Category: CeeDee Lamb

3 Stars: Prescott, Lamb explode, as Gregory paces Cowboys defense to victory

The Cowboys continue to get big-time performances. Each week is a different combination but these 3 players are regulars in celebrations. A look at the three stars, from @StarConscience

What a thriller the Dallas Cowboys had in Week 6 against the New England Patriots. The Cowboys dominated in just about every aspect of the game, but penalties, inefficiency in the red zone, and questionable officiating kept the Patriots in it throughout and created high drama in Foxboro.

The game went into overtime after a Greg Zuerlein field goal with 20 seconds remaining and it only took the Cowboys one possession in the extra period to win their fifth straight game, 35-29. The win gave them a three-game lead in the NFC East. There were plenty of kudos to go around, but these three players stood out the most in a tough road win for Dallas.

Calvin Johnson singles out Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb; could be NFL’s best WR

Calvin Johnson thinks the Cowboys’ second-year WR has the tools to transform himself into the best-in-class among NFL pass-catchers. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Pick a stat category for wide receivers, and Cowboys superstar CeeDee Lamb is near the top of the list. Total receiving yards? He’s 11th in the league through three games. Targets? Tied for 8th. Catches? Tied for 7th. Receptions of over 20 yards? Tied for second and just behind the leader. All impressive rankings for the second-year standout.

But if you ask Calvin Johnson, newly-enshrined Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the greatest to ever play the position, Lamb is a prime candidate for topping them all and being recognized as the best receiver in the NFL.

The former Lions All-Pro singled him out Thursday during an appearance on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football.

“I love seeing CeeDee Lamb. I love watching that kid go up and make a play on the ball,” Johnson said when asked about the younger wideouts in the game today and pressed to pick one who could rise to the top of the heap.

 

Lamb wowed as a rookie; he came within 65 yards of breaking 1,000 in his first pro campaign (with no training camp) and instantly cemented himself as the Cowboys’ pass-catcher of the future.

And he’s looking to build off that in his second season.

“I feel like the jump [from Year One to Year Two] is definitely there,” Lamb said back in June. “It’s all on the future to gauge it. I am excited about the future.”

The future is here, and it’s off to a repeat start. The 22-year-old Lamb is ahead of his rookie pace in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns through three games.

But it’s not just what shows up in the box score. A good chunk of Lamb’s  offseason was spent working to be a better blocker.

“Definitely this year, I took a lot more pride in it,” the Oklahoma product said after Week 2’s win. “Last year, I feel like I fell off a little bit, just off the lack of strength. I feel like I’ve built enough to be a little more effective on the blocking end. I’m going to take a lot more pride in it going throughout the season.”

It showed against the Chargers on a catch by Cedrick Wilson, where Lamb popped Los Angeles safety Nassir Adderley in the open field. It wasn’t a glamorous play, but it allowed Wilson to pick up almost 10 extra yards.

Lamb came within a few precious inches of his second touchdown of the young season on Monday night, going up to snatch a jump ball against Philadelphia. Just a little more oomph from Prescott on the throw, and it’s a score. But Lamb felt like he should have made the adjustment himself to get in.

“The ball’s not always going to go where you want it,” he explained this week. “It’s my job to make it right. That’s what I try to do.”

He does it quite often. The Cowboys’ 2021 training camp featured a near-daily video clip of Lamb making one insane catch after another, frequently in heavy traffic. He told reporters this summer, “As a typical receiver, I feel like if the ball is in the air 50/50, the receiver is feeling like it’s 100/0, always. I’m looking to be more aggressive.”

Lamb certainly has all the tools. And after displaying the same for nine spectacular seasons, the iconic Megatron believes Lamb could easily transform himself into the best-in-class for this era.

“The guy can move. The guy’s elusive. He’s not a tiny receiver. He likes to go up and make a play. I see a guy that goes up and use their hands and pinpoint that ball,” Johnson continued in his praise for the things Lamb does exceptionally well. “And run good routes, and catch with your hands. Those are two things for me that I love to see in a receiver. I mean, yeah, you’ve got to catch the ball with your body sometimes, but I can’t stand body catches, man. Use some hands; that’s what they’re for. You’re a receiver.”

He is indeed. And one of the greatest receivers ever says that, based on what he sees, Lamb could- soon- be the greatest receiver in the league today.

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WATCH: QB Prescott finds WR Lamb for Cowboys 1st TD of 2021

The Cowboys’ offense has looked fluid in two drives, capped off by QB Dak Prescott dropping it in the bucket to WR CeeDee Lamb.

In the first drive back from almost a whole year away, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott marched down the field but an underthrown pass and drop by wide receiver CeeDee Lamb froze the drive before a false start penalty pushed Dallas out of field goal range.

After the Buccaneers marched down the field and scored a touchdown, Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense responded with a quick drive of their own, orchestrated by offensive coordinator Kellen Moore who has already pulled out a few tricks early. The biggest one so far was a fake screen where Prescott put the ball on the money to Lamb for a 22-yard touchdown.

That’s the first touchdown for the Cowboys in 2021 and the offense has looked fluid beyond the drop on the first drive against the same defense that made quarterback Patrick Mahomes look pedestrian in Super Bowl LIV. 

Report: CeeDee Lamb among 4 Cowboys back to work from COVID list

CeeDee Lamb, Damontae Kazee, Carlos Watkins, and DC Dan Quinn are all back in action with one week to go before the 2021 season opener. | From @ToddBrock24f7

With one week to go before the season opener, the Cowboys are getting several key pieces of the puzzle back on the table. The team’s late-preseason additions to the Reserve/COVID list have substantially impacted only two preseason games and a handful of practices and meetings thus far, but there had been concern with every passing day over whether those names on the list would be back in action in time to play September 9th against the defending Super Bowl champs.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Clarence Hill Jr. is reporting that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, safety Damontae Kazee, and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins will likely be activated from the COVID watchlist on Thursday and return to practice with the team.

Offensive lineman Connor Williams remains on the list, as does wide receiver Noah Brown.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn had also been under COVID-19 protocol after testing positive for the virus. He missed the club’s last two preseason games and was participating only virtually in team meetings. ESPN’s Ed Werder announced that Quinn was also back at work as of Wednesday evening.

Having players on the Reserve/COVID list technically meant that the Cowboys were able to do a little fudging on Tuesday’s deadline for roster cuts, as players under COVID protocol do not count toward the official 53-man roster. But for each player now activated off of that list, the team will be required to make a corresponding move with someone else.

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CeeDee Lamb among 3 Cowboys added to COVID protocol ahead of next round of cuts

CeeDee Lamb, Malik Hooker, and Israel Mukuamu have been added to the team’s COVID/Reserve list, bringing the total number of names to five. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Three more names were added to the Cowboys’ COVID/Reserve list on Monday. That brings the total number to five after defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins were late COVID scratches in the lead-up to Saturday’s preseason game versus the Houston Texans. Both left AT&T Stadium before kickoff “out of an abundance of caution,” the team said.

News of the new additions came as head coach Mike McCarthy was wrapping up a Monday afternoon press conference in which he stated that three players would now be placed on the list.

Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, safety Malik Hooker, and rookie safety Israel Mukuamu will now enter COVID-19 protocol.

What happens next for each of the individuals on the list depends on the person’s vaccination status. According to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, Lamb is fully vaccinated. Watkins added in a subsequent tweet that Hooker has had one vaccination shot and was waiting for his second.

The news comes with six days to go before the team’s final preseason game, on Sunday against Jacksonville. Of significantly more concern is the Week 1 opener on September 9th. The situation bears a close watch as the club will work to ensure that all players are ready to suit up against the defending Super Bowl champs.

But the COVID news does add a wrinkle to the next round of roster cuts, due to the league office Tuesday afternoon.

The Cowboys had already moved to a virtual format on Sunday in response to Quinn and Watkins entering COVID protocol. As per Jori Epstein of USA Today, the team met virtually on Monday to watch game film from the Texans loss.

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Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb on Year 2 expectations: ‘I’m going to just keep that to myself’

CeeDee Lamb electrified as a rookie with spectacular catches and setting records. However, he won’t reveal his lofty year two goals. | From @StarConscience

The 2021 season is right around the corner for the Dallas Cowboys. Although their 2020 campaign was a disaster, there were a few bright spots like wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Despite losing quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 5, and playing with a battered offensive line, Lamb finished with just under 1,000 yards and set the franchise record for receptions by a rookie.

Lamb’s performance in his first year set the bar high for what others expect from him. However, the dynamic playmaker has personal goals for himself as he enters Year 2, but he isn’t revealing what they are.

“I’m going to just keep that to myself,” Lamb said. “Because when you put it out there, they think you’re being cocky or something. So I’m going to keep that to myself. But it’s pretty high, yeah.”

Lamb has looked like a man possessed during training camp. He’s been a human highlight reel as he’s made spectacular catches and produced big plays seemingly every practice.

The former Oklahoma Sooner looks beyond making highlights though. For him, it’s more about making every rep count and continuing to take his game to another plateau.

“It’s just kind of being consistent and making the most of every opportunity I get,” Lamb said earlier this week. “Today was probably one of the worst days of camp for me, as far as catching the ball-wise. But I’m always looking forward to working and being better.”

The Cowboys played in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio two weeks ago against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although he wasn’t taking game reps, Lamb took the time to soak in what it meant to be at “Football Heaven” as the Hall of Fame is often referred to.

“I was smiling,” Lamb said. “Being there just thinking and kind of fantasizing if you will of what if. All it takes is work. I approach every day like it’s my last because you never know when it is. Until I get one of them (gold jackets), I’m working.”

If Lamb is to get any extensive work before the Cowboys kick off the 2021 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers it will be on Saturday against the Houston Texans. He doesn’t need and preseason work to be ready by September 9 but Lamb won’t turn down any opportunity to get on the field.

“I still want every rep,” Lamb said. “My competitiveness and everything and love for the game is still there. I’m young, I feel like any experience is a great experience.”

Lamb has a luxury most receivers don’t and that’s having two other top options playing alongside him. With Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup posing major threats in the passing game, Lamb has a great shot to elevate his game to the next level with more one-on-one opportunities, especially with a healthy Prescott under center.

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Cowboys News: Is CeeDee Lamb WR1? What happens to Gallup? Fresh start for LVE?

Is Lamb the Cowboys’ new WR1? A look at all of the top Dallas receivers, in real life, fantasy and for the future in the latest news roundup. Also, how long will LVE stay?

The Cowboys have needed a major cog on the interior of their defensive line for quite some time. A 6-foot-4 and nearly 330 pounds, Quinton Bohanna is a true nose tackle that can fill that role. Tarell Basham is flying under the radar in terms of the Cowboy’s offseason signings, but his versatility and high motor could be a key addition to the Cowboy’s defense this season.

CeeDee Lamb blew the doors off the NFL as a rookie, and he did so playing with four different quarterbacks. Now entering year two, is he poised to take over as WR1? What will his ascent mean for Michael Gallup’s future? How will all three top wideouts fare for fantasy purposes? The three biggest threats to the Cowboys in the NFC East, veterans on the camp bubble, how to fix the run defense as well as other topics are discussed in this edition of the news and notes.

Unleashed: Prescott predicts breakout season for Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb

Dak Prescott only played four full games with CeeDee Lamb in 2020. However, he feels the second-year stud will improve on his rookie year.

Dak Prescott was setting the NFL world on fire last season before suffering a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in Week 5. He had three consecutive games of 450 yards or more from Week 2 to Week 4 and was on pace for an unreal 6,780 yards after the first four games.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of Prescott’s short-lived 2020 campaign was wide receiver CeeDee Lamb whose 74 receptions shattered the Cowboys record for rookie pass-catchers, and he was on pace for over 1,200 yards when Prescott was healthy.

Prescott sees Lamb taking the next step in 2021.

“My expectations are super-high,” Prescott said, via 105.3 The Fan. “I’m so excited for CeeDee. … He’s a special playmaker that we’re privileged to have and he’ll be big-time and definitely have a breakout season.”

Although Lamb played with three other quarterbacks after Prescott went down, and failed to reach 90 yards in each of the last 11 games, his rookie season was a successful one. He finished with 935 yards and five touchdowns, but he reached a few milestones in the process.

Lamb became the first receiver in NFL history to record at least five receptions in his first six career games. Also, he’s the first player in Cowboys history with two 100-yard performances in his first five games.

The former Oklahoma Sooner led all receivers in 20+ yard receptions from the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. It didn’t stop there, though, as his 69 receptions and 877 yards from the slot were the most by a rookie receiver since 2006.

Performing on that level, especially with the quarterback carousel the Cowboys endured last season, has the expectations for Lamb through the roof, and it’s not just from the media or Prescott but himself as well which he detailed a few months ago.

“I want to focus on me being better for the team and definitely want to be as impactful on the team as I possibly can,” Lamb said in April, via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. “Naturally, the team will get better. We started a whole new system if you will. We got a new defensive coordinator [Dan Quinn]. Offensively, we got everybody back. It’s a whole new role. I’m looking to be a better version of myself. To be better than last year and if everyone has that mindset as a collective group we’ll be better.”

Lamb has been busy this offseason polishing different techniques. Working with trainer Delfonte Diamond, Lamb has worked to fine-tune his ability to have quick feet and keep cornerbacks off balance at the line scrimmage. Also, having good hands to fight cornerbacks during press coverage to get separation as a receiver is important too, and Lamb has done his best to be sharper in that area as well.

With Prescott back for a full season, there’s no telling where Lamb’s production can go. His chemistry with Prescott was already starting to reach a high level as they connected on a 72.4 percent rate in the four full games they played together.

Lamb took the league by storm as a rookie. Now, with a year of experience under his belt, a full in-person offseason to absorb more, along with a healthy Prescott and offensive line, the 2021 season could see Lamb make quite the jump up the ladder of the NFL’s best receivers.

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3 current Cowboys named as top 50 draft prospects of last 7 classes

3 Cowboys were amongst PFF’s top 50 prospects in the last 7 classes. CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and La’el Collins round out the list.

The Dallas Cowboys have had a lot of success finding young talent in the draft as well as trading for them. Amongst these splash pickups are offensive linchpins Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and La’el Collins. All were highly-touted prospects coming out of their respective schools.

In fact, when Pro Football Focus recently released their top 50 NFL draft prospects since 2015, the Cowboys trio was on the list.

Amari Cooper was ranked No. 23 thanks to his campaign at Alabama where he holds the second most receiving yards of all-time with 3,463 yards, only behind 2020 Heisman Winner Devonta Smith.

Cooper had some dropsies at Alabama that spilled over into the NFL, but he recorded 124 catches for 1,727 yards, 26 broken tackles and 16 scores in his final season. Combine that with 4.42 speed at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, and you can see why he takes this spot on the list. He wasn’t Megatron, but for what he did best — get open — he was a fairly sure thing.

Cooper was initially drafted by the Raiders with the No. 4 overall pick in 2015 but was traded to Dallas during the 2018 season. He has since become the star wide receiver, amassing 3,028 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns in just under three years with the team. Cooper was also named to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2019 and in 2020 the Alabama legend took the role of mentor for Lamb, who is five spots behind him on the list.

Lamb comes in at No. 28.

Lamb was simply clean across the board. Releases, ball skills, YAC, routes — he could do it all at a high level. He averaged a ridiculous 21.4 yards per catch — 11.0 after the catch — in his final season at Oklahoma.

Lamb shined playing alongside two Heisman-winning quarterbacks in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, as well as National Champion Jalen Hurts. In Lincoln Riley’s offense, the star receiver was a consensus Al-American in 2019 before forgoing his senior season and entering the draft.

Lamb fell to the Cowboys at No. 17, who couldn’t pass up the opportunity. The Oklahoma product shined as a rookie, producing 1,014 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. Lamb was in the top 10 in receiving yards in the NFL before Prescott’s injury. The sky is the limit for Lamb, who will be happy to likely have his quarterback back in 2021.

Meanwhile Collins was set to be a first-round and possibly a top-10 pick in 2015 before misconceptions in a murder case led Collins to be undrafted after teams were uncertain of his involvement.

Collins famously fell out of the 2015 draft altogether because of possible legal issues, but his 2014 tape was worthy of a top-10 pick. He earned a 92.2 pass-blocking grade and a 90.7 run-blocking grade while allowing only four pressures in 2014.

After being cleared of any legal issues, Collins signed with the Cowboys and has become the starting right tackle with the team, taking over for the retiring Doug Free. After a successful few years in the role, the LSU standout inked a five-year extension with Dallas in 2019 but will be coming off a hip injury that sidelined him all of 2020.

After a disappointing 2020 season due to injuries and a lack of a real offseason, the trio is poised to produce in 2021, especially with their leader in Prescott back at the helm on offense.

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Cowboys’ Lamb predicted to make significant Year 2 jump

CeeDee Lamn set records and nearly gained 1,00 yards as a rookie. EPSN predicts he’ll be significantly better in 2021.

When the Dallas Cowboys selected wide receiver CeeDee Lamb at No. 17 overall in the 2020 NFL draft, he was expected to make an immediate impact. Those expectations grew larger when Lamb was ranked the top receiver in Cowboys training camp by the staff writers of the team’s website.

Lamb went on to have an excellent rookie campaign as he became the first receiver in NFL history to catch at least five passes in his six games and shattered the Cowboys rookie record for receptions with 74. Also, he registered 935 yards and five scores.

ESPN recently did a survey on next season’s Super Bowl winner, interesting teams, and free agents that should be sought after in March. Also, they predicted which rookie would make a big jump in year two. According to fantasy writer Mike Clay, Lamb will improve his performance the most.

“Lamb looked the part as a rookie, posting a 74-935-5 receiving line while adding 82 yards and one touchdown with his legs and another score as a returner. Of course, he enjoyed most of his success with a healthy Dak Prescott during Weeks 1-2, ranking sixth in the NFL in receiving yards during the span, before plummeting to 43rd from that point forward. The 17th overall pick has a good chance to jump to the elite tier of wide receivers with Prescott likely back under center in 2021.”

Lamb said a few weeks ago “I cannot wait to have him back” in regards to Prescott and it’s not hard to understand why. The former Oklahoma Sooner was on pace for over 90 receptions and 1,300+ yards in the five games he played with Prescott. The fact that he narrowly missed the 1,000-yard mark playing with three other quarterbacks for the remainder of the season makes his rookie season that much more impressive.

The first-rounder was dominant in the slot in 2020 as he led the NFL in 20+ yard receptions with 12. Also, his 69 receptions and 877 yards from the inside were the most by a rookie receiver since 2006.

Lamb lived up to the lofty expectations that were placed on him entering the NFL. With Prescott back and a healthy offensive line, his sophomore campaign should be even better.