‘CeeDee is that dude’: Cowboys relying on Lamb to assist carry offense – Dallas Cowboys Weblog

OXNARD, Calif. — CeeDee Lamb‘s significance to the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 was by no means extra obvious than after the third apply of coaching camp. It was not what he did on the sphere. It’s what he didn’t do.

Lamb didn’t take any snaps in staff drills. He’s solely 24. He’s coming into simply his third season. He doesn’t have a historical past of accidents.

“I used to be confused,” Lamb mentioned. “They advised me I used to be completed with apply. I imply, I didn’t know what else to do with myself. I’m not used to that.”

Private historical past tells coach Mike McCarthy that gamers are topic to soft-tissue accidents at a better share within the third or fourth apply of camp.

“It was only a rep depend, being acutely aware,” McCarthy mentioned. “There was nothing there bodily. Trusting the numbers, GPS from the previous. That was by design.”

The Cowboys opted to maneuver on from Amari Cooper in March with a commerce to the Cleveland Browns partly due to his $20 million wage and partly as a result of they consider Lamb is able to be the No. 1 large receiver, fulfilling the legacy of the No. 88 jersey they gave him after he was chosen within the first spherical in 2020.

On Monday, Lamb’s significance to the Cowboys’ offense grew to become even better when James Washington suffered a fractured proper foot that can preserve him out for six to 10 weeks, in accordance with a number of sources. As well as, the Cowboys’ No. 2 receiver, Michael Gallup is continuous a restoration from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered in January and can miss not less than the season opener.

The one different wholesome receiver to catch a go from quarterback Dak Prescott in a regular-season sport is Noah Brown.

The transfer to the No. 1 function doesn’t faze Lamb, who has 153 receptions for two,037 yards and 11 touchdowns and a Professional Bowl look in his first two seasons.

But it surely’s the work that Lamb, Prescott, the coaches and entrance workplace consider will catapult him into the top-tiers of NFL large receivers.

After a day of pink zone work, Lamb spent further time with Prescott engaged on timing routes close to the top zone, perfecting the steps and ball placement they hope will grow to be second nature when the season begins in September.

“We kinda been doing that every one by means of this complete offseason, simply being collectively,” Lamb mentioned. “Issues are quite a bit completely different when you have got a physique in entrance of you moderately than on air. So simply bought to piece a pair little nuances right here and there after which simply go make it occur within the sport.”

For a number of days in early July, Prescott had Lamb, Jalen Tolbert and tight ends Dalton Schultz and Sean McKeon in Miami for exercises on the College of Miami’s facility. It’s a visit Prescott has completed prior to now along with his pass-catchers, however it was the primary time Lamb was concerned in a single.

COVID-19 prevented a highway journey in Lamb’s rookie 12 months, though they bought collectively at Prescott’s house for work on the quarterback’s yard subject. In 2021, Prescott was nonetheless rehabbing from a compound fracture and dislocation of his proper ankle.

Lamb referred to as the time in Miami “phenomenal.”

“Simply having that form of expertise together with your quarterback it simply builds character and it builds stacking higher days from coaching camp,” Lamb mentioned.

Lamb has had his regular eye-catching performs, like a one-handed reception of a go close to the sideline. On Monday, he and Prescott linked on 5 of the six go makes an attempt to the receiver. Three had been in visitors with defenders on all sides of Lamb. All three went for what would have been a primary down.

Prescott mentioned Lamb has made strides “in every single place.”

“He’s only a man that likes to work — whether or not or not it’s within the movie room, whether or not or not it’s out right here on the sphere at apply simply in drills or in particular person on his personal,” Prescott mentioned. “He’s going to proceed to get higher and his mentality is one thing all receivers can observe.”

McCarthy has been a part of this large receiver development earlier than. In his close to decade-plus run with the Green Bay Packers, he noticed Donald Driver hand the No. 1 receiver function to Greg Jennings, who handed it to Jordy Nelson who handed it to Davante Adams, like Lamb has completed with the Cowboys.

“The sunshine is brighter so far as internally, so far as duty and alternatives he’s given, but additionally the best way defenses will react to him,” McCarthy mentioned. “Whenever you take a look at CeeDee and people receivers in Inexperienced Bay it is extremely just like how we do it right here in Dallas. The flexibility for receivers to play inside and outdoors, to me, is at a premium. Whenever you solely play one or the opposite you’re making it quite a bit simpler for the protection to take it away.

“CeeDee’s expertise of taking part in a lot within the slot final 12 months is simply going to assist him now that he’s at flanker. … We have now to maneuver him round to create extra alternatives for him.”

In contrast to the Packers receivers, Lamb won’t have confirmed gamers round him to assist divert a few of the consideration. Not less than not till Gallup returns or if the Cowboys add a high-profile receiver by means of free company or a commerce. Proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones mentioned he sees no urgency to add a veteran receiver due to Washington’s harm. The lack of Washington is important due to how the Cowboys are constructed at receiver, however he had simply 24 catches final 12 months for the Pittsburgh Steelers and by no means topped 44 in a season.

“I really feel like I’m going to have an effect on the sport regardless,” Lamb mentioned of the place he traces up on the sphere. “And with that being mentioned, me being No. 1, the eye goes to be on me and I’m form of ready for it. It doesn’t change something actually for my sport. Simply going to go make a play.”

Since he was with Lamb at Oklahoma, defensive sort out Neville Gallimore is aware of him higher than most on the Cowboys’ roster. That they had lockers subsequent to one another and would typically speak about their NFL goals.

“I do know in the event you put him in a scenario, in the event you throw him within the fireplace, he at all times comes out on high,” Gallimore mentioned. “So I do know he’s greater than prepared for this chance and I’m not going to talk on it an excessive amount of however I’m excited. Not as a result of he’s my teammate, however he’s an excellent man. However, man, that man goes to go and get it. He’s bought quite a bit to deliver to the desk and he’s nonetheless not even scratching the floor. You greatest consider you’ll be able to count on one thing particular from him this season. Little question.”

Prescott has little doubt. As Lamb addressed reporters for the primary time in camp, the quarterback walked behind the scrum with a message:

“CeeDee is that dude.”

If not Lamb, then who?