Jun 13, 2017; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs with the ball against Byron Jones (31) during minicamp at The Star at Cowboys World Headquarters. Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
OXNARD, Calif. — After a disruptive offseason, the Dallas Cowboys’ full roster is due to check into the Marriott Residence Inn here for training camp Saturday (July 22) and they can narrow their focus to addressing key issues on the field.
To do so they must put aside thoughts regarding:
–Running back Ezekiel Elliott’s alleged assault, investigation of which was suspended Wednesday.
–Linebacker Damien Wilson’s Fourth of July arrest with two charges of aggravated assault, which hardly helped him after a paint-ball incident sidelined him for the first two weeks of last year.
–Defensive end David Irving’s suspension for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy on the use of performance-enhancing drugs. He won’t be eligible to return to the Cowboys’ roster until Oct. 2.
–Defensive back Jourdan Lewis’ court case in Michigan next week regarding an alleged misdemeanor domestic violence incident in March. Lewis was a third-round draft pick this year out of Michigan and was the Big 10 Defensive Back of the Year.
On the bright side, team owner Jerry Jones will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the first week of August.
Meanwhile, back on the field, among the most important battles during camp will be that at left guard between Chaz Green and Jonathan Cooper.
Green was supposed to be the heir at right tackle, but was not able to stay healthy the last two seasons. They moved La’el Collins from guard to right tackle and kicked Green inside where he will compete with the former Arizona Cardinals first-round pick.
Cooper joined the Cowboys during last season’s playoff run, but did not appear in the divisional round loss to the Green Bay Packers.
He was the seventh overall pick in 2013 by the Cardinals, but he was dealt to the New England Patriots for Chandler Jones last season. He was eventually released by New England and claimed by the Cleveland Browns, for whom he played in five games with three starts.
The Browns released Cooper on Christmas Eve and he joined the Cowboys on Jan. 4 with the hopes of turning a free look into a longer-term relationship.
Now with his fourth team in two years, he will be a key focus of attention during this training camp.
THE FACTS:
TRAINING CAMP: Oxnard, Calif.
HEAD COACH: Jason Garrett
7th full season as Cowboys/NFL head coach
59-48 overall; 1-2 postseason
THE BREAKDOWN
2016 finish: 1st NFC East (13-3)
2016 STATISTICS
TOTAL OFFENSE: 376.7 (5th)
RUSHING: 149.8 (2nd)
PASSING: 226.9 (23rd)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 343.9 (14th)
RUSHING: 83.5 (1st)
PASSING: 260.4 (26th)
2017 PRESEASON SCHEDULE
All times Central
Aug. 3, Arizona, at Canton (Thu), 7:00
Aug. 12, at L.A. Rams (Sat), 8:00
Aug. 19, INDIANAPOLIS (Sat), 6:00
Aug. 26, OAKLAND (Sat), 7:00
Aug. 31, at Houston (Thu), 7:00
UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Dak Prescott. Backups – Kellen Moore, Cooper Rush, Zac Dysert.
Prescott was a rookie third-string quarterback a year ago at this time. He was a fourth-round developmental quarterback for the future. But that was before he took advantage of injuries and had the best rookie season of any quarterback in NFL history. It was enough to win rookie of year honors ahead of running back teammate Ezekiel Elliott and send the team’s all-time leading passer Tony Romo into retirement and the broadcast booth. The Cowboys don’t believe there will be a sophomore slump because Prescott didn’t trick his way to success with athleticism. He ran the offense. He threw to open receivers. He also has an uncanny worth ethic, attention to detail, leadership and professionalism. He will only get better. Moore was slated to be the backup last year before an injury early in training camp. The Cowboys have confidence he can handle the job behind Prescott. Rush is likely a practice-squad option.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters — Ezekiel Elliott, FB Keith Smith. Backups – Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris, Rod Smith, Jahad Thomas.
Ellliott led the league in rushing as a rookie with 1,631 yards. There is no reason why he can’t do more and be better in 2017 as the Cowboys plan to give him more touches in the passing game. The only concern with Elliott is his off-field troubles and whether he might be suspended a few games. But if he plays 16 games, look for him to challenge Eric Dickerson’s NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards. McFadden still has something left in the tank is the perfect backup to Elliott. Morris will only stick if Elliott gets suspended. He is not suited to be the third running back. The hope is for Rod Smith to continue to develop as the third running back because he can play on special teams. Keith Smith made a smooth transition from linebacker to fullback last year. He should be even better and more comfortable in 2017.
TIGHT ENDS: Starter – Jason Witten. Backups – Geoff Swaim, James Hanna, Rico Gathers, Conner Hamlet.
Witten remains the fixture at tight end — even in his 15th season at the ripe old age of 35. He’s not the same Pro-Bowl regular as he was in the past, but remains effective and a trusted weapon on third down. He showed no signs of slowing down with 69 catches for 673 yards and three touchdowns in 2016. He remains a team leader and has a knack for getting open in the middle of the field. The Cowboys are still searching for answers behind Witten with Swaim and Hanna coming off injuries and Gathers still adjusting to football in his second year after playing basketball in college. Swaim is the best combination blocker and receiver of the backups. Hanna plays more of a H-back than in-line tight end. Gathers has the size and hands, but still doesn’t understand the nuance of the game.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams. Backups – Cole Beasley, Brice Butler, Lucky Whitehead, Ryan Switzer, Noah Brown, Andy Jones, Lance Lenoir, Uzoma Nwachukwu, Brian Brown.
Beasley led the Cowboys in catches and yards last year with 75 for 833. Look for him to continue to have a big role in the offense. He has a knack for getting open in the slot and proved to be quarterback friendly for rookie Dak Prescott in the middle of the field. Bryant caught just 50 passes for 796 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns. He missed three games with a hairline fracture on his knee that affected his numbers. Look for him to get back to his old production in 2017 because he is healthy and coming off his first full offseason for the first time in two years. Williams will continue to reprise his role as the starter opposite Bryant, but is the third option behind Bryant and Beasley. He is still the team’s best deep threat and has good chemistry with Prescott. Prescott had a 124.6 passer rating when targeting Williams last year, per Pro Football Focus. Butler was inconsistent last year and will have to step up to make the roster with Jones and Brown vying for his spot. Whitehead has already been surpassed on paper by Switzer as the primary backup to Beasley in the slot and the primary returner. Switzer is a natural in the slot.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LT Tyrone Smith, LG Jonathan Cooper, C Travis Frederick, RG Zack Martin, RT Lael Collins. Backups – G Joe Looney, T Emmett Cleary, G/T Chaz Green, G/T Byron Bell, G/T Dan Skipper, G Ruben Carter, G Nate Theaker, T Clay Dubord.
The only real question on the offensive line is at guard where Cooper, a former first-round bust in Arizona, will try to secure the spot made vacant by the departure of Ron Leary in free agency and the moving of Collins to tackle. Cooper will be challenged by Green, who made the switch from tackle and Bell, a former starter in Carolina and Tennessee. The good news is that Collins looks like he will have a smooth transition from guard to tackle where he will replace the retired Doug Free. Collins played tackle at LSU and was considered a first-round talent coming out of college only to drop in the draft because of an off-field issue. No team will have four starters with the pedigree of the Cowboys when you add in former first-round picks and perennial Pro Bowlers in left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – DLE Tyrone Crawford, DLT Maliek Collins, NT Cedric Thornton, DRE DeMarcus Lawrence. Backups – DE Benson Mayowa, DE David Irving, DT Richard Ash, DE Taco Charlton, DE Charles Tapper, DE Lenny Jones, DE Damontre Moore, DT Stephen Paea, DT Jordan Carrell, DT Joe Ivy, DE Zach Wood, DT Woody Baron, DE Lewis Neal.
The Cowboys have numbers on the line. They just don’t have any special players, at least not this year. They drafted Charlton in the first round to hopefully solve that problem. The team had just 36 sacks last year. They need to find a way to get to the quarterback. Charlton will be part of the rotation as will Tapper, Irving, Lawrence, Crawford and Mayowa on the outside. Irving has the most promise after a strong close in 2016, but he will miss the first four games with an NFL suspension for a banned supplement. Lawrence is most concerning following back surgery for the second straight offseason. Collins may be the most talented of the interior guys and they are hoping he continues to build momentum after a strong rookie season. He showed a lot of promise as a pass rusher with five sacks. Thornton and Paea should hold down the nose tackle position with a push from the rookies Ivy and Carrell.
LINEBACKERS: Starters – WLB Sean Lee, MLB Anthony Hitchens, SLB Damien Wilson. Backups – SLB Kyle Wilber, MLB Mark Nzeocha, MLB Jaylon Smith, Justin Durant, WLB John Lotulelei, WLB Joseph Jones, WLB Lucas Wacha, SLB Darnell Leslie, SLB Keenan Gilchrist.
The Cowboys are putting all their hopes on Smith coming up big in 2017. He missed all of last season with a college knee injury and has dealt with nerve damage. He is still wearing a brace for drop foot, but the Cowboys believe he is ready to have a big impact. He is cleared to play and will open training camp with no limitations. Smith is needed because Lee remains the only proven difference-maker in the front seven. And he is coming off the best season of his career, recording 174 tackles and 12 tackles for loss while making All-Pro for the first time. The Cowboys know what they are getting in Lee. He just needs some help. They are hoping against hope he will get some impactful help from Smith. The versatile Hitchens will play in the middle if Smith is not ready. He will also compete with Wilson at strong-side linebacker. Of course, Wilson’s availability is in question after a July 4 arrest for aggravated felony assault. Durant was signed Thursday as the Cowboys prepared to report.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters – LCB Nolan Carroll, RCB Orlando Scandrick, SS Jeff Heath, FS Byron Jones. Backups – CB Anthony Brown, S Robert Blanton, CB Chido Awuzie, CB Jordan Lewis, S Xavier Woods, S Jamiell Showers, S Kavon Frazier, CB Marquez White, CB Leon McFadden, CB Duke Thomas, CB Sammy Seamster.
The Cowboys purposefully overhauled their secondary in the offseason, letting safeties Barry Church and JJ Wilcox and cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne walk in free agency. They signed Carroll as a free agent and added Awuzie and Lewis at the top the draft. Scandrick remains the team’s best cornerback, but they have added new blood and more physicality to the unit. Awuzie could make an impact at cornerback or compete with Heath for the starting spot at safety opposite Jones. Lewis will also vie for playing time as a rookie. Heath has shown a knack for making plays on special teams and creating turnovers during his brief time on defense. The Cowboys are giving him a chance to earn the starting spot.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Dan Bailey, P Chris Jones, LS L.P. Ladouceur, KOR Lucky Whitehead, PR Ryan Switzer.
What more needs to be said about the team’s specialists? Bailey, Jones and Ladouceur remain among the best at what they do in the league. Bailey made 25 of 30 field goals playing through a back injury last year. He is healthy and should be back to his perfect self in 2017. Jones continues to be solid, averaging 45.7 yard per punt last year. The Cowboys need to be better on returns and that’s why they drafted Switzer. He will replace Whitehead on punt returns and could add kickoff returns to his duties.
