Tag: 2021 training camp

WATCH: New episode of ‘1920 Football Drive’ takes Bears fans inside final roster cuts

From inside player evaluation meetings to final cuts, here’s the latest episode of the Bears’ series ‘1920 Football Drive.’

The Chicago Bears released the latest episode of 1920 Football Drive, a video series that takes fans behind the scenes of the Bears organization.

Last summer, the series premiered where it documented a unique training camp during the span of three episodes. The fifth episode took fans behind the scenes of the first few weeks of Bears training camp leading into their first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins.

Now, 1920 Football Drive is back for its sixth installment, which focuses on the conclusion of training camp, the final two preseason games and final cuts. From inside player evaluation meetings to an off day of bowling with David Montgoemry and Darnell Mooney to the moment tight end Jesper Horsted and linebacker Caleb Johnson learn they’ve made the 53-man roster, take a look at the conclusion of training camp and how it leads into Sunday’s opener against the Los Angeles Rams.

While we don’t get the Bears on Hard Knocks, this feels like a nice consolation prize, which gives fans an exclusive look at what happens at Halas Hall during training camp.

Check out the next episode of 1920 Football Drive below:

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McCarthy eager to ‘be more genuine’ leading up to Cowboys’ opener with ‘Hard Knocks’ crew gone

The Dallas head coach joked about the HBO cameras being absent on Friday, wanting to protect the team’s ‘competitive advantage.’ | From @ToddBrock24f7

Mike McCarthy stepped to the lectern for his Friday press conference, and took a quick, slightly puzzled glance around the room of reporters.

“Is somebody missing here?” the Cowboys head coach asked.

“No Hard Knocks,” someone pointed out helpfully.

McCarthy flashed a knowing grin and gave a double-finger point.

Bingo. Cue the laughter.

The coach had gotten them. Hook, line, and sinker.

The Cowboys skipper was clearly happy to have the ship back under his sole command, without the distraction of a camera crew and live microphones underfoot. The teams from HBO and NFL Films have pulled out of The Star in Frisco, having collected all the footage necessary to put together the season finale, which will air Tuesday night.

With less than a week to go before the season opener against the defending champs, McCarthy said that the crew’s absence allows show business to finally take a backseat to the business of football around the facility.

“I would say it gives you a chance to be more genuine,” he told the media members assembled. “I think a lot of things we do in life, especially in professional sports and specific to the Dallas Cowboys, it’s about time and place. There are things you’re able to do and say in particular spaces that are important to the individuals in that space. And you clearly wouldn’t say it, probably, exactly how you would or maybe behave exactly how you would or respond exactly how you would. And I think it’s human nature if there’s 15 cameras in the room. I think we all understand that.”

McCarthy didn’t always seem comfortable in his scenes on-camera. He joked, for instance, about his address to the team- and more specifically, his abbreviated dance moves- in the most recent episode.

Now without the all-seeing cameras, McCarthy kidded that he’ll be able to, in his words, “Just bring it.”

A record third starring appearance on the HBO series brought a good deal of exposure to the Cowboys, something that seems hardly necessary for the league’s most valuable- and most visible- franchise. But team owner Jerry Jones never met a public relations opportunity he didn’t fully embrace.

But McCarthy was well aware that having the inner workings of his team meetings, coaches’ conversations, and practice sessions broadcast to a primetime audience certainly had the potential to chip away at any competitive advantage the Cowboys might have coming into a season that has very high expectations.

This is, after all, the coach who had the numbers removed from his players’ jerseys before last year’s intrasquad scrimmage when he learned it would be broadcast live. And even then, no wide shots showing actual plays or formations were allowed to be shown.

Letting a camera crew embed with the team for the entirety of training camp couldn’t have been McCarthy’s idea of a good time. But the coach tried to put a bow on the ordeal Friday.

“I think the Hard Knocks experience was a good one. I thought they were very professional. I think we worked very well together. But it’s different having that in your space. And I just don’t think you get the maximum results out of a group dynamic activity and beliefs and conversations and interactions with that type of environment. As a coach, you’re always protective of your environment because of what you’re trying to develop.”

And now the environment around the Cowboys becomes maybe just a little less circus-like as McCarthy and his players try to develop a winning game plan for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Malik Turner, Simi Fehoko among WRs waiting for Cowboys roster decision

Two Cowboys WRs are among many who have done all they could do in training camp and preseason; now they wait to see if it was enough. | From @ToddBrock24f7

And now, the wait.

With training camp and the preseason schedule behind them, the Cowboys coaching staff embarks on two days of long meetings and difficult decisions about who they’ll take with them into the regular season. Some players will launch or extend their dream of an NFL career. Some players will miss the 53-man roster but find a spot on the practice squad, where they’ll keep one foot in the door. For some, Tuesday’s cuts will be the end of the road.

Wide receivers Malik Turner and Simi Fehoko are two of the Cowboys who don’t yet know where they’ll land. Both played well during camp, but both find themselves trying to break in to a position group already bursting with talent. Four-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper is a lock, as are second-year phenom CeeDee Lamb and still-rising star Michael Gallup. Cedrick Wilson and Noah Brown are proven Dallas veterans. There’s no guarantee the Cowboys will even take a sixth receiver into the season.

For players like Fehoko and Turner, Monday and Tuesday could prove to be the longest wait of their lives.

Fehoko is 23 years old, but it’s his first time with this unique brand of football uncertainty. A four-star recruit coming out of high school who went on to become one of the leading receivers in the history of Stanford’s storied program, the 6-foot-3-inch rookie has never experienced the possibility of not making a football team.

A fifth-round pick by the Cowboys in the spring, Fehoko finds himself on the proverbial bubble. So while the rest of the world viewed Sunday’s preseason finale against Jacksonville as a meaningless exhibition, for Fehoko, it was his last best chance to make an impression.

“For me, I try to make the best out of every opportunity that I get, and today was one of those days where I could just give everything I had,” the Utah native said after the loss. “I felt like I gave my 100 every single time, every time I was out there. The opportunities that I did get, I feel like I made the most of them.”

Fehoko caught just nine balls over the course of four preseason games. He was targeted four times on Sunday, logging three receptions for 21 yards. In-game opportunities are exceedingly rare; Fehoko knows his next chapter will likely be decided by something else. It’s how he looked in every practice, how hard he competed on every snap, how well he did all the unglamorous jobs he was asked to do.

“I had a couple more targets than I normally get, so for me, that’s huge as a receiver. Also, I got to play a little bit more on special teams, and that was awesome as well. Again, made the most of it.”

Turner, an undrafted free agent who’s on his third team and entering his fourth year in the league, knows that all too well. At this level, making it as a wide receiver often means fewer go routes and more grunt work.

“In college, you never expect to play special teams,” the Illinois product said Sunday. “But I kind of learned that if you’re on the bubble, this is what you’ve got to do.”

Turner caught his lone touchdown pass as a pro in 2019 when he started three games for the Seahawks at wide receiver. He was signed by Dallas last season and played in six contests, all on special teams. He snared three balls on Sunday out of five targets, giving him a total of ten catches on the 2021 preseason.

Like every other player on the bubble, he has no way of knowing if it was enough to earn a roster spot.

“I feel like if you ask any football player, they’re going to tell you no. There’s always more to be done,” Turner admitted. “But all I can say is I did the best I could do today and this entire training camp. Hopefully, in the eyes of the staff, it was enough for them.”

So for now, Fehoko and Smith wait, along with Brandon Smith, Aaron Parker, Osirus Mitchell, Johnnie Dixon, T.J. Vasher, and Stephen Guidry. Those wide receivers- and many other Cowboys players across nearly every position group- will learn their football fate by Tuesday afternoon.

“You never know what can happen,” Turner explained. “I’ve been in this situation a couple times. You don’t get too high, [or] too low. Whatever happens happens.”

Such is life on the NFL bubble.

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Cowboys News: La’el Collins update, substitute coordinators for Sunday, Dak is left off a big list

Cowboys coaches aren’t worried about Collins’s stinger, Kellen Moore will sit out Sunday, Dak Prescott is MIA from the Top 100 players list. | From @ToddBrock24f7

It’s an eventful weekend for the Cowboys as training camp 2021 comes to an end. One of the team’s big men has thrown one final scare into the staff, but no one seems too concerned about his prognosis. Just the same, he won’t play in the final preseason game; he’ll be sitting this one out along with about 30 of the other starters. Those players aren’t the only ones who’ll be watching from the sides when Dallas plays Jacksonville; the team will have substitute offensive and defensive coordinators as well… but for different reasons.

After Sunday’s game, it will be all about final roster cuts. We’ve got predictions on who makes the 53, while also keeping an eye on other players who’ll suddenly be looking for employment. A talented quarterback has himself a new team; that’s one less option for Dallas should they choose to upgrade their backup plan. We’re looking ahead to next year, too, and wondering if Michael Gallup will really be a bargain. We’re profiling a few names Cowboys fans should know, from their new long snapper to two talented linebackers to a hopeful at fullback. Jerry Jones is talking about Tony Romo’s Hall of Fame chances… and the current Cowboys quarterback is inexplicably left off a pretty major list. Here’s the News and Notes to close out training camp.

WATCH: Dak Prescott shows off healthy arm in team drills

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is back. In full practice on Friday, he showed off the healthy arm on a plethora of impressive throws. | From @CDBurnett7

When Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott injured his shoulder on July 28, panic surrounded the fanbase about his health and when he would return to the field. After a month of recovery, Prescott is now back at full capacity right in time as the season starts in exactly two weeks.

During his slow process back into practice, Prescott spent a lot of time in individual drills, working on his ability in the running game and even throwing with his left arm at times. In true Prescott fashion, he’s found every way to stay involved in practice as a leader and now, the reins are off and he enjoyed applause from the crowd in attendance on Thursday.

During team drills, Prescott went 10-for-16 and had a plethora of impressive throws. The offensive line was missing both starting tackles and left guard Connor Williams but that didn’t slow down the franchise quarterback. Near the endzone, Prescott delivered perfectly on deep and back-shoulder throws, clearing the air about how his shoulder feels.

This was one of many highlight throws from Prescott and it silences any doubt about his status come Week 1. Now, it’s all about preparation for Dallas, and having their leader back will be integral in being ready for the season opener against the defending Super Bowl champions.

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Lions’ Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill rank high among rookie defensive linemen

The Detroit Lions doubled down on defensive tackles, Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill, in the draft and looks to be paying early dividends

When General Manager Brad Holmes decided to double down on defensive tackles with back-to-back picks in the 2021 NFL draft with the selections of Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill, it was a head-scratching moment for everyone. The Detroit Lions clearly had other weak areas that needed addressing (i.e., wide receiver and safety). This seemed more like a luxury selection instead of allocating assets to more than one position.

So far, it looks like Holmes has the last laugh. Through the preseason, Onwuzurike and McNeill rank in the top 5 in PFF’s overall defensive grading amongst defensive line rookies with a 90.5 grade and 74.6 grade, respectively. To add context, Onwuzurike has only played 17 snaps through one game, and McNeill has 23 snaps through two games, which rank as second and third lowest, respectively, among that same class. Either way, you can see the talent surrounding these two players and how much they will look to make an impact now and in the future for the Lions.

If you could pick one player who exceeded all expectations through training camp and preseason, you don’t have to look any further than “Mr. Twinkle Toes” himself. McNeill was expected to compete with John Penisini as the team’s starting nose tackle throughout camp. Still, with Penisini’s injuries keeping him out, McNeill took over the reins with star-studded fashion. His superior athleticism and discipline give him the versatility to be equally effective anywhere on the interior defensive line as a pass rusher and run defender.

Even his defensive line coach, Todd Wash, was taken back by how he adapted so quickly.

“He’s better than I thought when we drafted him, to be honest. I think we would all say that. We knew he was a heck of a run defender. He’s stout at the point, but he’s a lot better athlete than he showed on tape, which for us was unbelievable. He’s not just an A-gap to A-gap player, so if he can continue to get better—we got to keep a thumb on him—I think he can be an exceptional nose guard in this league in time.”

The opportunities going up against one of the best centers in the NFL in Frank Ragnow consistently has allowed McNeill to grow as a player and quickly develop the tools that will allow him to be a disruptive force on the defensive line. At this point, expectations are high for McNeill from the coaches and himself in hopes that he continues this dominance through the regular season and wreck opposing offenses.

As for Onwuzurike, the coaches were cautious with the second-round selection with a lingering back injury, so we didn’t get to see him make the immediate impact as McNeill did. This led some people to think he wouldn’t be ready to start the regular season playing catch-up and getting acclimated to NFL speed. However, he was able to put that rest real quick and in a hurry with an impressive showing in camp where it seemed he spend all day in the backfield disrupting play after play releasing all the energy like a wound toy up waiting to be released.

He continued that dominance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, wreaking havoc whenever he got the chance to, recording two pressures on ten pass-rushing snaps, and added a run stop in for good measure. He might’ve not flashed on the stat sheet, but he was a force in the interior, making the Steeler offensive line miserable to contain him. Being this was his first taste of football in over a year with his 2020 opt-out, most would say he performed very well, but being his own critic, he knows he still has some kinks to overcome.

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“I think I did solid, not where I wanted to be 100%. I didn’t play to my standard. Obviously, getting back to the things from feeling tired on the field. But I think a solid day, nothing crucial. I feel like I am ready for it. I think today was something real good to get in, feel good, you know, fill your body out, take double teams, feel all that, so it usually only takes one game. Obviously, this next upcoming preseason game will be huge for that, but I think we’re good.”

We know coach Campbell will not be playing most of his starters in the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts; it’ll be interesting to see what kind of action Onwuzurike and McNeill get. He wants to get the reps in for the young players, but you don’t want to run the risk with players you know will be leaning on throughout the season.

Nevertheless, the development for these two players has risen above most expectations heading in training camp and preseason. It is a breath of fresh light to see the players grow and make an almost immediate impact right from the jump, especially the debacles from last season. With the regular season right around the corner, surely these two are ready to be the disruptive forces they are meant to be and help elevate the Lions defense.

Takeaways from Bears 2021 training camp by position

From standout players to concerns at offensive line and cornerback, here’s what we learned from Bears training camp.

The Chicago Bears officially wrapped training camp on Thursday, where there’s still plenty of questions heading into the preseason finale and the start of the regular season.

It’s been quite an eventful training camp, filled with injury concerns, surprise standouts and an official quarterback competition that was more exciting than the official one last summer.

With training camp at a close, here’s one thing we learned from every position over the last month:

Cowboys safeties Malik Hooker, Israel Mukuamu back at practice after COVID list

Veteran safety Malik Hooker is the second player to come off the Cowboys’ COVID watchlist in recent days; Israel Mukuamu returned midweek. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys get another player back. Safety Malik Hooker has been activated from the Reserve/COVID list and is eligible to join the rest of the team for practice on Friday.

The veteran is the second member of the Dallas secondary to come off the COVID watchlist in recent days; rookie Israel Mukuamu rejoined the unit midweek. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, offensive lineman Connor Williams, and safety Damontae Kazee remain in the COVID protocol, as does defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Quinn has been in virtual communication with the team all week after being pulled from AT&T Stadium shortly before last Saturday night’s preseason kickoff versus Houston. He said on Thursday that he was “feeling fine” and was waiting on two negative tests within a 24-hour period in order to return to his duties, possibly in time for Sunday’s exhibition with Jacksonville.

Quinn attributes his “mild” case of COVID to having been fully vaccinated. Hooker had also received both does of the vaccine.

Mukuamu was still in the waiting period following his second shot when he was identified as a close contact.

Hooker and Mukuamu have rejoined the roster at a key moment, with final cuts coming next week. The Cowboys must get from 79 players to 53 by August 31st, and both are part of a crowded secondary, with several players fighting for a job at the safety position.

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Washington releases tight end Temarrick Hemingway

Washington has five tight ends on the roster for the preseason finale.

In a surprise move, the Washington Football Team released tight end Temarrick Hemingway on Thursday.

It’s not necessarily a surprise Washington released Hemingway, but more of when he was released. Washington just cut five players to get to the league-mandated 80 players on Tuesday.

After releasing Hemingway, Washington re-signed center Jon Toth, who was released on Tuesday.

Hemingway was entering his sixth NFL season in 2021 and spent the 2019 season with head coach Ron Rivera and the Carolina Panthers. He spent time going back and forth between Washington’s practice squad and active roster in 2020, appearing in eight games, catching one pass for 10 yards.

Hemingway began the preseason in a good position to make the WFT roster. However, he struggled badly against New England and then suffered a concussion missing some time. Other players moved past him on the depth chart.

Washington now has five tight ends on the roster for the final preseason game: Logan Thomas, John Bates, Sammis Reyes, Caleb Wilson and Ricky Seals-Jones.

Washington hosts Baltimore on Saturday evening at FedEx Field.

Every NFL team must trim their roster to 53 players by Tuesday at 4 p.m. EDT.

6 takeaways from the Bears’ final training camp practice

From Rodney Adams’ path to the roster to potential rotation at left tackle, here’s what we learned from the Bears’ final camp practice.

The Chicago Bears returned to the practice field Thursday for their final training camp practice at Halas Hall ahead of Saturday’s preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans.

While their final padded practice was half speed, there was plenty to digest from what head coach Matt Nagy, linebacker Danny Trevathan and tight ends Cole Kmet and Jimmy Graham had to say.

Following Thursday’s practice, here’s a look at what we learned from Day 21 of training camp: