ESPN Mosley Blog: Cowboys to avoid contact in Camp/Witten likes the lack of drama

[WoodysGirl]

July 29, 2009 8:32 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

SAN ANTONIO -- With Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo electing not to visit with reporters on Day of training camp, tight end Jason Witten drew the largest crowd. He talked about being relieved that HBO's "Hard Knocks" cameras weren't around, and that the team wasn't receiving as much preseason hype. Perhaps everyone's migrated to Bills camp.

"Absolutely, I mean you go 9-7, and you don't make the playoffs, coming off a 13-3 season the year before and so much is made of it, and there are a lot of good teams out there and we're not up there with the people that are being named and I think it's good for us," Witten said before finally taking a breath. "And we aren't looking for anyone to feel sorry for us. I think we just know what it is, we have a huge challenge, and we have a lot to do. And I think the team is embracing that opportunity and has unbelievable focus towards the challenge we have."
​

Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that he thinks missing the playoffs last season will serve as a huge motivating factor. But he also thinks the new Cowboys Stadium will lead the team to several victories. More on that in a column that I'm supposed to be writing as we speak.

By the way, 7,292 fans showed up for the first day of training camp. Most of them sat in the end zone, cheering wildly during special teams drills. Can someone remind me why the Alamodome was built? It's a nice enough building, but it's normally home to obscure religious conventions.


Oh, and one piece of bad news: The upcoming Aretha Franklin concert at the Alamodome has been canceled. See you back here bright and early tomorrow morning -- at 10 a.m.


Dallas Cowboys, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Jerry Jones
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Cowboys to avoid contact in camp
July 29, 2009 7:20 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

The Cowboys opened training camp with a light workout Wednesday, and coach Wade Phillips promised there wouldn't be any live tackling. Other teams (Denver) are planning to have live tackling in full pads.

"We're gonna tackle in the preseason games," said Phillips with a straight face. "There's no reason to tackle our own guys. You're more susceptible to injury when you go live."

My how things have changed over the past 10 years. Phillips said he learned this approach from his legendary father, Bum, which is sort of hard to believe. And he said his light, light opening day was a page out of Marv Levy's playbook.

In other news, I had a great visit with running backs coach Skip Peete after practice. Based on our conversation, I don't think there's a good chance that Felix Jones will start ahead of Marion Barber. There had been some talk about Barber returning to his closer's role.

And one more thing before I retreat to write a column: Tony Romo decided not to talk on Day 1 of training camp. Does that bother anyone? I can't recall the starting quarterback ever blowing off the media on the first day.
Much more to come.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Evidently he didnt learn too much from Levy and his dad. How many superbowls did his dad go to, at least go to a super bowl. None. How many championships games did Bum win, none.

How many superbowls did Levy win, none. Who beat Levy's team twice in the superbowl with tough hardnosed players, that worked and hit in training camp. Dallas Cowboys in 92 and 93.

Its true you save the players from getting hurt possibly, but if they were going to get hurt, was going to happen anyway.

Just like wade did say, you have to be physically and mentally tough. Thats the problem these players arent physically and mentally tough come December.

However, I do think wade is learning alittle. He has fixed the defense by being the head coach and the defensive coordinator. If something happens on defense, its his baby as it should be. Wade has hired a good special teams coach, and drafted players primarly for special teams. So, 2 out of 3 isnt bad. Wade also said, that he isnt going to let players gripe and complain, because of our special teams coach. Maybe he is going to make them run, and do extra work, etc, to stay in shape.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Evidently he didnt learn too much from Levy and his dad. How many superbowls did his dad go to, at least go to a super bowl. None. How many championships games did Bum win, none.

How many superbowls did Levy win, none. Who beat Levy's team twice in the superbowl with tough hardnosed players, that worked and hit in training camp. Dallas Cowboys in 92 and 93.

Its true you save the players from getting hurt possibly, but if they were going to get hurt, was going to happen anyway.

Just like wade did say, you have to be physically and mentally tough. Thats the problem these players arent physically and mentally tough come December.

well said, joe

I want to them to tackle all through camp and into the season

 

[RCowboyFan]

Evidently he didnt learn too much from Levy and his dad. How many superbowls did his dad go to, at least go to a super bowl. None. How many championships games did Bum win, none.

How many superbowls did Levy win, none. Who beat Levy's team twice in the superbowl with tough hardnosed players, that worked and hit in training camp. Dallas Cowboys in 92 and 93.

Its true you save the players from getting hurt possibly, but if they were going to get hurt, was going to happen anyway.

Just like wade did say, you have to be physically and mentally tough. Thats the problem these players arent physically and mentally tough come December.

To be fair Levy got beat by Giants pretty much by bad luck, with his Kicker missing. And thats the only team to go to 4 SBs in a row, nothing to sneeze about since no team has done that before or after.

Now, I was never a believer of Phillips and I will remain skeptical. But most teams don't hit in TC these days. Days of Jimmy Johnson type TCs are long gone. I believe Denver players like the go easy approach, from what I heard. So not sure where this hitting in pads is coming from.

 

[cowboyjoe]

they dont have to tackle all the way through camp, just enough to stay in shape and hitting shape. Be ready and wanting to pop someone in the mouth, instead of the other team popping them in the mouth.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Understand what your saying RCowboyfan, granted bills went to 4 superbowls which is true, but how they did it, was win quick in season. Then have teams play them in the cold frigid weather in buffalo.

Again, though if you look at most teams that go to the superbowl and win more than once. Those teams have been tough physical teams, all except for the 49ers. Even the steelers, won with toughness, and their new head coach tomlin, made them work out in pads at least once a week during the season and hit in pads. Something wade doesnt believe in.

I tend to believe in teams that are hardnosed, tough and will hit you, idealogy works better than just running around in shorts and not hitting in practice.

The Steelers, Dolphins, Packers, Cowboys, all won with hard hitting training camps. It's like Michael Irvin said on his show the other day 4th and long, that Michael worked hard and long in practices, knowing that what worked for him was being able to whip the guy opposite him in the last quarter. That player would be dead and tired, while Irvin would be getting his second wind.

 

[RCowboyFan]

they dont have to tackle all the way through camp, just enough to stay in shape and hitting shape. Be ready and wanting to pop someone in the mouth, instead of the other team popping them in the mouth.

OK? And that made them start off slow in the season? I mean you are not making sense here. The problem with Cowboys is end of season and not begining of the season. Which normally would mean Cowboys should fade at the end of season, much like they did under Parcells.

Its hilarious to see some of the fans react to Media BS. LIke all the Hard hitting etc. by Parcells fetched some kind of SB? PHillips might be easy in TC, but that has nothing to do with Players not playing well.

At some point Players have to take responsibility. EVery kind of Coach failed with cowboys since Jimmy, other than Barry lucking into SB. Last year failure had a lot to do with Injuries too as much as Players lack of accountability more than being tough.

They showed they were plenty tough when they played Pittsburgh. So its laughable for me to see fans complaining about TC not being tough enough.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I don't know for sure, but I doubt Pittsburgh was doing live tackling during game weeks. Wearing pads and blocking full speed, probably, tackling their own backs and receivers full speed, I doubt it.

I guess people saw that Wade did say we were going to be "physical and violent up until the tackle", meaning the blocking is fully live (except for cut blocks).

I can just imagine if Bradie James blew up Felix and we lost him for a couple of months. How would that be?

 

[Mash]

I thought the Bills lost the SuperBowl because Norwood missed the FG...

but now I understand that it was the hard hitting practice that Parcells ran several months before that won that game

IMHO Physical Hard hitting TC are overrated.....I guess the Eagles Reid better change his TC ways......he hasnt won a SB.......also pass that tidbit to Fisher....the Titans had some very talented teams and came a yard short from winning a SB because I guess their TC wasnt physical enough

Levy not winning a SB even tho he went there 4 years in a row because his TC werent physical enough makes me LMAO

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I thought the Bills lost the SuperBowl because Norwood missed the FG...

but now I understand that it was the hard hitting practice that Parcells ran several months before that won that game

IMHO Physical Hard hitting TC are overrated.....I guess the Eagles Reid better change his TC ways......he hasnt won a SB.......also pass that tibit to Fisher....the Titans had some very talented teams and came a yard short from winning a SB because I guess their TC wasnt physical enough

Levy not winning a SB even tho he went there 4 years in a row because his TC werent physical enough makes me LMAO

double noone is saying they should beat the hell out of each other, but tackling drills would not be a bad idea

did you happen to glimpse our tackling habits last year? all going for the shoulders, hell, Ware could have added 2 more sacks to his total last year if he wrapped up, instead of trying to grab at the shoulder pads

not even mentioning Ken Hamlin's piss-poor tackling all season long

 

[bayeslife]

they dont have to tackle all the way through camp, just enough to stay in shape and hitting shape. Be ready and wanting to pop someone in the mouth, instead of the other team popping them in the mouth.

*** is hitting shape?

You don't need to hit thousands of times to be a great tackler. All it takes is knowing HOW to tackle and taking the right angle. Then with preseason all of it comes together.

 

[dmq]

To be fair Levy got beat by Giants pretty much by bad luck, with his Kicker missing. And thats the only team to go to 4 SBs in a row, nothing to sneeze about since no team has done that before or after.

Buffalo makes that kick and suddenly BP isn't such a legend. Funny how the little stuff creates its own history. I go to a Bills game every year and the season ticket holders tell me that they always went home happy because for 4 years in a row they saw their team win the AFC Championship game. I had never thought of it like that. Buffalo is a great place to go to a game BTW. I have gone 7 years in a row and Buffalo won every game except the Romo 5 intercept game. What a game.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I'm not a fan of no contact training camps... I think it brings out the best in players when they have to compete hard.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Buffalo makes that kick and suddenly BP isn't such a legend. Funny how the little stuff creates its own history. I go to a Bills game every year and the season ticket holders tell me that they always went home happy because for 4 years in a row they saw their team win the AFC Championship game. I had never thought of it like that. Buffalo is a great place to go to a game BTW. I have gone 7 years in a row and Buffalo won every game except the Romo 5 intercept game. What a game.

Sounds like a Philadelphia loser's mentality.

 

[67CowboysFan]

*** is hitting shape?

You don't need to hit thousands of times to be a great tackler. All it takes is knowing HOW to tackle and taking the right angle. Then with preseason all of it comes together.

Yep, learn how to get into position to make the tackle and you are there. No need to beat each other up before the season starts.

 

[StarMan2112]

I'm sorry, but I don't like this approach of no tackling. No matter what you are trying to get better at, you're simply not going to do it without practicing it.

 

[windward]

well said, joe

I want to them to tackle all through camp and into the season

You'll stop singing that tune when we start getting hurt in practice.

 

[Real1st]

You'll stop singing that tune when we start getting hurt in practice.

Its a violent sport ladies.. People are going to get hurt.

 

[windward]

Its a violent sport ladies.. People are going to get hurt.

It's incredibly dumb to expose your players to a greater risk of injury in non-game situations.

 

[Real1st]

It's incredibly dumb to expose your players to a greater risk of injury in non-game situations.

Enough with the caveman mentality here.

Plenty of guys get hurt in non-contact practices. Should they not practice until the season starts??? Come on man its football. They are going to get exposed in pre-season. The tackling was bad last year and they need to start hitting in practices.