Cowboys Practice Report: Positional Review Inside OTAs
FRISCO - OTAs morph into minicamps (next week) which morph into training camp (starting in late July) … and the beat goes on here inside The Star as we unleash a monster notebook on the latest Dallas Cowboys work as we go position group by position group on Thursday’s practice and more …
RUNNING BACKS - Tony Pollard has been in the building during the last two Thursday open-to-media sessions inside Ford Center. But this week, the Pro Bowl back - returning from the broken left leg and high ankle sprain he sustained in the playoff loss at San Francisco - was limited to “on-the-cords” work with trainer Britt Brown.
But not to worry, Pollard said, reporting that he has been running and cutting at full speed and that he is “a little bit ahead of schedule.”
“I’m not really limited at this point, it’s just being smart with it,” said Pollard, adding a fascinating exclamation point.
“Honestly, I feel faster,” said TP, who when fully healthy was already one of the NFL’s speediest backs.
Meanwhile, with Pollard expected to be a full participant when camp begins, “a great stable of backs here” as Tony called his backups in a post-Ezekiel Elliott era, continue to battle. Vet newcomer Ronald Jones is the established guy. But along with Malik Davis, Rico Dowdle got some reps with the first team.
As for rookies Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke? There are those here in the building who are “100-percent” convinced that the diminutive Deuce is going to make the team.
Fellow rookie DeMarvion Overshown probably feels that way, as the Texas product considers his time chasing around Kansas State’s Vaughn as his biggest college challenge.
And Luepke? As with Mazi Smith (see below), we wonder if Dallas is going to have to let the guys put on the pads before we experience the fullback’s full potential impact.
“For right now,” Pollard said, “I’m just letting my agent and the ownership handle that and just trying to focus day by day coming in doing what I have to do.”
WIDE RECEIVERS - CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup all worked on Thursday. Next up? Jalen Tolbert vs. Simi Fehoko, where a battle for the No. 4 wideout job is brewing.
Tolbert and Fehoko
And then there is the wild card, the elusive KaVontae Turpin. Even running routes against air, he’s fun to watch. But can Dallas really incorporate him into the offense?
TIGHT ENDS - Rookie Luke Schoonmaker spent the day with a boot on his right foot. The Cowboys insist it’s nothing serious for the second-rounder, but we will monitor Tuesday at minicamp.
Jake Ferguson obviously has the edge over a field that includes Peyton Hendershot, Sean McKeon and Seth Green.
OFFENSIVE LINE - The jump-out note here, with Zack Martin (rest) and Terence Steele (rehab) not practicing? The first-team and full-time left tackle was once again Tyler Smith … with Tyron Smith at right tackle. Matt Farniok started at left guard (maybe we need to start believing here?) with Tyler Biadasz at center and Josh Ball at right guard.
The Cowboys think highly of fifth-round guard Asim Richards, but he’s essentially a third-stringer right now.
QUARTERBACKS - Dak Prescott’s effectiveness is difficult to gauge; it’s more about confidence and comfort in the new offense install than it is about pinpointing some incredible throw in a walkthrough.
Gallup and Dak
But we will joke a bit about a Prescott interception in red-zone work that - of course! - was a perfectly fine toss that bounced off the hands of tight end Peyton Hendershot.
DEFENSIVE LINE - Micah Parsons spent a great deal of time at end while at the same time downplaying any desire to lead the NFL in sacks.
“I’m kind of off the ‘sack wave’,” said Parsons, who spoke on prepping to "play eight different positions.'' “I’m on to the ‘impact wave.’ You see (the Rams’) Aaron Donald, he can have 12 sacks, but the impact he makes is so dominant. You can tell. I really just want to be dominant.”
McCarthy made positive observations about Sam Williams and an anticipated “second-year leap.” But there is big buzz here about first-round “run-stopping” defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
We’ve talked to Cowboys scouts who swear that someday we’ll see “Mazi the pass-rusher,” too.
McCarthy shares that projection, saying “You can’t wait to see him in pads. We feel there is a lot more pass-rush potential in his body …
“I love … the way he’s wired and physically … his emotional connection … He’s off to a really good start.”
LINEBACKERS - It’s cool to watch the teacher Leighton Vander Esch and the pupil Damone Clark, Clark clearly trying to soak up knowledge on the fly. (We’re learning that rookie Overshown is also in that same study-hall mode.) Meanwhile, coaches also seem pleased with the development of Jabril Cox.
DEFENSIVE BACKS - Starting cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore were not in attendance, freeing up DaRon Bland and Eric Scott were the first-team cornerbacks. Scott got the aforementioned interception. And Bland?
Gilmore
While other guys might be moving around positionally as a way to salvage something (Kelvin Joseph?), Bland is doing some work outside … because we think the Cowboys are discovering how very good he is at it.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Vaughn and Turpin split reps on Thursday as return guys; that could be fun.
Cowboys returners
Meanwhile, Tristan Vizcaino remains the only kicker on the roster and was 6 of 8 on his field goal attempts Thursday, missing from 44 and 55 yards.
Do the Cowboys have a specific plan here to add a veteran kicker? They passed on a chance to trade for one … so Cowboys Nation hopes so.
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