The media was allowed access to the Cowboys OTAs yesterday, and Mike McCarthy said something very encouraging.
Jon Machota, who covers the Cowboys for The Athletic, tweeted yesterday afternoon that McCarthy has noticed a second-year jump from two key players that make a massive impact in 2023.
Edge rusher Sam Williams and wide receiver Jalen Tolbert. Two names that the Cowboys may need early and in the home stretch of the 2023 season.
He noted that Tolbert “has made some really nice plays,” in 7-on-7 and two-minute situations.
I don’t know about you all, but this is music to my ears.
When given the opportunity, we got a few flashes of what Williams could do last season, but Tolbert struggled to stay up to speed and get real snaps.
It will almost be impossible for him not to be better than a year ago.
He only started one game, appeared in eight, and was a healthy scratch the rest. He caught two targets for 12 yards.
Yes, It is only the first few days of June, but progress is progress. I understand that they aren’t even in pads or making contact yet.
Earlier this week, I wrote about the Cowboys’ 4th wide receiver being wide-open, which is still up for grabs.
The 24-year-old third-round pick in Tolbert might have the early edge now.
It is good to hear. There is nothing to get over-excited about just yet, but it is already off to a better start than last year.
Williams had a much more productive 2022. He had 15 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble.
So if McCarthy sees an even bigger jump from what he produced as a rookie, that is a good sign. The Cowboys’ edge is LOADED.
Williams could be a starter on a lot of teams, but with how good the Cowboys defensive line is, he will be rotated in and out.
Last week, Williams even set the bar high for himself in 2023.
He said he needs 10 sacks. “Ten sacks will open up a lot of opportunities for me,” he said. “Obviously, the team goal is to win a championship, but my personal goal and what I’m working towards is getting better with my hands and I need ten sacks.”
I can’t lie; I haven’t been this excited for a Cowboys team top to bottom in a while.
The team finally addressed the needs in the offseason, trading for Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore. They resigned key players, and the draft is still in the air, but the potential is there.
I heard much more good come from the media yesterday than negative on both sides of the ball.
You probably couldn’t have asked for a better start to the summer off-season programs—positivity from role players who will be needed during the year.
Once all the veteran starters get thrown into the mix, this might get pushed back a little bit, but for now, the arrow is trending in the right direction.
Plenty of more insight is on the way, but a good start to the summer months.