If there was one overarching takeaway from the Dallas Cowboys' state-of-the-union press conference to usher in training camp, it's that the organization is confident. From Jerry Jones down to Brian Schottenheimer, there's a quiet belief that this team can win a lot of games.
Scheme and player performance matter, but health is just as important. One crushing injury in training camp can alter the outlook of an entire season. The Cowboys are fortunate to have a fully healthy roster, but a variety of teams are already navigating injuries. They're inevitable, which is why many believe teams should do everything possible to minimize the risk during camp.
Schottenheimer is taking a different approach, though, confirming before Dallas took the field on Wednesday that there will be more padded practices in team drills and more two-hour sessions (h/t Todd Archer, ESPN).
“We’ve got to build some callouses and get ready,” Schotttenheimer said.
Cowboys are taking a risk having more padded practices in training camp
That is not the flex Schotty may think it is.
On one hand, we get it. You want to hit the ground running in Week 1, and that requires players to be ready for real football. But increasing the physicality in Oxnard feels like an unnecessary gamble given the rash of injuries around the league.
Just on Wednesday, Saints defensive lineman Bryan Bresee went down with what's feared to be a torn ACL. That would be a devastating blow to New Orleans' defense. Furthermore, Panthers rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell suffered a PCL injury that will knock him out for eight weeks. And Bengals second-year edge rusher Shemar Stewart was carted off with a left leg injury.
Injuries are part of the game. You can't coach around them, and there's something to be said for Schottenheimer wanting to run a physical camp. The Cowboys strongly believe their identity will be rooted in the physicality of their offensive and defensive lines.
However, you can take precautions. Upping the physicality at a time when injuries are piling up around the league feels like an unnecessary risk. There are ways to get players into football shape without more padded work and longer practices.
Nothing would make Cowboys fans happier than Dallas becoming a bully. They've largely been on the wrong side of that equation in recent years. But are a few extra padded practices and longer sessions really going to make the difference?
That's why we're having trouble warming up to the idea.
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