Last season, it appeared from the outside looking in that Dallas put all its eggs in one basket at the wide receiver position.
They told Amari Cooper thanks but no thanks for his services.
Michael Gallup avoided the PUP list but was still unavailable after his ACL injury. Cedrick Wilson, Jr. got his bag and left for the sunny skies of Miami.
Others pitched in, but Dallas hopes rested on their 2022 3rd-round draft pick, Jalen Tolbert.
That's where the problem existed.
While Jalen has been looking like a legit NFL player this off-season, we couldn't say the same about him in his inaugural season.
I'm happy to report that Dallas has learned from that oversight with this year's ensemble of players. Let's break them down and go through them one by one.
The top two tight end spots appear to be locks
To be fair to the Dallas Cowboys, they have found future Hall of Fame, Pro Bowl-type gems at the tight end spots without utilizing a first-round pick.
Jason Witten, Dalton Schultz, and even Blake Jarwin (to a certain degree) were good finds. They hope this year's 2nd round pick, Luke Schoonmaker, follows a similar tract.
The tight end position is essential in this offense and equally critical to the success of Dak Prescott.
He just recently returned from a foot ailment and there is really no pressure on him to be the next Witten, right now. At best, he'll be second fiddle, if not third, this season.
Instead of relying on Luke's potential, they already have a plan and a perfect one, I might add.
After Jake Ferguson's first preseason game, he went 3 out of 3 for 38 yards. It's my humble opinion, but Jake looks like the complete package, not just from a receiving standpoint.
Unfortunately for poor Sam Williams in the clip below, he was on the wrong side of Jake's improved blocking skills.
Daaaaaaamnnnnn, Jake Ferguson puts Sam Williams through the Earth here. My gawd. Better stop disrespectin my mans as a blocker. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/2XBKgLbIe7
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) August 10, 2023
All of that should bode well for the newcomer.
Luke will be able to progress slowly this season because of that and for fans, it should definitely be music to their ears.
If Johnathan Hankins can stay healthy, this D-Line will be formidable
It's been some time since Dallas pulled the trigger on selecting a defensive tackle in the first round. Before this offseason, Russell Maryland in 1992 was on the list.
Now, we can add Mazi Smith to that exclusive group.
Usually, I would have written about the mounting pressure he should expect, especially with this team's Super Bowl aspirations. That's not going to be the case.
Johnathan Hankins and Osa Odighizuwa will likely be your starting defensive tackles against the New York Giants in Week 1.
With that, Dan Quinn and Defensive line coach Aden Durden can focus on what he can be rather than what we need him to be now.
Micah understands the mentoring part of this and is seen below pouring into the rookie some of the tricks of the trade that was instilled in him.
With the help of @arnoldpayne, here's Micah Parsons doing some post practice hand work with Mazi Smith. pic.twitter.com/Vaqn1R6pt0
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 14, 2023
I'm confident Hankins and Osa will have the same mentoring impact on the rookie.
Granted, his first preseason game was uneven at best. But that's the point. I don't need him to be a star. I would prefer that he learns, finds a role in the rotation, and builds on his skill set.
Dallas' defense will be much better because of this. I guarantee it.
Damone Clark is ready to be Vander Esch's running mate
Dallas has used their third-round pick on a linebacker (DeMarvion Overshown) who, early on, appears to have some unique qualities that will get him on the field early and often.
When the season starts, I expect a manageable workload for the rookie.
That's because this team has a veteran at one of the linebacker spots (Leighton Vander Esch) and another up-and-coming 2nd year player (Damone Clark) who is having an equally impressive camp.
Clark seemed like a down-right idiotic pick, not because of his play but because of the neck problem hanging over him last year.
Now that he has been playing, the front office and the coaching staff are looking more brilliant than ever.
He will allow Dan Quinn to bring Overshown along slowly this season. The rookie can expect to see playing time on special teams and be a part of defensive packages. However, I wouldn't expect to see him forced into the starting lineup unless something changes.
Here is the fork in the road. My expectations and DeMarvion's play on the field last Saturday may not agree. He looked like a starter last week and he can only get better.
I think the #Cowboys might have found something in DeMarvion Overshown. pic.twitter.com/ObuUtjd244
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) August 12, 2023
Quinn stood on the table for this guy, and for good reason. While we won't need him to be the day one starter, that's not to say he couldn't be it.
Dallas has learned from the Jalen Tolbert fiasco last year. He landed in the deep end, which produced no positive results.
Now, a veteran or an up-and-comer is sitting ahead of these players. Dallas is now ready to reap the rewards.
