OXNARD, CA – WR Jalen Tolbert has entered his second training camp as a Dallas Cowboy and the rookie has shown some serious improvement since last year. Since day one here in Oxnard he has shown that he is here to stay and he wants that WR4 spot. Currently the top three wide receivers Dallas has is CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Brandin Cooks. Tolbert is currently fighting for the WR4 spot against KaVontae Turpin who is also having a great camp.
After last season ended Tolbert was very open about not having the rookie year that he wanted. He told reporters he struggled transitioning from college ball to the NFL. The game played at the NFL level is a lot faster and sometimes it takes players some time to get used to that tempo of play.
“Obviously when you do something for a year and then you have to do it again you’re going to be more comfortable with the things that you are doing. This offseason I put in a lot of work with a lot of teammates Brandon Cooks, Dak [Prescott], CeeDee [Lamb], MG [Michael Gallup] all of those guys. So having that fellowship and relationships and building confidence with and throughout them was special for me.” Tolbert told us after practice on Wednesday.
When speaking to Tolbert he told us that it was more of a mental game for him than it was physical last season. Obviously, Tolbert has the physical ability to play the game but he told us he was thinking so much about the playbook and the routes that he forgot to just be himself and play the game.
This season he said that it’s more of just going out there and playing than anything and getting back to the basics of football. “Back to the Bama days.” is what Tolbert told us on the first day of padded practice.
“I get to be able to come out here and get back to how I was playing…fast and comfortable and confident and it’s fun.” Tolbert said.
It just flat-out looks natural again for Tolbert this go around. Watching him connect with Prescott this football camp has been a site to see. Prescott connected with Tolbert on a one-handed catch in stride on a deep inside slant and it looked so effortlessly smooth.
“I’m just coming out here each and every day trying to get better.” Tolber told us after practice on Wednesday.
WR Brandin Cooks is a new addition to this team and a well respected vet in the NFL. D210SPORTS asked Tolbert about his relationship with Cooks and how Cooks has helped this wide receiver group since being in Dallas.
“BC is a great leader, great vet to have. He actually took me under his wing as soon as he got here, so this offseason I went to Oregon with him where he lives for a week and just worked out and stayed with him. Built fellowship and worked out everyday of course. I understood why he is so successful in this league for a long time. The way he takes care of his body, the way he prepares, the way he processes things. Just having him as a vet in this room and on this team is special.”
“Having him and having that relationship is special to me because I haven’t really had a veteran guy in the room with me. Obviously I went to South [Alabama] so I was that guy for other people but having a guy like that to turn and lean on.” Tolbert said.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy talked about Tolbert’s improvement and told us in Tuesday morning’s press conference that Tolbert has put a lot of time in the weightroom in the offseason and spent a lot of time with QB Dak Prescott. McCarthy told us at the end of the day it all comes down to confidence.
“Confidence is the main key, especially in this league. Everybody is good so you just have to be confident and know that the guy across from you can not stop you.” Tolbert told us confidence is key and he has a lot more confidence coming into this season after spending the off season with his teammates and getting to know how they think and how they handle their bodies.
Preseason will be a good way for Tolbert to showcase his improvements and skill sets before the season sets off on September 10.
