NFL
By: Greg Rector
The annual pilgrimage from the “Star In Frisco,” to Oxnard, CA takes place next week for the Dallas Cowboys training camp. Just as with every year the “Hope Springs Eternal,” season has arrived. For Cowboys fans, the 2022 season is one they’ve been focused on since the wild-card game loss to San Francisco. Before the camp begins I want to look at the question marks facing the Cowboys this season.
Defense
The concerns for the Cowboy’s defense are numerous in 2022. For starters, I don’t anticipate being able to repeat 34 turnovers, especially the 11 interceptions by Trevon Diggs. Top of the list for me regarding this defense is what can be reasonably expected by the edge-rushing group of Dorance Armstrong, Terrell Basham, Dante Fowler, Chauncey Golston, and rookie Sam Williams. It’s not so much in terms of rushing the passer that I am concerned, it’s against the run that I need to see this bunch be much better. Last year in the final 10 games the Cowboys’ defense was giving up 130 yards a game on the ground an unacceptable number. This also means the play of the defensive interior must be a whole lot better. Be it Neville Gallimore, Osa Odigizuwa, newcomer John Ridgeway or Quinton Bohanna, the ability to limit yards on the ground must be improved. We all witnessed the Niners rack up yards on the ground and that area needs to be improved significantly. Let’s move to the second level and what appears to be a fairly thin group at linebacker after you mention last year’s DROY Micah Parsons, Leighton Vander Esche returns on a prove-it deal than from the 2021 draft is Jabril Cox coming off an injury and let’s face it he really didn’t have a lot of work last year. After those three there’s not a lot of experience at all in that room. That is kind of scary. The secondary though at both safety and corner appears to be the deepest group and really think it’s about the growth of the 2021 draft picks in corners Kelvin Joseph, Nahshon Wright, and safety Israel Mukwamu and seeing if any of them can contribute to a larger degree this season. I don’t doubt Parsons will improve upon his rookie season at all.
Offense
As always the biggest question has to be Dak Prescott. We’ve all seen the stories about being in the best shape of his life and that’s all well and good, the bottom line is the fanbase wants to see Prescott lead this team to not just a playoff appearance, but victories come January. Make no mistake the numbers are good enough, it’s the end results that as you know I do not tag on any one position unlike most fans and the major sports media outlets. Wins and losses have never been a quarterback statistic. That’s why rather than the quarterback position my concern is with the five big boys in front of Prescott. We all know the group struggled especially with undisciplined penalties. McGovern and Collins are gone so the depth is a question mark going into camp as well. Can rookie Tyler Smith come in and challenge for the left guard spot and increase the physicality of the offensive line? Can Matt Waletzko make enough of an impression to be considered the backup tackle in order to allow Tyler to devote his full attention to playing at guard? Can Terence Steele continue to improve at right tackle along with Tyler Biadasz at the center position? Will the coaching staff figure out the right balance for the backfield duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard? The biggest concern outside of the offensive line for me has to be the wide receiver corps. Amari Cooper is gone and Ceedee Lamb is the new number one wideout, can he take that step up? Will James Washington and rookie Jalen Tolbert be able to contribute until veteran Michael Gallup can return to the lineup?
Coaching
Will Mike McCarthy know how much time is on the play clock week in and week out? Will Kellen Moore call plays that make the offense more effective at the right time? Can Dan Quinn keep up last year’s impressive work with the defense? Will there be a collective effort not to see a “nervous,” roster before a playoff game? Time will tell but as we all have recently seen if the answer is no McCarthy could be out of work by season’s end. Either the fanbase sees their desired option in Sean Payton or Quinn seems to be the two names at the top of the lists to replace McCarthy.
Intangibles
Will the placekicker be just that consistent factor who makes the big field goal attempts in close games unlike the guy last year? We all know there will be injuries, will they be as ruinous as the 2020 season, we certainly hope not. Will the infusion of young hungry players in the last two drafts carry this team into playoff wins? Finally, will the front office if need be make a deal or stand pat as they tend to do? As unlikely as it seems with only one week before camp starts, they could sign a free agent, though I am not holding my breath on that count. I just hope the team comes out of Oxnard healthy. I have said all off-season that I am fairly confident the Cowboys can become the first repeat division winner since 2004. I am sticking with that and despite the questions as training camp opening, I feel this is an 11-6 squad who could if things go their way repeat 12-5 from last year. The talent is there on paper, as it has often been for Dallas. Now the work begins to live up to that. I’m just glad that real football is at hand.
As always you can find me on Twitter @GregCowboys and you can get ready for the season with new Boys gear here.
