OXNARD, Calif. – In 1848, the California gold rush began. Over the stretch of about seven years, it's estimated that around $2 billion worth of gold was discovered.
For Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, Tuesday's joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, which took place over 150 years after the gold rush concluded, was worth more than that.
"There was more value than hitting that gold strike in San Franscisco on this field today out here with these two teams," Jones said. "Here you had over 100 players on each team more than likely, when you add up all that value that's out here, this is something to see."
Specifically, Jones appreciated that way that Rams head coach Sean McVay and his staff approached the practice. Brian Schottenheimer had emphasized wanting to make training camp as physical as possible, and McVay's team did so without crossing over the line.
"I can appreciate their expertise in practicing because if you notice, there was significant effort, full speed, but yet they framed up, they hit, they got practices in, but they didn't pull down or they didn't push each other into the ground," Jones said. And that's where you have injuries."
"I have a lot of respect when I watch teams like today's practice against each other. It's the common sense way to go. And of course, every drill's got another team guy on the other side, and you got your guy on the side, and that lessens the chance for your injury as well."
On his own side, Schottenheimer has embodied exactly what Jones saw in him that made him decide to hire him as the franchise's 10th head coach. A large part to do with that is the "prove it" mentality that comes with Schottenheimer waiting his turn, and now having his chance to
"I'm seeing in Brian a tremendously seasoned and experience coach that's had years and years of two a day practices like we're experiencing here that have actually been a part of many, many teams, yet this is his first time to ever step out here and be a head coach," Jones said.
"I love the dynamic that goes on when you haven't done it, you want to prove it, yet we're getting to do it with a guy that's spent 30 years getting ready to do this thing."
In his first joint practice leading the Cowboys as a head coach, Schottenheimer's team had ups and downs on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Rams' wide receiver trio of Davante Adams, Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell won the day against Dallas' defensive backs. Still, Jones feels good about the room.
"I didn't see anything that you should phrase or characterize as concern at all," Jones said. "We've got a lot of young players, we've got 30 to 40 new players out here, my concern is that we get those guys, push them up there and have them so that they possibly can compete and get a roster spot on opening day. But I didn't' see anything I was concerned with."
For the roster as a whole, Jones isn't currently considering any outside help to add depth although the team is always evaluating players. Instead, the goal is to mix in the newcomers as quickly as they can and roll with the players they have right now on September 4.
"I don't want to preclude someone that lines up first not being on the field here," Jones said. "If the players that I'm looking at for the Dallas Cowboys, if we can continue improvement, which is what these practices are supposed to do, they can avoid injury, then we should be able to play and up open up against Philadelphia with this group that's out here."
One player who was out there on Tuesday, but not for long, was second year quarterback Joe Milton, who was the standout of the day from Jones' perspective.
"Well I liked [Joe Milton] today very much, and of course Dak looked good too, but I thought [Milton] did some very good things out there." Jones said.
The reason he wasn't out on the field long Tuesday was a minor injury, as Milton hit his hand on an opposing player's helmet and was held out the rest of the day as a precaution with the Cowboys' preseason opener coming on Saturday.
"I'm not going to get into the prognosis, but it does not look serious." Jones said of Milton's injury.
Another player the Cowboys are hoping to get back from injury, albeit not in time for the preseason in all likelihood, is left tackle Tyler Guyton. The team received better than expected news with Guyton's knee injury only sidelining him for about 4-6 weeks, and being available for Week 1 is still on the table.
"I don't know, but it looks good." Jones said on if Guyton would be suited up and playing Week 1.
Jones' last injury update comes at the cornerback position, where the team is hoping that Trevon Diggs and rookie third round pick Shavon Revel can return to play soon. That said, both of their statuses for Week 1 remain in question.
"I don't have any confidence because I don't know. I don't know that anybody does," Jones said when asked if he was confident Diggs and Revel would be ready on September 4. "But I'm pleased that they are making progress, I can say that, and that's from the trainers, which would indicate that they're communicating that."
