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Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs returns, makes a play and “felt good” in joint training

Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs returns, makes a play and “felt good” in joint training
Posted on | Posted on Theodore

OXNARD, Calif. — It was a brand new development, and at the same time an all-too-familiar sight. When Los Angeles Rams backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw a pass deep toward the left sideline during a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, he hoped the ball would land in the hands of wide receiver Demarcus Robinson.

Trevon Diggs had other plans.

The Dallas Cowboys All-Pro cornerback did what he has done throughout his young career. Diggs charged the ball at a high point in the air, caught it cleanly, and planted his right leg just inside the field. His left leg, which had a freshly repaired anterior cruciate ligament – he tore it in practice before Week 3 last season – came down immediately afterward and kicked the ball off with his toes. Diggs immediately jumped off the turf and ran onto the field with a spring in his step, one finger in the air and the other with the football in his hand.

Cheers.

“It felt good to get back, get moving, see the other players flying around me and get used to the bodies around me,” Diggs said. “It was good. I did a lot of great work today.”

Diggs admitted after practice that Wednesday was a milestone day for him. The interception was nice, but Diggs was used to that feeling. He intercepted 17 passes in his first three NFL seasons. Just being on the field was the real reason to celebrate.

The last year has been a slow build to this moment. From being unable to walk to being unable to run to being unable to fully practice, Diggs’ rise has been slow. The team has continually expressed encouragement for Diggs’ progress every step of the way, but vowed to proceed with caution.

DaRon Bland played admirably in Diggs’ absence last season, but that left the Cowboys’ secondary without two All-Pro cornerbacks — at their best — on the field together. The Rams saw that in practice on Wednesday.

“I hope they keep throwing us balls so we can make plays,” Diggs said. “I hope that doesn’t change because we have two ball chasers on each side. We’ll see what happens.”

Diggs will not play in the preseason, and Wednesday was the final joint practice of the Cowboys’ training camp schedule. It was Diggs’ first time as a full participant, and if this was any indication of things to come, he’ll be ready to hit the ground running when the season begins in Cleveland.

Here are further findings:

participation

The defense was a little weaker from the start. Linebacker Damone Clark did not practice. DeMarvion Overshown began practice but had to leave early due to a hip injury. Overshown was examined by the team doctor but did not leave practice entirely. He stood on the sidelines with his teammates but did not have a helmet and did not return after the injury.

Cornerbacks Caelen Carson (rookie) and Sheldrick Redwine also did not practice.

Offensive tackle Earl Bostick was carried off the field with an injury late in practice. Bostick has played a few times as a backup at left tackle and right tackle. Dallas is already without left tackle Chuma Edoga for the foreseeable future, who broke a toe in Sunday’s game against the Rams. Before practice, head coach Mike McCarthy said that Asim Richards, who has played guard and tackle, will play more snaps as a tackle. The Cowboys have also signed offensive tackle Cole Cabral.

Linebacker depth

With Overshown and Clark out, the Cowboys were thin at the linebacker position. Veteran Eric Kendricks was a key part of the middle, backed up by freshman Marist Liufau. On Tuesday, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer raved about Liufau’s potential.

“I think he can play linebacker for us,” Zimmer said, suggesting that Liufau could be more than a special teams player as a rookie. “We really have a good linebacker team with those four or five guys. … I think he’s a firecracker, but he understands coverage pretty well. I think we can do some things with him to apply pressure, too. He played well (in the preseason game), but he’s played better in practice.”

Overshowen is recovering from a torn ACL in last year’s preseason and had a spectacular tackle on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Always grumpy

Unlike the first joint practice between the Cowboys and Rams, this time things were really rough. After the first offense versus defense team drills, the special teams went to one field, while some individual drills took place on the other field. On one side, the Cowboys’ pass rushers went up against the Rams’ offensive linemen.

The first unusual moment occurred on a replay by Osa Odighizuwa, when he added a little more physicality at the end of his charge, leading to a fierce scuffle between the two sides.

On the ensuing replay, defensive tackle Albert Huggins ended his replay by shoving a Rams equipment intern to the ground. It was clear that both the Cowboys and Rams disapproved of Huggins’ actions.

“The tension is just high,” Odighizuwa said of Huggins’ play. “In this situation, you have to be a little smarter, but these things happen.”

In the early portions of practice, Micah Parsons was once again at home in the Rams’ backfield. This happens fairly often – against the Cowboys’ offense or the Rams – so it wasn’t included in the practice takeaways. But on the final drive, as the Rams went down the field for an end-of-game situation, Parsons was relentless. It sounds like a repetition, but it would be irresponsible not to mention again how dominant Parsons looked, especially rushing the passer.

Problems defending in the red zone

The Cowboys defense had a tough red zone session. Los Angeles’ running backs found multiple big gaps to run through. In addition, Garoppolo scored multiple touchdowns against Cooper Kupp, once with Bland in coverage and another time in the back of the end zone over Malik Hooker.

The second-year running back returned to practice on Wednesday after sitting out two weeks with a hamstring injury. Dallas’ running game wasn’t as successful against the Rams’ run defense as it was in last week’s practice. But Deuce Vaughn got several opportunities to carry the ball and play receiver. Vaughn, who was drafted in the sixth round last year, should get some playing time in Dallas’ preseason game at Las Vegas.

Sloppy

The first offense had trouble holding onto the ball. Dak Prescott and rookie center Cooper Beebe failed to get to a snap early in team drills, resulting in a fumble. Dallas then committed two consecutive fumbles during a red zone period, the second being a handoff from Prescott to Ezekiel Elliott. The first offense didn’t seem to play as well as it did in previous practice with the Rams.

Dallas’ No. 1 tight end looked like a player who had a big year ahead of him, catching multiple passes during team drills. Jake Ferguson finished second on the team in targets, receptions and receiving yards last season. There’s no reason to believe he won’t do the same in year three.

With CeeDee Lamb out of training camp, Brandin Cooks remains Prescott’s top target. The two were definitely on the same page again on Wednesday. “He’s having an insanely good training camp,” McCarthy said of the receiver, who is entering his 11th season. “I think we had a stat last week that said one in three catches he made in teamwork was either a touchdown or a big play. He’s had a great offseason. He’s always in top form. I really think he’s at his best just in the time I’ve been around him.”

(Photo by Trevon Diggs: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)

Dallas Cowboys

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