As tempers flare and a first-rounder claims a starting job in Oxnard, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb install strategic "wrinkles" to fix critical red-zone scoring struggles.
OXNARD, Calif. - The Dallas Cowboys' offense was one of the best in football last season, as Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Javonte Williams, and George Pickens did most of the heavy lifting. ... at an NFL-leading level.
With most of the group returning in Brian Schottenheimer's second year as coach, we have heard that the Cowboys need to "evolve" the offense, meaning they can't just roll out what they did last year again.
There has to be changes, little wrinkles to keep defenses having to guess at what is coming next.
The installation of those "wrinkles'' is happening now at training camp here in Oxnard, where as we enter Week 2, the offense has been good as they've put on the pads.
But on a day when Dallas made a major decision in its all-important offensive line, and on a day when a prized youngster got into some trouble ... Lamb wants more ... as featured in today's Cowboys Camp Notebook ...
LAMB WANTS ...: "We're having continued growth," Lamb said. "Obviously, we understand we were very successful, but none of that success from last year can carry over. We basically starting over from scratch, building that bond once again.
"There's a lot of things that we've missed out on last year, and I feel like that we can definitely harp on, and gradually get better overall as an offense."
The biggest bugaboo for Dallas, especially in the second half of the season, was executing in the red zone.
The Cowboys ranked 16th for converting red-zone trips into touchdowns. For an "elite" offense, that isn't good enough.
But does Lamb think the unit can be better in the red zone?
"Absolutely," he added. "We didn't finish drives as much as we would like. Although we did have a lot of points scored, but that goes to show you how many more points that we can put up on the scoreboard."
So CeeDee knows the issues, and the coaching staff likely does as well.
But knowing the issue and then going out and fixing it is what must happen.
However, what does that look like?
"Finishing in the end zone, executing when you need to, third downs, sometimes ending on first, just being able to not really (shoot) ourselves in the foot," Lamb said. "No self-inflicted wounds, no penalties that'll really bring us back or kill our momentum. And again, finishing in the end zone."
GUYTON WINS: The Cowboys entered their offseason program with an announced competition between Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas for the left tackle job.
After one padded practice?
The job belongs to Guyton.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said at his news conference Tuesday that former first-rounder Guyton has essentially won the job.
Next step? Be more consistent and stay healthy; Guyton, taken with the 29th overall pick in 2024, has missed nine games in two seasons.
As it happens, Guyton dinged his elbow at some point, so Thomas did receive some first-team time. But the job is pretty much Guyton's now.
FIGHT!: Donovan Ezeiruaku - highly-thought-of by all around here - was pulled out of practice by coach Brian Schottenheimer after tussling with Terence Steele.
Schotty's belief is that if he lets guys fight in practice, they'll develop that bad habit in games.
So off Eze went, ejected after apparently throwing a punch, speaking briefly with some team higher-ups before being guided back to the locker room to end his day.
INJURY UPDATE: Princeton Fant has a torn ACL and a partially torn MCL, so it's season-ending surgery coming for the backup tight end.
Meanwhile, Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson and defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard appeared to be working mostly with the rehab group today.
P.J. Locke returned to practice on Tuesday after missinga couple of days due to a hyperextended knee.
And DeMarvion Overshown is reportedly experiencing some leg soreness ... but hopefully nothing serious.
FISHELLANEOUS: If the Ravens' Zay Flowers is a $35 million APY receiver, what's George Pickens - eligible for a 2027 tag at $33 mil - gonna want? ... Does Ryan Flournoy think he can reach a yardage milestone? "Always,'' he said. "I wanted 1,000 yards last year. 1,000 yards for everyone on the offense, let's do it." ... Relative unknown DBs Julius Wood and Alijah Clark (who hurt his ankle), along with running back Israel Abanikanda, are off to good starts. But is there room on the roster for them?
THE FINAL WORD: It is clear the Cowboys know how good the offense can be, so this camp is all about the unit's growth into a better version of itself.
Said running back Javonte Williams: "It's just a whole other level of maturity. ... We didn't really start from the ground up, we just kind of built on what we could've done better last year. ... I feel like we hit the ground running.''
