Cowboys Nation, today is the first Friday of August! What does that mean exactly? Well, as you know July is over and..every Friday here on Inside The Star I share the best tweets from around the world that involve America’s Team! AUGUST FOOTBALL THINGS!
With this being the first August edition of this weekly roundup, it means that we are in for a marathon to the finish! We’ve finally made it. Each and every day our Twitter timelines are being graced by Cowboys news and updates coming out of Oxnard for training camp.
Here are some things that stood out. ✭
Easing into camp? Not so fast, Rico!
Coach Pope's unique drills never cease to amaze us. #CowboysCamp pic.twitter.com/MOApOeD6hL
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) July 31, 2016
We mentioned Rico Gathers’ excitement for what was ahead of him in last week’s edition of Tweet Break, but perhaps that mood changed slightly after the Baylor basketball star turned Dallas Cowboys rookie went through this Coach Pope drill.
Doing his best to make this roster as a tight end, backfield blocker, or whatever else the team may need (outside of a power forward at defensive end perhaps?), Gathers’ was slapped with the responsibility of coordinating taking this mask on and off while catching a pass.
Welcome to the league, rookie!
Zeke Watch
.@EzekielElliott only misstep at #CowboysCamp so far? He flunked the 'Sing-In-Front-of-The-Team' rookie test. Needs a do-over. @1053thefan
— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) August 1, 2016
Another rookie that the Dallas Cowboys have at training camp is this running back out of Ohio State named Ezekiel Elliott – you probably haven’t heard much about him though.
Well, the team’s fourth overall pick had been making great progress slowly getting himself acquainted to the offense, but apparently hasn’t been working his vocal cords much.
On a more serious note, Elliott’s hamstrings were bothering him enough on Tuesday to be pulled out of practice, and as of yesterday we know that he will “miss some time”.
The Cowboys Offensive Line – Really good at Football
Who was the best left tackle in the #NFL last year?
By our grades, it was #Cowboys LT Tyron Smith. pic.twitter.com/MdEsPDRG7B
— PFF (@PFF) August 1, 2016
Often times, the Cowboys’ offensive line is talked about in it’s entirety as the “Great Wall of Dallas” or the “Space Cowboys”. However, when an individual players gets some attention nationally, it’s typically Tyron Smith.
A game changer at left tackle, Smith is ready to once again do his part in helping an offense that should put up some big numbers with Tony Romo back running the show.
Cowboys Nation, defensive coordinators everywhere, and common sense, can all agree with this PFF grade.
Dez Bryant – Also Really Good at Football
He was a little rusty in padded practice, but that doesn't have Cowboys WR Dez Bryant down https://t.co/WaownNyvT4 pic.twitter.com/SQoWWJIbc8
— SportsDay Cowboys (@dmn_cowboys) August 2, 2016
Dez Bryant is the best WR on the Dallas Cowboys, the best WR in the NFC East, and one of the best in the NFL. However, #88 has not been himself in a long time, thanks to injuries that wiped away his 2015 season. Naturally, in his return to dominance, Bryant has faced some struggles at training camp thus far.
Instead of looking at these struggles as a potential positive, as the Cowboys’ emotional leader can inspire others with his work ethic, national headlines have tried to paint a picture of Dez struggling and regressing to some sort of mean that has always been a #1 target.
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 5, 2016
Dez Bryant & his adoring public. pic.twitter.com/zudSuIyZNK
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) August 5, 2016
Well, ESPN, listen up – Dez Bryant will happily prove any doubters wrong this season, so let’s all calm down and watch him complete a pass to Bennett Broaddus. Cool.
Kicking it Cool
Dan Bailey still wears the same cleats he started wearing his rookie year, using tape and glue to keep them together https://t.co/9mFK3kN5qD
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 2, 2016
Dan Bailey can expect to kick a lot of footballs this season, and hopefully his cleats will hold up. As you see here, the Pro Bowl kicker has used the same cleats since 2011.
From that point, Bailey has converted on 90.6% of his field goals. Don’t ever change those cleats, Dan.
Let’s hope that, with Matt Cassel gone, most of Bailey’s kicks are extra points and kickoffs – and that these cleats can get a fighting chance to last through another NFL season.
Final News & Notes
As the Cowboys enter what will be a game week (yeah, the Cowboys play a game at the end of next week!), here is the latest from Twitter on what we know about some of their ongoing situations.
Particularly, the Kellen Moore injury that has sent the Dallas front office into a scramble to find a veteran backup has been a well-discussed topic in the Twitterverse.
#Cowboys backup QB Kellen Moore will have surgery on his broken ankle today in Dallas, source said. Recovery time is 3 or 4 months.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 3, 2016
#Cowboys, #Browns discussed trade for backup QB Josh McCown. Browns prefer to keep him, attached a high price, Cowboys rejected for now
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) August 4, 2016
The Cowboys seem content on letting the QB2 market settle a bit after watching Nick Foles sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, and inquiring to the Browns about Josh McCown only to receive a steep asking price. While some other attractive options still exist, the team will push forward with young guns Dak Prescott and Jameill Showers getting all of the reps.
Dak Prescott & Jameill Showers took all reps today-thought both acquitted themselves admirably. Showers ended day on perfect TD to Escobar
— Babe Laufenberg (@BabeLaufenberg) August 5, 2016
That will do it for another edition of Tweet Break here on Inside The Star! To make sure that the best tweets that you find about the Dallas Cowboys get included here each week, just tag me in them @ShoreSportsNJ, or email suggestions to Sean.Martin@InsideTheStar.com.
Happy tweeting, and go Cowboys!
