Cowboys Camp Highlights (Mon): Standouts aplenty!

The Dallas Cowboys have now concluded their first week of training camp. Here are notes and observations from Cowboys Camp Week 1:

Week one is in the books from Cowboys Camp and it featured some excellent football from some very important players. Rookies, veterans, and free agents all stepped up. And while news of the suspensions dominated the headlines, the play on the field this past week spoke the loudest to Cowboys Nation.

The Secondary

This past offseason the Dallas Cowboys committed to rebuilding their secondary. Gone are both starting cornerbacks. Gone is the starting strong safety and a heavily used reserve safety. The Cowboys gambled that all could not only be replaced, but potentially be upgraded, for a much lower cost. So far, it looks like the Cowboys have won that wager.

Anthony Brown has come back in year two with an edge. His coverage and his physicality have been on point in training camp. He’s going to be tough to keep out of the starting lineup when the season opens against New York.

Third year pro and starting free safety, Byron Jones, seems to be taking that next step. For those who are really paying attention, Jones has done very well in coverage his first two years in the league. His detractors point to his lack of interceptions as an indictment, but that tide seems to be changing. Jones has been on the winning end of most battles and looks like he could be potentially dominant in 2017.

The rookies, Chidobe Awuzie and Marquez White, have been making plays as well. Awuzie is the MVP of the rookie class so far and frankly looks better than any rookie DB I’ve seen in his first week of camp. If he can sustain that play, and I think he can, he could be huge for the Cowboys.

New Backup QB

Luke McCown answers the wishes of many by joining the Cowboys. But as we discussed earlier in the summer, Kellen Moore is going to be tough to displace as the QB2. In fact, Kellen is the perfect guy for the job as long as Dak doesn’t suffer a significant injury. More on that below:

Related Story: Why Kellen Moore is the perfect backup in Dallas

The D-Line

All things considered, the defensive line is playing pretty well. The un-pedigreed bunch is going up against the NFL’s best offensive line on a daily basis. Once we put that in perspective you have to be pleased.

Jaylon Smith!

Jaylon Smith has continued his stellar play and participated in back-to-back practices for the first time as a pro. As I’ve mentioned in every post, he’s not 100% but he still looks good. Each day it appears he’s carving out a bigger role on the team in 2017.

Injuries

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Chaz Green is injured…

With Green out likely the first two preseason games, Jonathan Cooper has a great opportunity to claim the last available starting spot on the offensive line.

Ryan Switzer is still out with a bum hamstring. With Jourdan Lewis joining him on the sideline, Darren McFadden got to return some punts

Rod Smith?

Rod Smith has quietly becoming a real option in the running game. He seems to be moving ahead of Alfred Morris on the depth chart, serving as both a runner, special teamer, and lead blocker.

Next: Who gets more offensive snaps in 2017: Switzer or Gathers?

Finally, props to two veterans everyone loves to hate. CB Nolan Carroll and WR Brice Butler have both been looking strong in camp. The veterans aren’t giving up ground to their rookie challenges at all.