OXNARD, Calif. -- Last year when the Oakland Raiders practiced against the Dallas Cowboys in training camp, things were so physical an Oakland fan swung a helmet at cornerback B.W. Webb as a number of scuffles broke out over the two days of work.
The Cowboys will welcome the St. Louis Rams to their practice fields over the next two days starting Monday.
Jason Garrett and Jeff Fisher, the Rams' coach, have discussed what they want and don't want to get out of the practice.
"The biggest thing we want to do is make sure it's about football," Garrett said. "Sometimes you get into these situations and a lot of other stuff starts to happen, and it's a great challenge for your team to stay focused. Sometimes when you're working against each other, your own team, it gets a little chippy and everyone realizes we're teammates. Sometimes these things get escalated in these kinds of practices, and I think it's important for us as coaches, players and as a football team to handle it the right way, stay focused on what's most important -- and that's getting better as a team."
The anticipated work of one of the best offensive lines (Cowboys) and defensive lines (Rams) might not materialize with Tyron Smith (biceps) and Doug Free (foot) not expected to practice. Dez Bryant will not practice because of a hamstring strain either.
The Cowboys have been deliberate with their injured players in training camp. While Garrett said he is not worried about the added intensity that is normal when teams practice against each other, the Cowboys will continue to be deliberate.
"You talk to the other staff about the parameters and the tempo and how you want to go about it," Garrett said. "Hopefully each side understands the rate that we're going at and what we want from each drill and we handle it the right way. Communication is a huge part of life. It's certainly a big part of football. We emphasize that every day. I think it's really important when you work in these kinds of situations to be clear as to what each side wants out of this thing, get on the same page, and then if you're not getting it, make sure you get it within the drill. We'll try to do that. We have great respect for their team and their coaching staff, so I anticipate it being two really good days of work."
The Rams are looking at a move back to Los Angeles perhaps as soon as 2016, which may or may not have played a part in them wanting to remain on the West Coast after playing the Raiders in their first preseason game.
But Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is not buying that.
"I don't think they're coming here has any impact on interest in them and where they're playing," Jones said. "I don't think that at all. What I do think is they have such a traditional visibility and a traditional following here in Southern California. And that's the main positive that they have, that and they've got a great owner and they've got a great franchise. It's a good thing for the NFL to have these teams that have the qualifications they have to think about this Los Angeles market."
If the Rams do move, Jones said it will not impact the Cowboys' future of practicing in Oxnard.
"I think it enhances it because it creates more excitement, more fan involvement and that will be a plus for the interest in the Cowboys being out here, too," Jones said. "We're really proud of our great legacy we've got here and the years we have in a way invested in Southern California fans. The more football during the season, the more direct interest in the teams that would be here, make this even a better place for the Cowboys to come have preseason."
