The Cowboys’ first joint practice with the Rams in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 11, didn’t look anything like last year’s version of this exercise - and that alone was enough to get Dallas fans’ attention.
It was still just a glorified scrimmage, with vanilla plays and schemes, but the tone around the Cowboys felt different from the start. Last year’s joint practice exposed defensive problems that lingered all season. This time, Dallas arrived with a new look and a different energy after an offseason that saw the organization trying to rebound from a seven-win season while the Rams came in fresh off an NFC championship run.
The biggest swing came on defense. Matt Eberflus is out, Christian Parker is in, and the Cowboys put several new faces on the field in an effort to move past what the players themselves viewed as a disaster last August.
That group delivered in a big way. Linebacker Justin Barron picked off three passes, including one from Matthew Stafford and two from backup Stetson Bennett, and he’s clearly pushing for a roster spot.
For Dallas, that was the clearest sign that this year’s camp is starting from a better place. The Cowboys were able to hold their own against a Rams team that is once again being mentioned as a Super Bowl favorite, and in some moments they got the better of them.
The offense had its moments too. George Pickens made plays, Dak Prescott flashed, and the quarterback’s day included a completion to Brevyn Spann-Ford and an escape from the pocket that ended in a touchdown. Brian Schottenheimer also said the offense was better in the red zone.
Still, the work isn’t finished. Reports from practice said Dallas had trouble getting the run game going, and Terence Steele reportedly had a rough time handling the Rams’ pass rush. Those are real issues, even in a practice setting.
No one should jump to the conclusion that the Cowboys are suddenly on the Rams’ level. Dallas has plenty to prove in the weeks ahead.
But compared with last year’s joint practice, this one carried a much more encouraging feel. The intensity was higher, the focus looked sharper, and the results on the field gave the Cowboys something they badly needed: a reason to feel better about where they are headed.
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