247 Sports: What to expect from each position in Cowboys 2018 preseason
By PATRIK WALKER
Preseason football has arrived and, news flash, it matters to the Dallas Cowboys.
Granted, the win-loss record means absolutely nothing in August, but there's still a lot on the line for players who've scratched and clawed their entire lives to have one shot at proving themselves worthy of playing in the NFL. To them, this could be either the birth of a dream or the death of one, so expect fireworks from those who are far from safe when it comes to landing one of the Cowboys' coveted roster spots. In one of the more tumultuous offseasons in recent memory, we see the team heading into 2018 trying to answer a myriad of questions as they sift through the fallout of releasing All-Pro wideout Dez Bryant and then seeing future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten hand up his cleats not long after.
For the most part, the old guard is no more, and so our eyes -- glazed over with anxiety -- turn to the youth movement. On its face, the 2018 NFL Draft haul for the Cowboys was as strong as the ones prior, and that bodes well for a team desperately needing to bounce back from a disappointing 9-7 finish to the 2017 season. They're hoping they've reloaded in a big way and while the talent is certainly there, it's time to find out if that will translate to wins.
That said, let us discuss what and who to watch in the Cowboys' preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers, shall we?
One of the more intriguing battles will be between Cooper Rush and Mike White, both vying for the backup throne behind Dak Prescott, who will likely not take the field in the first preseason game.
QUARTERBACKS
It appeared the Cowboys were all-in on Cooper Rush, opting to also not bring in any veteran arms this offseason, a trigger they usually waste no time pulling.
Alas, they decided to select Mike White out of Western Kentucky with their fifth-round pick this past April, setting up for quite the QB battle behind Dak Prescott heading into training camp and preseason.
"[White] is a smart guy," Garrett said during OTAs. "He's poised. He certainly is very talented throwing the football but maybe more than anything else, he's just handling himself the right way. He's got a good command of the huddle, good command of the line of scrimmage and he's a good decision-maker so far.
"...He's getting better and better."
The 6-foot-5, 225 lb. rookie is everything you'd want from a quarterback, and the fact the Cowboys landed him late in the draft makes him a high-value pick. That said, he has work to do. His accuracy can take a hit, at times, due to White underestimating just how powerful his arm is. That's also not hyperbole, considering he considered entering the MLB as a pitcher and was named a Louisville Slugger All-American as a junior in high school. He left Western Kentucky having thrown for an eye-popping 8,540 yards and 63 touchdowns to only 15 interceptions in only two seasons, numbers that'll keep Rush operating on DEFCON 1.
Prescott may see one series against the 49ers, at most, and then it's off to the races for Rush and White.
RUNNING BACKS
Rod Smith has proven himself a very capable backup for Ezekiel Elliott, but his seat isn't exactly the most comfy.
The jury is still out on what exactly a "web-back" is as it relates to the future use of Tavon Austin, but before it's all said-and-done, Smith could be the fly tangled in the silk. The majority of Austin's snaps in training camp have been at the wide receiver position, but the Cowboys have begun bringing him out of the backfield as of late. There's only so many handoffs to go around, especially with a bell-cow like Elliott sitting atop the depth chart, and now you can add rookie halfback Bo Scarbrough to the mix.
Scarbrough is a bully-style runner who can also block and catch out of the backfield, pitting him and his exceptionally inexpensive four-year rookie deal squarely against the older Smith -- who's set to be an unrestricted free agent following the 2018 season. Smith needs field time during the regular season to solidify his next potential deal, but could be faced with a season that reduces his snap count because of the new additions. All of this begins sorting itself out against the 49ers, where you'll get a heavy dose of Scarbrough and those vying for position behind him.
Trey Williams, the oft-released and re-signed veteran is pit squarely against the returned Darius Jackson and Jordan Chunn, with each of them potentially fighting for a spot on the Cowboys' practice squad. This will be one of the more highly-contested position battles in August, so keep your eyes glued.
FULLBACK
Jamize Olawale is back home with the Dallas Cowboys.
It was 2012 when the former North Texas standout was signed out of the undrafted free agent pool by the Cowboys after being invited to rookie mini-camp and impressing, then landed on the team's 10-man practice squad. He was signed away from that unit in December of that same season, in dire need of depth with injuries that included one on Darren McFadden (remember him?). No one expects a FB to put up impactful numbers as their primary goal is to open up lanes for the running back, but having one as versatile as Olawale changes that thought process. His ability to also make plays with the ball as both a runner and a receiver can't be easily overlooked and must be schemed for by opposing defenses, and is an immediate upgrade over even the talented, but now departed, Keith Smith.
In 2016, Olawale racked up 227 yards receiving and even extrapolating for the following 75-yard touchdown, puts him at a more-than-respectable 152 receiving yards in that season alone. Smith was a great special teams guy and did everything the Cowboys ever asked of him, but he never put up those types of numbers or presented a similar threat level as does the former Mean Green star.
If Olawale can show value as both a fullback and a halfback, he could wind up costing someone a job in the RB room.
TIGHT ENDS
Is it hot in here, or is it just the seat beneath Rico Gathers' roster spot?
Two seasons in, he's not played a single regular season snap despite having the ability to after being cleared in Week 7 from a concussion suffered during what was shaping up to be an impressive preseason. The Cowboys instead opted to leave him on the sidelines and instead promote then-rookie Blake Jarwin from the practice squad to the team's active roster, preventing the Philadelphia Eagles from signing him away. If those two decisions weren't ominous enough, they went on to select former Stanford standout Dalton Schultz in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, one day after news broke on Jason Witten considering retirement -- a move he'd officially make only a few days later.
Considering Geoff Swaim has skins on the wall, their love of Jarwin and the fact Schultz brings everything to the table they're looking for right now, the logical assumption is that's the Cowboys' TE triumvirate. That would leave Gathers and undrafted free agent David Wells in the mix, who wants a shot at making his own dreams come true, out in the cold. Now, assuming there's a practice squad spot waiting for one of them, don't expect it to be Gathers willing to sit in it. He's already stated he wants to make "somebody's 53-man roster" in 2018, and adding this to the aforementioned variables and overall temperature of the relationship -- the safe bet is it'll be Wells staying onboard while Gathers heads elsewhere.
He'll get the nod over Schultz in the opener by virtue of being a "veteran", but he'll have to do more than simply catch well to keep the Cowboys' interest. They already know he can do that, but it's his blocking (or lack thereof) they'll be watching closely.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The dues are paid and Lance Lenoir is hoping for a receipt here soon.
With Dez Bryant now gone, all eyes are on the Cowboys' receiving corps to determine who will step up and to what extent. With the field now wide open for anyone to make a name for themselves, there are some unexpected risers in training camp -- like Lenoir -- who are doing just that. Third-round pick Michael Gallup and veteran Cole Beasley join newly-signed Allen Hurns atop the depth chart, but it's what happens behind them that'll truly determine just how potent the Cowboys receiving game can be. They've now lost rookie sixth-round pick Cedrick Wilson for the season due to a shoulder injury, but free agent Ricky Jeune came in and immediately made a play or two in his first practice.
He'll find himself battling rookie undrafted free agent Mekale McKay, who has one of the better catches in this year's camp, and others like speedster K.D. Cannon and Marchie Murdock -- all sharpening their swords to fight for attention. Easily the most interesting head-to-head will be Terrance Williams versus Deonte Thompson, the former coming off of a broken foot and while he looks crisp in practice, the Cowboys signed the latter to a deal this offseason with the hope he can take the top off of the opposing defense.
That was once the hope for Williams, so Thompson is essentially driving in his lane. And with new wideouts coach Sanjay Lal having previous dealings with Thompson and offering high praise, we're about to find out if he's set to finally establish himself in the NFL or if Williams can play some of the best football of his life to keep his snap count from dwindling.
DEFENSIVE ENDS
This is where the rubber meets the road.
It's been a long time since the Cowboys have had this much raw talent on their defensive line, particularly on the outside. DeMarcus Lawrence notwithstanding, there's still much to be figured out behind him and on the opposite edge. And with Lawrence having not secured a long-term deal as of yet, the Cowboys will need to identify potential successors should things go awry in 2019 when the two meet again for contract talks. Enter Dorance Armstrong, the team's fourth-round pick out of Kansas who they had a ton of pre-draft lust for, being willing to trade up for him before opting to sit tight instead.
They were rewarded with him still being available, and he's already turning heads in training camp, adding some firepower to what looks to be a level-up season-to-come for former first-round pick Taco Charlton.
The return of Randy Gregory looms large and is expected to happen as soon as preseason game No. 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and it's a foregone conclusion his spot is safe. The same goes for veteran Tyrone Crawford, who has also slimmed down in preparation to better rush the passer off the edge in 2018, but the jury remains out on a player like Kony Ealy -- the veteran having signed with the Cowboys on a one-year deal. Ealy made the team fawn over him in the past, but his play as of late has been less-than-impressive en route to Dallas.
He's also not having a solid camp, so he'll need to show up in a big way starting on Thursday night if he wants a shot at staving off a young and hungry group that includes Datone Jones and a now-healthy Charles Tapper.
It's now-or-never for Ealy, who has one foot in the roster grave.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
David Irving hasn't taken a snap at training camp and neither has Maliek Collins, albeit for very different reasons.
That leaves a gaping void on the Cowboys' defensive interior and although Collins is expected to return for the regular season opener from his broken foot, now's the time for others to put something great on film. Jihad Ward was acquired from the Oakland Raiders in a swap that included Ryan Switzer, and he appears to be a de facto starter for now. That is, of course, not in Antwaun Woods' plans -- an undrafted free agent out of USC who was signed by the Tennessee Titans in 2017 before being waived/injured and landing in Dallas one year later.
The 6-foot-1, 312 lb. interior lineman has dominated in Oxnard, CA, preventing goal line touchdowns and penetrating the backfield to disrupt plays. He's even had the moxy to go to war with All-Pro center Travis Frederick following a heated exchange in one-on-one's when Frederick threatened to "beat the shit out of him", proving Woods is backing down from no one.
And while Ward works to keep Woods at bay, there are others with enough talent to challenge him as well. Second-year lineman Lewis Neal flashed in the 2017 preseason and hopes to do the same this time around, while Brian Price is fresh off of a contract reup that proves the Cowboys see big things in him. The team needs to figure out who can be the interior linemen of both now and later, because there's no guarantee they let Irving stay onboard in 2019.
LINEBACKERS
Leighton Vander Esch is ready for his close up, Mr. DeMille.
There's an inherent pressure that comes with being any team's first-round pick, but it's multiplied exponentially when that team is the Dallas Cowboys. Vander Esch was selected with a two-fold thought in mind, the team knowing they had to fill the void left behind by the departure of Anthony Hitchens while also needing insurance should All-Pro linebacker Sean Lee again miss time in 2018 due to injury. The combination of Vander Esch, Lee and Jaylon Smith makes for a very attractive depth chart, and easily one of the better ones the Cowboys have carried in awhile. Smith is finally without his AFO brace and is playing monstrous in camp, something that's likely to carry over in spades this coming season.
And don't forget about Damien Wilson either, because he'll also play a major part in what happens with Vander Esch's snap count going forward.
Assuming all three (+1) remain healthy, the question marks then drop down to Tier 2, where someone like Joe Thomas will get a chance to shine. Signed away from the Green Bay Packers' tender off this offseason, Thomas brings a lot of oomph to the LB corps. He'll square up against rookie sixth-rounder Chris Covington and others, like the talented Justin March-Lillard -- who was a key reason veteran Justin Durant barely lasted the 2017 season with the club -- as the Cowboys work to mold the depth chart behind the Big Three.
CORNERBACKS
It's finally happened. Byron Jones is a cornerback, only.
The veteran is already coming on strong in a big way in his "new" role, being hands-down the best defender in training camp. His marriage to new passing game coordinator Kris Richard is off to a fantastic start, with the two feeding off of each other in a big way. Opposite Jones will be second-year corner Chidobe Awuzie, the two providing a fairly easy look at who will get the nod as starters outside the hashes. It's when you look inward that things become a bit more foggy, specifically in the Battle for the Slot in nickel packages.
For now, Anthony Brown has the reigns and he's doing all he can to keep talented former third-round pick Jourdan Lewis at bay. Brown has been very uneven in camp, having a brutally poor start before coming on strong as of late. Lewis is demonstrating much better consistency, but is apparently a smidge smaller than Richard would like. He has been known to play much bigger though, and with a serious ferocity, so the battle there is far from over. Even Richard himself admitted the depth chart is "written in sand", so expect some fireworks here going forward until things get officially settled.
Behind the aforementioned big names are those who wish to insert themselves into the conversation, and none have done a better job of achieving this than rookie Charvarius Ward. It feels like he's making a big play in camp whenever he's on the field, and he's definitely one to watch this preseason. The same goes for fellow rookies Donovan Olumba and Kameron Kelly, both also letting it all hang out in Oxnard. And then there's Duke Thomas, the former Longhorn looking to find a home at home, bringing strong upside to the table.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be good.
SAFETIES
Earl Thomas plays for the Seattle Seahawks.
I realize that isn't breaking news, but it feels like it had to be said. Such is the case until further notice, and unless the Seahawks stop demanding a firstborn son for him, the Cowboys are fine to proceed with their current stable of safeties. That stable includes Xavier Woods, the second-year talent out of Louisiana Tech whom the team traded up for in the 2017 NFL Draft. Woods began to come on strong as his snap count increased last season, but was still relegated to a backup role with Byron Jones joining Jeff Heath as the starters over the top. With Jones now dropped down to corner, it's Woods and Heath who'll run the show, the latter already proving himself the top defensive playmaker not named DeMarcus Lawrence.
Depth is still very much an issue here, with only third-year safety Kavon Frazier invoking any sense of true confidence behind Woods and Heath. That's two strong safeties who can get the job done, sure, but who plays free behind Woods? That's a question that must be answered pronto, because Jameill Showers -- as admirable as his practice squad life has been with the Cowboys -- can't possibly be the solution.
Kameron Kelly could potentially be though, his ability to flex between two positions only adding to his value. His diving interception in practice recently came at the safety spot, following a ball that was tipped in the air. Kelly went full horizontal to make the grab just before the ball hit the ground, and that's a play that perks up the Cowboys' coaching staff. You should also keep a close eye on Tyree Robinson, a rookie UDFA, who's carrying a good bit of hype himself heading into the preseason. The long(est) shots here come by way of Marqueston Huff and Kyle Quiero, but that can all change in the blink of an eye starting Thursday.
COACHING
Last call?
There are no more scapegoats for the Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff.
Tony Romo? Gone.
Dez Bryant? Gone.
Jason Witten? Gone.
The large majority of the assistant coaching staff? Gone and replaced.
From this point forward, if things continue to be less-than-pleasant, the sun lamp points squarely at head coach Jason Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. Things aren't nearly as questionable defensively, considering Rod Marinelli is coming off of a strong year that should only improve -- now aided in a big way by the signing of former Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator Kris Richard, who could and should ultimately be his successor. Richard is all over the field in practice and his energy permeates every single play made by the defense, Marinelli calling his signing a "big deal".
There hasn't been this much hype surrounding the Cowboys' defense since Moses split the Red Sea, but the same can surely not be said about the offense just yet. There's a lot to be figured out on that side of the ball, to say the least, and the most pressing involves the future quarterback Dak Prescott. The former Rookie of the Year is now tied to the hip of Garrett and Linehan, and all need a strong year in 2018 or things will get quite unpleasant in the months that follow the seasons conclusions -- no matter what Jerry Jones is saying in the months that precede it's beginning.
NFL OFFICIALS
"NFL officials would never cost the Cowboys a game."
If you could complete the above sentence without an outright laugh or an audible scoff, then you haven't been watching football long enough. As if the refs needed room to misinterpret another rule, the NFL gave them just that in 2018. New to the game is a helmet rule that could lead to a list of 15-yard penalties and even ejections, if the officials deem there was intentional intent to harm using the crown of the helmet. While noble in thought, the execution of the new rule has already shown to be a debacle during the Hall of Fame Game, when the Baltimore Ravens found themselves flagged for what would've and should've been deemed normal football tackles.
This is bad news for hard-hitting safeties Kavon Frazier, who tweeted "I'm in trouble" after seeing the HOF game fiasco, and fellow veteran Jeff Heath -- with box safeties being put in position to either do their job or simply let the play unfold to avoid a penalty or worse. Even more terrifying is how the rule spills over to the offensive side of the ball and a bully-style back like Ezekiel Elliott, who has been known to drop his head to either brace for impact or to drive through a defender, both providing needed protection for his neck.
Elliott has never used his helmet as a weapon, but could now be penalized nonetheless, should the officials see fit.
The Cowboys' preseason opener will give the team a solid taste of what's to come, and it probably won't be palatable.