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Moore: With end of marathon training camp, Cowboys change focus
07:59 PM CDT on Friday, August 27, 2010
Column by By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News | dmoore@dallasnews.com
David Moore
Archive | E-mail
OXNARD, Calif. – It feels like a decade ago that Dez Bryant refused to carry Roy Williams' shoulder pads.
And to think, it's only been five weeks.
The longest training camp in the NFL is over. An odyssey that began in San Antonio ended 36 days later in Southern California as the players filed off along the perimeter of the practice field to thank the fans.
Now it's on to Houston, where the Cowboys play the Texans at 7 o'clock tonight at Reliant Stadium. This is the team's fourth preseason game, the last action the starters will see until the regular season opens against Washington on Sept. 12.
"This is important for us to meld our team together in this ballgame and see how we play," coach Wade Phillips said.
Individual evaluation was the emphasis in those first three games. The focus now shifts to team.
The game plan won't be expansive. Neither team wants to show too much since they meet again in a month. But a Cowboys offense that has sputtered needs to show some progress in this dress rehearsal.
"I think it's important for us, just to put a few drives together, put some good plays together," receiver Miles Austin said. "It's our last time together to be able to get some quality work in before the season starts."
Quarterback Tony Romo is completing just 46.4 percent of his passes. The Cowboys have averaged 2.8 yards a carry and the first-team offense has only one touchdown to its name.
Is it imperative that the offense emerge from its lethargy against the Texans? Romo will tell you touchdowns are results oriented, and results matter most once the games count in the standings. Preseason numbers don't ensure regular-season success.
Still, there is something to be said about confidence.
"In the preseason, you want to make sure everyone is doing things the right way vs. having the right looks," Romo said of the simplified offense. "You're trying to evaluate players.
"For us, it's about getting into an efficient rhythm that makes you feel very good whenever you step on the field. We've done that at different stages. We just have to go out there and do that this week at a high level.
"We do need to play good for the confidence side and the feeling you get for that."
The Cowboys feel pretty good about themselves at the conclusion of camp. They did lose four starters to injury – Marc Colombo, Kyle Kosier, Marcus Spears and Gerald Sensabaugh – but all should return for the opener against the Redskins or soon thereafter.
Bryant hasn't played in a preseason game but is on schedule to return for the opener. The Cowboys' first-round pick was spectacular before he went down with a sprained ankle.
David Buehler has eased concerns about his ability to handle the field goal kicking duties, although those can never truly subside until he enjoys regular-season success. Owner Jerry Jones said left tackle Doug Free and safety Alan Ball performed "beyond my expectations" as they became regulars in the starting lineup for the first time.
"They look fine to me," Phillips said. "They both have done exceedingly well in that everyone on our coaching staff, after watching them play and practice, would say, 'Hey, these are the two best guys and should be playing.' "
There is one other feeling this team carried as it left Oxnard.
Fatigue. The Cowboys hit the practice field 40 times during camp. They practiced twice a day 12 times. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff called it the hardest camp under Phillips.
"You just get tired of camp," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "I know you guys [media] have to be tired.
"Five weeks of covering camp and everyone is trying to predict what the Cowboys will do. Should it be time to get nervous? The offensive line hasn't looked good. The running game didn't execute.
"You guys have got to come up with some more stories."
More stories will emerge as the regular season draws closer.
The days of a rookie refusing to carry a veteran's pads are long gone.
• • •
07:59 PM CDT on Friday, August 27, 2010
Column by By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
dmoore@dallasnews.com
Column by DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News | dmoore@dallasnews.com
David Moore
Archive | E-mail
OXNARD, Calif. – It feels like a decade ago that Dez Bryant refused to carry Roy Williams' shoulder pads.
And to think, it's only been five weeks.
The longest training camp in the NFL is over. An odyssey that began in San Antonio ended 36 days later in Southern California as the players filed off along the perimeter of the practice field to thank the fans.
Now it's on to Houston, where the Cowboys play the Texans at 7 o'clock tonight at Reliant Stadium. This is the team's fourth preseason game, the last action the starters will see until the regular season opens against Washington on Sept. 12.
"This is important for us to meld our team together in this ballgame and see how we play," coach Wade Phillips said.
Individual evaluation was the emphasis in those first three games. The focus now shifts to team.
The game plan won't be expansive. Neither team wants to show too much since they meet again in a month. But a Cowboys offense that has sputtered needs to show some progress in this dress rehearsal.
"I think it's important for us, just to put a few drives together, put some good plays together," receiver Miles Austin said. "It's our last time together to be able to get some quality work in before the season starts."
Quarterback Tony Romo is completing just 46.4 percent of his passes. The Cowboys have averaged 2.8 yards a carry and the first-team offense has only one touchdown to its name.
Is it imperative that the offense emerge from its lethargy against the Texans? Romo will tell you touchdowns are results oriented, and results matter most once the games count in the standings. Preseason numbers don't ensure regular-season success.
Still, there is something to be said about confidence.
"In the preseason, you want to make sure everyone is doing things the right way vs. having the right looks," Romo said of the simplified offense. "You're trying to evaluate players.
"For us, it's about getting into an efficient rhythm that makes you feel very good whenever you step on the field. We've done that at different stages. We just have to go out there and do that this week at a high level.
"We do need to play good for the confidence side and the feeling you get for that."
The Cowboys feel pretty good about themselves at the conclusion of camp. They did lose four starters to injury – Marc Colombo, Kyle Kosier, Marcus Spears and Gerald Sensabaugh – but all should return for the opener against the Redskins or soon thereafter.
Bryant hasn't played in a preseason game but is on schedule to return for the opener. The Cowboys' first-round pick was spectacular before he went down with a sprained ankle.
David Buehler has eased concerns about his ability to handle the field goal kicking duties, although those can never truly subside until he enjoys regular-season success. Owner Jerry Jones said left tackle Doug Free and safety Alan Ball performed "beyond my expectations" as they became regulars in the starting lineup for the first time.
"They look fine to me," Phillips said. "They both have done exceedingly well in that everyone on our coaching staff, after watching them play and practice, would say, 'Hey, these are the two best guys and should be playing.' "
There is one other feeling this team carried as it left Oxnard.
Fatigue. The Cowboys hit the practice field 40 times during camp. They practiced twice a day 12 times. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff called it the hardest camp under Phillips.
"You just get tired of camp," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "I know you guys [media] have to be tired.
"Five weeks of covering camp and everyone is trying to predict what the Cowboys will do. Should it be time to get nervous? The offensive line hasn't looked good. The running game didn't execute.
"You guys have got to come up with some more stories."
More stories will emerge as the regular season draws closer.
The days of a rookie refusing to carry a veteran's pads are long gone.
• • •