Midway through the preseason, we’ve learned tons about the 2018 Dallas Cowboys. Some good, like the fact that Jaylon Smith is a very different player than last year’s version of himself. And some bad, like the team’s lack of depth at quite a few positions. However, there are questions that we haven’t gotten an answer to.
There are two games left to be played, including the so-called “dress rehearsal” week 3 game which will take place in Arlington, Texas versus the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday night. Even thought Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and other injured players will not be on the field, there are still some important questions that we want answers to.
What does WR Cole Beasley’s “new role” looks like?
All offseason we’ve been hearing about Cole Beasley emerging as the team’s new #1 wide receiver. Even though Michael Gallup has stolen the show in the preseason, Dak’s comments throughout the offseason point to Beasley. There are many ways to define a WR1 in the NFL, but comments about Cole Beasley taking a new role on this offense have been discussed a lot among fans and analysts.
We’ve heard about Beasley playing on the outside more than before and it’s tough to imagine that. However, Cole is a versatile player and could prove all doubters wrong. Since he’s been dealing with a groin injury, we haven’t been able to watch him during the preseason but that could change since he’s gotten back to practice this week.
I’m sure I am not the only waiting dying to see Beasley play in a way we haven’t really seen before. Hopefully, this works out for the offense.
Who is the Cowboys’ starting TE, if any?
Blake Jarwin and Geoff Swaim have been fighting for the starting position and even though Jarwin has seemingly getting ahead of Swaim, he really hasn’t done enough to put a final period to the tight end position battle.
Forget about filling Jason Witten’s shoes, the Cowboys do not have a clear-cut starter for week 1 yet. Will that change? If things keep going the way they are, I expect to see the same rotation we’ve seen in August continue all the way into the regular season.
We could see one of these guys earn the starting spot at some point over the next two weeks, though. But hey, at least we know it won’t be Rico Gathers, right?
Will WR Terrance Williams make the cut?
There are wide receivers in Dallas that deserve to be on the roster, but will be cut because there won’t be enough spots available. That’s the truth. We’re bound to be disappointed about one of our many “pet cats” in this position. Veteran Terrance Williams has experience and has had a good training camp performance so far.
But his roster spot isn’t guaranteed. There is too much young talent on the team. Many in Cowboys Nation don’t want T-Will to be one of the 53 guys on the roster, but the team seems higher on him than most fans, including myself. He’s been getting snaps with the first-team offense and could very well be locking up a roster spot.
I’m not buying it, yet. Williams should be fighting for his job against the younger guys with higher upside, such as Lance Lenoir.
What’s up with CB Jourdan Lewis?
One of the players Cowboys Nation has been most disappointed with is sophomore Jourdan Lewis. After an impressive rookie performance in 2017, the team has pushed him down to the back end of the depth chart and we’ve barely seen him in the preseason.
He’s struggled a bit, but has it been enough for Anthony Brown to be getting more playing time than him? The entire Lewis situation seems odd. Could it be that the team tries him out at safety? Or simply give him more playing time? We might get an answer before the regular season comes around.
Is Randy Gregory ready for primary role in week 1?
We know about his talents. We know that Randy Gregory is a defensive end with double-digit sacks potential. But will he be ready for a primary role when the Cowboys travel to Carolina to play the Panthers? He definitely might. He looked fine versus the Bengals last Saturday and didn’t seem to have any conditioning issues.
This might happen. It’s even more likely if Tyrone Crawford is getting time at DT due to Maliek Collin’s injury and David Irving’s suspension. There could be even more rotation at RDE, giving Randy Gregory the perfect chance to earn a starting role.
