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DCC 4Life
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By David Moore, Jon Machota and Kate Hairopoulos
The Cowboys' offseason program is winding down. This is the final week of organized team activities, followed by next week's full-squad minicamp. The players then are off until late July and the start of training camp in Oxnard, Calif. The Cowboys Beat Writers Roundtable is taking a summer vacation as well. But first we debate a few more pressing topics. In this pre-summer vacation installment, we discuss the players with the most buzz this offseason, second-year players with the most to prove and some under-the-radar acquisitions.
Which player has generated the most buzz at The Star this offseason?
David Moore: Let's go with Randall Cobb. He's got a lot working in his favor in the buzz department. He has a profile from playing with Green Bay for all those seasons. He's a veteran presence the Cowboys needed to replace the loss of Cole Beasley. He's been lining up at several different spots during the sessions open to the media during organized team activities as reporters look for the first signs of what shape an offense under the direction of Kellen Moore will take. He's made a strong first impression.
Jon Machota: There isn't one player who has generated significantly more buzz than others. I'd say Randall Cobb and Robert Quinn have stood out most because they are new players working with the first-team units during OTAs. Cobb brings intrigue to the offense because he's an experienced play-maker, he's expected to play a lot, and he has a different skill set than the player he's replacing - Cole Beasley. If Cobb is able to stay healthy, he should be a significant part of the offense and used in a variety of ways. Defensively, it's Quinn because he's expected to make an immediate impact at right defensive end, playing opposite of one of the NFL's top pass rushers, DeMarcus Lawrence. Cobb and Quinn not only have proven they can play at a high level on Sundays, they're both in one-year contracts, so they need to play well to command more money next year in free agency. And both have stood out during the OTA practices open to reporters.
Kate Hairopoulos: You could define buzz in different ways. Is it QB Dak Prescott, with his looming $30 million a season contract and the expectations going into Year 4? Is it RB Zeke Elliott, he of the infamous TMZ tape from the Electric Daisy Carnival in Vegas that overshadowed a positive offseason? Is it newcomers WR Randall Cobb and RB Tony Pollard for the versatility they could add to the offense? It's great to see C Travis Frederick back after missing all of last season to an autoimmune disorder. TE Jason Witten is back in the locker room, almost like Monday Night Football never happened. Take your pick, plenty of storylines to go with as usual with these Cowboys.
Which second-year player has the most to prove?
David Moore: You could mention any player from last year's draft class other than Leighton Vander Esch here. I'll go with Dalton Schultz. Jason Witten's return puts him in an unusual spot. He's going to lose snaps to the veteran and he's not the receiving threat that Blake Jarwin is at the tight end position. That's the question with Schultz. What's his niche? He's a nice player, but he's not a dominant blocker or impact receiver. It could be easy for him to get lost in the rotation if he doesn't show dramatic improvement from last season.
Jon Machota: Connor Williams. He started 10 games as a rookie, but it was clear that he needed to add bulk. Williams has gained roughly 15 pounds this offseason. He worked with the first-team offense at left tackle during the first week of OTAs, but that was only because the team was limited at the position. He's expected to compete for the starting left guard spot that he started at last year. But he'll definitely have competition during training camp. Third-round pick Connor McGovern is looking to start and he has the ability to play any of the interior line positions. The other four starting spots across the line are set. Left guard is the one everybody will be watching. The Cowboys didn't draft Williams to be a reserve. He'll get every opportunity to win the job, be he'll have to earn it.
Hairopoulos: Well, WR Michael Gallup is my pick to have a breakout year in 2019. This won't come as a surprise because of the progress he made during his rookie season, particularly in the second half of it. One of his best games came in the divisional playoff loss to the Rams - six catches for 119 yards. The coaches are raving about him and he said he feels more comfortable and confident. Fellow receivers Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb plus other offensive weapons should only open things up for Gallup to show off his big-play ability on the outside.
Aside from WR Randall Cobb, which of the pre-draft free agent additions should we be talking about more heading toward
minicamp and training camp?
David Moore: This one is easy for me. Jason Witten. Yes, he's been a Pro Bowl fixture for most of his career. He appears destined for the Hall of Fame. But he wasn't here last season, and it showed. The Cowboys were 10 games deep into last season before they converted more than 50 percent of their third down opportunities. The offense improved late in the regular season -- thanks largely to Amari Cooper -- but was a dismal 5-of-21 on third down conversions (23.8 percent) in its two postseason games. The Cowboys are a run-first offense and will be again this season, no matter what changes Kellen Moore brings. For a run-first offense to dominate and flourish it must be more efficient on third down than the Cowboys were last season. Witten's return will make a difference.
Jon Machota: Kerry Hyder. If the question was about just pre-draft additions, I'd say Robert Quinn, but the Cowboys added him via trade. Hyder has been noticeable during OTA practices, playing defensive end with the second team. Rod Marinelli loves his defensive line rotation and I could see Hyder being in that mix during the season. He's a proven veteran who had an eight-sack season while playing 4-3 defensive end in 2016 for the Detroit Lions. Lawrence and Quinn are expected to start with Tyrone Crawford also getting significant time at end. After that, the snaps are up for grabs. There's no timetable for when Randy Gregory might return. Dorance Armstrong should be a factor. Taco Charlton is currently in a walking boot and not participating in OTAs. And then there are the rookies: Joe Jackson and Jalen Jelks. Hyder has as good a chance as any of those mentioned to be a key reserve.
Kate Hairopoulos: The Cowboys make a habit of covering their bases before the draft so they can free themselves to take the best players instead of drafting for need - to an extent. They signed S George Iloka to a one-year deal for this reason in free agency. Then they passed on several safeties when their first pick came around in the second round. But will Iloka even make it to the season opener against the New York Giants? He'll need to make a push in next week's minicamp and this summer's training camp to challenge Jeff Heath and provide any real jolt to the back end of the defense.
The Cowboys' offseason program is winding down. This is the final week of organized team activities, followed by next week's full-squad minicamp. The players then are off until late July and the start of training camp in Oxnard, Calif. The Cowboys Beat Writers Roundtable is taking a summer vacation as well. But first we debate a few more pressing topics. In this pre-summer vacation installment, we discuss the players with the most buzz this offseason, second-year players with the most to prove and some under-the-radar acquisitions.
Which player has generated the most buzz at The Star this offseason?
David Moore: Let's go with Randall Cobb. He's got a lot working in his favor in the buzz department. He has a profile from playing with Green Bay for all those seasons. He's a veteran presence the Cowboys needed to replace the loss of Cole Beasley. He's been lining up at several different spots during the sessions open to the media during organized team activities as reporters look for the first signs of what shape an offense under the direction of Kellen Moore will take. He's made a strong first impression.
Jon Machota: There isn't one player who has generated significantly more buzz than others. I'd say Randall Cobb and Robert Quinn have stood out most because they are new players working with the first-team units during OTAs. Cobb brings intrigue to the offense because he's an experienced play-maker, he's expected to play a lot, and he has a different skill set than the player he's replacing - Cole Beasley. If Cobb is able to stay healthy, he should be a significant part of the offense and used in a variety of ways. Defensively, it's Quinn because he's expected to make an immediate impact at right defensive end, playing opposite of one of the NFL's top pass rushers, DeMarcus Lawrence. Cobb and Quinn not only have proven they can play at a high level on Sundays, they're both in one-year contracts, so they need to play well to command more money next year in free agency. And both have stood out during the OTA practices open to reporters.
Kate Hairopoulos: You could define buzz in different ways. Is it QB Dak Prescott, with his looming $30 million a season contract and the expectations going into Year 4? Is it RB Zeke Elliott, he of the infamous TMZ tape from the Electric Daisy Carnival in Vegas that overshadowed a positive offseason? Is it newcomers WR Randall Cobb and RB Tony Pollard for the versatility they could add to the offense? It's great to see C Travis Frederick back after missing all of last season to an autoimmune disorder. TE Jason Witten is back in the locker room, almost like Monday Night Football never happened. Take your pick, plenty of storylines to go with as usual with these Cowboys.
Which second-year player has the most to prove?
David Moore: You could mention any player from last year's draft class other than Leighton Vander Esch here. I'll go with Dalton Schultz. Jason Witten's return puts him in an unusual spot. He's going to lose snaps to the veteran and he's not the receiving threat that Blake Jarwin is at the tight end position. That's the question with Schultz. What's his niche? He's a nice player, but he's not a dominant blocker or impact receiver. It could be easy for him to get lost in the rotation if he doesn't show dramatic improvement from last season.
Jon Machota: Connor Williams. He started 10 games as a rookie, but it was clear that he needed to add bulk. Williams has gained roughly 15 pounds this offseason. He worked with the first-team offense at left tackle during the first week of OTAs, but that was only because the team was limited at the position. He's expected to compete for the starting left guard spot that he started at last year. But he'll definitely have competition during training camp. Third-round pick Connor McGovern is looking to start and he has the ability to play any of the interior line positions. The other four starting spots across the line are set. Left guard is the one everybody will be watching. The Cowboys didn't draft Williams to be a reserve. He'll get every opportunity to win the job, be he'll have to earn it.
Hairopoulos: Well, WR Michael Gallup is my pick to have a breakout year in 2019. This won't come as a surprise because of the progress he made during his rookie season, particularly in the second half of it. One of his best games came in the divisional playoff loss to the Rams - six catches for 119 yards. The coaches are raving about him and he said he feels more comfortable and confident. Fellow receivers Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb plus other offensive weapons should only open things up for Gallup to show off his big-play ability on the outside.
Aside from WR Randall Cobb, which of the pre-draft free agent additions should we be talking about more heading toward
minicamp and training camp?
David Moore: This one is easy for me. Jason Witten. Yes, he's been a Pro Bowl fixture for most of his career. He appears destined for the Hall of Fame. But he wasn't here last season, and it showed. The Cowboys were 10 games deep into last season before they converted more than 50 percent of their third down opportunities. The offense improved late in the regular season -- thanks largely to Amari Cooper -- but was a dismal 5-of-21 on third down conversions (23.8 percent) in its two postseason games. The Cowboys are a run-first offense and will be again this season, no matter what changes Kellen Moore brings. For a run-first offense to dominate and flourish it must be more efficient on third down than the Cowboys were last season. Witten's return will make a difference.
Jon Machota: Kerry Hyder. If the question was about just pre-draft additions, I'd say Robert Quinn, but the Cowboys added him via trade. Hyder has been noticeable during OTA practices, playing defensive end with the second team. Rod Marinelli loves his defensive line rotation and I could see Hyder being in that mix during the season. He's a proven veteran who had an eight-sack season while playing 4-3 defensive end in 2016 for the Detroit Lions. Lawrence and Quinn are expected to start with Tyrone Crawford also getting significant time at end. After that, the snaps are up for grabs. There's no timetable for when Randy Gregory might return. Dorance Armstrong should be a factor. Taco Charlton is currently in a walking boot and not participating in OTAs. And then there are the rookies: Joe Jackson and Jalen Jelks. Hyder has as good a chance as any of those mentioned to be a key reserve.
Kate Hairopoulos: The Cowboys make a habit of covering their bases before the draft so they can free themselves to take the best players instead of drafting for need - to an extent. They signed S George Iloka to a one-year deal for this reason in free agency. Then they passed on several safeties when their first pick came around in the second round. But will Iloka even make it to the season opener against the New York Giants? He'll need to make a push in next week's minicamp and this summer's training camp to challenge Jeff Heath and provide any real jolt to the back end of the defense.