Five Questions facing the Dallas Cowboys' secondary

There multiple questions facing nearly every player on the Dallas Cowboys’ rebuilt secondary, what are the five we’re most interested in answering this preseason?

The Dallas Cowboys’ secondary is a complete mystery right now. Gone are the starters we’ve been accustomed to for so many seasons. In are a handful of rookies and free agents, of whom we know very little.

With the exception of Byron Jones at safety, there isn’t one spot that’s been locked down on this defensive secondary. And with so many rookies competing, starting spots likely won’t be officially decided until late in camp.

There are no shortage of questions facing this unit in training camp, but here are my top five questions I hope to answer in camp:

Who will the top three cornerbacks be?

As of now it appears the top three cornerbacks on the Cowboys are Orlando Scandrick, Nolan Carroll, and Chidobe Awuzie. The Cowboys, like many NFL teams prefer to use reliable veterans as much as possible, so it’s going to take consistent play for any of the young guys to unseat Scandrick and Carroll in the top three. BUT Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown have the skill set to do so and I fully expect at least one of them being in the top three by midseason.

With all of that said, Carroll faces a suspension and the depth chart is far from being set. This should be an amazing battle to watch because anything can charge from top to bottom.

How will Chidobe Awuzie be used?

I’m speculating Chidobe Awuzie to be used in variety of different ways in a variety of different positions. Much will depend on how he handles the speed of the NFL game and how quickly he picks up the different responsibilities of some safety roles.

Training camp will tell us a lot and I’m interested to see how creative the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff gets with him.

Are Jourdan Lewis’ ball skills as good in the NFL as they were in college?

Now that Jourdan Lewis is cleared from those domestic violence charges, he’s joining in on the Cowboys Camp fun. Lewis didn’t hit the ground running in mini-camp like Awuzie did, but he possess an amazing set of skills and is easily the most talented cornerback on the roster.

His ballskills are absolutely ridiculous and if he can show that in Cowboys Camp and preseason games, the Cowboys will find a way to get him on the field. Lewis is a player everyone should be excited about.

Is Anthony Brown getting a fair shot?

Why is everyone forgetting about Anthony Brown? The 2016 sixth round pick surprised everyone for his play last season, and was a valuable part of the 13-3 team. Not only did he become one the most important cornerbacks on the team, but his play improved with each passing week. As one of the fastest players on the roster, I’d have him starting on the outside in week 1. Why aren’t the Cowboys planning that?

I’m going to pay a ton of attention to Brown in camp because everything I’ve seen from him is better than what I think Scandrick or Carroll can provide as an outside cornerbacks.

Are Nolan Carroll and Orlando Scandrick just insurance in case the rookies don’t pan out?

I like Orlando Scandrick and think he has a lot to still offer this team. He has a tendency to get overvalued by some and disrespected by others, but I think his real value derives from his attitude. He’s a bitter competitor that never quits. I love that in a defensive back.

But as I just alluded to earlier, I’m not overly high on Nolan Carroll. I have to wonder if he is nothing more than an insurance policy should the young guys falter. If so, we’ll likely see him (or possibly Scandy) displaced in first team practice reps before the preseason ends.

Next: 5 Questions facing the Cowboys linebackers in 2017

What the Cowboys think of their veterans is unknown, but actions will speak louder than words and I’ll be paying attention to those actions early.

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Five Questions facing the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary

By Reid Hanson | Jul 27, 2017