Cowboys training camp battle of the day: Intensity ratchets up on second day of padded practices
The Cowboys are just six days into their training camp, and two days into padded practices, but things have already heated up. The resounding takeaway from those in attendance on Wednesday was that the team as a whole seemed to be especially spirited. Mike McCarthy set the tone early, and his players responded.
In 2 padded practices, Prescott is unofficially 29 of 47 in team, 7 on 7 drills.
RB Deuce Vaughn spent time doing work on the cords after opening practice in full uniform.
After the first play of 9-on-7, Mike McCarthy: “Need more than that! Not good enough!”
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 31, 2024
The Cowboys had their first Mojo moment of the new year on Wednesday, with a series of five two-point attempts. On top of that, the Cowboys had quite a few offense versus defense drills throughout the day, and it led to a fair share of tense moments.
That is in contention for one of the best practices I have seen in my three years coming out to Oxnard. Really competitive day!
— Zach Wolchuk (@ZachWolchuk) July 31, 2024
Mazi Smith eats the double team (like a true NT) and it clogs the RB lane.
Afterwards, he and Brock Hoffman have words after Mazi tries to sling him at the end of the block. #Cowboys
Getting heated between Mazi and Brock.
More… always more. pic.twitter.com/r4KkTbKeXZ
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) July 31, 2024
The back and forth only continued throughout the practice. In the Mojo moment, the defense ultimately won the battle three to two. Dak Prescott hit Jake Ferguson in the endzone to start, but the series was decided on the final attempt thanks to great coverage from Donovan Wilson.
First mojo moments of training camp: two-point conversions.
The defense beat the offense 3-2. This tight coverage from Donovan Wilson on Jalen Tolbert was the game winner. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/Sjx5LPDaZi
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 31, 2024
The Cowboys rotated their quarterbacks in and out all day long, and there was a barrage of both touchdowns and interceptions throughout the day, a reflection of how this practice just went back and forth. Willie Harvey Jr., a linebacker signed from the UFL, had an especially active day on defense and set himself apart.
Before long, the highly competitive nature of the practice boiled over, and we had our first scuffle of camp when rookies Caelen Carson and Brevyn Spann-Ford brought each other to the ground.
First real tussle of training camp is between two rookies: CB Caelen Carson and TE Brevyn Spann-Ford.
Ends pretty quickly.
“Way to compete,” someone yelled. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/G5tsd7xqeo
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) July 31, 2024
Scuffles like this are commonplace in training camp, of course, and coaches often try to toe the line between encouraging maximum intensity without crossing the line into outright fighting. Based on the reactions to this first interaction, McCarthy and the rest of the coaches probably aren’t too worried.
Still, it was the cherry on top of a practice in which the intensity could really be felt all the way around. It will be interesting to see how this carries over into future practices, especially with Thursday being an off day. For one day, though, things were more than chippy in Oxnard and certainly fascinating to observe.