FRISCO, Texas – Another day to watch, the last week of Organized Team Activities here at The Star.
One more day Thursday, and then the mandatory three-day minicamp next week, June 10-12.
Was so windy out here Tuesday, head coach Brian Schottenheimer rallied the troops inside Ford Center when practice moved to the 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 portions of the session so at least the three quarterbacks would have a chance to throw the football.
No surprise, still no Micah Parsons participating, but at least he arrived here at The Star to take care of his Media Days responsibilities, ending a jaunt through Europe. And no sense asking for a contract negotiation update, since COO Stephen Jones once again pointed out, "Will let you know when it happens." When asked if Parsons is expected to be here for minicamp, Stephen said, "You need to talk to Micah about that."
Of course, except Micah conveniently entered the locker room just after the media was excused.
As for potential personnel business, Stephen points out it's time to look at the UFL players now that the league's regular season has been completed, but that nothing among veteran free agents after June 1 was on the front burners.
Oh, and if we can go back to Friday when Schottenheimer invited the Cowboys alumni players to spend the OTA day with the team, Stephen called the move "outstanding," and was quick to point out Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman called in his regrets, telling him he would have been here if not for being off in Europe too.
So without further ado, how about some observation shots from an OTA.
- Next Step: This was one of those red-letter days for Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams, still in the process of rehabilitating from his August surgery to repair the torn ACL he suffered early in training camp last year. While religiously rehabbing out here at The Star, for the first time Williams received a helmet to join in on individual drills. Step by step, and don't think all those resistance-cord sessions with Cowboys rehab specialist Britt Brown are a walk in the park. "Man, them cords," Sam said, emphasizing how Britt yanking on them when the players are taking seemingly those little steps, some sideways, some forward, some backwards "will wear you out." Sam still has his sights set on training camp, now 46 days away.
- Dang No. 9: Don't think Schottenheimer just realized the type of linebacker Kenneth Murray can be with the Cowboys, the team having sent a sixth-round pick to acquire him and a seventh from Tennessee. The Cowboys new head coach remembers on his 50th birthday back on Oct. 16, 2023, going into a Monday night game against the Chargers "worrying about No. 9. He has not disappointed. Same guy we saw out there on Monday night." That is a good thing.
- Wide Game: While the Cowboys routinely have worked the first-team nickel offense with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Jalen Tolbert, though the receivers interchange often, here is a look at what is going on with the second set of three: Jonathan Mingo, Ryan Flournoy and KaVontae Turpin, though Schotty's scheme isn't shying away from inserting Turpin into the slot with the first unit, and the Cowboys shouldn't. Remember what Turpin told me his rookie season in training camp after his impressive performance against the Chargers in the 2022 preseason game when he scored on an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 86-yard punt return for a touchdown: "Speed kills." True that.
- Hand Pickin': This should come as no surprise for those having watched George Pickens over the past three years with the Steelers. Boy, does he snatch the ball with two hands out of midair. Had a fine one down the sideline, high-pointing the ball to pull down Dak Prescott's pass.
- Son Of Abram: Back in 2006, Abram Elam made the Cowboys roster as a first-year player in 2006, undrafted in 2005 out of Kent State, playing mostly special teams that season. He would go on to carve out a seven-year pro career, returning to the Cowboys in 2011 for a second stint and finishing his NFL tenure having started 71 of 104 games for various teams. Well, son Kaiir is now with the Cowboys, Dallas having traded for Buffalo's 2022 first-round pick who never really made an impression on the Bills, starting just 12 of 29 games over three seasons. And while this is only OTA workouts, and with Trevon Diggs still rehabbing from season-ending surgery from afar and former starter Jourdan Lewis moving on in free agency, Elam has been working at left corner with the Cowboys first-team defense. Seems to be making an impression. "Sometimes there are issues with fits. … He's consistently been at the top of the skill guys on defense," Schottenheimer said of Elam's recorded speed. "He's really taken to the system. … I think he's in a really good spot and playing with a lot of confidence." So, we'll see. What a catch this could be on the final year of his rookie contract for a mere $2.57 million cap hit.
- Familiar Faces: This happens in the NFL every year, especially since the start of free agency, along with changing coaching staffs. And the Cowboys will be no exception this season with current players and assistant coaches having to face the team where they just came from. Check this out. Cowboys defensive coordinator Matter Eberflus, the former Bears head coach fired last season, will meet his former team on Sept. 21 in Chicago, as will his secondary/cornerback assistant from the Bears, David Overstreet, his linebackers coach, too, Dave Borgonzi, along with safeties/pass game coordinator Andre Curtis. Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, the former Cardinals offensive line coach, will hook up with Arizona in a Monday Night Football game on Nov. 3 at AT&T. Solomon Thomas, who spent the past season with the New York Jets, faces them on Oct. 5 back at MetLife Stadium. This goes on and on. The Cowboys traded for Carolina's Jonathan Mingo last year, and he'll be back in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 12, and so will Mile Sanders, he formally of Carolina as well after the Cowboys signed him this offseason as a free agent. And how 'bout this bit of yo-yoing: Dante Fowler left the Cowboys last year for Washington, back again with the Cowboys after the one-year hiatus meeting his former team twice this season, Oct. 19 and again on Christmas Day at FedEx Field.
- Smattering Of Bits: Elam did have a nice breakup on one of Dak's deep balls … BTW, congrats to Dak and fiancé Sarah Jane Ramose on the birth of their second child, Aurora Rayne on May 22nd … Linebacker Damone Clark, who played sparingly in his third season after leading the Cowboys with 115 tackles in 2023, had a nice pick of Joe Milton, sinking into coverage, with Schotty pointing out he seems to be recognizing plays faster so far this offseason … Until that play, Milton had been doing a nice job of recognizing where open receivers were … And the bottom line on Pickens, said Schottenheimer, "He's been outstanding. I think he's thrilled to be here, and we're thrilled to have him here."
Once again, we will lean on Schottenheimer for this week's last word, when asked about the enthusiasm he and his assistants routinely display during practice and maybe where all this became rooted in his beliefs established during his years as an assistant coach or offensive coordinator/consultant. And let's remember Brian grew up in a head-coach household, his late father Marty Schottenheimer a highly successful head coach in Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington and San Diego over 21 years.
"Funny you ask me that question, and I smile," Brian began. "The way we practice and the way that I act at practice, my father is looking down from heaven going, 'What are you doing?'"
Mimicking his father with this look of disdain, knowing the restrictions on the practices today would be considered no more than a walk-through back in the Marty's coaching days, Brian continued, "Like, 'That's not how you practice.' But my father also coached a long time ago.
"And the type of athletes and the type of young men that we're dealing with has changed. I believe it's the coach's responsibility first and foremost to create a great practice environment. And if we don't have energy and if we're not into it, we're not running around and we're not talking, then the players aren't going to be able to do that because they are going to follow our lead. And when we are going to show them that we are going to let our personalities shine, and we're going to be who we are and be joyful out at practice, then they're going to do that.
"And what I would say, and what reminded me of that and why I feel that way, was my years in Seattle. I think I've talked to you guys a little bit about Pete (Carroll). … Him running around the practice field with more energy than me, who was 40-something at the time. And I'm like, 'Damn I got to get in shape.' But I believe it."
Once again, a highly informative, entertaining presser with the first-time head coach, not afraid to answer any question with intention.
