EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOXNARD, Calif. -- Looking back at last summer, the Dallas Cowboys' joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams could have been viewed as a precursor to what was to be for the 2025 Dallas defense.Jimmy Garoppolo -- not future MVP Matthew Stafford, who was dealing with back issues -- lit up the Cowboys' defense that day. Receivers Davante Adams, Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell had their way. Kyren Williams broke off big runs.The counter by those in the organization was that the defense did not have Trevon Diggs (injury) or Micah Parsons (hold-in), and the unit was vanilla with its looks and didn't show anything.Without knowing then what is known now, that was all plausible -- but then the season started and the Cowboys allowed 511 points, most in the NFL.On Tuesday, the Cowboys travel to the Rams' facility in Woodland Hills, California, for a joint practice. Just like last year, they have a new coordinator -- Christian Parker replacing Matt Eberflus -- and an almost completely revamped staff.So far in Cowboys vs. Cowboys practices, the reviews have been positive for Parker and his defense, but the Rams offer a chance for a test. And with the starters not expected to play in the preseason games, the importance of this practice -- and the Aug. 18 work against the New Orleans Saints -- is not lost on Parker."I think it's real important, especially as much experience as coach [Sean] McVay has and Matthew Stafford at that position," Parker said. "The pre-snap looks and the motions and the things they do formationally, they've been a very successful offense during his tenure there. So it's going to be a good test for us, where we're at, and make sure our eyes are right and we're playing with the right demeanor."Safety Malik Hooker is one of the holdovers from last year's practice against the Rams."We allowed a lot of big plays given up on communication errors," he said. "Not only that, I feel like our physicality didn't really show as much that day. So looking forward to coming out here and being able to have a good healthy practice with those guys and put our skills to the test."A poor performance Tuesday should not dictate what the 2026 Cowboys can be, but holding up better against one of the NFC favorites would help a defense in search of confidence with 12 new starters or key contributors.Parker said the organized team activities and minicamp were about the defenders getting their undergraduate degree; training camp is about working toward their master's."That's more of an accelerated program, so we've got to get going quick," Parker said.Communication is key for Parker.Coach Brian Schottenheimer noticed the difference when he heard how loud the meeting room has been. Dak Prescott joked that "it's like we're playing on the road" when the offense hears the noise coming from the defensive room."I love what he says and how he refers to it as it's two parts, giving and receiving," Schottenheimer said. "You just can't be blurting out a bunch of stuff that doesn't matter and confusing people. You got to give it. You got to receive it."On the practice field, the defense is constantly communicating. It starts with the meetings."If we're showing a play from practice, for example, if you're a linebacker on the field, you're making the front adjustment," Parker said. "If you're an outside linebacker and you see that the 'Y' [receiver] is off, you're saying something to your partner. If I'm a DB, I'm calling out the coverage communication. Motion happens, we're alerting this, we're passing off this. Once the play starts, what is that communication?"We want the meeting room to sound the same as it does on the field. Your brain doesn't know when you're not taking a physical rep. It just knows that your brain is strained. So as many reps that we can get on task, we want to try to take advantage of those in that space."The Cowboys' offense can stress the best defenses with Prescott, skill players CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams, Jake Ferguson and a strong offensive line. There have been times through six padded practices that Prescott has admitted frustration offensively, but that is not a bad thing."It's just the collab effort of their intensity and their communication is felt," Prescott said. "It's definitely felt when we're just out there and we're motioning and we're making our calls. And then post-play, anytime that they've made a play, they've celebrated deservingly so. I just think that raises the energy of the whole team, pisses us off a little bit on offense, but that's what camp's about."Stafford is expected to practice Tuesday, as are Adams and Nacua. Williams ran for 1,252 yards and 10 scores last year. McVay is one of the best playcallers in the NFL, known for his ability to scheme things open, although it is unlikely he will break out the full script, in part because these teams meet Dec. 20 at SoFi Stadium.But this will give the Cowboys' defense a test, and they'll need to fare better than they did a year ago."It's definitely going to be a challenge," Hooker said, "but I feel like the way we've been coming out here, stacking the days up against our offense -- who I feel is the best in the league at what they do -- man, I feel like there's nobody we can't match up against."
