'Get 1 Percent Better!' Cowboys Jalen Tolbert Reveals Secret to 'Year 2 Leap'
For much of training camp, Dallas Cowboys receiver Jalen Tolbert has been impressing everyone in attendance. After a poor rookie season, Tolbert has come back with a vengeance.
With the help of Brandin Cooks, Tolbert looks like a player transformed - "night-and-day,'' he calls it. He has his swagger back, his routes were crisp, and more importantly, when a play was there to be made, he made it.
In Saturday's 28-23 preseason-opening loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tolbert again showed why many believe he has two hands on the WR4 position. He is now oozing confidence and it isn't just showing up during training camp, but with live NFL bullets flying.
Tolbert grabbed the offense's first touchdown as the second quarter came to an end as Will Grier found him in acres of space for a 17-yard strike.
But that wasn't even his best play of the half.
Tolbert was targeted again by Grier on a deep ball toward the sideline prior to his touchdown grab. Jalen's ability to not only catch the ball which was heavily contested, but also to twist his body into a position to make the catch ... oh and he got two feet down as well.
But unfortunately, an offensive pass interference call on him negated the play.
Despite the play being wiped out, it again showed the transformation Tolbert has been through this offseason. Tolbert ended the half with two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.
"I didn't really think about it, but I should've kept the ball," Tolbert said of that TD prize. "I just knew that I made a play for the team and, after that, I was just looking forward to celebrating with my teammates and moving forward from that point on. I just try to stay neutral and not get too high, or get too low.
"I just move on to the next play. … It's day-and-night, my confidence level."
Aided by Cooks, who Tolbert said took him to his house in Oregon for a week of training, the second-year receiver now appears to "get it" and that is showing up on the game tape.
"It was fun to get back out there and compete with my brothers, make plays when my number was called and continue to build on how [well] camp is going," he said.
Yes it is only preseason, but it is easy to be impressed with Tolbert's ability to bounce back when so many counted him out.
"I feel like I went out there and played fast, confident, and physical,'' Tolbert said. "I like what I did out there. Now, I'm just trying to build on it. It started this offseason. Just, every day, building on it and trying to get one percent better with life in general — whether it's on or off of the field.''
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