Previewing the Training Camp Battles of the Dallas Cowboys (Defense)

3. Dallas Cowboys Secondary

Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, DaRon Bland, Jourdan Lewis, Kelvin Joseph, Myles Brooks, Eric Scott, Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, Israel Mukumamu, Markquese Bell, Tyler Cole

Dink Kearney, my fellow wordsmith, dissects the ball-hawking skills of this talented group and elaborates on why they have the potential to lead the league in takeaways for the third year in a row.

Here are the Dallas Cowboys’ top three cornerbacks.

The team’s boundary cornerbacks are Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore. DaRon Bland’s versatility on the field is demonstrated by his ability to perform effectively both in the slot and outside positions.

Jourdan Lewis brings valuable veteran depth/insurance to the team. With his skills and adaptability, Israel Mukumamu offers versatility to the team, as he can play in the slot as a big corner/safety depending on the game’s demands.

There has never been any doubt regarding the athletic prowess of Joseph and the Cowboys are currently attempting to harness these abilities during the summer.

A positional shift seems to have contributed to the improvement during this offseason. At OTA practices, Joseph was seen taking reps as the defense’s nickel cornerback.

"“I think this is the best stretch for Kelvin that he’s had since he’s been here,” – Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy"

Despite being an undrafted free agent, Myles Brooks is completely prepared for the NFL. Eric Scott may be inexperienced and raw, but he has incredible traits.

The King Ghidorah of the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary is back in action. Jayron Kearse, Donovan Wilson, and Malik Hooker are set to resume their roles as starting safeties.

The big nickel package is highly valued by Dallas. Considering Jabril Cox and DeMarvion Overshown can play the role a hybrid role, should Dallas still go 4 deep in safety?

The unit comprising of Jayron Kearse as the head of Monster X, along with Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker, is complete. Wilson plays a crucial role in setting the tone for the group, while Hooker is responsible for leading the defense as the quarterback.

Donovan Wilson is regarded by The Football Scout as the best strong safety in the NFL and here’s why. Click here and check out his film breakdown on Wilson.

Hooker’s INTs this season could reach a career high with Stephon Gilmore joining to pair with Trevon Diggs, allowing Hooker to play more freely in his safety position. Reid Hanson, the main man, thinks so.

"*natural (not sure what “nature hands” would entail but probably something very different). – Reid Hanson"

Markquese Bell is a highly athletic, versatile safety with tons of upside. The game doesn’t seem too big for him and he has flashed when given the opportunity to play. Right now, I believe Bell can handle playing free safety.

Markquese Bell is a highly athletic, versatile safety with tons of upside. The game doesn’t seem too big for him and he has flashed when given the opportunity to play. Right now, I believe Bell can handle playing free safety.

Tyler Cole is entering his third year. Another young safety with potential upside. Hooker and Kearse are both in the final year of their contracts. Waiting in the wings as potential replacements are Bell and Cole.

Dallas may not want to risk exposing them to the waiver wire. It would be gut-wrenching to observe someone else profit from the Cowboys’ work in developing them both.

4. Dallas Cowboys Special Teams

How many core special teamers does the Dallas Cowboys have? Playing special teams is often the key for most rookies to secure a spot on the final roster before the regular season begins.

If you’re not starting on offense or defense, you must be a starter on special teams, or else there’s no room for you. Dorance Armstrong is a good example of this. His role as a core special teams player for years led to him becoming part of the defensive line rotation.

It’s up to Eric Scott, Isaiah Land, Devin Harper, Malik Davis, Hunter Luepke, Myles Brooks, DeMarvion Overshown to impress and make the Cowboys consider difficult roster choices.

The chances of KaVonte Turpin (Returner), C.J. Goodwin (Gunner), Bryan Anger (Punter), Trent Sieg (Long Snapper) securing spots on the roster are very high, as they are viewed as locks.

Turpin isn’t a sure thing, in my opinion. David Durden offers the added benefit of being a returner and a promising wide receiver. It’s a typical Saturday for David Durden as he continues to showcase his returner ability.

Jalen Moreno-Cropper’s skill set allows him to serve as a returner and have greater potential as a gadget guy. Even at this stage, his skill set as a wide receiver exceeds Turpin’s.

Even after reading Cowboy’s tweets about his speed, I can’t shake the image of Turpin colliding with a kicker.

Currently, Tristan Vizcaino is the only kicker on the Cowboys’ roster. I’m expecting Dallas to add some competition during training camp.

The countdown beings.