Brian Schottenheimer on finishing camp in Oxnard, who will play vs. Ravens

OXNARD, Calif. – The Cowboys wrapped up their final training camp practice in Oxnard on Thursday morning, marking the end of Brain Schottenheimer’s first training camp – minus two upcoming practices in Frisco – as an NFL head coach.

Schottenheimer will reflect on camp in the coming days and determine what needs to be changed going forward under his watch. For now though, he’s glad that his players showed up from start to finish.

“I think we got a lot of work done. We came together as a football team, I think that’s really important,” Schottenheimer said. “I thought the energy today was really good, I wasn’t sure when you break camp and you’re ready to jump on a plane and go back home to your family, you’re kind of like ‘Okay, what are they going to do?’ They did great.”

One of the most important portions of training camp is making sure installs are complete across the board on offense and defense. The Cowboys were able to do that, and Schottenheimer used the extra time to revisit certain areas of the game.

“We got through the installs and then we actually had a couple extra days where we went and did re-red zone emphasis, re-run game emphasis, re-third down, two minute, things like that, so it flowed pretty good.” Schottenheimer said.

The Cowboys return to AT&T Stadium on Saturday to host the Baltimore Ravens in their second preseason game. Schottenheimer made several game announcements, including that the plan was to once again start Joe Milton at quarterback. Is Will Grier going to see the field?

“You never know, he’ll always have a cigarette in hand.” Schottenheimer said with a smile.

Additionally, Schottenheimer added that the team will “wait and see” on rookie running back Jaydon Blue and maybe work him out pregame and see if he can make his debut with the Cowboys. First-round pick Tyler Booker will make his NFL debut Saturday, and veteran RB Miles Sanders is good enough to play according to Schottenheimer. He did not say if Sanders would play, however.

As the team gets ready to board the flight back to Dallas, it’s a bitter-sweet moment for Schottenheimer because of how close the team was able to be.

“I’m sad to leave the confines of Oxnard in terms of having everybody in one roof and under one area, really that does make me sad,” Schottenheimer said. “But there’s still a ton of work to be done, and I think getting back to Frisco and the Star and getting ready to do the things that we need to do and find our flow… we’re not out of training camp stuff yet, but I can’t wait to get back, be around family and get my office unpacked.”

Three weeks remain until the Cowboys open the season on the road against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The clock is ticking, but Schottenheimer feels his team will be prepared.

“The urgency is always high. The urgency doesn’t change,” Schottenheimer said. “We knew this first game against Philly would show up faster than you always think it does, and so we’re not going to be surprised by it.”