The Dallas Cowboys just wrapped up mandatory minicamp, and the ‘Boys are officially off the clock for the next month. The team has crossed off two of the three phases of the offseason program. With Organized Team Activities and minicamp in the rearview mirror, we now enter a brief football drought before the excitement picks back up near the end of July.
This is the perfect chance to run through the offseason curriculum so we have a clear understanding of what the team is trying to accomplish in each
phase of camp. So, before the moving trucks head west to Oxnard, California, let’s refamiliarize ourselves with the Cowboys’ summer plans.
OTAs
First on the docket were the Organized Team Activities, which started on June 1st and ran on and off for two weeks. This was basically the introductory course of the spring. This phase is all about brushing off the cobwebs, getting some light conditioning under the belt, and stacking mental reps through low-impact drills. This phase is completely voluntary, meaning players face no fines if they stay home, though plenty of guys show up because they can’t wait to get back on the field or because their contracts include workout bonuses.
The physical intensity here is practically nonexistent. Per the collective bargaining agreement, live contact is strictly prohibidado, so you will not see any tackling. Players fly around in helmets, jerseys, and shorts while running drills at a very controlled, deliberate pace. Easy does it.
Minicamp
Once OTAs wrap up, the program transitions into mandatory minicamp. This is a rapid-fire, three days of football where the coaching staff crams system installations in everyone’s faces and builds some team chemistry. This is where the roster gets acclimated to new scheme terminology, masters specific formation alignments, and learns exactly what their individual responsibilities are when certain codewords are yelled.
The dress code remains business casual with absolutely no contact allowed, but the stakes change a bit because attendance is required. If a player skips out on these three days, the front office starts issuing fines. That’s some added motivation for star receiver George Pickens to show up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to work.
This year, the Cowboys altered the script a smidge on the third and final day of minicamp. NFL security representative Rick Burkhead was challenged to sink a free throw during a team meeting, and he came through with a clutch shot. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer was already thrilled with the execution from the first two days, so he used Burkhead’s big moment to reward the roster with an early exit, turning what would have been a light walkthrough into a meeting-only session. Master the lingo.
Training Camp
Next month is when the real evaluation begins. The uniforms shift to full pads, and the squad finally engages in full-contact practices. This grueling stretch is where the coaching staff discovers a little more about who can actually do the things they are asked as roster turnover commences.
The daily routine features live scrimmages and some joint practices against outside competition. This summer, Dallas will square off with a usual suspect, the Los Angeles Rams, since both teams are already operating in Southern California at that time. In addition to that, the team booked joint sessions with the New Orleans Saints just before they play them in the preseason finale.
This final phase tests how well players are retaining the playbook under a little more pressure while building the stamina needed to survive four quarters of football. Coaches scrutinize how players react to live situations to prepare for the brutal cuts as they trim things down and finalize their 53-man roster, while also identifying which players will serve as core special teams players. Earn the star.
When the team finally touches down in California next month, there’s less talking and more hitting. Spring sessions are great for setting the foundation, but the real substance occurs when the pads come on in the summertime, and they rustle around in the cool Pacific breeze. What will we learn when those moments arrive? Time will tell, and we’re only another month away from the real fun.
How will you pass your time until training camp starts?
