Archer: Byron Jones, Randy Gregory, La'el Collins could start for Dallas Cowboys

Cotton

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Byron Jones, Randy Gregory, La'el Collins could start for Dallas Cowboys

Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer

NFL Nation reporter Todd Archer assesses which rookies on the Cowboys could earn a starting berth this season.

Why Byron Jones could start: We could say simply: He’s a first-round pick so he better start, but then again, what's the definition of a starter? If you’re defining a starter as the 11 players announced to the crowd before a game, then Jones wouldn’t fit that definition.

If you want to define it the way the coaches define it, then Jones should be a starter, serving as the Cowboys’ third cornerback. Considering the Cowboys played their sub-package defense considerably more than their base defense last season, the nickel cornerback is far more valuable than the strong-side linebacker.

Jones showed this spring he was a quick learner. He played left and right cornerback and also played in the slot. He also took a few turns at free safety. His position flexibility opens up a number of possibilities for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. If the Cowboys are playing against a pass-catching tight end, he can use Jones, whose size and speed allow him to match up against bigger players. If the Cowboys play a team with multi-wide receiver sets, Jones can line up at cornerback.

They key will be making plays. If Jones can show in training camp over the summer that he can create turnovers, then there’s no doubt he will be a “starter.”

Why Randy Gregory could start: We have to once again go back to the definition used for Jones. The Cowboys will be in their nickel defense a lot, and Gregory could be among their four best pass-rushers. Plus, there is the Greg Hardy suspension to consider. As of now, the Cowboys won’t have Hardy for the first 10 games of the season, so Gregory will have to play more, if not under the traditional definition of a starter.

Starting doesn’t mean much with how Marinelli wants to play his defensive linemen. He believes in rotating eight or nine players each game to keep their snaps low and their effort level high in a bid to wear down opposing offensive lines.

With Hardy, DeMarcus Lawrence and Jeremy Mincey, who led the Cowboys with six sacks last season, it could be tough for Gregory, the Cowboys’ second-round pick, to crack the top two. But Gregory showed in the spring he can get after the quarterback with some good work against All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith.

Gregory will likely be more of a specialist as a rookie than an every-down player. Listed at 235 pounds at the rookie minicamp, he is attempting to add bulk to his frame to get closer to 250 pounds. While that will take time, the Cowboys believe he plays bigger than he weighs. Add that to the speed he possesses, and the Cowboys believe he will be a major player on their defense in 2015.

Why La'el Collins could start: If not for an unprecedented set of circumstances before the draft, there is no way Collins would be with the Cowboys. He would have been a first-round pick -- perhaps top 15 -- and not an undrafted free agent.

But the Cowboys were able to capitalize on Collins’ fall out of the draft and sign him to a three-year, fully guaranteed contract as an undrafted free agent.

After initially opening up as a right tackle in organized team activities, the Cowboys have put Collins at left guard, where he will compete this summer with Ronald Leary, who has started the last two seasons at the position.

While Collins has first-round talent, he is not walking in as a Day 1 starter the way Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin -- actual first-round picks -- did in their rookie seasons. He will have to earn it. Collins is more comfortable on the left side since that's where he played at LSU. His strength and athleticism will help in his bid to win a starting job, but Leary will not go down without a fight and the Cowboys will not just give the job to Collins.
 

boozeman

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I have to say I am finding the reports about Byron Jones very encouraging and dare I say a bit exciting. He apparently is picking things up mentally very fast. Not too worried about Gregory and Collins...I think they will both be very good rookies.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I have to say I am finding the reports about Byron Jones very encouraging and dare I say a bit exciting. He apparently is picking things up mentally very fast. Not too worried about Gregory and Collins...I think they will both be very good rookies.
Yeah I was worried when we made the pick that he was just a workout worrier. I'm glad to read and hear that he is playing well. We all know physically he has upside so if he is already competing well I think that's a great sign.
 

p1_

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I have to say I am finding the reports about Byron Jones very encouraging and dare I say a bit exciting. He apparently is picking things up mentally very fast. Not too worried about Gregory and Collins...I think they will both be very good rookies.
I wonder how seeing Jones excel at this early stage is affecting Claibust. It's gotta chap his ass to see that in the midst of his glaring lack of success thus far.
 

boozeman

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I wonder how seeing Jones excel at this early stage is affecting Claibust. It's gotta chap his ass to see that in the midst of his glaring lack of success thus far.
I doubt it. I don't think the twerp has any professional pride.
 

Simpleton

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I have to say I am finding the reports about Byron Jones very encouraging and dare I say a bit exciting. He apparently is picking things up mentally very fast. Not too worried about Gregory and Collins...I think they will both be very good rookies.
Don't get sucked.

With that said, Jones is an elite athlete and is very intelligent/hard working, evidenced by his off the field pursuits and reputation. I have no idea if that normal intelligence translates to football intelligence or not, but generally speaking if you combine elite athleticism with football intelligence and work ethic, you have something special.
 

dallen

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I am still in shock that we got Gregory and Collins without spending a 1st round pick on either. I remember half-heartedly reading Sturm's breakdown of Gregory before the draft because I figured there was no way he'd make to us at the end of the 1st.
 

Simpleton

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I am still in shock that we got Gregory and Collins without spending a 1st round pick on either. I remember half-heartedly reading Sturm's breakdown of Gregory before the draft because I figured there was no way he'd make to us at the end of the 1st.
Agreed, it's really nice to look back at mock drafts leading up to the draft and seeing Gregory and Collins going in the top 15.
 

Rock Slamdance

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I'm glad we got a lineman not afraid to have his butthole eaten out. Needed that for a bit now.
 

boozeman

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I'm glad we got a lineman not afraid to have his butthole eaten out. Needed that for a bit now.
I have to say you have a point. Guys like Phil Costa drew the line at getting their salad tossed.
 
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