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Yahoo Sports’ Senior NFL Reporter Jori Epstein is on the road covering training camp. Today’s stop: the Dallas Cowboys, who were Charles Robinson from Yahoo Sports also visited in July.
About the QB
Entering the final year of his contract, Dak Prescott told me he feels “free.” He’s taking advantage of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s disguises to hone his field vision and coverage reads, and Mike McCarthy’s scheme to hone his footwork accuracy and throwing mechanics. Can Prescott lead an offense without an RB1 for the first time in his career?
Newbie to watch out for
With all due respect to first-round left tackle Tyler Guyton, who moved up to the first team, I’m looking forward to third-round center Cooper Beebe. Executive vice president Stephen Jones tells me Beebe is a “Day 1 starter” who looks “better than advertised.” Working with a crafty veteran quarterback should lighten the mental load for the Kansas State product as he gets acclimated.
Keeping my eyes on
CeeDee Lamb won’t play. I expect the Cowboys and Lamb to come to terms by Week 1, but not too soon. Once he returns, expect Lamb to resume his role as the focal point of the offense. Think 12 to 15 targets per game, with the expectation that Lamb will manipulate his leverage and run open routes even when he’s obviously the one reading the game.
Fantasy thought
Jalen Tolbert has impressed in his third training camp. While Lamb will still be catching the bulk of the passes, Tolbert could challenge Brandin Cooks for the WR2 job. Cooks has much more experience, but Tolbert earned Prescott’s trust and showed a new level of reliability in the offseason. Dallas’ shaky running game could also lead to more passing opportunities for players like Tolbert.
What I saw that was interesting
It’s too early to tell whether the Cowboys’ defense will be effective. It’s not too early to say this defense will look different than it did in 2023. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is wearing camouflage more than his predecessor, Dan Quinn. Zimmer is also coaching guys to earn the right to rush the passer by stopping the run, after Quinn emphasized immediate pressure up front to generate takeaways. The vibes are different — Jones told me Zimmer’s “jerk mentality” may be what this defense needs.
Wildcard
Zimmer isn’t just banking on a schematic and philosophical change to shore up the Cowboys’ run defense. He’s also moving the Cowboys’ “green dot” receiver from the DBs’ radio calls to the LBs, in hopes of clearing up communication with the DL. Zimmer has designated Eric Kendricks, an offseason acquisition, as the primary communicator responsible for properly aligning teammates.
