Cowboys Corner: Latest news surrounding America’s Team

Cowboys practice at AT&T Stadium on Sunday

Dallas held a normal practice on Sunday at AT&T Stadium with a few regular season scheduling wrinkles thrown into the day's plans. There was no scrimmage at the practice but each side of the ball, along with special teams, had plenty of reps to prepare themselves for the amount of conditioning that a normal Sunday this fall will take.

“It's going to look like a normal practice to what you've seen,” Mike McCarthy said to ESPN reporter Todd Archer leading up to Sunday. “There will be more team periods but we're doing all the game day mechanics leading up to it as far as the pre-game meal, the bus ride out there. So we're really actually using the time-frames that are going to be similar to our first game out there in Los Angeles. It's more about getting those components in order.”

McCarthy said that in an average game, the offense and defense will average around 68 plays apiece during the duration of 60 minutes. On special teams, there will be about 22 total plays in a normal game. Dallas was able to get off just shy of 80 plays (79) for the offense and defense at Sunday's practice and also were able to fit in 16 plays on special teams. “I thought the stress of the conditioning and the communication was excellent for our team,” McCarthy told reporters after practice. “We're at the point of camp where we really need to hit that target.”

The day at AT&T Stadium was the first for McCarthy as Head Coach of the Cowboys and returned some special memories for the former Green Bay Packers' coach, who won Super Bowl XLV in Jerry World.

“AT&T Stadium will always be special obviously because of the success from the past, but I'm really looking forward to having great success there moving into the future,” McCarthy told Archer.

ESPN ranks top Achilles' heel for top contenders

ESPN's Bill Barnwell is known for his in-depth rankings and analytical views of how to report on the NFL. He recently released his list for “20 contenders for the 2020 NFL season, 20 big weaknesses: Ranking the Achilles' heels”. Barnwell has defined the list as “the 20 teams with the best chances of making it to January per ESPN's Football Power Index. Some of these concerns are driven by injuries suffered during the preseason or COVID-19 opt-outs; others are a product of roster construction or ill-advised commitments.”

Dallas was ranked at No. 16 (meaning they have the fifth best odds of overcoming their big weakness, according to Barnwell) on the list with their biggest weakness being the cornerback position. He picks the expected starter for the one cornerback spot that is up for grabs as Jourdan Lewis. The division rival Philadelphia Eagles were ranked at

No. 17 with left tackle being their weakest position.

Barnwell writes about Dallas, “Where the Eagles go, the Cowboys typically follow close behind. Dallas was able to retain wide receiver Amari Cooper and upgrade its defensive line this offseason, but it took a step back at cornerback after losing Byron Jones to the Dolphins in free agency. The Cowboys re-signed Anthony Brown, who should start in the slot, and Chidobe Awuzie will likely return as a starter on one side, but they're hoping to replace Jones by having someone emerge from a committee.

Lewis is the favorite on paper to emerge as the starter, but minor injuries to Lewis and Awuzie have created an opportunity for secondround pick Trevon Diggs. Veteran Daryl Worley and fourth-round pick Reggie Robinson could also figure in the mix, although both have seen some snaps at safety in camp. Diggs still needs some refinement and might give up a big play or two early in the year if forced into the lineup, but he has the most upside of the bunch and figures to be a regular by the end of the season.

Update on possible Earl Thomas signing

The former Texas Longhorn was cut last week by the Baltimore Ravens following an altercation with a teammate at practice. It is not the first time that the _-time All-Pro safety has found himself in the negative news cycle this summer and is currently looking for a new NFL city to call home. His interest in playing for Dallas has been well-documented in the past but there does not seem to be any immediate sign of action from Dallas.

“I would be open to having him, but I like the guys we got also,” franchise running back Ezekiel Elliott said last week on 105.3 The Fan.

McCarthy added last week, “We're very confident in where we are (with) the 80-man roster... I have nothing really to report.”

Shawn Moran is the sports writer at the Big Spring Herald. To contact him, e-mail sports@bigspringherald.com or call 432-263-7331.

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