OXNARD, Calif. — Dak Prescott knew what he was doing. When the franchise quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys boarded the team charter to California for the start of training camp, the 11-year veteran was wearing a Cowboys Super Bowl XXX champions shirt.
That 27-17 Cowboys victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 28, 1996, was the last time Dallas played in the NFL’s championship game.
Prescott insisted he wasn’t trying to set the tone for the start of camp, but he knew his T-shirt decision wouldn’t go unnoticed.
“The tone’s been set,” Prescott said. “I knew you (reporters) would like it. Didn’t know how many of the teammates would see it. It’s just the manifesting thing. We want stuff in life a lot of times, but then when people start talking about it, you kind of hesitate. Should I say that if they’re going to hold me to it? Well, absolutely. Playing in this organization, being in it 10 years, going into Year 11, I’m not going to shy away from it.
“When you don’t have it, it sucks. When you don’t get to play for it, when you’re watching other teams play in the playoff, there’s nothing worse than that. I said I’d be the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys when I was 6 years old, and said I’d be in the NFL, and I got here. A lot of things in my life, I said I’d do and I did it. And so why shy away from that now? Why shy away from asking people to hold me to the same standard that I believe that I can accomplish and this team can accomplish?
“I don’t know if the T-shirt was (saying), this is it. … It was an energy thing.”
The Cowboys have held two training camp practices on the grass fields behind the Staybridge Suites Oxnard-River Ridge. The full pads don’t come on until Monday, but there have been some notable takeaways.
Here’s what has stood out most:
Prescott-Pickens connection
The rapport that standout wide receiver George Pickens has had with Prescott early in camp is ahead of where the two were at this time last season. Pickens and Prescott look similar to what we’ve seen from CeeDee Lamb and Prescott entering previous camps. One of the highlight plays of the first two days was a beautiful ball Prescott threw over the top of cornerback Caelen Carson directly into the hands of Pickens running up the left sideline. There’s no tackling in these practices, but the play would’ve gone for at least 30 yards in a game.
Pickens’ personality has been on display after catches such as that one. He has celebrated after some of his notable plays as if it were a regular-season game. Some might have wondered how Pickens would handle camp while playing under the franchise tag. He appears to be pleased with his current situation.
“I left it up to my agent,” Pickens said after Thursday’s practice. “Even when we were (several) months from training camp, I was already thinking about ball. I was already training. I kind of leave (contract discussions) to the people who can do that for me. I just make catches and make plays and be a playmaker.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones emphasized Tuesday that Pickens could be a Cowboy for the rest of his career.
Pickens’ thoughts on those comments?
“Super excited,” he said. “I’m always super happy when someone thinks highly of me, so shout out to Jerry.”
Offense ahead of defense
As expected early in camp, the offense is making more notable plays than the defense. We’ll get a better feel for the new defense when the team is in full pads. Left tackle Tyler Guyton revealed that Prescott has a new slogan for this year’s Cowboys offense: G.O.T.I. “Greatest offense there is.” It’s something the franchise QB recently came up with because of the talent the team has returning on what was one of the NFL’s best offenses last season.
“We were close to some historic things last year,” Prescott said. “And when you have the guys that (we have) … why can’t we be? Let’s be the greatest offense there is.”
Blue off to a strong start
A key to the offense taking another step is the No. 2 running back spot. Jaydon Blue had an underwhelming rookie season, but he is off to a strong start to camp, showcasing his speed on multiple runs. Javonte Williams is the lead back, but Blue would be the ideal complement with his ability as a pass catcher and in space on the second level.
“My speed is what I’m best at,” Blue said. “Once I get in the open field and it’s one-on-one, I don’t think anyone in this league can stand a chance.”
Downs is everywhere
As expected, rookie defensive back Caleb Downs has been moved all over the field, mostly playing nickel cornerback but also dropping back to play deep safety. One of his most notable plays was a fumble recovery in team drills Wednesday. Nothing about Downs makes him seem like a rookie. He is very calculated in what he does on the field before practice, during and after. Following Thursday’s practice, he was asked about expectations for himself.
Downs’ response: “That’s for me to know and y’all to find out.”
Odds and ends
Edge rushers: Rashan Gary has been the most noticeable of the group, using his strength and technique to cause some issues for right tackle Terence Steele. Donovan Ezeiruaku, the team’s other starting outside linebacker, has looked healthy after needing offseason hip surgery. He was one of the players that stood out to Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer in the team’s first practice.
Left tackle: Guyton remains the favorite to be the starter. He has been in that spot with the first team throughout the first two days. “Try to get 1 percent better every day,” Guyton said of his mentality after the first practice. “Keep progressing in my development. … It feels like Year 3. I’m not all the way where I want to be at, but that’s what camp is for. Things are slowing down for me, and I’m learning more every day.”
DaRon Bland: His surgically repaired foot appears to be fully healed. As expected, Bland has been working as one of the team’s starting outside cornerbacks. “I feel really good,” he said. “I feel way better now than the first time I had the surgery. I’m confident. Through the whole rehab, I didn’t have any hiccups like last time, so it feels way stronger.”
Health: Everyone was available for the first practice. Veteran safety P.J. Locke exited early and walked off with a slight limp because of a hyperextended knee. He did not practice Thursday. “All tests look great,” Schottenheimer said. “Nothing significant.”
Christian Parker: Schottenheimer was a fan of a move Parker pulled in the first practice. The first-year defensive coordinator faked like his radio went out so inside linebacker DeMarvion Overshown had to call the defense on his own. “It was not a malfunction of the headset,” Schottenheimer said. “It was something scripted, and (Overshown) was outstanding getting us lined up into the call that we wanted to be in.”
It remains to be seen who will be wearing the radio in their helmet during games this season. Overshown is the favorite, but the Cowboys will also be giving opportunities to Shemar James, Curtis Robinson and Downs.
Dak on the defense: “A defense that is communicating,” Prescott said of his early observations. “A defense that takes a lot of pride in what they do in each and every one of their calls, taking pride in playing with one another. When we motion, you can hear how loud they are, and getting to the right fits or calls that they need to make and just challenging us.
“It’ll be awesome when we can put the pads on and really see and get the physicalness and feel the physicalness from them. But so far it’s been great. It’s just an iron sharpens iron mentality. … (Parker) is a super prideful guy who’s going to do everything he can to make sure he puts those 11 guys in the right position and makes sure they’re comfortable in whatever they have to do.”
First-team offense: This is the group that has started in team drills: QB: Prescott, RB: Williams, WR: Lamb, WR: Pickens, WR: Ryan Flournoy, TE: Jake Ferguson, LT: Guyton, LG: Tyler Smith, C: Cooper Beebe, RG: Tyler Booker, RT: Steele.
First-team defense: This is the group that has started in team drills: OLB: Gary, DL: Kenny Clark, DL: Quinnen Williams, OLB: Ezeiruaku, ILB: Overshown, ILB: Dee Winters, CB: Downs, CB: Bland, CB: Cobie Durant, S: Malik Hooker, S: Jalen Thompson.
Fan attendance: There has been plenty of open space in the stands during the first two days. Saturday’s practice is usually the largest crowd. It’s the weekend, and it marks the official start of camp with an opening ceremony during which Jones will address the crowd.
Leadership council: Schottenheimer shared that this year’s group is Prescott, Lamb, Smith, Booker, Javonte Williams, Ferguson, Quinnen Williams, Clark, Thompson, Gary and Bryan Anger.
