Cowboys home after month of West Coast camp
Its what makes Dunbar, a second-year player who was undrafted out of North Texas, unique among the four running backs likely to make the Cowboys roster. Never mind the unimpressive numbers from Dunbars rookie season, when he gained 75 yards on 21 carries and caught six passes for 33 yards. He had carved out a significant role as a change-of-pace and third-down back behind DeMarco Murray . The Cowboys envision Dunbar as their version of Darren Sproles , the New Orleans Saints undersized spark plug. They are especially enamored by his receiving skills and ability to make plays in space, a couple of attributes Dunbar displayed on his 43-yard catch-and-run that unfortunately ended with a fumble inside the Arizona 5 in Saturdays preseason loss. Totally forgive him, Jerry Jones said after the game. Im so glad our fans got to see him. Hes quick, fast and makes plays. That will be the last fans see of Dunbar making plays for at least three or four weeks. The season opener against the New York Giants is scheduled for three weeks and a day after Dunbar suffered the injury. Murray missed six games with a sprained foot last season.
Gosselin: Cowboys should be concerned about defensive line
— While the Dallas Cowboys ‘ first-team offense didn’t score in Saturday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals , the first-team defense did its part. It forced a three-and-out on the first drive, but a turnover, a muffed punt by Dwayne Harris , forced the defense to defend just 22 yards and it gave up a field goal. The second possession, a long drive, ended when Carson Palmer threw an incomplete pass on fourth down to finish the first quarter. Defensive end Jerome Long provided the pressure. Au Revoir, Oxnard With the Cowboys’ time in California over, we lake a look back at some memorable images from their time at training camp in Oxnard. Cowboys Blog ESPN Dallas The final time the first-team defense was on the field, it gave up a first down, an 11-yard pass, but forced the Cardinals to punt. “It’s certainly a positive when you get that at the end of the drive,” coach Jason Garrett said of holding the Cardinals to a field goal. “Force them to kick field goals. But we are going to go back and look at it as trying to get stops earlier in the drive, you know, get them off the field and go from there.” During practice, the Cowboys prepared for the deep passes the Cardinals threw in their first preseason contest. For the game, the Cowboys allowed 365 yards to the Cardinals. “We’re still trying to be consistent,” cornerback Brandon Carr said.
Beasley Hopes He Can Return This Week From Foot Injury (DC.com): Wide receiver Cole Beasley hopes he can return from his foot injury in time for the game against the Bengals, and while he’s optimistic he can return to practice before weeks end, no timetable has been set for his return. Spencer Still Confident He’ll Be Available For Season Opener (DC.com): Anthony Spencer isnt ready to practice, but hes still confident in his availability for the season opener. Spencer said he’s feeling better about the progress hes making toward a return, and hasn’t changed his mind about being ready for the season opener against the Giants. Dunbar Not Ruling Out Returning By Sept. 8 NYG Game (DC.com): The prognosis for Dunbar’s return appears to be anything from two to six weeks, but for Dunbar, the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Giants is the target, and he’s optimistic about an early return. Cowboys guard Ron Leary shooting to return for the season opener (Star-T.): Ron Leary underwent knee surgery on Friday and is optimistic that his recovery time, usually two to four weeks, will be closer to two, allowing him to play in the season opener. Dez Bryant dealing with a jammed thumb (ESPN): Bryant jammed his thumb during training camp and aggravated the injury a little during practice on Monday. Bryant was wearing a heavy wrap on his thumb but laughed when asked about the injury. According to Calvin Watkins, team officials also don’t believe the jammed thumb is serious. Notable Recent Tweets Former Dallas Cowboys star DT Bob Lilly (HOF-1980): “I think the Cowboys will do pretty well.
Cowboys fans ranked No. web site 1 for loyalty in study
1 for loyalty in study Dallas Cowboys fans may be frustrated with Jerry Jones’ management and Tony Romo’s on-field blunders, but supporters of “America’s Team” continue to remain loyal. According to a study by Emory University , the Cowboys rank No. 1 as the NFL’s “most loyal and supportive” fan base. The New England Patriots came in second, followed by the Jets, Saints, and Giants. Several factors went into the study. Emory says it analyzed market population, stadium capacity, median income, and box office revenues relative to team on-field success. On-field success isn’t something the Cowboys have experienced the last few seasons …or decade. But despite the team’s playoff absence, the attendance at AT&T Stadium raises their “fan equity.” Surprisingly, the Oakland Raiders came in last place. Raider Nation apparently wasn’t rowdy enough in Emory’s study. The Cowboys were also recently named Forbes’ most valuable NFL franchise for the seventh consecutive year.
Dallas Cowboys News & Notes: Dez Bryant Impressed With Terrance Williams, Injury Updates, More
“I was excited to come in and have this early practice.” Hatcher then looked into one of the television cameras and requested that Garrett keep the morning practice schedule. Cornerback Orlando Scandrick said the only thing that changed for him was not having a camp cafeteria for meals. “I go home and there’s no food in my refrigerator,” Scandrick said. “Work is work. I’m excited about this season, taking the next step and winning games, and being a good football team.” Notes: The Cowboys waived/injured LB Alex Albright, DT Travis Chappelear and DE Toby Jackson. … LB Anthony Spencer, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee four weeks ago said he has no doubt about playing in the season opener Sept. 8 against the New York Giants. Spencer is building up strength in the weight room and isn’t back on the field yet.
Team Report – DALLAS COWBOYS
(John F. Not counting the season ending injuries to Crawford and Albright, are any of the injuries we’ve seen so far worrisome? It concerns me greatly that this defense hasn’t had Jay Ratliff or Anthony Spencer for a snap this pre-season. That’s half your line and that’s the key element of this defense. Their absences would be worrisome. Even if they are back for the opener, are they in playing shape? How is it that the Cowboys’ all time leader in tackles is not in the HOF? 5 Pro Bowls, 3 time All Pro. Darren Woodson was a great player. Cliff Harris also isn’t in and he was an all-decade selection in the 1970s.
Horn: Cowboys aren’t running the ball because they don’t have the right personnel
Heres a projection of the 53-man roster with two games left in the preseason. Here are a few highlights from Monday’s episode featuring Barry Horn and Rick Gosselin: On the Cowboys running game (or lack thereof): Gosselin:”I wish they spent more time working on the run. They couldnt run it last year. Show me you can run the ball. If you can run the ball, youll hold onto the ball and four of the turnovers last week came on pass play.” Horn:”Well heres the deal. If you want to run, you have to have offensive linemen to block for the running backs. The Cowboys had a draft, they drafted on offensive linemen. Now they combing retirement homes, theyre looking at nursing homes. Theyre on the street, well take any old offensive linemen that retired in the last couple of years.
Better than any team in the NFC East. NFC South: Falcons. Better than any team in the NFC East. NFC West: 49ers or Seahawks. Take your pick. Better than any team in the NFC East. AFC East: Patriots. Better than any team in the NFC East. AFC North: This is the only division where it’s debatable, even with the Ravens coming off a Super Bowl victory.
Bryant, Cowboys Not Bothered by Texas Heat
Naturally, its a good bit hotter here than it was in Oxnard, California, where training camp was held, but receiver Dez Bryant says he wasnt bothered in the slightest by the temperature, which reached triple digits. Theres no challenge at all, Bryant said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. No matter where youre at, if you love the game, youll practice football wherever. I feel like its always great to be home but if we were out in Oxnard it would be the same way. I think the approach we came with this morning was outstanding. There was no sluggishness. I was good. You know me, man. Im rolling, baby. Veteran safety Will Allen, who came over in free agency this offseason, actually sees the heat as a good thing.
Boom roasted: A look at the warts of the ‘other’ NFC East teams, Dallas Cowboys edition
I still havent really run yet, but Ive got to get to where I can run with my normal body weight, then get out and cut and make plants and do things that receivers need to do, Beasley said. Hopefully Ill be able to practice before the week is over, but Im not sure. Well see. Of course, no two foot sprains are exactly alike, so the comparison doesn’t really hold, but hey, we’re grasping at optimistic straws, here. In Dunbar’s absence, Phillip Tanner, the forgotten back from Saturday should start seeing more action. We love Tanner’s bowling ball style on the field, but off the field he also has a great attitude even when not playing . I wasnt really all into, Why didnt I play? Tanner said. It was a coachs decision. They tell me J-Ran is going in and I say, Yessir, coach. Im a company guy.” Asked if he was confused by the lack of playing time, Tanner said he cant get caught up in that sort of thinking. Thats not my job, Tanner said. My job is, when they say, 34, go in, go in and do it to the best of my ability. The he drops the dinosaur angle on us, adaptation is key! I always tell my kids about the dinosaurs all the time, Tanner said.
Cowboys News & Notes: Dunbar Says Goal Is To Play In Opener
And despite that the score is 12-7 and we have a chance with two minutes to go and go down and have the game-winning touchdown so it’s a great teaching opportunity for us as coaches. You can do all of these positive things, the team can execute well in certain areas and make stops in certain areas, but if you don’t take care of the ball and go get the ball you’re going to lose.” The other area of somewhat concern is that quarterback Tony Romo and the first team offense failed to score on three drives and have just three points to show for five drives in preseason games against the Raiders and Cardinals. Certainly the turnovers impacted the outcome because it limited the team’s chances to score. But the bottom line is the offense has failed to get in the end zone. “Well sure you want to score the ball every time,” Garrett said. “You want to move the ball down the field and score a touchdown. Sometimes that doesn’t happen. You do have other objectives. Sometimes you want to run it, you want to throw it, you want to throw it to this guy. That’s part of preseason football, but you want to execute. At the end of it when you have individual breakdowns with the football you have no chance.
Meryl Yourish 