Post by Otis B. Driftwood on May 23, 2017 7:15:31 GMT -5
5 things to watch at Cowboys OTAs: From Jaylon Smith's knee to Rico Gathers' time to shine
For some reason, the NFL calls them "organized team activities" this time of year.
But, as former NBA guard Allen Iverson once infamously said, "We're talking about practice!"
Phase 3 of the Cowboys' offseason program began Monday. On Tuesday, the Cowboys will begin three straight weeks of OTAs.
The players will be in helmets but no pads. For the first time since Green Bay dashed their Super Bowl hopes in early January, the Cowboys will work offense vs. defense. Of course, there will be no tackling and the practice won't reach the intensity level of a training camp workout.
The Cowboys' rookie class will mix with the veterans as the club works 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 as well.
"We want to get them involved," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said of the rookies. "The veteran players are ahead of them, so we have to be careful how we get them phased into it. But we will get them out there. They have to learn fast."
The Cowboys' offseason program concludes with a minicamp from June 13-15. The club will then be off until the first training camp practice July 24 in Oxnard, Calif.
Several Cowboys veterans have moved on this offseason, with Tony Romo chief among them, but plenty of storylines remain. Here are five things to watch during the Cowboys' OTAs:
1. All eyes will be on linebacker Jaylon Smith
When it comes to offseason intrigue for the Cowboys, nothing trumps the health of second-year linebacker Jaylon Smith.
Smith is expected to practice with the Cowboys for the first time this week (but not on consecutive days) after sitting out his entire rookie season recovering from a major left knee injury he suffered in his final game at Notre Dame.
The nerve in Smith's leg has started to regenerate, according to club officials, but isn't 100 percent. The second-round pick still suffers from drop foot and has to practice with a brace.
The Cowboys expect Smith to start at middle linebacker alongside Sean Lee, but it's still to be determined how closely he'll resemble the dominant linebacker he was in college before his 16-month recovery from surgery.
2. Tight end Rico Gathers will get time to shine
Like Smith, second-year tight end Rico Gathers also had a redshirt rookie season. However, Gathers was healthy. The former Baylor basketball player needed a year to get his feet wet as part of the Cowboys' practice squad because he hasn't played football since he was an eighth-grader.
The Cowboys believe Gathers has made great progress. They'll get to see how much starting this week because he'll be No. 2 on the depth chart behind only Jason Witten.
Tight ends James Hanna (knee) and Geoff Swaim (foot) are still recovering from surgeries and won't take part in much this offseason so that they'll be ready to go by training camp. That leaves a lot of practice repetitions for Gathers.
"He needs to play as many snaps as he can," Garrett said. "We are going to give him every chance. We are going to coach him hard. Typically he has responded well to that."
3. The Cowboys are looking for a new starting right tackle
Veteran right tackle Doug Free retired this offseason, putting a chink in the armor of arguably the league's top offensive line.
The Cowboys will spend offseason practices identifying a replacement. Left guard La'el Collins said he's been working exclusively at right tackle leading up to OTAs. But moving Collins to tackle would create a hole at guard.
Chaz Green, a third-round pick in 2015 out of Florida, will also get a chance to win the job at right tackle.
If Collins sticks at right tackle, Jonathan Cooper or Joe Looney will be expected to start at left guard.
4. Will Dak Prescott take on more of a leadership role?
For the first time, Dak Prescott will lead the Cowboys' offense in OTAs without Romo looking over his shoulder.
Prescott will have an opportunity to take on more of a leadership role. That's something his veteran teammates, including Witten and Lee, have urged him to do more. They've called upon him to speak up more in meetings, Witten said.
Prescott's presence won't be the only thing under the microscope in practices, with some scouts and analysts forecasting a sophomore slump for the reigning Rookie of the Year.
5. Which new cornerbacks will be at the nickel spot vs. outside?
The Cowboys have spent the offseason overhauling their secondary. Now they must identify the best spot for each cornerback to play.
Rookie cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis can both play inside at the nickel spot or outside.
But the Cowboys ideally want to keep veteran Orlando Scandrick at the nickel cornerback spot, secondary coach Joe Baker said. Lewis will likely compete for playing time there as well. The Cowboys will likely work Awuzie more outside at first along with veteran free-agent addition Nolan Carroll, second-year player Anthony Brown and sixth-round pick Marquez White.
Brandon George
Dallas Morning News
But, as former NBA guard Allen Iverson once infamously said, "We're talking about practice!"
Phase 3 of the Cowboys' offseason program began Monday. On Tuesday, the Cowboys will begin three straight weeks of OTAs.
The players will be in helmets but no pads. For the first time since Green Bay dashed their Super Bowl hopes in early January, the Cowboys will work offense vs. defense. Of course, there will be no tackling and the practice won't reach the intensity level of a training camp workout.
The Cowboys' rookie class will mix with the veterans as the club works 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 as well.
"We want to get them involved," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said of the rookies. "The veteran players are ahead of them, so we have to be careful how we get them phased into it. But we will get them out there. They have to learn fast."
The Cowboys' offseason program concludes with a minicamp from June 13-15. The club will then be off until the first training camp practice July 24 in Oxnard, Calif.
Several Cowboys veterans have moved on this offseason, with Tony Romo chief among them, but plenty of storylines remain. Here are five things to watch during the Cowboys' OTAs:
1. All eyes will be on linebacker Jaylon Smith
When it comes to offseason intrigue for the Cowboys, nothing trumps the health of second-year linebacker Jaylon Smith.
Smith is expected to practice with the Cowboys for the first time this week (but not on consecutive days) after sitting out his entire rookie season recovering from a major left knee injury he suffered in his final game at Notre Dame.
The nerve in Smith's leg has started to regenerate, according to club officials, but isn't 100 percent. The second-round pick still suffers from drop foot and has to practice with a brace.
The Cowboys expect Smith to start at middle linebacker alongside Sean Lee, but it's still to be determined how closely he'll resemble the dominant linebacker he was in college before his 16-month recovery from surgery.
2. Tight end Rico Gathers will get time to shine
Like Smith, second-year tight end Rico Gathers also had a redshirt rookie season. However, Gathers was healthy. The former Baylor basketball player needed a year to get his feet wet as part of the Cowboys' practice squad because he hasn't played football since he was an eighth-grader.
The Cowboys believe Gathers has made great progress. They'll get to see how much starting this week because he'll be No. 2 on the depth chart behind only Jason Witten.
Tight ends James Hanna (knee) and Geoff Swaim (foot) are still recovering from surgeries and won't take part in much this offseason so that they'll be ready to go by training camp. That leaves a lot of practice repetitions for Gathers.
"He needs to play as many snaps as he can," Garrett said. "We are going to give him every chance. We are going to coach him hard. Typically he has responded well to that."
3. The Cowboys are looking for a new starting right tackle
Veteran right tackle Doug Free retired this offseason, putting a chink in the armor of arguably the league's top offensive line.
The Cowboys will spend offseason practices identifying a replacement. Left guard La'el Collins said he's been working exclusively at right tackle leading up to OTAs. But moving Collins to tackle would create a hole at guard.
Chaz Green, a third-round pick in 2015 out of Florida, will also get a chance to win the job at right tackle.
If Collins sticks at right tackle, Jonathan Cooper or Joe Looney will be expected to start at left guard.
4. Will Dak Prescott take on more of a leadership role?
For the first time, Dak Prescott will lead the Cowboys' offense in OTAs without Romo looking over his shoulder.
Prescott will have an opportunity to take on more of a leadership role. That's something his veteran teammates, including Witten and Lee, have urged him to do more. They've called upon him to speak up more in meetings, Witten said.
Prescott's presence won't be the only thing under the microscope in practices, with some scouts and analysts forecasting a sophomore slump for the reigning Rookie of the Year.
5. Which new cornerbacks will be at the nickel spot vs. outside?
The Cowboys have spent the offseason overhauling their secondary. Now they must identify the best spot for each cornerback to play.
Rookie cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis can both play inside at the nickel spot or outside.
But the Cowboys ideally want to keep veteran Orlando Scandrick at the nickel cornerback spot, secondary coach Joe Baker said. Lewis will likely compete for playing time there as well. The Cowboys will likely work Awuzie more outside at first along with veteran free-agent addition Nolan Carroll, second-year player Anthony Brown and sixth-round pick Marquez White.
Brandon George
Dallas Morning News
