With only one more Dallas Cowboys preseason game to go, many of the roster decisions have been made at The Star. While it remains to be seen which starters, if any, will play on Friday, there will still be roster spots to be won and things to watch for.
Barring injuries, it is fairly safe to say all but one or two starting spots is 100% locked, it could very well be the entire starting roster. After a strong (although slightly overshadowed by special team) showing in the second game, depth still has some questions and a short time to find answers.
In game two, all anyone could talk about was KaVontae Turpin and his return skills. This overshadowed a decently strong showing my the defensive line, some ups and downs by the offense, some good and bad in the secondary, and a continuance of a strong running attack. Turpin probably locked up his roster spot as a returner and gadget player, so if the starters don’t play, Turpin may not either.
Regardless if the starters play or not, there is still a lot to watch for the Dallas Cowboys preseason game three.
If there are any positions still up in the air with regard to the starters it is along the offensive line. While it is thought that Tyler Biadasz and Tyler Smith are locked in at center and left guard, a strong showing by Matt Farniok on Sunday could give a pause for a final evaluation.
We also know the Cowboys like Connor McGovern, and while they drafted Tyler Smith early, the battle could be closer than many think. Swing tackle concerns may force the Cowboys to adjust unless they can fill it with the 53 man cuts coming. Their swing tackle may not be on the roster.
Depth is still a huge question as several positions and the first one most want an answer to is backup quarterback. While you hope to never use them, a strong backup can win you a game or two if your starter goes down for a short time.
Cooper Rush and Will Grier are battling out for this position and a hard decision could be in store for the front office. But cornerback has become quickly a concern outside of all the depth not named Daron Bland. It appears the kicking competition might be over with the way the Cowboys had Brett Maher try a 60+ yard field goal. However, I don’t think it is set in stone as of just yet.
Running back has the depth, but the order is still a bit of a mystery after the top two. Both Malik Davis and Aaron Shampklin have made the most of their opportunities, and while Shampklin is probably the odd man out, the practice squad does need bodies.
If the starters do play in game three, watch for the Cowboys to start rotating certain players in with the starters. This could give some insight to how they see the depth. The guys highlighted at the end of the game are on the bubble, but the Cowboys could allow those players to essentially “audition” for other teams. This is always fun as you see guys trying to make plays all over the field, but it can get sloppy quickly.
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With one game left and then teams having to cut their roster to 53, this is also a time to see if the front office makes any moves. If they do, the position they grab could give some insight to how they are seeing their own roster and depth. With probably around 10 roster positions total up for grabs (and honestly probably less than that) this will be the last chance guys have to make an impression. Hopefully, the game provides not only information, but fun.