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Cowboys brutally honest
Jones, Garrett see many obstacles as training camp opens.
By Tom Orsborn
torsborn@express-news.net
Rose-colored glasses weren't included in the Dallas Cowboys' equipment unloaded at the Alamodome.
Speaking at a news conference Wednesday to kick off training camp, the Cowboys' brain trust offered a sobering, post-lockout assessment about the challenges the team faces. Dallas is coming off a 6-10 season, which included a 1-7 start that cost Wade Phillips his job and left a club with Super Bowl aspirations a league joke.
“We are coming off a really bad year,” owner Jerry Jones said at the dome. “We stunk it up.”
Jason Garrett agreed, on the eve of his first camp as a head coach. He guided the team on an interim basis the final eight games last season.
“We have to do everything better,” he said. “We have to play better on offense; we have to play better on defense; we have to play better in the kicking game; we have to play better in situational football; we have to take care of the ball better; we have to get the ball from them better; we have to practice better; we have to finish games better.
“I could keep going. We have to do a lot of things better.”
The work begins today with a morning walkthrough and a 2:30 p.m. practice. Only the afternoon workout is open to the public.
“We need to stop talking and get to work,” Garrett said.
Unfortunately for the 45-year-old Princeton alum, the process of rebuilding will have to begin without several important pieces, including Doug Free. The left tackle agreed late Tuesday night to a four-year, $32 million deal ($17 million guaranteed), but the new labor deal prohibits players who sign new deals from practicing with their teams until Aug. 4.
The only one of the team's eight draft picks that has reportedly agreed to terms is seventh-round center Bill Nagy. The Cowboys hope to have the others, including first-round right tackle Tyron Smith, under contract today.
Rookies can't participate in on-field drills or meetings until they sign a contract.
Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode also is expected to be away from the field after undergoing knee surgery earlier this month. He likely will be placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which also likely will include rookie linebacker Bruce Carter, a second-round pick rehabbing from knee surgery.
Garrett, who hasn't overseen a practice since late last year, must contend with new collective bargaining agreement rules. Teams are limited to just four hours of practice per day and only three hours of full contact with pads.
But Garrett said he doesn't think those guidelines will prevent him from transforming the Cowboys into a more physical team, something he also focused on as interim coach.
“I don't think anybody feels like they're shortchanged,” Garrett said. “The rules are a little different. You have to rework the rules. You have to rework some of your thinking. But that's part of the deal.
“You're allowed to practice in full pads, and we feel like it's very important to do that this time of year to lay the foundation for the physicalness of your team.”
One thing that should help Garrett is that he's no stranger to making adjustments on the fly after taking over at midseason last year. He demanded then that the players pick up the pace dramatically, and he's doing it again now.
“Even if we had a full offseason and a normal start to training camp,” Garrett said, “the message would be the same: We've got to hit the ground running. So we're going to do things with a fast tempo, with some urgency.”
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/cowboys/article/Cowboys-brutally-honest-1620006.php#ixzz1TOdCTKeq
Jones, Garrett see many obstacles as training camp opens.
By Tom Orsborn
torsborn@express-news.net
Rose-colored glasses weren't included in the Dallas Cowboys' equipment unloaded at the Alamodome.
Speaking at a news conference Wednesday to kick off training camp, the Cowboys' brain trust offered a sobering, post-lockout assessment about the challenges the team faces. Dallas is coming off a 6-10 season, which included a 1-7 start that cost Wade Phillips his job and left a club with Super Bowl aspirations a league joke.
“We are coming off a really bad year,” owner Jerry Jones said at the dome. “We stunk it up.”
Jason Garrett agreed, on the eve of his first camp as a head coach. He guided the team on an interim basis the final eight games last season.
“We have to do everything better,” he said. “We have to play better on offense; we have to play better on defense; we have to play better in the kicking game; we have to play better in situational football; we have to take care of the ball better; we have to get the ball from them better; we have to practice better; we have to finish games better.
“I could keep going. We have to do a lot of things better.”
The work begins today with a morning walkthrough and a 2:30 p.m. practice. Only the afternoon workout is open to the public.
“We need to stop talking and get to work,” Garrett said.
Unfortunately for the 45-year-old Princeton alum, the process of rebuilding will have to begin without several important pieces, including Doug Free. The left tackle agreed late Tuesday night to a four-year, $32 million deal ($17 million guaranteed), but the new labor deal prohibits players who sign new deals from practicing with their teams until Aug. 4.
The only one of the team's eight draft picks that has reportedly agreed to terms is seventh-round center Bill Nagy. The Cowboys hope to have the others, including first-round right tackle Tyron Smith, under contract today.
Rookies can't participate in on-field drills or meetings until they sign a contract.
Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode also is expected to be away from the field after undergoing knee surgery earlier this month. He likely will be placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which also likely will include rookie linebacker Bruce Carter, a second-round pick rehabbing from knee surgery.
Garrett, who hasn't overseen a practice since late last year, must contend with new collective bargaining agreement rules. Teams are limited to just four hours of practice per day and only three hours of full contact with pads.
But Garrett said he doesn't think those guidelines will prevent him from transforming the Cowboys into a more physical team, something he also focused on as interim coach.
“I don't think anybody feels like they're shortchanged,” Garrett said. “The rules are a little different. You have to rework the rules. You have to rework some of your thinking. But that's part of the deal.
“You're allowed to practice in full pads, and we feel like it's very important to do that this time of year to lay the foundation for the physicalness of your team.”
One thing that should help Garrett is that he's no stranger to making adjustments on the fly after taking over at midseason last year. He demanded then that the players pick up the pace dramatically, and he's doing it again now.
“Even if we had a full offseason and a normal start to training camp,” Garrett said, “the message would be the same: We've got to hit the ground running. So we're going to do things with a fast tempo, with some urgency.”
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/cowboys/article/Cowboys-brutally-honest-1620006.php#ixzz1TOdCTKeq
