The return of Defensive End Randy Gregory is already one of the best stories of the Dallas Cowboys 2018 training camp. If nothing else, his efforts to get to a better place in life and earn reinstatement from the NFL are a huge success. But if yesterday’s practice was any indication, Gregory may be about to achieve even more.
According to the staff writers at DallasCowboys.com, Gregory was the standout performer during Wednesday’s activities in Oxnard. Here is just a sampling of the praise heaped on the 25-year-old pass rusher:
“He was a beast. Didn’t matter if he was going up against Pro Bowl tackle Tyron Smith or his backups. Nor did it matter which side he was rushing from.” (Mickey Spagnola)
“It doesn’t happen often, but tip of the cap to Randy Gregory getting around Tyron Smith twice in a span of three plays during team period. Smith’s pass set wasn’t poor it was just Gregory’s first step that gave him problems.” (Bryan Broaddus)
“He’s so explosive off the line of scrimmage. It’s really something to see. But the thing that keeps impressing me is how he’s developed his upper body and added weight while away from the team.” (Rob Phillips)
“In the blink of an eye, Randy Gregory had turned the corner and “downed” Dak Prescott for a sack. It happened so fast that Prescott didn’t even bother to throw the ball. To be perfectly frank, I did a double-take and assumed Gregory had beaten Cam Fleming on the rep. Nope — it was Tyron Smith.” (David Helman)
That Randy was beating Tyron Smith out there is noteworthy. Aside from just Tyron’s usual reputation and yearly trips to the Pro Bowl, he was recently praised by teammate Travis Frederick for having his best camp in several years.
We’ve waited three years to see Gregory finally realize his potential. The Cowboys spent a second-round pick on Gregory in 2015, despite huge red flags about his drug issues, because of that upside. On talent alone, Randy likely would’ve been a first-round pick that year.
It’s still August, of course, and Gregory will have to keep it up in the regular season to truly arrive on the NFL scene. But reports like these out of camp are so encouraging, and particularly when you know the story of this kid and what he’s had to do to even make it this far.
With DeMarcus Lawrence now a franchise star on one end of the defensive line, Randy Gregory’s ascension could give the Cowboys the best pass-rushing duo they’ve had since at least DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, or perhaps even the 1990s.
As good as the flashes now against Tyron Smith and others in practice are, perhaps the best news from those reports were Rob Phillips’ comments about Gregory’s physical development.
With so much time away from football, Randy’s conditioning and body composition were an initial concern when he came back. Clearly, Gregory was putting in the work even while away from the team to be physically ready to resume his career. It will also help him to keep performing through the year, and not wearing down as he has in the past.
Hopefully we’ll see Randy Gregory make his preseason debut this Saturday evening when the Cowboys host the Cincinnati Bengals. Again, that will be a wonderful achievement for him on its own merit.
But if he can put on a show for long-waiting Cowboys fans, even in the preseason, then it could be a very special night.
