Dallas City News

Cowboys bolster run D, add Linval Joseph on 1-year deal – Todd Archer, ESPN

As of last night it wasn’t a done deal yet, but the Cowboys are looking to add another big guy to their line.

The Dallas Cowboys have continued the makeover of their defensive line by agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran defensive tackle Linval Joseph, a source told ESPN, confirming multiple reports.

The Cowboys had conversations with Joseph throughout the offseason and were finally able to land a deal Wednesday, the day of their final padded practice of camp in Oxnard. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones had hinted Tuesday that the club would be adding help to the group.

Joseph, 35, will reunite with Mike Zimmer, his head coach for six seasons while with the Minnesota Vikings. Joseph joined the Vikings as a free agent in 2014 after getting drafted by the New York Giants. Joseph is credited with 676 career tackles and is a two-time Pro Bowler.

While [Mazi] Smith and Joseph will handle the nose tackle spot, Osa Odighizuwa and [Jordan] Phillips will work the 3-technique spot although they do have position flexibility.

Joseph becomes the fourth defender to have previous ties to Zimmer or run game coordinator Paul Guenther, with linebackers Eric Kendricks and Nick Vigil as well as [Carl] Lawson.

Steele, McCarthy agree on his “best camp so far” – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

It would be a big boost to the O-line if Steele returns to his pre-injury form, and things seem to be looking good.

[Steele is] not just having a good camp, it’s his best camp according to McCarthy, who made such a claim in his daily press conference on Wednesday.

“I think he’s had his best camp as a Dallas Cowboy,” McCarthy said. “You can just see the things he continues to work on.”

With that comment, the media got the chance to speak with Steele a few hours later and asked him the same question. Steele agreed with his coach.

“Yeah, definitely. It’s my fifth year now and every year is supposed to get better and better and better,” Steele said. “It just feels like I’m growing under this process. I definitely feel like it’s my best camp for sure.”

And he certainly wouldn’t have said that last year, especially after he was coming off a torn ACL injury he suffered the previous December.

But Steele admits he didn’t have his best season, but that’s also understandable considering how quick he returned from the injury.

How Micah Parsons’ conversation with NFL OGs shifted Cowboys star’s leadership approach – Calvin Watkins, DMN

Parsons sought out the likes of Tom Brady, Ray Lewis, Richard Sherman, and Andrew Whitworth in an effort to improve as a leader.

Parsons said he fell short in the leadership department last year and decided it’s not going to happen again.

He was sitting around with the OGs of the NFL at Delilah lounge inside the Wynn Las Vegas hotel when former cornerback Richard Sherman got on him about the Cowboys’ playoff loss to the Packers. There was Andrew Whitworth, a recently retired offensive lineman, talking to Parsons about maturity. Parsons took everything to heart.

During the offseason, Parsons also had discussions with Tom Brady, considered the GOAT among quarterbacks. He talked to Brady at least four or five times. Parsons also had words with Ray Lewis, the GOAT of linebackers, at the Pro Bowl.

Parsons needed the conversations.

He was in denial.

“I think it was a harsh reality and a reality check for me within myself and my self-evaluations,” he said. “I got to do the best that I can, not only to make myself better but bring along other guys and I feel like I needed that, and I had the conversations early on and you want to strike when the pot’s hot.”

“I kinda went to my mentors this offseason; How do I approach this? How do I get better at this?” he said. “This is a task I never had to take on in my life. I think my whole life, I was pretty much, ‘Micah is going to do what Micah is going to do.’ I just expected everyone else to do that. As you learn leadership, some people need a pat on the back and some people need a push up.”

“If we lose, I just don’t want it to be like I didn’t do everything I could to make everyone else around me [better],” he said. “I think last year I didn’t check that box and that’s something I want everyone on the same level.”

Mailbag: Can this be a top-10 defense? – Nick Harris, Mickey Spagnola, DallasCowboys.com

The jury is still out as to if Dallas defense can maintain their recent success.

Nick Harris: Oh, for sure. I think being a top-10 defense is certainly on the table for this defense. Last season, the Cowboys finished fifth in total defense, and while I think some defenses around them have improved, I think this is a better overall unit coming out of camp. The depth is the biggest game-changer in my eyes, especially at the second level with the additions of Eric Kendricks and Marist Liufau as well as getting DeMarvion Overshown back from injury. I think the exclamation point was adding veteran defensive line presences in Carl Lawson and Jordan Phillips after identifying and quickly moving on a depth issue up front. Lastly, the secondary will prove to be another top unit in the league once again if it can stay healthy over the duration of the season. But even within that, the depth with guys like Caelen Carson and Markquese Bell playing back at safety this season will give them a little more comfort in case an injury does arise. All in all, give me this defense to be top-five once again.

Mickey Spagnola: If these young defensive players the Cowboys are counting on to replace some of those veterans leaving in free agency do step up you could be right. The key factor will be if this run defense improves. See, the secondary with the return of Trevon Diggs should improve. The Cowboys are four deep at safety. Now just need to find a fourth emergency corner (likely at this point rookie Caelen Carson). As for the front seven, Mike Zimmer’s scheme should help that part of the defense. Having veteran Eric Kendricks replacing the retired Leighton Vander Esch who was sorely missed last year after suffering the neck injury leaving a big hole in the defense realty helps. And you’re right on the rookie Marshawn Kneeland. If he can take some run-down snaps away from Micah Parsons, giving him an ability to play linebacker, too, that become a bonus. Now on to the nose tackle. Jury still out on Mazi Smith, seemingly improving and it can’t hurt acquiring veteran Jordan Phillips at 6-6, 341, giving the front some girth if nothing else. Think about this: Despite last year’s problems stopping the run and losing Diggs and Vander Esch, then Stephon Gilmore trying to play in the playoff game with a shoulder in need of immediate surgery, the Cowboys did finish No. 5 in total defense. Just need to improve from No. 16 against the run.

Cowboys offense snubbed in nonsensical rankings ahead of NFL season – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated

Some people don’t see Dallas’ top offense from 2023 returning to form in 2024.

On Wednesday, The Ringer released its offensive rankings for the upcoming season.

Despite having the 2023 NFL MVP runner-up and an All-Pro wide receiver who is one of the pass catches in the league, the Cowboys offense was snubbed.

Dallas ranked outside of the top 10, checking in at No. 12.

“From a personnel standpoint, the Cowboys lost a couple of offensive linemen in free agency and are counting on rookies to replace them. The run game looks uninspiring. And aside from wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (who is incredible), the pass-catching group is unimpressive,” the article reads.

“It’s also hard to project how Prescott, Lamb, and Mike McCarthy will respond to their uncertain contract situations. Overall, this looks like a high-floor, low-ceiling group.”

In the end, rankings are just words and numbers on the internet. And it’s up to the Cowboys offense, loaded with talent, to prove the doubters wrong.

Cowboys training camp: Jalen Cropper makes most of thin receiver group Tuesday – LP Cruz, BloggingTheBoys.com

A shallow WR depth chart leaves room for young players to earn their spot.

Jalen Cropper has performed well in practices at training camp, yet, for one reason or another, his success at practice has yet to translate substantially into the preseason. For a moment, Cropper seemed to be emerging from the crowds and separating himself from Kelvin Harmon and Tyron Billy-Johnson among others. However, Cropper’s fumble against the Las Vegas Raiders set his trajectory downwards, and he had to reaffirm himself with the coaches. His practice today was a step in the right direction.

The one thing that has been a constant for Cropper has been his connection with all of the quarterbacks. He’s a very quarterback-friendly target who is mostly sure-handed and can separate from the defenders horizontally. Also, we’ve seen that he can make tough catches in tight windows and knows how to walk the tight rope to get his feet in bounds.

Additionally, Cropper is competing to elevate himself into the fifth receiver for the team. You’d like to expect CeeDee Lamb to return by the cutdown date. Brandin Cooks is joining him at wide receiver, with Jalen Tolbert and Kavontae Turpin as the third and fourth wide receivers. Where Cropper is on the outside looking in, is getting somewhere close to Jalen Brooks who has been outstanding in his own right, and sixth-round draft pick Ryan Flournoy, who had a nice touchdown against the Raiders. The race for the last receiver on the roster is in the homestretch. Stay tuned.