Cowboys practice #5: Whose stock is up, and who needs to pick up their game

The Dallas Cowboys’ 2019 training camp is in full swing as the team is nearly a week into their time in Oxnard, California. Let’s recap the day.

Standout: defense

The defense enjoyed a good all-around day as reports tell of the unit winning in both the 1-on-1 compete drills as well as getting the best of 7-on-7 activity as well as the 2-minute drill portion of 7-on-7s.

Here’s fifth-round pick Michael Jackson picking off an ill-advised Dak Prescott pass.

Not to be outdone, Anthony Brown shows great tenacity and stickiness on this middle-crosser.

Here Xavier Woods shows good coverage on a pretty accomplished receiver, forcing a high throw.

But it was Jourdan Lewis who stood out in the secondary. Unofficial tallies credited the third-year veteran with three passes defensed and an interception.

It’s somewhat amazing that Lewis is the team’s fourth cornerback in a league where some teams struggle to field even two adequate corners.

Standout Jon’Vea Johnson

There’s a fierce competition at camp for the fifth and (presumably) sixth wide-receiver spots and every practice; every play can be a difference-maker. Johnson helped himself with this deep connection from Dak Prescott, cleanly beating Michael Jackson.

The Mothership’s David Helman was grateful for Jackson’s catch on a ball headed Helman’s way.

Strugglers; Dak Prescott

Throughout the offseason all we’ve heard about Dak Prescott is how accurate he’s been, especially on deep balls. Here, rookie running back Tony Pollard, lined up wide, cleanly beats Jaylon Smith for what should have been an easy touchdown but....

This looked exactly like the numerous overthrows of an open Michael Gallup from last season. Dak was also off-target, throwing too far inside on the Michael Jackson interception.

And too far ahead of an open Michael Gallup on a deep crossing route.

Look, it’s difficult to make judgments based upon a few plays posted viewed from ground-level in team drills. But one can’t help but be uneasy when the starting quarterback who allegedly has improved his accuracy is missing wide open receivers in drills without a pass rush. Prescott will need to pick up his practice game as camp progresses, or the doubts will creep in.