|
IRVING, Texas - Wade Phillips promised things would be different in 2009. Some of his changes haven't been so apparent to the naked eye, but this year's training camp schedule shows a different approach.
Phillips has been criticized in the past for running easy training camps - in fact, his 2007 preseason was dubbed "Camp Cupcake," a moniker that stuck with the Cowboys workouts in 2008. But the same can't be said for 2009's work in San Antonio's Alamodome, which begins with a kickoff event the night of July 28.
The first two weekends of camp are stocked with two-a-days. Phillips will have the team practicing twice daily from Saturday-Monday on Aug. 1-3, and again Aug. 8-10. Three straight days of double practices hasn't been seen around here in recent memory, including during Bill Parcells' four-year tenure as coach.
All told, the Cowboys will double up on practices 11 times in San Antonio. During last summer's camp in Oxnard, Calif., only seven two-a-days were held. There were 23 total practices in 2008, seven fewer than will be held this year. Not only does the schedule mean more chances for the team to hone their skills on the field, but also more opportunities for fans to see the Cowboys up close. All training camp practices are open to the public.
Keep in mind the Sunday morning sessions will be walk-throughs, but considering the coaches' insistence on everything being "exactly right," those should be good prep sessions to make sure everyone is on the same page for the full-bore practices to follow in the afternoon and the next day.
There will be just one day off during the three weeks of camp, a chance for the players to rest their bumps and bruises after the Aug. 13 preseason game at Oakland. Two walk-throughs will follow the next day, but the final four days of camp after that will include six regular practices. The Cowboys will leave San Antonio on Aug. 19, and hold the preseason opener at Cowboys Stadium against the Tennessee Titans two days later.
2009 Training Camp Practice Schedule (subject to change)
| Wednesday, July 29 |
|
2:15 PM |
| Thursday, July 30 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Friday, July 31 |
|
2:15 PM |
| Saturday, August 1 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Sunday, August 2 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Monday, August 3 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Tuesday, August 4 |
|
2:15 PM |
| Wednesday, August 5 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Thursday, August 6 |
|
2:15 PM |
| Friday, August 7 |
|
2:15 PM |
| Saturday, August 8 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Sunday, August 9 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Monday, August 10 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Tuesday, August 11 |
|
2:15 PM |
| Wednesday, August 12 |
|
10:45 AM |
| Thursday, August 13 |
|
No Practice / Away Game vs. Oakland Raiders |
| Friday, August 14 |
|
No Practice |
| Saturday, August 15 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Sunday, August 16 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Monday, August 17 |
|
2:15 PM |
| Tuesday, August 18 |
|
8:50 AM and 3:15 PM |
| Wednesday, August 19 |
|
10:45 AM |
Underlined Times are Walk Thru Sessions
| Home | Email | Print | Register for New Alerts | RSS |
|
Josh Ellis - 
