OXNARD, Calif. - So we were joking out here on a glorious Thursday afternoon, not a cloud in the sky, slight breeze, mountains on the northern horizon and, as usual, nature's thermostat set at room temperature.
There was the Cowboys' starting offensive line, out on the practice field to our right around noon, posing in full uniforms as a group for the Sports Illustrated cameras, with NFL Films in tow. Let me repeat that: In full uniforms. Why, the last time we saw that out here during training camp was I don't know when. Almost forgot what it looked like.
But we'll get a sharp reminder on Saturday, when the Cowboys open the four-game preseason schedule at 7 p.m. (PDT) in San Diego against the Chargers, maybe their spittin' image since Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett learned his offensive concepts from the Chargers head coach Norv Tuner and the Cowboys' defense plays the same 3-4 style head coach Wade Phillips left behind in San Diego.
All the Cowboys, save Terence Newman, Marcus Dixon and Quincy Butler at this point, will be in full uniform, yessiree, and there will be real hitting going on in The Q, a fading trend in most NFL training camps where good health takes precedent over form tackling.
And that means we'll start getting some answers to questions everyone has been asking, answers certainly hard to provide even now after watching 21 practices over the past two weeks since, while it looks like football out here at the River Ridge Sports Complex, it isn't football until they start putting the ball carrier on the ground.
Even Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, one of the guys here responsible for trimming this 80-man roster down to 53 by Aug. 30, is a tad curious about if he's really seeing what he thinks he's seeing.
"I'm going to be anxious to see - we've done a lot of work out here, but we haven't brought them down tackling (so) there's a little bit left when you're not tackling that I'd like to go ahead and see," Jones said of the first preseason game where even the quarterback is live game. "There's a time when a back might have been able to run on through (a hole), or you ask yourself if the back would run on down the field.
"So I'm anxious to see that."
So are we; probably you, too.
So let's do this: Let's see what the owner is most anxious about seeing Saturday night. After all, what we might want to see is not as important. We aren't writing the checks.
Felix Jones: As Jerry Jones said, he knows what Marion Barber can do. No mystery there. But how about his first, first-round draft choice? Boy he sure seems to be lighting up the practice field. But again, what happens when he is getting hit - hard - after each run? Breaks tackles? Gets up and goes again?
"Those backs behind Barber, I'm anxious to see them against a real good team," said Jerry Jones, referring mostly to Felix Jones, Tashard Choice and Alonzo Coleman.
Tank Johnson: Now it's not as if Tank has to prove himself worthy of making this team. No way. But when they start putting guys on the ground, only then can we determine if he's playing like the "beast" he's seems to have been at nose tackle so far in training camp. Telling you, his play still has a lot to do with the Jay Ratliff experiment at left end.
"I do want to see Tank really step on up there and continue what he's doing with his quickness and his strength in the games, against the other-colored jerseys," Jones said.
Bobby Carpenter: Much has been made of the training camp performances of Evan Oglesby and Sam Hurd and Danny Amendola and Orlando Scandrick, but so far, of the guys you'd be most curious about, Carpenter has been Oxnard MVP. Seriously, the previously-known First-Round-Pick-Without-A Home has been playing awfully well these past two weeks - he had an interception in team drills Wednesday - and that's at both inside linebacker spots.
"And then you've got to, if you've got red blood in your veins and are interested in this team, (be) interested to see how Bobby Carpenter plays in the games because of how well he's doing here in practice," Jones said. "You're compelled to say let's see him move like that in the games."
No doubt. Let's continue.
Courtney Brown: The Cowboys moved last year's seventh-round pick from corner to safety, and early in this training camp to first-team nickel at safety, next to Ken Hamlin, and coming in for Roy Williams ahead of incumbent Pat Watkins. Brown seems to have a nose for the football, meaning he doesn't hesitate to break on those underneath throws. That's practice. Let's see when someone can really beat him for a touchdown that counts if he still has the necessary nerve.
"I've got to tell you, I like Brown, and anxious to see Brown who has done some good things," Jones said.
Young Corners: This is a no-brainer since this is the most roster competitive position on the team. At this point, there would seem to be seven corners trying to fit into six spots since Quincy Butler, the eighth guy, still isn't working (hamstring) and is losing touch with the others. If we assume Newman, Anthony Henry, Mike Jenkins, Adam Jones and Scandrick will make the final 53, then that leaves one more available spot if only six are kept, meaning Alan Ball and Oglesby will be battling for that if everyone stays healthy. Right now, Oglesby has been the second Oxnard MVP, already totaling seven interceptions during team drills during the two weeks. Ball (ankle) just got back from injury.
"We've got two rookie corners out there, Ball, and we know what Adam (Jones) can do, but anxious to see him play," said Jones, knowing Adam Jones will be playing in his first real football game since the 2006 season-ender. "And Oglesby, guys like that there.
"I'm glad we've gotten the work out of those secondary guys that we've got, especially those corners with Terence Newman and those guys being out. That's going to be good to see them."
There are some others, too, guys such as last year's first-round pick Anthony Spencer, who is expected to get a bunch of snaps behind Greg Ellis at the strong outside linebacker spot. And there's the two young tight ends, Tony Curtis and rookie Martellus Bennett.
And of course, rookie free agent Danny Amendola, who is catching everyone's eye at wide receiver, and to the point the club wants to see what he can do on special teams returning punts. That is something even head coach Wade Phillips is curious about.
"Want to see if he does what's he's doing in practice," Phillips said. "We want to get him a few opportunities."
And isn't that what these preseason games are about, especially the first one and maybe the second one; especially the second halves and fourth quarters? Just getting guys opportunities and guys taking advantage of their opportunities.
"That's what I've got to do," Oglesby said.
Because he knows Saturday night everyone will be watching.
Especially the owner.
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Mickey Spagnola - 
