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The Thursday preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers draws closer so the Cowboys are hard at work out in Oxnard. Still no Dak Prescott throwing the ball, but the show must go on. Let’s check in.
A little bit of injury news.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said WR Amari Cooper (ankle, PUP) and DE DeMarcus Lawrence (back, PUP) are “both in real good shape. I know Amari looks great. Everything has been extremely positive from the strength staff. ...And D-Law the same deal.”
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 1, 2021
This sounds promising for a defense that was awful last year.
One of the biggest changes on defense: just how much talking they do. Last year with no fans and practices inside Ford Center, things almost seemed silent. This year, there's so much more talking presnap. Guys know what they're doing. And they're talking post-snap too. Confident.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 1, 2021
A little more on the defense.
I think Diggs has easily been the most impressive corner, followed by AB & Canady in no particular order. Jourdan has unfortunately been limited by a hammy.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) August 1, 2021
neither of the rookies (Joseph & Wright) has made as many splash plays as the vets, but they both look like they belong. https://t.co/hhE82GuDwY
Another possible injury.
I didn’t see what happened to him, but C.J. Goodwin went into the medical tent to get looked at and is now heading off to the locker room.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) August 1, 2021
Cowboys are banged up enough at certain parts of the depth chart that the HOF game looks like it could be tricky.
Zeke gets one on LVE.
Zeke incoming pic.twitter.com/cUzqOfY7pt
— Rob Phillips (@robphillips3) August 1, 2021
Sean McKeon cashes in this scramble drill.
Sean McKeon TD in red zone drills pic.twitter.com/1TnpZzsuSU
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 1, 2021
Keanu Neal getting it done in coverage.
Cowboys LB Keanu Neal having a strong start to practice. Stood out with coverage in a 7-on-7 QB rollout red-zone period, his work including an end-zone interception. pic.twitter.com/fvsoRiWkLQ
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 1, 2021
I’ve got the defense beating the offense, 7-3, in red zone scramble drill. Keanu Neal ends the period with a nice end zone INT pic.twitter.com/CRH94pOYAD
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) August 1, 2021
Turnovers are key, so practice them we must.
Point of emphasis on defense today? Turnovers. Linebackers and defensive backs working on securing the football on the move. #CowboysCamp pic.twitter.com/qn9vz6gecj
— Kyle Youmans (@Kyle_Youmans) August 1, 2021
Here’s a name not many are paying attention to.
Kyron Brown, the newest cornerback on the Cowboys’ roster, plays this short route in flat perfectly to drill running back. pic.twitter.com/EdkDRLiSNz
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 1, 2021
Kelvin Joseph getting some work in.
Kelvin Joseph in man coverage. pic.twitter.com/EWt9hpiHN0
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 1, 2021
Smooth.
Yung Lamb pic.twitter.com/itZ4aMlZbk
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) August 1, 2021
You can always count on CeeDee.
CeeDee Lamb again pic.twitter.com/Qu5Ywt9RtJ
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) August 1, 2021
Hi, I’m Randy Gregory. Nice to meet you.
Randy Gregory pic.twitter.com/CmDBKYH6cN
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 1, 2021
Looks like the o-line didn’t quite get the blocking assignments right o this one.
Cowboys first-round pick Micah Parsons (No. 11). May want to block that guy. pic.twitter.com/9Oa9XthCa5
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 1, 2021
Dalton Schultz wants to be TE1.
Dalton Schultz pic.twitter.com/XcgJGo0Gs1
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 1, 2021
Nice pass breakup from Nahshon Wright.
Just a couple Pac 12 rookies getting after it, this rep goes to Wright who was tight in coverage. #CowboysCamp pic.twitter.com/ZiPKf7xSD3
— Kyle Youmans (@Kyle_Youmans) August 1, 2021
The big man in “coverage”.
Carlos Watkins with bats down Gilbert’s pass on “4th and 4” to get the first team defense off the field. #CowboysCamp pic.twitter.com/IVXnMr31XA
— Kyle Youmans (@Kyle_Youmans) August 1, 2021
LVE getting in on the no-fly zone.
LVE with a PBU. pic.twitter.com/DS1uXXb0YM
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 1, 2021
Pass to TE Dalton Schultz is broken up by Leighton Vander Esch.
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) August 1, 2021
Crowd begins to howl for the Wolf Hunter. pic.twitter.com/ttHsSwwLBL
It's always a nice thing when a player surprises at training camp. Maurice Canady is helping his own cause.
This looked like a bit of a gift from Garrett Gilbert, but Maurice Canady ain’t complaining pic.twitter.com/3HQ4aICaZ9
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) August 1, 2021
He’s a bad man.
CeeDee Lamb. Again.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) August 1, 2021
He’s reached the Dez Level of Oxnard domination, as far as I’m concerned. pic.twitter.com/AoyhrSOkce
Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs having a terrific practice overall. But then comes WR CeeDee Lamb, who wins jump ball in end zone. pic.twitter.com/pugSACBzvV
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 1, 2021
Run defense? Yes, please.
Running plays don’t often make for sexy training camp videos, but check out Brent Urban & Micah Parsons setting the edge & forcing Zeke to take this back the other way. pic.twitter.com/kJj12O3dvv
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) August 1, 2021
Nice snag by Reggie Davis.
Not every great play is from CeeDee. What a catch by Reggie Davis! pic.twitter.com/LQIg0lXegO
— Nick Eatman (@nickeatman) August 1, 2021
As we have been doing all throughout camp we recapped Sunday’s practice (with highlights included) over on the Blogging The Boys YouTube Channel. Make sure to subscribe to our channel (which you can do right here) so you don’t miss any of the videos that we are putting out. We will be having a livestream on Tuesday evening to recap practice and discuss what we saw!