Dallas Cowboys’ cloak-and-dagger camp continues with no names during televised practice
Training camp essentially ended for the 2020 Dallas Cowboys with an unusual Sunday evening practice at AT&T Stadium.
The practice was broadcast locally on TXA 21 but fans were left wondering who was who as the players wore jerseys without names and numbers.
It was a continuation of new coach Mike McCarthy’s cloak-and-dagger approach.
With no preseason games due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and no ability of upcoming opponents to scout their tendencies, McCarthy has outlawed tweeting of starting lineups, personal groupings and formations during the closed practices.
And he took it to the next level for the Cowboys’ practice by having the players practice in jerseys that had neither names nor numbers.
With a new staff and new scheme, McCarthy believes the biggest advantage the Cowboys can have early in the season is the element of surprise with no obvious clues to their tendencies and formations — especially with new schemes on offense and defense, new players and an emphasis on pre-snap disguise on defense.
Another for the blank jerseys, per McCarthy, was to keep the younger players under wraps before final cuts on Saturday.
“This is such a unique season on so many fronts,” McCarthy said. “I can’t tell you the number of conversations you have about competitive advantage and disadvantage and frankly with the fact that we were televising the practice here, we would be exposing our younger players to an evaluation process that the other teams really are not exposing their team to. That was the reason behind going with the white and blue shirts.
The Cowboys will have one final official training camp session on Monday, and the players will be off Tuesday. The team will then transition to a regular season schedule on Wednesday.
Final cuts are on tap for Saturday, which will be just eight days before the Cowboys’ Sept. 13 season opener against the Rams in Los Angeles.
So what have we learned in training camp?
Well, quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott, receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup and guard Zack Martin exhibited their usual standard of high-quality play.
Gallup is coming off his first 1,000-yard season and is considered by the Cowboys to be a No. 1 receiver.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence looks to have returned to his old dominating ways now that he is fully healthy and a year removed from shoulder surgery, which hampered him.
Linebackers Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch have swapped positions and look to be adjusting quite nicely. Smith has consistently flashed, making plays at weakside linebacker with Vander Esch in the middle throughout camp.
So, outside of the known and proven stars, which newcomers or emerging players have become surprise starts of camp?
Here is a list of six breakout performers to know:
1. WR CeeDee Lamb: The team’s top draft pick in 2020 has more than lived up to his lofty expectations. He has starred in camp from Day 1 and there is a legitimate conversation regarding Lamb looking better than Cooper and Gallup so far. He certainly has made more plays, and scored more touchdowns in camp.
2. TE Blake Jarwin: Jason Witten is gone and Jarwin is ready to spread his wings. Prescott loves to hit Jarwin deep down the seam. Imagine, a Cowboys tight end being a big-play threat. Get ready? It’s going to be a reality with Jarwin, who is sleek, fast and smooth. He needs to be a little more consistent with his hands.
3. C Joe Looney: The Cowboys anticipated having a four-man battle at center to replace the retired Travis Frederick. But Connor Williams and Connor McGovern have stayed at guard. Looney against rookie Tyler Biadasz has been no contest so far. Looney’s stature has grown so much that he was the one speaking to the entire team after practice last week.
4. DE/LB Aldon Smith: No one knew what to expect from Smith, who is playing for the first time in five years. There have been no visible signs of rust. He almost intercepted a Dak Prescott screen pass on the first open practice. He has beaten left tackle Tyron Smith for sacks and has been the starter at right end/outside linebacker since Day. 1
5. CB Trevon Diggs: The rookie second-round pick from Alabama has gotten better every day. Chido Awuzie has opened the door for Diggs to get consistent reps with the first team and he has taken full advantage. His ball skills and ability to go from offense to defense are unmatched on the team.
6. FS Darian Thompson: The Cowboys signed Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to be the presumed starter to replace the departed Jeff Heath. Thompson has been better throughout camp. The Cowboys are so comfortable with Thompson’s emergence that they have resisted a desperate play for the newly-free Earl Thomas.
This story was originally published August 30, 2020 at 6:46 PM.
