Inside Cowboys Training Camp: First Day out | Dallas Cowboys 2025

Inside Cowboys Training Camp: First Day out | Dallas Cowboys 2025

Go Cowboys. [Music] [Music] Day one of the Dallas Cowboys practice is in the books and the battles are already on full display. We’re going to break it all down here on Inside Cowboys Training Camp driven by Ford. I’m your host Nicole Hutcherson alongside Patrick Nos Walker. And it’s only right to kick things off with the running back position, right? I mean, it’s one of the hottest conversations heading into 2025’s training camp. And from explosive runs to impressive pass pro protection reps, I mean, everybody has made an impression so far. But how does Brian Shiden Shodenheimr evaluate the first team reps? Well, let’s take a listen to what he has to say. Team rep. Yeah, I think they’ll all get fair shot. The problem with OTAAS for a running back is the game is meant to be played very physically, you know. So, the way you run through the hole is different when you’re wearing pads or you’re in a in a non-7 period than it is when you’re running around in shorts and t-shirts and OTAAS. uh they’ll all get reps, but I will say again of the two uh veteran guys, they both they’re very different. You know, Javvante looks great, Miles looks great. We’re excited about Jaden. Um Hunter Lepki, I always talk about him just with his versatility and what he can do. And of course, there’s, you know, Deuce, but uh that’s one of the matchups and one of the position rooms that we’re very excited to watch and see where it develops, not only through practice, but in through the preseason games. Patrick, I’ve now had to ask you is what is going to be the X factor for a running back to stand out in this room? I tell you, Nicole, when you’re talking about these running backs, these are a lot of versatile guys, but they excel at different things. For me, the X- factor is going to be pass protection. Job number one is going to be keeping Dak Prescott upright and healthy for the entirety of the season to give the Cowboys the best possible chance at making a playoff run. Yeah. And also the receiving aspect as well. I mean, you talk about a guy like Javvante Williams, Miles Sanders, both of those guys exhibit that trait very well. Uh, but switching gears over to Duce Vaughn, a guy who has not seen a lot of snaps in the last two season, only 68 touch offensive touches in the last two years. What does Duce got to do? You like what I did there? What does Duce got to do in order to get more opportunities? Uh well, you know, I think that the addition of Connor Riley from Kansas State, he had great success with uh Deuce uh Vaughn back at in college, but Deuce is really going to have to show the pass protection aspect. A little bit smaller than some of the other guys, but he’s going to have to show that he can do it time and time again. You mentioned it, Javvante Williams, he has the ability to receive out of the back field, as does Miles Sanders, as does Duce Vaughn. But one thing that Miles Sanders and Javvante Williams have over Duce Vaughn, size, physicality. Duce Von needs to make sure that the areas in which he can excel such as quickness and shiftiness and things of that nature, add pass pro and some toughness to that, which he’s shown time or two, he can do some things maybe. Who’s your running back so far that has stood out through OTAAS, through day one of practice, who is your guy, Patrick? Oh, that’s a rough one because the pads have not come on and I love what Brian Shottimer said yesterday in the opening day press conference. He said when it comes to running backs, there’s not a lot that you can tell when they’re not in pads because of that position and how physically it plays. So, right now, they’ve just run around doing some routes and t-shirts and shorts, but the pads come on in a few days and we’ll see if Javvante Williams can maintain what I feel is a slight lead at Front Runner in competition with Miles Sanders. But don’t sleep on the home run ability of Jaden Blue and the physicality, there’s that word again, of Phil Maf. Those two rookies are coming to play some ball. Cool. This battle is going to be a lot of fun to watch, but so is that linebacker battle as well with a couple of new additions. But who has so far made the most biggest impression on Brian Shanhammer? That’s up next. Inside Cowboys Training Camp, presented by Ford is brought to you by AT&T, official sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys. Sleep Number, the official sleep and wellness partner of the Dallas Cowboys, and by your North Texas Ford dealers. Ford is the best in Texas. There you go. There we go. From game one. Come on. Let’s go to the biggest game of the season. What matters most be ready to go. Let’s go. Is having fun every yard of the way. Let’s get it. Let’s get it. Get back to sport for less at Academy Sports and Outdoors. And have fun out there. Texas. The Ford Summer Sales event is here and we’re bringing the adventure with the best deals of the season across our leadership lineup of bestselling trucks and SUVs. Hurry in today and drive the number one vehicle brand in Texas. Now that’s how you summer across Texas with Ford. Right now, get 4.9% for 72 months, plus 3250 total cash on F-150. Only at your best in Texas Ford dealer. At AT&T, we guarantee our network so you can focus on what matters most. Hey, mama. You remember when you taught me how to fish? Yeah, you were the best teacher. Yeah. Feeling a little nostalgic right now, that’s all. Staying connected matters. That’s why if there’s a network outage, we’ll proactively credit you for a full day service. That’s all part of the AT&T guarantee brought to you by America’s largest wireless This segment is brought to you by Academy Sports and Outdoors, official sporting goods retailer of the Dallas Cowboys. Welcome back into Inside Cowboys Training Camp driven by Ford. We’re here in Oxnard, California. A lot of good weather and some good ball that we’ve seen after practice so far. Nicole Hutcherson alongside Patrick Nosi Walker. And the Dallas Cowboys addressed that linebacker position of course with the loss of Eric Kendricks, their leading tackler in 2024. But they’ve added some guys and Jack Sanborn, of course, at Ibra Fle. Then they’ve added Kenneth Murray as well from the Titans. But we’re going to start with Jack Sanborn. Do you feel like he will be the best fit at Mike Limebacker? I think as we have this conversation, especially following the first practice, I’m going to say yes. Uh and I’m going to say you mentioned Eric Kendricks. Great to bring him up. The key reason Eric Kendricks was brought to the Dallas Cowboys was to not only make plays on the field, but to help the other linebackers acclimate to Mike Zimmer system. Well, guess what? That’s what Jack Samborn is being brought in to do for Matt Ebloo’s system. So, that familiarity with Ibrauss’s system from their time spent in Chicago is going to play huge for Samborn potentially taking the role as Mike. But don’t sleep on Kenneth Murray because he wants the job too. I’m going to get your little nuggets on Kenneth Murray as well. But Jack Samurro, you have to talk about him because he’s gotten that trusted establishment already with Brian Shodenheimer, Matt Eberlu, the his ability to diagnose plays has also been a key factor as well. But now switching over to Kenneth Murray, what have you seen from him? Because this is a guy who also stated that he wants to be playing in the middle. Well, I tell you, be it Jack Sanborn or Kenneth Murray, I wouldn’t want to be hit by either of those guys in a dark alley. But when it comes to Kenneth Murray, one thing he has over Sanborn is his ability to cover. He’s more of a coverage linebacker coming out of that trade with the Tennessee Titans, that’s something that Jack Sambourne has the ability to do, but not to the level of Kenneth Murray. So, when you talk about who has the edge in either category, coverage goes to Kenneth Murray, and that might serve him well. If not as a Mike, maybe as a Will. Now, what does this mean for Maris Leu? Someone who played the Green Dot in 2024, right, as a rookie and had a really great season. Got a chance to hear from Shodenheimer on uh some of the good things he said that he’s looking for out of him. But of course with a as a linebacker, you won’t really see the hits, the good uh you know ability uh when they put the p until they put the pads on. But what does this mean for Maris Leopile? Well, let me translate my chuckle for you. Um loosely stated, Leaf is going to get his. Okay, because when you talk about Demarian Overshon being unavailable on the pup list to start camp, likely won’t be on the field until at least midseason, if not a little bit later. Leafoul is the the stable force, the stabilizing force right now. They brought in Murray. That’s a new face. You brought in Jack Samborn, that’s a new face. You’re bringing in another guy in James Houston, that’s a new face. But when you talk about Leafoul, he is your other young stud linebacker. He’s going to get on the field. There will be times you see him at at the mic because of his insane foot football intellect and IQ. You’ve seen that as a green dot in year one. But you’re also going to see him flying around in blitz packages going out, being sent after the quarterback, and also his coverage, his dog demeanor. He’s Matt Mile is going to get his. He’s going to get his. And you know who else is looking forward to getting his? Who’s that? Deone Clark. We’re looking for a resurgence in 2025 of Deone Clark. But will he get his under this Matt Eber flu system? We’ll find up next. This segment was brought to you by Academy Sports and Outdoors, official sporting goods retailer of the Dallas Cowboys. You are not a number. You’re not a 2:00 appointment. You are not a prescription. [Applause] [Music] Or a name on a chart. You’re not one of many. You are one of one. [Music] [Music] when it yeah fast money fast too kick rocks I don’t know you like the way that I slide the way that I slide I’m the best you know that’s right to take a ride with a winner to consider walking no facts Texas, the Ford summer sales event is here and we’re bringing the adventure with the best deals of the season across our leadership lineup of bestselling trucks and SUVs. Hurry in today and drive the number one vehicle brand in Texas. Now that’s how you summer across Texas with Ford. Right now, get 4.9% for 72 months plus 3250 total cash on F-150. Only at your best in Texas Ford dealer. At AT&T, we confidently guarantee our network. Oh no. What we can’t guarantee you and your teammates being too connected. What up, Chad? Double. Oh no. I texted you guys. I was going to wear I wore that last night. I got dressed first this morning. I thought you said you were going to wear connection means something. That’s why with AT&T, we’ll proactively make it right with a credit for a full day of service if there is a network interruption. That’s the AT&T guarantee. We’re back here to wrap things up on Inside Cowboys Training Camp driven by Ford. Nicole Hutcherson alongside Patrick Nosi Walker. We’re wrapping things up with another linebacker, a stud who’s looking to continue to be a stud like he was in 2022. Deone Clark, who you saw him only play about 15% of defensive snaps in 2024 under Mike Zimmer. Do you feel like this can be a new Demone Clark under Mike Era? I feel like it can be. This is a guy who was a consensus all-American, just dominant at LSU. He came in, he had the spinal fusion surgery, came back and made his debut in the NFL far sooner than many anticipated. This man’s mentality is exactly what you want as a linebacker. He is an absolute dog. He fits the build both mentally and physically. He and Mike Zimmer just could not get on the same page. Matt Eberlu has different plans for him though. And being that Matt Eberloose is also a linebacker’s coach, but more of the new guard, I think that’s going to play off well for Deon Clark. Yeah, Deon Clark uh getting some high praise this off season, specifically from head coach Brian Shodenheimer, just talking about the fact that, you know, he’s he’s slow a lot of things have slowown down for him. So, a lot of battles to watch, continue to watch as we continue here on Inside Cowboys Training Camp over the next couple of days. there’s there’s contracts, there’s negotiations, and if you lose a lot of sleep worrying about that stuff as a coach, uh it can be really frustrating, but you don’t you just you coach the guys, you communicate. I think that’s one of my strengths is my people skills. I communicate to people. I’m open. I’m honest. And um at the end of the day, I’m just excited that everybody’s here and the energy has been awesome. And I’m excited to go play some football. Inside Cowboys Training Camp presented by Ford was brought to you by AT&T, official sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys. Sleep Number, the official sleep and wellness partner of the Dallas Cowboys, and by your North Texas Ford dealers. Ford is the best in Texas. [Music]

Nicole Hutchison and Patrik Walker break down the running back competition, who’s splitting reps where, who is the front-runner, who is making an early impression at the linebacker position, could it be a year of resurgence for Damone Clark, and more.

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