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Cowboys news: Three players who will dominate at Cowboys training camp

Plus, more news on America’s Team.

NFL: Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Film room: 3 players who should dominate at Cowboys training camp, including safety Xavier Woods - John Owning, Dallas Morning News

A look at some Cowboys who will excel at the Star.

Cooper isn’t someone who wins just because of outstanding stop-start or change of direction, though he can certainly win in those ways. Instead, he often generates the most separation with his ability to gain speed on vertical and speed cuts. Cooper also does an excellent job of making his routes initially look the same (above clip), which enables him to disguise his intentions to keep defenders guessing.

Add in Cooper’s size (6-1, 210 pounds) and explosiveness, and it’s easy to see why he was the most dominant player in camp last year before an injury forced him to miss a big chunk of it.

Cooper’s skill will provide a good gauge to see where rookie second-round pick Trevon Diggs currently is on his development curve as well. If he flat-out cannot hang with Cooper toward the end of camp, then talks of Diggs starting as a rookie may be premature. If Diggs shows he can hang a bit by limiting separation and not getting embarrassed by Cooper, then it’s full steam ahead for him potentially sliding into the starting lineup at some point in his first season.

If Cooper remains healthy throughout camp, he will undoubtedly be the most dominant player on the field.

Breaking Down The Plan For A Hotel Bubble - David Helman, Dallascowboys.com

The bubble has worked for the NBA. Will it work for the Cowboys?

The bubble method has seen some rousing success from other leagues that have used it, from the NBA to the NHL to the MLS. Obviously, it's a bit of a different scenario with football. Those leagues are using a bubble to conduct entire seasons, while NFL teams will eventually have to travel across the country to play games.

In the meantime, though, a hotel bubble presents an opportunity to make it through training camp with minimal problems, and that opportunity is too smart to pass up. "That's something we've come together as leaders and taken on this option to stay in this hotel," Prescott said. "So we can try and stay healthy, all be there for each other, set an example for the young guys about avoiding downtown, avoiding other people and where people can go."

To be clear, there's no rule at the league or team level that mandates players bubbling at hotels. Participation is voluntary, and Prescott said there are some players who aren't taking part. But by and large, it sounds like those are exceptions – and they come with compelling reasons for not doing so..

"I can't be mad at guys for personal reasons, their family matters, that they may not want to come into the bubble or the hotel," Prescott said. "I know and trust they're being grown men and doing the things they need to do and the things necessary to keep their health safe and to not put themselves in jeopardy of getting this deal and coming in here and giving it to others."

Return of the Dak: 3 Reasons Why Dak Prescott will Win the 2020 MVP - John Williams, Inside The Star

Talk of an MVP for Dak Prescott feels a little premature, but what the heck, why not?

The thing that’s been evident about Dak Prescott dating back to his days at Mississippi State is the intangibles. Those things you can’t measure on a stat sheet or put your finger on when your watching technique and play progression. They’re the things that happen between the plays, on the sidelines, in the locker room, in the film room, and on the practice field.

When you consider the intangibles that Dak Prescott brings to the table you start to get a fuller picture of why many consider him a top 5-10 quarterback in the NFL. The scary thing is, that at only 27 years old, he hasn’t reached his peak yet.

Arguably, the most important intangible that comes with Dak Prescott is his resiliency. His ability to ‪shrug off adversity and continue moving forward. It’s how he was able to be a fourth-round draft pick, start fourth on the Cowboys quarterback depth chart, be inserted into the starting lineup due to injuries and find success during his rookie season. It’s why, even after the debacle of the Atlanta Falcons game From what we’ve seen since the day Dak Prescott entered the NFL, is that he will continually grind to get better at his craft.

Jerry Jones’ pursuit of a graceful landing on player protests shows how his national anthem stance has evolved - Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News

Without saying it, Jerry Jones may have made his stance on the national anthem known.

Jones said he wants both sides to listen to both sides. That sounds like nothing, but it’s actually an enormous request in 2020. Neither side of any political argument is interested in hearing anything more than approval or applause.

But the mere fact Jones has moved off his “toes on the line” stance and admits that times have changed and that players (who were never protesting the military to begin with) need their voices to be heard and understood tells you where he is going with this. He even praised Dak Prescott for the letter he wrote to the Governor of Oklahoma seeking to overturn the conviction of a Black death row inmate.

Jones said he has spoken to presidents, ex-players and others on this topic. “Everyone is genuine here. I’m giving everyone the benefit of the doubt,” Jones said. “My job is to run the Dallas Cowboys. When we have an issue, I want to show the world that I can come up with the right solution. And when it happens, I’m giving you the backdrop of how I will make the decision at that time.” He already has.

What does a Dallas Cowboys worst case scenario look like? - Tyrone Starr, FanSided's The Landry Hat

How bad could a worst case scenario look for the Cowboys in 2020?

I truly believe in Mike McCarthy and his ability to bring out the best in an offense. It is a legit concern though that the offense, reliant upon rhythm and timing could be affected by this adjusted preseason. This, of course, leads us to the final and most legitimate concern.

If there is a likely worst-case scenario for the 2020 Dallas Cowboys it would be the defense failing to hold up the end of the bargain. There certainly are a lot of situations one can come up with that are not far-fetched by any means.

What if Dallas does not find someone else besides DeMarcus Lawrence to consistently pressure the opposing quarterback? What if Leighton Vander Esch does not return to his 2018 form? How does the defense look if Jaylon Smith has plateaued or regresses? What if the secondary struggles and, coupled with a lack of a pass rush, get abused by the plethora of good quarterbacks on the schedule?

ICYMI: Cowboys State of the Team press conference: Jerry Jones addresses national anthem protests and more - Dave Halprin and RJ Ochoa, Blogging The Boys

It’s been a while since we have heard from Jerry Jones, but he, Stephen Jones and Mike McCarthy spoke to the media today. Given the length of time and all of the changes that have happened since we last heard from the elder Jones, there were plenty of questions for him. Below is a recap of what all three men had to day.

ICYMI (Part 2): Cowboys make a big splash during training camp, sign pass rusher Everson Griffen

During a relatively quiet and uneventful night in the National Football League, news broke that the Cowboys made a big, impact signing. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted the news that the team has inked four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Everson Griffen.

BTB Podcast

Word broke late Wednesday night that the Dallas Cowboys are signing Everson Griffen. We discussed who he is, his past, and potential future with The Athletic’s Arif Hasan.

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