Jason Witten's status as team leader - David Moore, SportsDay
Interesting article by Moore in which he looks at the leadership dynamic on the team now that Witten is gone.

Lee knew the Cowboys leadership would be tested early in camp. He had no idea it would come from a former teammate who called him a snake and owner Jerry Jones clueless while disparaging the play calling.

Those comments were out for less than an hour before Lee told reporters that while he loved Bryant, the two did butt heads because he felt the receiver needed to be more accountable to his teammates when he was with the Cowboys. He concluded his brief statement by saying Bryant should look at himself and hold himself accountable.

Lee stood firm, made his point and moved on. He has no interest in revisiting Bryant's comments.

"I said what I said," Lee replied. "I wish him the best."

The ironic twist is that Bryant's attack -- and Lee's response -- actually elevated the linebacker's status on the team. It's the moment that made Lee the public face of the leadership council Witten presided over for years under head coach Jason Garrett.

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Scuffle breaks out at Cowboys camp between Jourdan Lewis, Lance Lenoir - Patrik Walker, 247 Sports
It seems like only yesterday that we watched Dez Bryant get into it with the hungry Jourdan Lewis. Now, it is Lewis is who is the "experienced" guy having it out with another hungry youngster, who just like Lewis last year, isn't backing down.

Tempers flared when Jourdan Lewis and Lance Lenoir wrapped up a drill, both being fiery competitors. Once the scuffle was broken it, it continued for the next 10 minutes as the two jawed at each other. You know what they say:

Iron sharpens iron.

While Cedrick Wilson is the biggest injury setback the team has suffered so far in camp (knock on wood), it’s not the only news of players missing action as they wait to get clearance.

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Jaylon Smith helping minority entrepreneurs - Stefan Stevenson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
2018 is expected to be a big year on the field for the Cowboys young linebacker, but he's trying to extend that excellence off the field as well as he's launching the Jaylon Smith Minority Entrepreneurship Institute.

The program aims to “provide financial funding, strategic planning, and mentorship for minority entrepreneurs,” Smith said after Tuesday’s morning walk through.

Smith said he’s an entrepreneur at heart and hopes he can help level the business playing field for minorities.

“It’s something I’ve always had a passion for,” he said. “Being able to provide this opportunity for minority entrepreneurs to really get that strategic execution plan, a mentorship, and financial funding is something that’s needed in this world.”

And don’t forget about...

Meet up with fellow BTBers out in Oxnard - RJ Ochoa, Blogging The Boys
If you're going to be in Oxnard tomorrow, this is your chance to meet up with the BTB gang and have a grande ole time. Don't miss it!

Join us this Thursday, August 2nd as we meet up to celebrate our collective BTB awesomeness.

Who?

The great Blogging The Boys community will be meeting up to celebrate our collective greatness. Join us if you can!

What?

The BTB meet up. We have a Facebook event if you’d like to RSVP. If the book of faces isn’t your cup of tea you can also RSVP right here.

Where?

We’ll be gathering near the Whole Foods in Oxnard. It’s about two miles away from camp.

650 Town Center Dr, Oxnard, CA, 93036

When?

The meet up will be at 2pm. We’ll have a few BTB t-shirts to give away as well!