Cowboys Camp: Seven Questions for the Defense

With training camp just kicking off, here are seven questions facing the Dallas Cowboys defense.

Training camp is upon us and the Dallas Cowboys have a ton of questions that need answering before the regular season kicks off.

Here are our top seven questions that must be answered:

What will the defensive line rotation look like?

We know Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence will be manning the left defensive end spot but after that there are a lot of unknowns.

We expect Tyrone Crawford will play the bulk of the snaps at RDE with Randy Gregory, Dorance Armstrong, and Charles Tapper working behind him as pass-rushing specialists. Taco Charlton will likely rotate behind Tank at LDE.

In the middle, we know Maliek Collins will eventually earn a top-2 spot but with David Irving on hiatus (then suspension), anything could happen next to Collins. Jihad Ward has the inside track and next to him is Datone Jones. But I expect Kony Ealy to join the rotation inside as well with Brian Price being the traditional 1-tech plugger.

Can Jaylon Smith, Sean Lee, and Leighton Vander Esch be used at the same time?

We discussed this all offseason but it will mean so much more to see it in action. For months we’ve predicted more 3-LB sets than before (3-3-5 defense) and how Smith will used as a sort of LEO pass-rusher from the 2-point stance. But it’ll also be interesting to see LVE and Smith rotate at MIKE and play together in a traditional 4-3 base.

Will Xavier Woods claim the starting FS spot?

The Dallas Cowboys have been touting Woods as a free safety for quite a while but we have yet to see it on the field. Woods played excellent last season but that was as a man coverage safety out of the slot. Playing centerfield in Dallas’ single high coverage (it’s a cover 3), requires a completely different set of skills. Can Woods put the Earl Thomas rumors to bed or will growing pains just stoke the fire?

Can Randy Gregory make an impact?

He’s being held back as he manages weight and gets back into game shape so we’re going to have to be patient with this one. Randy Gregory is the most physically talented pass-rusher on the roster so everyone should be wishing him the best. But this is going to be one tough test for Gregory both on and off the field.

Will Jourdan Lewis carve out a role?

Jourdan Lewis is the most talented cornerback on this team yet the Dallas Cowboys have him positioned 4^th on the depth chart. That can’t last can it? I speculated in minicamp this was a motivational tool for both Lewis and Anthony Brown. It would be shocking if Lewis didn’t snag a top-3 spot midway through camp and I wouldn’t be surprised if Lewis was top dog by the end of the season.

Can Byron Jones and Chidobe Awuzie be strong outside CBs?

We’re all excited for Chido to build on his impressive rookie campaign and the change of scenery may  elevate Byron Jones’ play alongside him. Both players are tailor made for Kris Richard’s defense so they’ll be given every chance to succeed. If they stumble, Jourdan Lewis is there nipping at their heels.

This is going to be fun to watch.

Can Maliek Collins bounce back from another foot injury?

Maliek Collins had an amazing rookie season as he manned the under tackle but last season he regressed playing the less dynamic 1-tech alongside. After another foot injury, it’s hard to tell if Collins will be the star he was his rookie year, or the rotational man he was last year.

With David Irving on ice there’s a good chance Collins be used more often as a 1-gap attacker this season. That bodes well for his stats. But before he gets those precious opportunities, he’s going to have to earn it. That will not be easy to do with Datone Jones and Jihad Ward battling for snaps.

Ok fine. Those questions are just the tip of the iceberg, I suppose. What questions do you have that you hope the Dallas Cowboys can answer this camp?

• Published on 07/27/2018 at 12:01 PM
• Last updated at 07/27/2018 at 11:17 AM