Cowboys mailbag: Questions on training camp drama and UFL workouts
Our latest mailbag features plenty of questions about the Dallas Cowboys.
Every week, we take questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook about Dallas Cowboys players and other issues surrounding the team. So let’s get right into it.
“Who has stood out in training so far?”
(@Daniel Wright on Facebook)
Mike: There have been a few names that have shown some serious development or improvement so far. The big one is Brandin Cooks who has reportedly grown his connection with Dak Prescott and looks much more comfortable in this offense. Sometimes these things take a year or so to develop. The importance of having a dynamic and trustworthy WR2 will be extremely important this year when the expectation will be that CeeDee Lamb will get a lot of defensive attention. Sticking with wide receiver, rookie Ryan Flournoy has been a positive note in practices. His raw athletic ability is obvious and he’s caught the eye of a few coaches and media staff. He needs to continue building off that foundation as he heads to training camp and hopefully we get to see how much he can flash in pre-season.
On the defensive side, Marshawn Kneeland and Marist Liufau have both received huge praise from coaches and fellow players. Kneeland and Liufau will both play a vital role on defense this year, so having the pair standing out at this stage is extremely positive.
Dana: One name that everyone has been keeping a close eye on is Trey Lance. His confidence from last year to now is what stands out the most. He is getting more and more comfortable in Mike McCarthy’s offense and it has already been on display. He has been building a connection with the young receivers on the team like Jalen Tolbert and Ryan Flournoy. His confidence is intensifying the competition in the QB room and that’s exactly what you’d like to see from him as he begins his battle for the QB2 spot.
In a 7-on-7 period at the end of Wednesday’s minicamp practice, Trey Lance connected with Jalen Tolbert for a ~ 40-yard completion that ignited the offensive sideline.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) June 5, 2024
Lance had a solid 7-on-7 session and continues to impress coaches with his development.#DallasCowboys
Ryan Flournoy has already started catching people’s attention and many believe that he will be a force in the WR room. Flournoy mentioned before that he has been compared to Dez Bryant and at OTA’s, he has already begun to show why. He should be one to keep a close eye on at training camp.
(Tap for full tweet)
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) June 5, 2024
I’m going to go ahead and say I believe Ryan Flournoy is going to turn heads in Oxnard.
The plays he’s making thus far largely hint at it.
Today, a back pylon grab for a TD was at the height of his vertical and the CB never stood a chance despite…
Eric Kendricks has also stood out at OTA’s showcasing his mental strengths as the green dot linebacker. He has the experience of playing in a Mike Zimmer defense and is helping the rest of the defense get acclimated. So far, his coverage ability has been excellent tipping a pass for an INT and hauling in an INT of his own.
“Will it be a quiet training camp this year or might we see some Cowboys drama?”
(@MrEd315 on X)
Mike: There’s always some sort of drama, there wouldn’t be a training camp without it. The drama isn’t a distraction as the media usually make out and spin their own “clickbait” narratives on these situations. These players are fired up, some are fighting and clawing for a position on the final roster so of course tensions build. These guys are at the top of their game and very passionate about football, so with that comes a lot of jawing and extreme banter. Teams that don’t have that drama at training would be more concerning, that shows a lack of passion and a low burning fire.
Dana: While the drama may not be as crazy as the infamous Jourdan Lewis vs Dez Bryant tiff that was showcased in the All or Nothing series that followed the Dallas Cowboys in 2018, there is always a bit of jawing that is expected when you put highly competitive guys inside a highly competitive environment. The players on this team aren’t necessarily shy about their competitiveness either.
The leader of the team, Dak Prescott, is known for his trash talk and has been open about how it can increase the intensity at practice and ultimately bring the best out of the team. Just last year we saw a glimpse of it when he and Trevon Diggs went toe-to-toe with each other and it has already begun at the team’s minicamp this season. In an article from The Athletic that breaks down a full day at the Cowboys’ minicamp, Prescott made sure the defense heard it when Trey Lance and Cam Johnson made a great play.
“We all know, I love to compete, talk trash,” Prescott said. “So, that’s the base of it. You have to have fun doing this. And we know each and every day we’re gonna come in, we’re gonna compete against each other but we’re trying to get each other better. No better way than to compete and talking. Having energy high, celebrating after big plays. Just makes it fun.”
“What do you make of the UFL players coming for workouts?”
(@Sean Twaddle on Facebook)
Mike: More than 50 developmental players were able to secure spots on NFL rosters last year, and Dallas has demonstrated their expertise in nurturing talent from the developmental leagues, as seen with KaVontae Turpin and Brandon Aubrey. While fans may express frustration with the Cowboys’ approach to free agency, their ability to uncover hidden gems during this period of free agency and discover genuine talent remains undeniable.
For the four guys they’ve brought in, Deandre Baker is maybe the most intriguing and holds the most talent. A former first-round talent that got cut by the New York Giants after a legal altercation, he’s a very strong and physical cornerback. Baker excels in man coverage, which will be right up Mike Zimmer’s street. The issues with Baker is he lacks speed and has played exclusively as an outside corner when in reality he’s built and plays more like a slot defender. Baker represents the best chance of these players to make the roster and was named to the All-UFL team in 2024.
Another cornerback and former first-round talent brought in is Gareon Conley. He has the toughest road into getting on the Cowboys roster or practice squad simply because he’s less talented than Baker. He struggled for the Las Vegas Raiders, played a minimal role for the Houston Texans and in the UFL, he was at times beaten quite easily. The hope for Conley is to flash at camp, if he can get signed, which will then be the door to offer his services on other NFL teams.
The next two players brought in are more interesting due to the fact they play linebacker, which is seriously undermanned on this Cowboys roster. It wouldn’t at all be surprising if either Noah Dawkins or St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. makes the roster simply due to their position value. Which one makes to the roster truly depends on their abilities to play on special teams. To guess on either guy, Harvey looks to be ahead of the race so far. He led the UFL in tackles this past season with 76 tackles and looks much more fluid.
Dana: The Cowboys have an excellent track record when looking to the UFL (XFL & USFL) for players that can contribute to the team. KaVontae Turpin and Brandon Aubrey both played in the USFL before joining the Dallas Cowboys and both have proven to be special teams Pro Bowlers in the NFL. While it may not be realistic to expect that level of contribution from any additional UFL players the Cowboys might add this season, it is possible to find some valuable depth pieces.
The four players that they have brought in so far are all on the defensive side of the ball with two linebackers Noah Dawkins and Willie Harvey Jr., and two cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Deandre Baker. All of the players have previously played in the NFL and are looking for that second chance.
Starting with the linebackers, Dawkins spent a lot of his time in the NFL on practice squads. He spent time with the Bengals, Buccaneers, Jets, and Bears before joining the USFL in 2023 where he logged one INT and 32 total tackles in the regular season. Harvey spent his first few years in the NFL with the Browns battling through injuries and waivers to just stay on the roster. With a little more success in the UFL, Harvey was just recently named to the 2024 All-UFL team.
The #Cowboys will work out All-UFL LB Willie Harvey Jr. on Tuesday, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 10, 2024
Harvey — who appeared in four games with the #Browns from 2019-21 — led the UFL in tackles and all linebackers in tackles for loss, passes defended and forced fumbles.pic.twitter.com/curmLapnMx
The cornerbacks named are a bit more exciting as they are both former first-round picks in the NFL. Conley was able to show flashes of his potential in the NFL with four INTs and 94 total tackles in 31 games while playing for the Raiders and the Texans in-between injury setbacks. Baker spent time with the Giants and the Chiefs and battled injuries as well. However, he has seen more success in the UFL, being named to the 2024 All-UFL team.
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