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Plus practice reports, and looks like Ezekiel Elliott has put on a few pounds.
Dak Prescott on regular season: 'I'm ready' - Todd Archer, ESPN
The Cowboys' regular-season opener against the Giants isn't until Sept. 10, but Dak Prescott isn't sure he needs any more preseason work.
“I mean, I’m ready,” Prescott said. “That’s all come from camp and just preparing. Obviously it’s going to be good and it’ll be helpful to take more reps in this upcoming game, kind of get a whole half or whatever it is the coaches decide we get to get going and get into that game tempo, get that game conditioning. But mentally, I know this offense is and the team is physically, we’re ready to go.”
Dak Prescott ready for 2017 season - Drew Davison, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a sensational rookie season, and is looking to build on it.
And Prescott has no concerns of a possible “sophomore slump.”
“All I’ve ever known is hard work, and hard work pays off,” Prescott said. “That’s what I did in this offseason as I’ve done every offseason in my career. I don’t see, that’s never been anything in my mind. I don’t know anyone around me who would think that. It’s just the preparation, everything that goes in eliminates that for the most part.”
Prescott is fully confident in his abilities to lead the team even further this season. He isn’t worried about being a fourth-round guy and what outsiders may think of that. Or even being the eighth quarterback taken in the 2016 draft.
All of those are just underlying reasons that continue to motivate him.
Prescott Pleased With The Results Of Camp So Far, Even Plays He’d Like Back - Staff, The Mothership
Dak has done some experimenting in camp, in an effort to keep improving.
Prescott admits he’s taken chances with throws at times in camp, weighing whether he should make a similar decision in a game situation. Better to find out now than when the score counts.
“Some of the times during this camp I kind of gauged my risk versus reward – what throws I felt like I could make, what throws I have confidence in making down the field,” he said.
“I’m happy with what I’ve learned. I threw a couple of picks. I probably threw more picks this camp than I did last year, but they were all worthy picks, knowing when it left my hand that there was a chance of it getting picked. That’s something that I know going forward going into a game that I won’t make that throw. And a lot of it has to do with the situation, the down and distance, the score, where we are in the game.”
Growth of Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott evident in his incompletions - Todd Archer, ESPN
Dak Prescott has displayed sound decision-making in practice, throwing calculated incompletions instead of forcing risky passes.
On Monday, he purposely was wide on a check down to Ezekiel Elliott in team drills. On Tuesday, he purposely threw low to Jason Witten, seeing safety Jeff Heath jump to the outside of the tight end with time running out. The incompletion allowed the Cowboys to try a 56-yard field goal by Dan Bailey.
Prescott completed 17 of 20 passes in team and 7-on-7 drills and that included a spike to stop the clock, so his only true incompletion of the day came on a throw that was off to Witten.
In red-zone work, Prescott threw touchdown passes on consecutive drives. His first was a screen to Elliott, who lined up wide to the left. With three offensive linemen leading the way, Elliott almost went untouched into the end zone.
I'd say around 600%. Last year Showers had days where he looked better than Dak. This year Dak looks like the league MVP. https://t.co/KgZ6Kwhq5J
— Jeff Cavanaugh (@JC1053) August 22, 2017
Injuries to New York Giants are good reason why Cowboys should sit starters the rest of preseason - RJ Ochoa, BtB
Our own RJ Ochoa chimes in with a similar question to Archer’s above, especially after the pre-season injury scares the Giants had on Monday night.
Imagine going through the Cowboys-level equivalent to what New York fans went through on Monday night. Imagine watching players of Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall quality go down, only to be kicked when you are down by the next-best guy fumbling.
You don’t have to try to hard to imagine, actually. This Friday will be the one-year anniversary of the Dallas preseason game in Seattle from a year ago. The Cowboys literally lost their franchise quarterback Tony Romo in that game... do we want to roll these dice again? We were just given a recent reminder of exactly what you can lose, we’re at a one-year mark of what we did lose, and we want to chance it again?
Of course, the always-lurking incentive to play is more of what everyone needs - repetitions. This is a preseason game against a Super Bowl-caliber squad in the Raiders, it’s a chance to really see what you’ve got... but, again, do you really need to?
For second year in a row Raiders unable to work on game plan in crucial third preseason game due to facing regular season opponent - Levi Damien, Silver And Black Pride
Speaking of the Raiders game, how are they feeling? Turns out they have the dilemma the Cowboys face - playing a pre-season game against a team they will face later this year, something the Cowboys have done in all of their games so far.
“It’s like man can we get someone else? So we can run some stuff?” said Carr. “You go into a game against Dallas, they’re gonna be basic, we’re gonna be basic cuz you play each other in the regular season. Everyone knows that, so I’m not giving anything away, that’s just how it is. You go out there, you compete your tail off, you try to win . . . but at the same time you’re more focused on playing them in the regular season, than you are in the preseason.”
Ezekiel Elliott status unknown Saturday - Clarence Hill, Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Will Zeke play this week? Not sure. Coach Garrett explains.
“Again, we just haven’t had those discussions with him,” Garrett said. “Typically, the running backs in this league don’t play that much in the preseason. Years ago, Emmitt Smith rarely played in the preseason. Those guys just seem to have a feel, they can get a feel for what they need to do in practice if the practice is competitive and you’re practicing in the right environment – which we believe we do. I do think Zeke playing in the game last year against Seattle was good for him and good for our team. I think he played eight, 10, 12 plays in the game. So if he plays, he’ll play in a similar fashion.”
Live practice updates from Dallas Cowboys training camp: August 22, 2017 - OCC, BtB
The Cowboys had a practice today. Here’s the news everyone wants.
Jason Garrett: Cooper Rush did a nice job with his second-team work yesterday. He will get more second-team work today
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 22, 2017
On the downside, it’s a long injury report with five hamstring issues, and assorted other ailments.
Dez Bryant returns punts, OL Chaz Green leaves with apparent leg injury - Staff, DMN
SportsDay's Brandon George, Kate Hairopoulos, David Moore, Jon Machota and Jori Epstein share their daily practice observations through Twitter.
Ryan Switzer is back.
Cooper Rush to Ryan Switzer pic.twitter.com/rAzquM4YNE
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) August 22, 2017
But this isn’t good.
Cowboys OL Chaz Green left practice today with an apparent leg injury. He's had a hard time staying healthy.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) August 22, 2017
Recapping practice, August 22, 2017 - Drew Davison, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Highlights from practice. Given Paea’s knee issues, will the Cowboys keep an extra defensive tackle, at least until Moore and Irving return?
2. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins continues to impress in training camp. The second-year pro out of Nebraska ran over offensive lineman Kadeem Edwards. Literally. Collins had the leverage and simply pushed Edwards over.
3. Speaking of the D-line, DeMarcus Lawrence kept the highlights coming after Collins. He beat All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith in a one-on-one rep, with a hard fake inside before going back outside. Additionally, Cedric Thornton (who has been slowed with a hamstring injury) returned to working with the first-team at defensive tackle. Stephen Paea is dealing with a sore knee.
Cowboys O-lineman Joe Looney absolutely nailed his Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott impressions - Kate Hairopoulos, DMN
For a little humor, click on the link.
That's a big Zeke.#DallasCowboys backup offensive lineman Joe Looney came out to practice today, dressed as @EzekielElliott.#Cowboys pic.twitter.com/jHOHFs9CCE
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) August 22, 2017
Despite Attention, Cooper Rush Keeping His Focus On Earning A Roster Spot - David Helman, The Mothership
Like Dak, Cooper Rush seems to be well grounded and focused on what he needs to do.
There are currently 23 quarterbacks with 30 or more attempts in the 2017 preseason, and Rush leads all of them with a quarterback rating of 125.2. Only two of those other 22 quarterbacks – highly-prized backup Jimmy Garoppolo and No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky – have ratings in the triple digits.
“The way he prepares at that position gives him great chance to show when he comes into a game-type situation,” said Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones. “I've heard the word 'gamer.' I've heard it mentioned by the coaches in the coaching rooms that, boy, he's a gamer. He's just even better when he gets in a game.”
Maybe Cowboys Should Consider Retiring These Four Jersey Numbers - Jeff Sullivan, The Mothership
On Monday, the Cowboys unveiled monuments for each of their Ring of Honor members at The Star in Frisco. It was a beautiful ceremony, and the monuments will be visited by fans for generations to come. That’s not what I want to discuss, though.
Four numbers have already received the same treatment as those retired. They have been taken out of circulation. Those are 8, 12, 22 and 74. ("Bullet" Bob Hayes also wore No. 22 which certainly doesn't hurt the cause). So why not retire them? I’m not saying retire every member of the Ring of Honor. Even with their history back to the early days of the league, I think it’s overkill that the Chicago Bears have retired 14 numbers. It should be sacred.
Four players for a franchise about to kick off its 57th season, that seems more than reasonable to me. Pretty sure no one would disagree with this, right? It’s a no-brainer.
Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, Emmitt Smith and Bob Lilly.
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