If you’ve been paying attention to the Dallas Cowboys training camp, you know the competition is in the air.
The defense walks around with a big stick and swings it occasionally.
The offense shows their explosiveness and the potential to be lethal when needed.
The blue-and-white scrimmage this past weekend highlighted some of the talent that Dallas has at its disposal.
It is not hard to believe there is a lot to be excited about.
Regardless of what the Cowboys’ cynics have to say, this team packs a punch on offense and defense.
This statement is not merely about the NFC East teams but compared to all teams in the NFL.
There are three noteworthy things about Dallas that we should take into consideration and be excited about.
The RUnning backs are being used to their strengths
Early in training camp, Dallas Cowboys running game reflects a different level of efficiency.
Namely, emphasizing more in the short passing game will pay dividends later in the season.
While Dallas only has one guy whose name is cemented on the depth chart, all of them have the ability to impact the passing game.
Tony Pollard’s name speaks for itself. He looks sharper than he was prior to his injury.
His natural receiving ability makes it second nature to catch the ball and convert from runner to wide out in one fluid motion.
Deuce Vaughn is just the spark plug oozing with game-breaking ability tailor made to complement starter Tony Pollard.
Could it be the fact that he is plastered on twitter daily showing his ability with the ball that has fans hyped for the upcoming season?
Either way, he is proving that he is far from a gimmick player.
Deuce grabbed a throw from Dak in the flat and took Sheldrick Redwine for a spin free of charge.
As a student at USC, Ronald Jones didn’t receive recognition for his proficiency in snagging receptions.
However, he has made the most of his opportunities in the NFL by hauling 77 receptions on 101 targets in his four seasons.
Don’t get me wrong, the backup running back competition is still wide open after Pollard.
But having receiving abilities should be a prerequisite.
Dan Quinn won’t find himself in last year’s predicament
Near the end of last season, Dallas had everyone and their moms trying their hand at the cornerback position.
Watching Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis’ injuries was difficult.
I bit my tongue at the blasphemy I spoke of about Brown as a CB2.
Regardless of his shortcomings, he was desperately needed in a big way.
Fast forward to this offseason, and the tides have indeed turned.
This point of the story goes so far beyond Stephon Gilmore. Don’t get me wrong – he was a fabulous addition.
However, loading up on potential depth on the backend of that unit has been outstanding.
Some of these guys may not make the team, but Eric Scott, Jr., D’Angelo Mandell, Myles Brooks, holdovers, Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright provide this team with heightened competition.
The trio at the top of the depth chart is as good as any starters in the league.
Including Lewis, if Dallas desires to keep him around, this team has an abundance of talent at the position.
Gone are the days of hoping that we could get a resurgence from Xavier Rhodes.
Now we are faced with the hope of stashing someone on the practice squad knowing there is a strong possibility of losing a good player.
Brooks, for example, may not be a finished product but could be the perfect prospect to call up should someone go down with an injury.
Nevertheless, the cornerback position that ended the season as a liability last year is now a headliner.
That’s something to be grateful for.
The bookends of the offensive line are still healthy
As I make this statement, I want to start by knocking on the proverbial wood.
The Dallas Cowboys have completed the first week and a half of their training camp, and the good news is that Terence Steele and Tyron Smith have remained injury-free.
This point is crucial for the team, and they can now confidently focus on their upcoming games.
That is a huge accomplishment, especially for the latter.
The potential of this offensive line, if both guys remain healthy, increases exponentially.
Flexibility becomes a reality for this team as Tyler Smith can continue playing on the interior (for now).
Not to mention, Mike Solari can continue tending to the right side while Zack Martin is home losing money.
If and when Martin returns to the team to couple with these tackles, it becomes a recipe for success.
Yes, they would have to figure out who the swing tackle is, but that would not be as huge a concern.
As a fan, knowing that the offensive line has been injury free should be a sigh of relief and a reason to celebrate.
