Dallas Cowboys: 30 takeaways from the Blue/White Scrimmage

The Dallas Cowboys had their annual Blue/White Scrimmage on Sunday. Here are some of my takeaways from the glorified practice session.

The Dallas Cowboys are inching ever so close to playing actual meaningful football. The next step before the start of the preseason on Thursday, August 9th against the San Francisco 49ers was the annual Blue/White Scrimmage, which took place on Sunday afternoon.

The yearly scrimmage is basically a glorified practice session, but one that is televised and garners the most attention at training camp. Therefore, it raises the stakes for the players. Here are my 30 takeaways from this year’s Blue/White Scrimmage.

• Play of the day: Wide receiver Tavon Austin leaping over cornerback Charvarius Ward for a touchdown reception during the two-minute drill. The 5-foot-8 Austin snatched the ball over Ward’s helmet, making the undrafted rookie look absolutely lost.

• We saw new defensive backs coach Kris Richard working out his players. It was noted that the former Seattle Seahawks player turned coach of the Legion of Boom often wears cleats on the practice field as he gets physically involved in these training session. It was also mentioned that Richard will often “bark” back at offensive players.

• Undrafted cornerback Donovan Olumba has been nicknamed “Sherman” by his teammates as he looks and plays somewhat like current 49ers All-Pro Richard Sherman. Wearing No. 32, Olumba stands 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and has dreadlocks, similar to Sherman.

• Early during 11-on-11’s, running back Ezekiel Elliott looks to be in midseason form, rushing around the left side of the line for a nice gain.

• Antwaun Woods has been giving both All-Pro center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin some trouble as of late. He played well on Sunday, making a couple couple nice run stops. Check out this recent article about the young third-year defensive tackle’s elevated play to first-team status.

• Described by DallasCowboys.com football analyst Bryan Broaddus as a golfer searching for his lost swing, kicker Dan Bailey looked good connecting on all of his extra point attempts.

• Early interception by former sixth rounder cornerback Marquez White, who picked off a Cooper Rush pass intended for Tavon Austin.

• Rico Gathers had a couple good blocks, springing Trey Williams for a nice run early.

• During one-on-ones, rookie guard Conner Williams pancaked defensive tackle Datone Jones. Jones would get his revenge on a bull rush afterwards.

• Veteran defensive end Kony Ealy has struggling in camp so far. There is a lack of quickness and inconsistency there. Likely on the roster bubble.

• Defensive tackle Daniel Ross flat out embarrassed offensive guard Damien Mama on back-to-back rushes in one-on-ones.

• Cowboys executive Stephen Jones spoke highly of third round selection, wide receiver Michael Gallup. Jones believes Gallup has a high ceiling but needs to be more consistent.

• Jones also mentioned the team believes they have six linebackers they really like and believe are more than just special teamers.

• The first play of the team period/red zone drill was a reverse to Tavon Austin. Expect the Cowboys to run more of those types of misdirection plays with the speedy Austin on the roster.

• Tight end Geoff Swaim came up with a nice touchdown reception off a post route. He was helped by the play action fake.

• Tight end Blake Jarwin had a wide-open reception for several yards as the Cowboys linebackers looked lost in coverage. That play resulted in a short goal-line touchdown by running back Rod Smith.

• Jarwin had a nice block that led to an Ezekiel Elliott touchdown run.

• Lance Lenoir continues to impress at training camp, bringing in a touchdown reception from Cooper Rush with Donovan Olumba in coverage.

• Third-year cornerback Anthony Brown had a pick-six on quarterback Dak Prescott. Brown made a terrific break on the ball passed to a receiver on the sidelines and ran it all the way back.

• Linebacker Jaylon Smith continues to shine as a pass rusher, as he was able to get enough pressure on Prescott to cause an incompletion.

• Defensive end Taco Charlton recorded a sack on Prescott. That was a good sign as Charlton appeared to injure his knee earlier in practice and has been dealing with a shoulder injury.

• Anthony Brown was able to tip a pass from Prescott intended for receiver Terrance Williams. Safety Jeff Heath was able to intercept the ball off that tip.

• Rookie defensive back Kam Kelly was able to make a diving interception off of quarterback Mike White following yet another tipped pass.

• During the actually scrimmage portion of practice, really only third stringers and lower participated.

• Former quaterback-turned-linebacker Joel Lanning made a nice tackle to stop running back Bo Scarbrough at the line of scrimmage.

• Rookie corner Charvarius Ward was able to record an interception off a tipped pass from quarterback Dalton Sturm.

• Recently re-signed running back Trey Williams had a couple impressive runs during the scrimmage, really emerging as the most impressive player.

• Defensive tackle Brian Price was able to cause a fumble by Sturm.

• Tre’Von Johnson was able to tip a pass by Sturm on a linebacker blitz.

• The practice ended with Pro Bowl offensive guard Zack Martin fielding a punt, getting the entire team out of having to run wind sprints.