Dallas Cowboys Get Ready for Training Camp.
The Dallas Cowboys will officially kick off training camps in the National Football League. Their camp will commence on Saturday, July 24th and end on Friday, August 6th, 2010 and the team announced they will split practice between San Antonio, Texas and Oxnard, California.
The Dallas Cowboys going to California? It seems the chance to practice in Hollywood’s backyard and face a sea of media would get a few veterans excited, but for them the whole process is routine.
Not much can be determined at the beginning of training camp. Not everybody is at the same stage in their careers. Veteran players only make a brief appearance to slowly get back into the groove of things. Management can only hope that players do not report out of shape and are ready to hit the ground running.
Not much importance is accorded for players that have been around the block a few times as they usually find this process long and painful. But attendance is mandatory and it’s part of the game.
Conversely, for some athletes, training camp can make or break a career. Rookies are under the microscope and every move is analysed and scrutinized. The same can be said for free agents vying for a spot on a crowded roster.
Nothing is promised for guys in those positions, thus it is vital they excel and learn the ropes in order to impress their peers and most importantly, their coaches, who have the final say.
This is not the case for starting quarterback Tony Romo entering this season with a vote of confidence from team mates and with a more profound understanding of the game. "At the end of the day, winning is what counts at my position," Romo said.
"As I get older, it doesn't matter to me if I throw for 100 yards a game or 400 if we win. You're a far better quarterback when you throw for 150 yards and win than when you throw for 320 and lose. Stats are just stats."
The Cowboys and Coach Wade Philips will not make many changes to the depth chart as the projected starters are pretty much the same as last season. The sentiment is that many of the returning players showed they still give the Cowboys the best chance to win.
Once again, there is little debate about who should be Romo’s backup, as the order is not expected to change from last year. At the 2009 training camp, the job belonged to Jon Kitna, with rookie Stephen McGee stepping in the third spot. Look for the quarterback depth chart to be the same for the 2010 training camp.
Many veterans just like Romo, a three-time pro bowler, have a guaranteed spot on the team and will start the season. Other players are desperately trying to win a job on a crowded roster.
Rookie and 24th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft, Dez Bryant will be trying to crack a spot on a deflated receiving corps. Roy Williams has not been a factor during his stay with Dallas. Patrick Crayton is requesting a trade and Miles Austin is looking for a pay increase.
One match-up that has generated much hype since last season lies with a backfield battle between running backs Felix Jones and Marion Barber. There is a lot of upside to Jones and he has really emerged as a complete player.
His speed and vision may give him the edge over Barber, a man making a reputation as a power runner and who loves to hit. They might very well split the carries and workload once again.
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