News: Cowboys 2015 Training Camp Practice Summary: Rams Nation Descends On Oxnard, Brings Gloom

CCBoy

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Cowboys 2015 Training Camp Practice Summary: Rams Nation Descends On Oxnard, Brings Gloom
By rabblerousr
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2015...camp-practice-summary-rams-nation-descends-on


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Mr. Mince had a four-sack afternoon on Monday - Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

Observations from the Cowboys’ fourteenth training camp practice, the first of two scrimmages against the St. Louis Rams.

I'm not sure there were more people in total at Monday's practice than there were at the Blue-White Scrimmage, but it was certainly very comparable. The size of the crowd certainly lent a great deal of noise, hype and general energy to the proceedings. Chants and catcalls filled the air, particularly when the two teams went-head to head in the competitive and full team periods.

Fittingly for such a moribund franchise, the Rams fans seemed to have brought an overcast day with them (they are the NFL's version of Schleprock, it appears). It was the only cloudy day of camp thus far. Ultimately, this was probably a god thing, considering that it was also one of Oxnard 2015's most intense practices; indeed, today's work environment enjoyed an intensity that we haven't seen in the two plus weeks in Oxnard, including some jawing back and forth between the Rams players and personnel and the Cowboys fans assembled on the near field.

Although the atmosphere may have been unique, the daily schedule followed a familiar and well-trod path, with the sequence of position group exercises, competitive periods, special teams sessions and full team 11-on-11 work that we have come to expect. The key difference between today and other practices was that, during competitive and full team periods, Dallas players went toe-to-toe with Raiders instead of Cowboys. This began after the Cowboys had engaged in all the usual pre-warm-up activities: special teams period (with a focus on kickoff return and coverage); 11-on-11 walk-through; pat-n-go; ball period; screen period; lower-body warm-up.

The Cowboys offense worked against the Rams defense on the near field and the defense squared off against the rival offense on the far field. At practices, I usually run back and forth between the two fields to make sure I can get a close-up view of a specific position group's technique work and then get into proper position to photograph the full team period. Today, due to a combination of the format and the oversized crowds, I opted to remain on the near field, where Tony Romo and Company ran plays against the Rams defense. Tomorrow, I'll set up shop n the other side, and let you know how the Cowboys defense fares against Nick Foles and the St. Louis offense (although I have a little info in that regard to share below)...
 

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Quick Hits:

  • Joel Ross wasn’t lacking for any intensity when he dropped Rams receiver Brian Quick on the tail end of a short swing pass to the receiver. Ross lowered his shoulder and put Quick on the ground, which elicited a spirited response from the St. Louis offense. It didn’t escalate into a full-scale brawl, but there was no shortage of pushing and yelling as the two teams sorted the problem out. It was the second of two skirmishes on the day, after Devin Street’s incident with Trumaine Johnson.
  • Running back Darren McFadden worked into team drills for the first time in training camp following his return from a hamstring injury. He also made multiple plays in one-on-one pass drills.
  • The Cowboys didn’t waste time looking downfield in one-on-one drills. On the first rep, Tony Romo threw deep down the left sideline and found Terrance Williams, who got a step ahead of Janoris Jenkins.
  • Left guard Ron Leary was the latest starting offensive lineman to miss practice, sitting out due to back tightness. Rookie La’el Collins took his place with the first team.
  • Safety Barry Church left practice with a rib cartilage issue he’s been dealing with, executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “We may give him a day or so to take a break,” Jones said.
  • Country music star Chris Young, Modern Family actor Ty Burrell and former Rams running back Marshall Faulk attended practice.
Notable Standouts

– WR Cole Beasley – This is getting repetitive, isn’t it? The Rams’ secondary had the same difficult covering Beasley as the Cowboys’ defensive backs. Beasley shook free for a couple of catches in one-on-one pass drills and forced a pass interference penalty in the process.

– DT Davon Coleman – Coleman has been a disruptive tackle in practice for most of camp, and that continued Monday in one-on-one pass rush drills, as he used a combination of power and quickness to penetrate the backfield multiple times.

– DE Randy Gregory – The rookie pass rusher continues to show improvement in camp, this time against the Rams’ offensive linemen. In one-on-one drills, he got around Rams tackle Isaiah Battle with a quick spin move to the inside.

Play of the Day

With the Cowboys missing three of their top cornerbacks due to injury (Brandon Carr, Orlando Scandrick and Byron Jones), Corey White stepped up in team drills with a leaping interception of a Nick Foles pass intended for Stedman Bailey.


http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...satisfied-intensity-level-first-rams-practice
 
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