Category: 2024 training camp

Young aspiring Cowboys WRs must display these 2 traits, or else

For any aspiring you WR prospect, these two traits are critical to making Cowboys. | From @ReidDHanson

The 2024 Cowboys have a handful of young and eager receivers heading to training camp with aspirations of making the final roster. For prospects like Ryan Flournoy, Jalen Brooks, David Durden and even Jalen Tolbert, a solid camp is critical to their survival.

Tolbert, a 2022 third-round pick, has a clear advantage over many of the down-roster competition. He has more career receptions than anyone else and he has a higher draft slot than anyone else. But even he has to prove something in camp in order to guarantee a role and roster spot on the final 53.

The vast majority of them heading to Oxnard have the physical traits needed to be an NFL WR. It’s safe to assume the Cowboys wouldn’t invite someone they think is incapable. What will ultimately separate the wheat from the chaff in this WR competition will be what’s happening between each players’ ears.

For any young aspiring WR, a full understanding of the position and consistency are two all-important traits a WR prospect must show coaches from Day 1. Knowing the route tree, the plays, the various WR positions, and the coverages are critical for making an early impression. And doing it every day on a consistent basis is a way even the longest of longshots can make a cramped roster like the Cowboys’.

In 2022, below-the-radar prospect Dennis Houston offered the perfect example of this. The unimposing WR out of Western Illinois had a limited ceiling as a pro and therefore was seen my most as nothing more than a camp body. But Houston debuted camp ultra-prepared with veteran-like consistency. He knew the plays, could line up in multiple roles and could run all of the routes. It wasn’t long before Dak Prescott and the coaching staff started to notice.

Houston never dazzled but he made headlines from the jump. He was able to slide in with the first team and execute without error. It eventually earned him a spot on the roster and 60 offensive snaps in just two games.

There were half-a-dozen more talented WRs in camp back in 2022 but none of them earned Prescott’s trust like Houston. For Houston in 2022 and these aspiring young Cowboys WRs in 2024, trust between QB and WR is critical.

Obviously special teams play is a must for any down-the-roster player, but by simply doing what he’s supposed to do and being where he’s supposed to be, a young off-the-radar prospect can catapult to the forefront of the competition, beating out more skilled players in front of him and potentially claiming a roster spot in the process.

Flashy big plays are fun to see and read about in camp but the key to making the roster for a bottom-of-the-roster guy is a full understanding of the position and consistent execution on the field.

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It might be time for the Cowboys to focus Asim Richards at RT

There’s an easier path to opportunity at RT than at LT for the Cowboys Asim Richards, says @ReidDHanson.

Asim Richards came to the Cowboys as a somewhat unique prospect. Selected No. 169 overall, Richards was neither a high potential developmental guy nor was he a polished plug-and-play guy. He was something of a tweener.

Given his three years of starting experience at LT in college and his continued work in Dallas on the left, it’s understandable he’s penciled in there once again in 2024. But that might be a mistake. Given the situation on the Cowboys line, bigger needs and better opportunities could be awaiting Richards at RT.

6-foot-4, 309-pounds, Richards came to the Cowboys with the size but not the strength. Dane Brugler’s scouting profile highlighted his limitations in lower body flexibility and his weaknesses in technique. But what was clear from his college tape was he was a batter pass protector than run blocker and overall, he was steadily improving and yet to hit his developmental plateau.

The North Carolina offensive lineman had 38 games starting experience with the Tar Heels, 37 of which were at the all-important left tackle spot, which is where he best fit as a pro.

The rookie didn’t get many opportunities. The Cowboys two starting tackle remained fairly healthy most of the year, allowing Richards to develop in the background. Tabbed as a left tackle, 27 of his 39 snaps on the offensive line came at the LT position making him an early favorite to back up the rookie Tyler Guyton on Dak Prescott’s blindside.

It seems clear, the aforementioned Guyton is the future of the LT position in Dallas. Drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, Guyton will be given every chance to succeed at LT this year and going forward.

The right side is a completely different issue. Terence Steele has been a hot conversation all offseason. His sketchy 2023 season makes 2024 do-or-die for the 27-year-old RT. With an out in his contract next spring, the Cowboys aren’t tied to Steele like they are Guyton. If Steele stumbles, there will be an opening at RT and that’s something Richards could take advantage of.

Switching sides is much easier said than done, of course. Not many players can flip between left and right at a moment’s notice which is why the traditional swing tackle position has been steadily phasing out around the league. It’s for this reason Richards should start the process now.

Given his experience at North Carolina and Dallas, Richards can’t currently be expected to fill in at RT – even in a jam. He’s played exclusively on the left. Early work in training camp could pay off down the road. The odds are much better the Cowboys will be looking for a new RT before they’re looking for a new LT, so the strategy is sound.

Hopefully Steele bounces back to his preinjury form and Richards isn’t needed to start anywhere. Richards can just focus on what he does best and fill in at LT if something should happen to Guyton. But contingency plans are important and there’s a very real possibility the Cowboys will be in the RT market much sooner than the other side.

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Pro Football Network proposes Vikings sign Hunter Renfrow

The Minnesota Vikings are solid at the top two wide receiver spots, but could use help at WR3. Pro Football Network suggests Hunter Renfrow.

Justin Jefferson just became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history and is firmly entrenched as the Minnesota Vikings top wide receiver — and arguably the best receiver in the NFL. Opposite him, Jordan Addison had an impressive rookie season and is looking to take a leap in his second season.

But beyond those two, there are some significant questions. As it stands today, the Vikings don’t have a clear-cut option as the third wide receiver in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system. Brandon Powell and free agent acquisition Trent Sherfield figure to be the top options, but could there be better options out there? According to Lorenzo Reyna of Pro Football Network, the answer is yes: Hunter Renfrow.

In his piece detailing one free agent signing every team should make ahead of training camp, Reyna points out the precarious situation Minnesota is heading into camp with and thinks Renfrow provides the solution.

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are the 1-2 punch, but Minnesota could use a No. 3.

Hunter Renfrow remains unsigned. Perhaps he can be the new Adam Thielen here, especially with J.J. McCarthy as the future under center.

Renfrow to the Vikings isn’t a new idea; he’s been a popular suggestion for the Vikings to help bolster the wide receiver corps since the NFL’s free agency period began. The fact that the Vikings haven’t pulled the trigger yet could indicate that they’re more comfortable with the situation at the position than fans and the media might believe.

Whether that’s true or not, it’s hard to argue with the fact that Renfrow would, at the very least, provide the team with some much-needed depth at the position. The competition would likely bring out the best in whoever winds up winning the battle and claiming the WR3 crown.

CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott headline list of Cowboys concerns in July

Contract disputes with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott threaten to cast impact Cowboys 2024 season, finds @ReidDHanson.

The training camp schedules have been released and the Cowboys are less than a month away from meeting up in Oxnard, California for what is supposed to be one of the most exciting times of the year. Casting a shadow over this year’s festivities however is the uncertain status of two of Dallas’ most prominent players.

Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are each in negotiations for new deals. How far along those negotiations have or haven’t progressed is anyone’s guess, but at least one of them has the potential to disrupt training camp if it’s not resolved.

Reports broke Lamb could demand a trade if he’s not re-signed. An extended holdout is also possible, meaning training camp could offer fans worry and depression rather the more traditional hype and hope.

Holdouts and discontentment are not issues that can be taken lightly. Extended absences impact conditioning and physical readiness as well as impact team chemistry.

Back in 2015 another notable Cowboys receiver was in the midst of his own budding holdout situation. Threatening to sit out camp and possibly more, Dez Bryant came to terms with the Cowboys just before camp. He proceeded to have his worst season in Dallas, playing just nine games and totaling only 401 receiving yards.

Whether Bryant’s injuries were a direct result of his conditioning and physical readiness is impossible to know for sure, but Stephen Jones thought it was a factor. Assuming he remembers this lesson-learned, it’s something Jones certainly wants to avoid in this “win-now” 2024 campaign, isn’t it?

Prescott hasn’t offered such threats. He’s been down this road before and feels confident he’ll come out on top no matter what happens with the Cowboys. Armed with a no-trade, no-franchise stipulation, Prescott knows he’ll get paid just as much if not more on the open market.

Yet an un-signed Prescott looms large on the fanbase and if he goes to camp without a deal it’ll be felt by his teammates on the field and the fans in the stands.

Simplifying matters is the current state of the market. The market has essentially been set at each of their respective positions.

Prescott’s in store for something in the $60 million/season range while Lamb can expect something north of $32 million/season. It’s undeniably a lot of money but in the current state of the NFL that’s where each are valued at. Length and guarantees are somewhat up in the air, but even that is pretty well established at this point in the offseason.

If the Cowboys intend to keep Lamb and/or Prescott they have no reason to wait further in their negotiations. The parameters are set, and the situation is starting to sour.

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Raise the Rook: Cowboys must adjust to Tyler Guyton’s possible weaknesses

Since Tyler Guyton has struggled in true pass sets, the Cowboys must adapt when building their 2024 offfensive attack. | From @ReidDHanson

There are many ways for a smart coach to make things easier on his passing offense and the Cowboys may need to consider changes with a rookie left tackle in tow. Motion at the snap, rub routes, RPOs, screen passes, and play-action are just a few of the ways to get the ball out quickly, accurately, and to the first read. Teams with young or limited quarterbacks will lean on these tricks often. It puts them in position to succeed because it makes things quick and easy.

Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys haven’t seen a need for tricks such as this. Dak Prescott is one of the smarter QBs in the league, well known for his accurate pre-snap reads. His ability to stand in the pocket, move through progressions and deliver timely passes is some of the best in the NFL. Prescott’s 480 attempts in non-play-action dropbacks ranked sixth in the NFL in 2023. His passing grade of 87.5 in these situations ranked second league-wide, trailing only Patrick Mahomes.

What does any of this have to do with Tyler Guyton?

Everything.

Standard pass sets in a gimmick-free offense means maximum exposure for pass-protecting linemen. Play-action buys time with the run fake and first-read schemed passes keep the TTT down, but pass protecting in true pass sets ups the difficulty level for passers and pass protectors alike.

Guyton comes to Dallas as an abnormally inexperienced first-round draft pick. He’s raw in his development and untested in many responsibilities. Per Pro Football Focus, he only has 111 true pass set snaps which make up only 20 percent of his overall workload (lowest in his class).

Assuming he wins the starting LT job, the Cowboys will try to protect Guyton as much as possible, but since they can’t protect him all the time, he’ll have his work cut out for him in 2024.

Guyton’s pressure rate allowed at Oklahoma was a trusty 3.3%. It wasn’t as good as class leaders Joe Alt or Olu Fashanu, but it put him in elite company. That number slips, however, when just looking at true pass sets. His pressure rate in true pass sets balloons to 6.2% making for a significant swing from one type of blocking assignment to the next.

Recent draft picks with a college pressure rate of over 6.2% in true pass sets are players like Charles Cross, Christian Darrisaw, Andrew Thomas and Mechi Becton. It’s a concern but based on the names listed, it’s hardly a death sentence.

Given Guyton’s extremely limited experience in true pass sets, McCarthy may want to meet him halfway in his blocking assignments. Engineering more first-read plays on the back of motion and play-action is a great way to simplify things for Guyton as a rookie.  A steady dose of screen passes is another previously prescribed solution.

At the end of the day, playing on an island in true pass sets is going to be an unavoidable reality for the rookie LT. It’s something to monitor in training camp because if he’s not up the task the offense may have to fundamentally change.

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Prospect Next? David Durden is Cowboys dark horse at WR

David Durden is a WR prospect Cowboys fans shouldn’t sleep on in 2024, says @ReidDHanson

David Durden isn’t a name most casual fans are familiar. The West Florida receiver signed on with Dallas a year ago after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft.

At the time of the signing, the hype was real. Durden was known by many as “Prospect X” prior to the draft. Initially identified anonymously by Kalyn Kahler at The Athletic, Durden embodied the dark horse candidate as a draft prospect. He was Kahler’s most overlooked prospect of the 2023 class.

He wasn’t invited to the Senior Bowl or the combine in Indianapolis. Not surprisingly he went undrafted, adding validity to his “overlooked” label bestowed on him by The Athletic. Despite the lack of acclaim, he quietly possessed all the tools and traits of a legit NFL receiver. The 6-foot-1 204-pound WR had size and 4.4 speed on his side.

Furthering his cause was his ability to play all three WR spots and his impact on special teams. Versatility and special teams play are paramount for a bottom of the roster WR and somewhere Durden holds a clear advantage over his competition on the Cowboys roster.

An ACL injury suffered late in training camp ended his bid to make the roster as a rookie. It indefinitely paused the hype train he was leading in 2023 and forced him into the shadows as he worked on his recovery.

Slated to be a full participant in the 2024 training camp, the hype is building for the young Durden once again. The Cowboys have opportunities there for the taking this season. Michael Gallup is no longer on the roster and his replacement has yet to be determined. Former third-round draft pick Jalen Tolbert has the inside track, but the issue is far from settled.

Players like Jalen Brooks (2023 seventh-round pick) and Kavontae Turpin (Pro Bowl return man) are going to plead their case for the WR3 role while Jalen Moreno-Cropper (2023 UDFA) and Ryan Flournoy (2024 sixth-round pick) all seemingly have an inside track on deep roster spots. Climbing into a top-six role won’t be easy for Durden, but it’s far from being out of reach.

A case can be made Durden is both a safe pick and simultaneously a high-reward pick. His measurables sell his ceiling but his maturity, versatility and experience give him a relatively solid floor. Assuming he’s recovered from his offseason knee surgery, Durden should be the mix for Dallas’ WR competition. He’s a dark horse no one should sleep on because he has all the quality of an ideal bottom-of-the-roster WR prospect.

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Report suggests Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb may holdout of training camp

From @ToddBrock24f7: 2023’s receptions leader “is expected to miss training camp if he doesn’t get a new deal.” It would be the latest frustration in Dallas.

It wasn’t a big deal when Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb missed the team’s voluntary workouts waiting for a contract extension. And even though it earned him a five-figure fine, it wasn’t necessarily a problem that he skipped minicamp earlier this month in protest.

But the Cowboys are set to reconvene in Oxnard, Calif. in under a month for the beginning of a training camp that looks to be massively important to the immediate future of the franchise, and reports suggest that without a new agreement in place, Lamb is prepared to stay away from that, too.

According to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, the 25-year-old who led the league in receptions last year and set a single-season club record for receiving yards “is expected to miss training camp if he doesn’t get a new deal.”

Lamb is currently slated to play on the fifth-year option that the Cowboys placed on him and would be due $17.99 million for the 2024 season. The Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, the Eagles’ A.J. Brown, the Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle have all signed huge contracts in the past two months, each of them worth over $28.25 million average annual value.

It appears that Lamb is tired of coming in at a discount, and therefore may not be coming in at all until it’s rectified.

Seven-time first-team All-Pro guard Zack Martin employed a similar approach last year, holding out of camp for roughly three weeks before the club granted him a raise that amounted to an extra $8 million over the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Martin later admitted that the holdout impacted his readiness for the 2023 season opener and affected his play for much of the season.

If Lamb is absent from camp, soon-to-be-31-year-old Brandin Cooks would serve as the offense’s top receiving threat. Behind him is a collection of young and mostly inexperienced wide receivers who- combined- accounted for all of 40 catches last season.

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The Cowboys say they’re not worried about Lamb not being ready to line up and go. He’s been working out on his own, and quarterback Dak Prescott explained that the two would log some time together over the summer, as has become tradition for Prescott and his pass-catchers.

But in an offseason when there are so many concerning details for Cowboys fans to read into about how their team is handling its business and its superstar players, a training camp no-show from Lamb would only ratchet up the angst a few more clicks.

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‘Didn’t work as hard as I could’: Cowboys LB Willie Harvey Jr. plans to capitalize on second NFL chance

From @ToddBrock24f7: Harvey admits he didn’t work as hard he could have during his 3 years with the Browns. He used 2 UFL seasons to get another shot.

UFL executive vice president of operations Daryl Johnston calls the organization “the league of opportunity,”

After a three-year stint with the Cleveland Browns ended , in August of 2022new Dallas linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. had to wonder if he had squandered his opportunity.

But after recommitting himself to two seasons of spring ball, Harvey has gotten a rare second chance at making his NFL dreams come true.

“I’m honest with myself,” the 28-year-old said. “I knew I probably didn’t work as hard as I should have and put in the work. So getting a chance in the spring league, I was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got another chance to perfect my craft and be a better linebacker, get smarter, get faster, get stronger. That’s kind of what I did my first year and I felt like it wasn’t enough, so I came back again and did it again.”

Harvey was drafted by the St. Louis Battlehawks (then of the XFL) in late 2022 and retained for the team when they migrated to the new merged league. This spring, his efforts landed him on the All-UFL team.

Johnston, the former Cowboys fullback, was among his biggest fans and says he could see the former Iowa State Cyclone deserved another chance at the NFL.

“He kind of jumps out to you,” Johnston said. “You think he’s undersized until you see him play. He was great in our league.”

Now the 5-foot-11-inch Harvey will have the chance to be great in the NFL, but he’ll have to complete the same long gauntlet of spring-to-summer-to-fall back-to-back football seasons that fellow Cowboys KaVontae Turpin and Brandon Aubrey endured in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

If Harvey is worried about the physical toll, he’s not letting on to his new squad.

“I’m slowly working myself back into the working out phase and the running phase,” he said in a recent interview on 105.3 The Fan. “But I’ll be fine; I’ve done this before. I’m a year-round guy.”

If Harvey will be coming into training camp hot after a 7-3 season that saw the BattleHawks suffer a crushing upset in the conference finals, maybe the extended warmup will help him compete in Oxnard with the likes of Cowboys defensive standouts Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks.

“They’ve got a lot of good guys, and they let them thrive,” he said of his new defensive teammates in Dallas. “That’s something I want to be a part of.”

The fact that they’ll all be starting from square one in a new defensive scheme under first-year coordinator Mike Zimmer will perhaps help. Harvey likens the system- at least as he understands it thus far- to what he ran in St. Louis under Donnie Abraham.

“It’s like a linebacker-driven defense,” he explained, “keeping the linebackers free, letting them be athletes and make plays.”

Harvey led the entire UFL in tackles and set the pace for linebackers with the most tackles for loss, passes defended, and forced fumbles.

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Linebacker play will be key to the Cowboys’ goal of stopping the run, something they struggled to do throughout the 2023 season. The defensive letdowns against Arizona, San Francisco, Buffalo, and Green Bay- all embarrassing losses- were compounded by personnel issues, with coordinator Dan Quinn opting to plug safeties into traditional linebacker slots and hoping they’d hold their own.

They largely did not, helping contribute to a growing notion held by many around the league that linebackers, like running backs on offense, simply don’t matter in today’s game the way they once did.

Don’t tell that to Harvey.

“We’re a very grimy, hard-nosed group of guys who really don’t get the respect we deserve,” he opined. “We play all special teams, we command the whole entire defense. I think that’s important. When you take us out of the picture, it can get a little cloudy.”

It got downright dark and stormy when the Cowboys’ de facto linebackers fell apart last year.

Harvey plans to help sweep those clouds over Dallas away and make the absolute most of his second chance in the NFL.

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Cowboys announce full schedule for Oxnard; 16 practices open to public

From @ToddBrock24f7: The team will return to Oxnard this summer for the 18th time and stay longer than usual, giving fans plenty of opportunities to see them.

The Cowboys are set for their longest Oxnard stay yet, and now fans know when they’ll be able to pay a visit and sit in on practice.

The team has released its full training camp schedule, offering well over a dozen open practice sessions at the River Ridge Playing Fields. Attending training camp practice is free but can reach capacity quickly each day, and there is a cash fee for parking.

This year, the Cowboys’ California stay will include a scrimmage against the visiting Rams and two preseason games- one at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and one at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

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As is tradition, the Cowboys will hold the final leg of training camp back home in Frisco. Those dates and practice times have yet to be announced.

Here are the dates and times for all planed events during the Oxnard stay. Note that all times are local Pacific Time.

Tuesday, July 23 Players arrive
Thursday, July 25 Open practice 11:30 a.m.
Friday, July 26 Open practice 11:30 a.m.
Oxnard Fan Night 4 p.m.
Saturday, July 27 Opening Ceremony 10 a.m.
Open practice 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, July 28 Open practice 11:30 a.m.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Dance Clinic 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 30 Open practice 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, July 31 Heroes Appreciation Day (open practice) 11 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 2 Open practice 11 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3 Open practice 11 a.m.
Monday, Aug. 5 Open practice 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 6 Open practice 11 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 8 Scrimmage vs. Los Angeles Rams 2 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 9 Open practice 11 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 11 Game 1 at Los Angeles Rams 1:25 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 13 Open practice 11 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 15 Open practice 11 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 17 Game 2 at Las Vegas Raiders 7 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 19 Open practice 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 20 Open practice 11 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 21 Open practice 11 a.m.
Team departs

This will mark the Cowboys’ 65th summer training camp and the 45th year it has been held in Southern California. This will be the 18th year in Oxnard.

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