'The Fire Burns Inside' CeeDee Lamb: Cowboys Practice Update - PHOTOS
FRISCO - As the Dallas Cowboys move out of the game-day spotlight and back into The Star for a fresh week of work, they are firing on all cylinders through the first two games.
In the Week 1 shellacking of the New York Giants, there wasn't as much pressure quarterback Dak Prescott and the offense to score with the way Dallas' defense created turnovers and kept them off the scoreboard. However, against the New York Jets, Prescott didn't just manage the game, he dominated.
Dak at practice
And as much credit as Prescott deserves for his 31-for-38, 255-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Jets, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb needs to be given his flowers for getting open and providing a reliable outlet to throw to — something that will have to remain consistent throughout the season.
CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys
"Here's a guy that, if you're not around him, you don't understand the fire that burns inside him, how good he wants to be, how talented he is, how he works at it," offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. "There's a football instinct to CeeDee that's just special. The game makes sense to him."
Lamb made that "fire" known publicly after the Jets game when he made it a point that he wants to be "one of 'The Ones'" to be great playing the game of football. He didn't stop at just flaunting his own personal confidence, though.
"We're here to dominate," Lamb said. "We're not here to play around. We understand what's at stake, week in and week out, and we're constantly preparing ourselves to be the best team that we can be."
The Cowboys continued "domination'' will rely in part on team's good health. On Wednesday, Tyler Smith (hamstring), Brandin Cooks (knee) and Donovan Wilson (calf) are practicing. Zack Martin (ankle) and Jayron Kearse were not in the field during the media view.
Tony Pollard
Also, Tony Pollard worked the cords and will likely get some rest during this day.
Meanwhile … The best version of the Cowboys involves moving Lamb around the formation in the "Texas Coast Offense." Lamb has the skillset and versatility to play out wide, in the slot and on both sides, possessing a quick first step that allows him to keep opposing cornerbacks guessing.
However, his success at multiple receiver positions bodes well for Schottenheimer's pitch to other Cowboys pass-catchers in becoming X, Z and slot receivers.
"This is a matchup-driven league," Schottenheimer said. "He's obviously one of our best players, but to do it and have the success that he's having helps us sell to the other guys the ability to move guys around."
Lamb in Week 2 had one of the best games in his four-year Cowboys career. His 11 receptions were tied for a career high, while his 143 yards were the third most he's racked up in a game. Lamb is tied for sixth in the NFL in receptions with 15 and the sole owner of sixth with 220 receiving yards through two games. (Cooks’ planned return in Week 3 should help as well.)
Cooks and Tolbert
However, this quarterback-receiver relationship is rarely something that happens from the get-go. This has been mounting for a little over three seasons now and one completion against the Jets made that relationship, Schottenheimer said.
"On the seam ball that he hits, where the safety comes out of the middle of the field and kind of takes his legs out," Schottenheimer said. "There's a trust. Dak felt, 'Yeah, it was a little late trying to move the safety,' but he trusts him to make that play. And what's he do? He goes and pulls it down, so playing at a real high level."
At the rate he's going, Lamb is going to annihilate the career-best numbers he posted in his 2022 campaign, proving he needs to be in the conversation among the best receivers in the NFL.
