Latest news with #Oxnard
New York Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Latest practice another example of why CeeDee Lamb has been Cowboys' best at training camp
OXNARD, Calif. — After seven training camp practices, there can be a wide range of opinions on who is standing out most for the Dallas Cowboys. CeeDee Lamb is the correct answer. That shouldn't be a huge surprise. He's been one of the NFL's best wide receivers for the last four years. But entering this year's camp, Lamb's name had taken a back seat to Micah Parsons' contract situation and the trade for standout wide receiver George Pickens. Advertisement Lamb has been all business on the field. It's been rare to see him drop a ball in individual or team drills. He's had one so far. And it bothers him. He came to California with a goal to 'catch everything.' 'That's my plan,' he said after Wednesday's practice. 'Catch everything and we'll see what happens after that. I've always been thinking it, but it's like moving with intent. It's a little different than it just being a thought (when) you have it on paper, you see it every day. And then when you go to practice you switch that mindset. You turn it on. You remember.' He believes he has done 'pretty good' so far. 'I had (the) one drop a couple days ago,' he said. 'It sucked. I hate it. It made me start all the way over.' It's evident that he's joyful just to be back in California after missing the four weeks in Oxnard last year while in a contract holdout. 'Waking up, grateful to do what I love to do,' he said. 'Waking up actually wanting to go to work. I feel like that's a bit underappreciated. Because a lot of people have to do a lot of things that they don't want, and shout out to those people obviously. But, as for me, I'm happy for this opportunity. I'm embracing every moment now.' The rapport between franchise quarterback Dak Prescott and Pickens is growing by the day. The rapport between Lamb and Prescott looks ready for Week 1. Considering that none of the three will be playing much, if at all, during the preseason, a key moment is coming next Tuesday. That's when Dallas will be hosting the Los Angeles Rams in a joint practice. It will be the first time to really see how an opposing defense will try to handle having Lamb on one side and Pickens on the other. Of course, there will also be those times, like Wednesday's red zone period when the two are lined up next to each other. The result, this Pickens touchdown. George Pickens — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 'If I have two guys on me, I can guarantee the ball is going to him,' Lamb said. 'Because we're on the same side. And if there are two guys on me, he's one on one. Do what you want with that info. It's honestly fun.' New Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams has been working with head coach and offensive play-caller Brian Schottenheimer on the best ways to utilize the strengths of Lamb and Pickens. After all, with so many questions about the new pieces in the run game, the top goal for opposing defenses will be trying to limit the damage of Dallas' big-play wide receivers. Advertisement 'The bottom line is when you have one of those guys on either side of the formation and a running game in the middle, it's tough to defend,' Adams said. 'That's what we're trying to develop right now. In regards to what you'd like to do with each of those receivers, when you're designing pass game, that's what you're trying to do. I'm going to put this guy on this route because he wins that way or vice versa, if somebody is not as good at doing something. 'It's just really the presence of having a threat on either side and the ability to, the way I would describe it, kind of bash the middle of the defense in. It gives you an advantage when you can do that. That's what we're trying to develop.' While both wide receivers have well-rounded games with big-play ability, they don't play the exact same way. Lamb is better with his hands on the ball in space. Pickens is the better deep-ball threat. But they both can win on any route. Lamb can burn a team over the top and Pickens can make defenders miss on slants and digs. And Lamb is just fine with the two being different. 'The greatest thief of joy is comparisons,' he said. 'Trust me. It will kill you. … We're going to play to our strengths. It's just playing off one another. Whoever has the hot hand, good luck, because we're probably on fire. 'All we got to do is keep our head down and grind. It's already destined. Like, at birth. With the talent that we have, as soon as we break the huddle, it's already destined. At the end of the day it comes down to the work that we put in. How serious are we about it? Are we going to take this to the next level or are we just going to be another duo that's just playing ball together?' The team drill portion of Wednesday's practice included several Lamb highlights. The short and intermediate throws have continued to lead to big plays. But the red zone and running game aspects of his game were also on display. Like this end-around. CeeDee Lamb — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 And then red zone plays like these where Lamb and Pickens were on opposite sides. CeeDee Lamb — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Dak to CeeDee TD — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 30, 2025 Lamb is 26 years old. He's in the prime of his career. When Prescott and Lamb were healthy and played all 17 games in 2023, Lamb finished with 1,749 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns. The way he's been performing early in camp, another monster year looks to be in the works. Through seven practices the Dallas defense has had the upper hand on the offense overall. But individually, no one has been better than Lamb. 'I'm light on my words because I really don't like to do the rah-rah (stuff) and then it doesn't come to fruition,' Lamb said. 'But I know one thing for sure … I know we're going to have a good one this year. That's for sure.'
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brian Schottenheimer ends Cowboys practice early, makes team run after string of training camp fights
Brian Schottenheimer made himself clear during the second practice of Dallas Cowboys training camp last week: He wanted intensity, not recklessness. After a fight broke out in the middle of practice, the first-time head coach gathered his team, swore like a sailor and warned them what would happen if they threw punches again. Schottenheimer wasn't kidding. He walked the walk Wednesday, when he tossed Ajani Cornelius from practice after the rookie offensive tackle reportedly threw a punch. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Then after a few more fights broke out over the course of practice, Schottenheimer cut the day short, delivered another expletive-infused speech and made his team run as punishment. Even some coaches were seen running sprints alongside players at the Cowboys' training camp site in Oxnard, California. ESPN's Todd Archer reported that, by his unofficial count, Wednesday's practice was stopped after 46 plays of team drills. For reference, the Cowboys ran 56 plays on Monday and 65 on Sunday, per Archer. After practice, three-time All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was asked about Schottenheimer's message to the team. Lamb's response, per Archer: "Do we want to be champions?" Lamb said. "Because throughout the years of us being here, talent was never the problem for us. It was always discipline. How do we get ahead and not behind? How do we not shoot ourselves in the foot? How do we not hurt ourselves? Honestly when that momentum is going our way, we need to continue to keep the foot on the pedal and make the right play and always think about the team." Last season, Dallas ranked 29th in the NFL in penalties committed and 28th in turnovers. Granted, the Cowboys were missing starting quarterback Dak Prescott from Week 10 on, but they undoubtedly held themselves back from a better finish than their 7-10 record in Mike McCarthy's fifth and final season as the team's head coach. [Get more Cowboys news: Dallas team feed] After moving on from McCarthy, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones promoted Schottenheimer to head coach. Schottenheimer served as Dallas' offensive coordinator the past two seasons. Although Schottenheimer has been a mainstay in the league's coaching ranks since the late '90s, he never had a head job before this year. Now he's trying to set a standard for discipline in training camp. 'Basically, we just have to understand that Dallas isn't on the schedule, so we're nobody's enemies,' Cowboys second-year reserve offensive tackle Nate Thomas said, per The Associated Press. 'We have to make sure that we're taking care of each other but also getting the good work in because we have some guys down right now, and we have to understand that we need these reps. "So we can't go out here and start fighting each other just because somebody did a little extra pushing or whatever the case may be."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brian Schottenheimer ends Cowboys practice early, makes team run after string of training camp fights
Brian Schottenheimer made himself clear during the second practice of Dallas Cowboys training camp last week: He wanted intensity, not recklessness. After a fight broke out in the middle of practice, the first-time head coach gathered his team, swore like a sailor and warned them what would happen if they threw punches again. Schottenheimer wasn't kidding. He walked the walk Wednesday when he tossed Ajani Cornelius from practice after the rookie offensive tackle reportedly threw a punch. Then after a few more fights broke out over the course of practice, Schottenheimer cut the day short, delivered another expletive-infused speech and made his team run as punishment. Even some coaches were seen running sprints alongside players at the Cowboys' training camp site in Oxnard, California. ESPN's Todd Archer reported that, by his unofficial count, Wednesday's practice was stopped after 46 plays of team drills. For reference, the Cowboys ran 56 plays on Monday and 65 on Sunday, per Archer. After practice, three-time All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was asked what Schottenheimer's message was to the team. Lamb's response, per Archer: "Do we want to be champions?" Lamb said. "Because throughout the years of us being here, talent was never the problem for us. It was always discipline. How do we get ahead and not behind? How do we not shoot ourselves in the foot? How do we not hurt ourselves? Honestly when that momentum is going our way, we need to continue to keep the foot on the pedal and make the right play and always think about the team." Dallas ranked 29th in the NFL in penalties committed and 28th in turnovers last season. Granted the Cowboys were missing starting quarterback Dak Prescott from Week 10 on, but they undoubtedly held themselves back from a better finish than their 7-10 record in what was Mike McCarthy's fifth and final season as the team's head coach. After moving on from McCarthy, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones promoted Schottenheimer to head coach. Schottenheimer served as Dallas' offensive coordinator the past two seasons. Although Schottenheimer's practically been a mainstay in the league's coaching ranks since the late '90s, he never had a head job before this year. He's trying to set a standard for discipline in training camp. 'Basically, we just have to understand that Dallas isn't on the schedule, so we're nobody's enemies,' Cowboys second-year reserve offensive tackle Nate Thomas said, per The Associated Press. 'We have to make sure that we're taking care of each other, but also getting the good work in because we have some guys down right now, and we have to understand that we need these reps. "So we can't go out here and start fighting each other just because somebody did a little extra pushing or whatever the case may be."
CBS News
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Jerry Jones on "enthusiasm" at Dallas Cowboys training camp, new head coach and "Landman" appearance
Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones sat down for a one-on-one conversation with CBS Sports Texas' Bill Jones at Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, Calif. over the weekend. Watch the full interview in the player above. Bill Jones remarked to Jerry Jones that he has been coming to training camp for more than 40 years, and does not recall a training camp with as much energy as this one. "I happen to agree with you. First of all, I know it's never been more beautiful out here," Jerry Jones said, praising the facilities and beauty in Oxnard. "Then you add Brian Schottenheimer's new juice coming in, enthusiasm, those young coaches bouncing around here. It's contagious for the players. And then when the players start acting like that, we all get to thinking we could step out there and catch a pass." Jerry Jones made waves earlier this year when he decided to hire Brian Schottenheimer as the Cowboys' head coach. The 51-year-old has been an assistant coach his entire career, spending the past two seasons as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator under the offensive-minded former head coach Mike McCarthy, who called the plays. Jones said he was originally considering tapping Schottenheimer to take over the offense and call plays under whatever new coach was hired. "All of a sudden, you realize you've got somebody sitting there with almost 30 years of experience coaching in the NFL, yet he was still, relatively speaking, just a pup, really. And, he hasn't head-coached. I'm a big believer in someone that has their shot. And I remember telling him, 'Brian, you're not Brian Schottenheimer anymore. You're now the coach of the Dallas Cowboys,'" Jones said. One of the biggest moves the Cowboys made in the offseason was trading for wide receiver George Pickens. Pickens has plenty of talent to line up opposite of CeeDee Lamb, totaling 174 catches and 12 touchdowns over the first three years of his career. But he also developed a reputation for causing issues in the locker room for his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. That, Jones said, is what gave the Cowboys the opportunity to make the trade. "There's no question that he could contribute to our success. But I like his attitude. And, a lot of people might say, well, he had some off-the-field issue ... but that's just exactly where you get opportunity," Jones said. "You'll see, he's going to make a big impact." The lack of a contract extension for Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons has been the talk of training camp. The team is no stranger to the situation, with similarly drawn-out contract talks with Lamb and QB Dak Prescott in 2024. Bill Jones told Jerry Jones that Lamb admitted in hindsight that his lack of participation in training camp last year affected his chemistry with Prescott. Bill Jones then asked how much time Parsons would need to be ready for the Cowboys' first game on Sept. 4. "I'm glad that CeeDee said that, and he needs to tell it to everybody. And, if you've got a contract, come to camp," Jerry Jones replied. He did not directly address the negotiations with Parsons. Aside from football, Jones got attention earlier this year for his appearance on the Paramount+ series "Landman." In his scene, Jones gives life advice to the character played by actor John Hamm while he was recovering the hospital, with the script centering around spending time with his kids. Jones said he was surprised about how much attention the scene received. "It reminds me again, it's the subject matter. If you talk about kids, are you talk about the right subject. Now, you may string some strums of some hearts that otherwise wouldn't be listening. And in that case, the part was about, kids and who's going to be with you when you are in the hospital for the last time. All of that was there. We practice that without a doubt," Jones said.
CNA
3 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Report: Cowboys G Rob Jones (neck) out 2-3 months
Dallas Cowboys guard Rob Jones will be sidelined 2-3 months after breaking a bone in his neck during practice, ESPN reported Monday. Jones, a candidate for the starting spot at left guard, was hurt late in Sunday's session at training camp in Oxnard, Calif. An MRI and other testing revealed the injury, which will not require surgery, per the report. Jones, 26, signed a one-year deal for $3.7 million in March. He started all 17 games at left guard for Miami last season, bringing his career totals with the Dolphins to 49 games and 30 starts since arriving as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Rookie first-round draft pick Tyler Booker has taken most of the snaps with the first team at left guard so far during training camp. -Field Level Media
