Rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham ignites Frisco with aggressive play, while questions surround the depth chart, trade rumors, and a celebratory punt during a high-stakes session at The Star.
FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaishawn Barham has been a player that Cowboys Nation has liked all offseason.
And the "like'' comes from "hate.''
Having seen him fly around at training camp in Oxnard, the rookie then took to the field against the Arizona Cardinals in Dallas' second preseason game, and he made an impression.
A TFL on his second snap, plus a couple of pressures, was all that Cowboys Nation needed to see to be giddy with excitement over what Barham could become in Christian Parker's system.
And he did it again on Tuesday at the camp practice back home here in Frisco inside Ford Center at The Star.
My Cowboys Notebook, Top 10 Takes ...
1 - CALEB'S PUNT: Cowboys rookie DB Caleb Downs recorded his first interception of training camp ... and followed it up by punting the ball in celebration.
2 - CALEB'S 'BUT': For what it's worth - maybe not much - when the first-team defense lined up, Downs wasn't on the field.
That first group to start team drills?
DL: Otito Ogbonnia
DL: Kenny Clark
DL: Quinnen Williams
OLB: Donovan Ezeiruaku
OLB: Rashan Gary
ILB: Dee Winters
ILB: DeMarvion Overshown
CB: DaRon Bland
CB: Cobie Durant
S: Jalen Thompson
S: Malik Hooker
And then, as Jon Machota noted, Downs came in on the next play as Ogbonnia went out.
What's the story here? "Chess pieces,'' I'd say. Nothing more.
3 - COBIE VS. REVEL: I do think that grouping is a hint that we should like Cobie Durant as the starter opposite DaRon Bland ... with Shavon Revel as the third guy.
I also think Dallas might be in the market to add another cornerback. Adoree Jackson, maybe?
4 - SPECIAL-TEAMS VS. ...?: It's sexy to think about keeping an extra receiver.
But ...
Markquese Bell is a core special-teamer. He's got to stay, right?
And as Todd Archer notes, the first-team kick return unit also included Alijah Clark, Marist Liufau and James Houston.
That makes them pretty close to "core'' as well.
5 - TRADE A QB?: I don't understand the "buzz'' here.
Joe Milton took the No. 2 quarterback snaps on this night, with Sam Howell behind him.
Does that lock Joe into the backup job behind Dak Prescott? Not likely. Not yet.
Meanwhile, there are semi-legit reports that suggest Dallas might be getting trade offers (of real value) for Milton and/or Howell.
Color me very skeptical.
Two weeks ago, Dallas was unsure if either of these guys were good enough. Now suddenly the NFL is clamoring to get its hands on a Cowboys third-string QB?
Very skeptical.
6 - INJURY UPDATE: Lineman Ajani Cornelius (knee), safety Julius Wood (concussion), tight end Michael Trigg (toe) and D-lineman Jonathan Bullard (groin) did not practice.
Dallas needs Cornelius, I think; he's a keeper as maybe the no. 7 lineman. They've also thought of Bullard as 53-man-worthy.
Wood and Trigg? Maybe they can be injury-stashed as we approach the Sunday NFL cutdown day?
7 - FISHELLANEOUS: Who signed the most autographs on the night? Jerry Jones and Shiyazh Pete ... Dak Prescott's TD toss to Brevyn Spann-Ford was the throw-and-catch combo of the night, Dak putting the ball in a spot and Spann-Ford reaching back for the grab ... Dak twice showed off his running ability for red-zone TDs.
8 - LIKE BUTTER: Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey seems ready. He went 6-for-6 in the field-goal period, making them from 31, 33, 37, 42, 47 and 54.
Yes, he can hit 'em from farther out than that.
But yes, it'd be nice if this explosive offensive unit was also efficient enough to not be overly reliant on that.
9 - BARHAMMER: Barham often offers up a straight and stern face anytime cameras are around.
However, after the Cowboys' practice inside Ford Center, Jaishawn was finally put in front of a microphone and asked about his readiness.
“I’m ready right now, we can play right now,” Barham said. "Week 1's right now, I'll be ready."
We have taken to calling him "Barhammer,'' and it fits a style of play that coaches have called "violent.''
"Yeah, of course, that's something," he said. "That's one thing that I showed, but of course, there's many things that I can use, and we going to see as the season go."
While right now, DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters are your likely starting linebackers for Week 1, there is no doubt that Barham is coming like a freight train, and if he keeps producing as he is, he's going to be hard to keep out of the starting lineup.
10 - THE FINAL WORD: “I hate them. I hate every team we play.'' - Rookie Jaishawn Barham.
