We are just days away from the Dallas Cowboys reporting to camp. Look, we hear it over and over again, new year, the same result. I can be like the next guy, but it’s not all year round. I enjoy the ride every single year, and that will never change.
The Cowboys have a great deal to fix going into next season but let’s not let that overshadow the fact they still have plenty rolling into training camp in just a few days, and next season that can help them be successful. Here is what has me fired up heading into training camp and next season.
Jalen Tolbert, with Michael Gallup continuing to recover from his ACL surgery, Tolbert becomes the player for me to watch. He already built some chemistry with Dak Prescott and others in Miami early this month. Tolbert, the 2021 Sun Belt offensive player of the year at South Alabama, might see a heavy workload early with Gallup out. I am ready to see him cash in on this opportunity.
The growth between Micah Parsons and Dan Quinn will continue to blossom. Parsons is becoming the next great player for the Cowboys, and as long as he is on the defense, he will cause problems for the opposing offense, no doubt about it.
This might be the first time in a long time that non-cowboy fans have praised a player after just one year. He plays with fire and passion and always wants to get better. He even set the bar higher for himself heading into next season, and he had one heck of a rookie year.
That leads me to Quinn and the transformation he has made on the defense. The Cowboys were historically BAD in 2020, and under a new coordinator, Quinn in 2021, led the NFL in takeaways.
In my opinion, the Cowboys retaining Quinn was the best move they made this off-season. Rolling into camp, Dallas lost only one legitimate starter on defense. I expect him to dial in on the weakest part of the defense from last year and get to work quickly to correct it. Quinn said it best… He has unfinished business here.
Thunder and lightning. Say what you want about Ezekiel Elliott, but when he and Tony Pollard take the field next season, they will be in the conversation for the best duo in football, and there are some good ones. Please experiment in camp, see what works with these two, try some new things, and get them both on the field at the same time.
I spoke on this about a month ago, but I believe these two could be the first duo since 2009 to each rush for 1,000 yards on the ground. Elliott and Pollard could challenge for the best combo in football next season. We have not even seen the best of Pollard yet. It is time to expand the role of Pollard and let him create havoc everywhere he lines up on offense.
Lots of position battles will be going on, opportunities for some players to make a name for themselves, and a time for this team to continue to gel. I will be following closely to see who grabs a golden chance.
Still a lot of unknowns that will go on during camp, and I will be focused on that also, but these are just a few familiar names I would like to see gel a bit more. There is always room for growth. I am looking forward to camp.