News: ESPN: Cowboys message on camp: 'truly work'

[NewsBot]

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OXNARD, Calif. -- When the Dallas Cowboys arrived in California for training camp two years ago, Jason Witten uttered the motto for the season when he said, "it can't be the same old story." For the Cowboys, 2012 was a repeat of 2011. And 2013 was a repeat of 2012. The Cowboys have finished 8-8 the last three years, losing de facto NFC East championship games in Week 17 the last three seasons. Second-year center Travis Frederick's message for the beginning of training camp?

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[yentl911]

A lunch pail approach is what is needed and not a circus which is what camp usually turns into. I understand the guys can enjoy what they do but this group needs to buckle own and put in the time and effort to get better. We have people in new spots, guys getting their first shot at playing, etc.... And this is when we separate who can play and who can't. This sets the tone and foundation for the entire season.

 

[Doomsday101]

I hope they are ready to work and please NO INJURIES!!!!!

 

[Alexander]

A lunch pail approach is what is needed and not a circus which is what camp usually turns into. I understand the guys can enjoy what they do but this group needs to buckle own and put in the time and effort to get better. We have people in new spots, guys getting their first shot at playing, etc.... And this is when we separate who can play and who can't. This sets the tone and foundation for the entire season.

That is nice but the players have zero control in regards to addressing the sideshow circus element.

 

[Idgit]

Cool article. We get these every camp, but they're fun to read.

 

[yentl911]

That is nice but the players have zero control in regards to addressing the sideshow circus element.

True enough but they need to do their best to keep their eyes on the task at hand.

 

[Alexander]

True enough but they need to do their best to keep their eyes on the task at hand.

I think a lot of them do try.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Call me crazy, but I don't think work ethic is a big problem for this team. The biggest problem is a gross lack of talent in certain areas.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I wonder if we can put in time punch clocks.

<bad campo memory>

 

[xwalker]

A lunch pail approach is what is needed and not a circus which is what camp usually turns into. I understand the guys can enjoy what they do but this group needs to buckle own and put in the time and effort to get better. We have people in new spots, guys getting their first shot at playing, etc.... And this is when we separate who can play and who can't. This sets the tone and foundation for the entire season.

I don't remember much circus type issues in the past few training camps. Maybe Ratliff to some extent, but not much else that I can remember.

 

[BigStar]

I give Church a pretty hard time but this displays great leadership,

""The mindset is just to get better as a whole and as a defense specifically," Church said. "I'm part of the defensive side. When we go out there we just make sure everybody -- from top to bottom, either first string or fourth string -- knows their playbook front and back."

 

[Hoofbite]

I give Church a pretty hard time but this displays great leadership,

""The mindset is just to get better as a whole and as a defense specifically," Church said. "I'm part of the defensive side. When we go out there we just make sure everybody -- from top to bottom, either first string or fourth string -- knows their playbook front and back."

Or reveals a lack of by stating that it's an emphasis now because.........

 

[BigStar]

Or reveals a lack of by stating that it's an emphasis now because.........

Ahhh, much more likely What does our coaching staff do all week? Burden is on the players yada yada

 

[morasp]

Good interview with Fred on DC.com where he mentions that the O-Line has worked hard in the offseason. They always say that but he seems like he means it and doesn't seem like the kind of guy that just says things that people want to hear.

 

[Rogerthat12]

Good interview with Fred on DC.com where he mentions that the O-Line has worked hard in the offseason. They always say that but he seems like he means it and doesn't seem like the kind of guy that just says things that people want to hear.

Fred is clearly an intelligent OL with physical ability, I think he means business!

 

[Fletch]

I wonder if we can put in time punch clocks.

<bad campo memory>

Too bad Frederick didn't say the new motto was, "The beatings will continue until the morale/play improves!"

 

[Alexander]

Fred is clearly an intelligent OL with physical ability, I think he means business!

I don't know about that. In fact, I have read on this very board that, based off the film, he should be replaced.

 

[Idgit]

I don't know about that. In fact, I have read on this very board that, based off the film, he should be replaced.

I recognize that you and Risen have adopted the down-with-looking-at-film talking point this week, but have to admit that I don't see the strength of the argument. What is the benefit to be had from not bothering to look at the tape to check if your opinion was right or not? Is it the time savings?

 

[Alexander]

I recognize that you and Risen have adopted the down-with-looking-at-film talking point this week, but have to admit that I don't see the strength of the argument. What is the benefit to be had from not bothering to look at the tape to check if your opinion was right or not? Is it the time savings?

I don't have an issue with people looking at all the "tape" they want.

Sure, I go back and watch games from time to time.

And when I am feeling real frisky, I might fire up the all-22.

I do not try to use that as a crutch to support my own opinions and trumpet it from the rooftops like it means anything more than me expressing my opinion.

If I think a player can play, I say so and vice versa. Just keeping it simple. No reason to try to quantify my stance because I am not out to impress anyone.

Hey, no expert here. No matter how much "tape" I profess to watch.

All in all, at the end of the day, it is opinion. Plain and simple.

Watching "tape" does not make anything "fact".

 

[Idgit]

I do not try to use that as a crutch to support my own opinions and trumpet it from the rooftops like it means anything more than me expressing my opinion.

Opinions are opinions by definition. They're not facts. But informed opinions are better than uninformed ones, no? I mean, even if somebody's not an expert, I much prefer to hear 'why' they think Doug Free can't block or Travis Frederick has specific room for improvement with his pass-protection footwork. Having reasons for thinking what you think isn't a crutch. And for my money, supported arguments *are* worth more than unsupported ones.

That doesn't mean that people can't look at tape and still be wrong. It does usually mean that--when people have to be more specific--there's less room for wiggling about what they were trying to say in the first place. Making light of somebody putting in effort to try to be specific on a topic just comes off as dismissive. Maybe that's just me. But a fair amount of the time when I read a post that pokes fun at posters re-watching tape it's from somebody that could probably benefit from actually watching tape. That's not directed at you in this case, but, generally speaking, that's the first thought that goes through my mind.

I don't often have the patience or the inclination to rematch all-22 to try to decipher what's going on. When somebody does, though, those are normally some of the threads/posts I like to read most.