Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
On-site Cowboys updates from Oxnard.
The fourth day of training camp is in the books for the Dallas Cowboys.
Tuesday saw the Cowboys wear pads for the second day in a row and they’ll be rewarded for such physical activity with a nice off day on Wednesday. There were off days for a few members of the team but it was debut day of pads for players like Travis Frederick and Randall Cobb.
What happened? I’ve put together a list of my 10 observations right here to tell you. We’ve also got a brand new episode of The Ocho (make sure to subscribe to the Blogging The Boys podcast wherever you get pods) where you can hear from Frederick himself, new running back Alfred Morris, and an interview with Antwaun Woods among other things.
We’re also churning out camp recap videos on the Blogging The Boys YouTube channel (subscribe here) and you should make sure and listen to ESPN San Antonio for the rest of the week. Tyron Smith and La’el Collins showed up on Tuesday, you never know who might stop by next.
So what happened? Let’s discuss.
Amari Cooper is incredible
I’m not trying to make a deal about one play in training camp, but Amari Cooper had an amazing catch on Tuesday.
Holy Amari wow pic.twitter.com/V9DirONimg
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) July 30, 2019
In the time that I’ve been coming to training camp he might be the most technically proficient player that I’ve ever seen.
Speaking of technical, that’s all Sanjay Lal is
Sanjay Lal caught everyone’s attention last season with his techniques and especially having the receivers do things like carry bricks after practices. He’s somebody who examines even the most minute details.
On Tuesday he spent time watching the way that the receivers caught the ball, as elementary as that sounds. He had one player hold the other’s arms back and kept encouraging the receiver running the drill to try and catch the ball as far away from him as possible.
Sanjay Lal encouraging the Cowboys receivers to catch the ball as far away from their body as they can. Michael Gallup holding Amari Cooper’s arms back before each rep. pic.twitter.com/3TJaStt7dP
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) July 30, 2019
Obviously it looks like Cooper could reach out a lot further, but it was my impression that Lal meant as far as they could reach within reason. You can see Cooper get quite out there.
Blake Jarwin could definitely be a TE1
Jason Witten had the day off so Blake Jarwin got to run with the starters. Realize that this was just the second practice in pads for this team, but the offense didn’t exactly miss a beat. Jarwin is a good player and to have him as a second option is a luxury for this team.
Jourdan Lewis is definitely fighting for every inch
With Byron Jones on the PUP list we’ve seen Jourdan Lewis get more opportunities than normal (Jourdan truthers rejoice). He’s making the most of them.
Darius Jackson started this
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) July 30, 2019
Jourdan Lewis finished it pic.twitter.com/ql7qdhT2cF
Don’t forget about him.
Having Travis Frederick back is just as great as you think
We’re still not seeing super competitive periods from the offense and defense against one another, but to see Travis Frederick playing something close to that while wearing pads was a sight for sore eyes.
Travis Frederick said his first day back in pads since being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome did not make him feel particularly emotional. Then he explained why.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) July 30, 2019
It hit me pretty hard #cowboyswire pic.twitter.com/ceNE1uDCXA
The Cowboys held Frederick out during one-on-ones when the lines went up against each other, but overall he looks like himself. It’ll likely take a while before we really feel that way and stop watching with a bit of held breath but for now things are solid.
The connection between Dak Prescott and Randall Cobb isn’t there yet
People have been asking for the biggest disappointment so far in camp and while it’s early this might be my answer. We haven’t seen Prescott and Cobb be totally on the same page yet, and that’s okay. It’s still early.
aaaaaaaaaalmost pic.twitter.com/I7qRoZ3uX1
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) July 30, 2019
Chemistry takes time. Don’t panic.
Kyle Queiro is definitely worth being excited about
This has been a pet cat of many and it’s easy to understand why. At one point during practice Queiro played a pass to the running back aggressively and got a hand on it. It was fantastic to see.
There’s a lot to figure out on defense and play by guys like Queiro is going to make it tough.
Michael Gallup’s route running is insane for a second-year player
Amari Cooper gets a lot of headlines, but man Michael Gallup looks really good. It’s kind of insane that the Cowboys sort of pulled off landing him and Cooper at the same time, but that’s good front office work.
Dak to Michael Gallup pic.twitter.com/p6arYiuDtf
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2019
Gallup looks like a way more stable player in his second season. That spot is set.
Overall defensive backs are playing things very aggressively
We’ve seen the Cowboys offense challenge the defense with deep balls early on in camp, but that doesn’t mean that the defenders are spooked by it. They’re being quite aggressive.
Xavier Woods, who talked about the deep balls he’s seeing at great frequency right here, jumped a route during practice for an interception. Boom.
Xavier Woods with the pick, aggressiveness is #nice pic.twitter.com/5sU82ZB1A3
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) July 30, 2019
Eli Manning in Week 1 will be so much fun.
Jeff Heath still has an ability to make unbelievable plays
The greatest player of all time Jeff Heath has shown an ability to make unbelievable plays over the course of his career. Right? Glad we all agree.
Tuesday was no different. With Dak Prescott trying to find Randall Cobb over the middle, Heath magic intervened once more. Cobb got a hand on the pass but it went past him and, after a series of bobbles, it ended up in Heath’s hands on the ground a la Jermaine Kearse in Super Bowl XLIX.
Dak tried to find Randall Cobb over the middle but it was tipped and Jeff Heath made an incredible circus interception pic.twitter.com/fMeIgFyUPl
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) July 30, 2019
Respect the GOAT.
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