Cowboys reporter Watkins discusses passing game & the new-look defense under Parker

Дата публикации: 12-08-2026 08:17:58

The first thing the Dallas Morning News’ lead Dallas Cowboys beat reporter, Calvin Watkins, noticed at training camp was Dak Prescott’s pass-catchers, notably George Pickens and Jake Ferguson.
“(Pickens) has been fantastic. This camp, he’s picking up right where he left off in the 2025 season. Just love what he’s been doing. Jack Ferguson, after a slow start, has really picked it up. He is looking really good. Last year, as you remember, a lot of injuries that he had to fight through. But this year, I think he’s really focused on the task at hand,” Watkins said.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer walked back training camp comments that seemed to indicate former first-round pick Tyler Guyton would remain the starter at left tackle over Nate Thomas or Tyler Smith. Watkins thinks Schotty is mostly being semantic.
“I think Tyler Guyton is the starter. I think the way Schotty presented it, he didn’t like how he presented it because we all ran with it. You know, I think he took a shot at Nate Thomas, saying, Nate Thomas, you’re not the guy. And that’s okay. Then, Tyler Guyton is your starting left tackle, right? So the clarification really to me was like, I don’t know why you’re clarifying anything. Tyler Guyton’s your guy,” Watkins said.
Watkins has also noticed new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s impact on the defense.
“The communication is up. Not seeing as many communication busts as we did last year, maybe the last two years. So I think Christian Parker’s influence is working,” Watkins said.
The Cowboys also gave Parker several new players to deploy. Watkins said the defensive talent has also improved.
“(Parker) made some changes with the personnel too, right? Malik Hooker, who was a guy who was here last year, we’ve talked to him a lot about the communication,” Watkins said. “One of the things that Christian Parker said that was interesting is that if you go by the meeting room, you would think something is wrong. And you go, ‘What’s going on?’ No, they’re all communicating. It’s loud. Everyone wants to know, ‘What are you doing? What are you doing? What are you doing?’ That’s a positive thing. I think last year they kind of missed that with Matt Eberflus as a defensive coordinator. I think his demeanor is a little quieter than Christian Parker’s. So I think that’s also part of it.”
Those new players include first-round picks Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence. Downs is expected to be an instant impact player, while Lawrence is growing fast after playing at a smaller school.
“I like Caleb Downs. They got him in different spots. He’s playing the nickel corner … When they have two safeties back, he’s one of those safeties. He really hits his fits. Well, what I mean by that is if there’s a running play, he goes straight to the line of scrimmage. He knows exactly what to do,” Watkins said. “Malachi Lawrence, he’s getting better and better as a pass rusher there. I think Rashan Gary has been the best pass rusher I’ve seen in camp next to James Houston, but I think it’s still early in camp.”
The Cowboys are hoping this week against the Rams is a better showing than 2025, when backup quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett carved up the Cowboys’ defense, a harbinger for what was to come later that season.
“The Rams practice will be very telling about the defense because you’re right. That scrimmage was terrible for the Cowboys’ defense. I mean, guys just run all over the field. Devante Adams, all those guys, they couldn’t stop the run. They couldn’t do anything. Couldn’t even get to the passer. So, and yes, it’s just a scrimmage, right? But I think that scrimmage last year kind of foreshadowed what we saw in the 2025 season. Hopefully next week, the scrimmage will be a lot better for the Cowboys’ defense, and I think it will be, especially from a communication standpoint,” Watkins said. “The starters are not going to participate in the preseason. So you have this scrimmage against the Rams and another scrimmage in a couple of weeks against the Saints. That’s going to be kind of telling for the starters. It’s going to be interesting how Brian Schottenheimer plays this, because you’ve got to get your young guys ready for the preseason opener next week against Seattle. But hey, you know what? You got these starters, especially on defense. They’ve got to make some impactful plays in the regular season. So when can they make impactful plays before then? That’s the scrimmage against the Rams.”
Click here to read Newy’s discussions with The Athletic‘s Jon Machota.

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