FRISCO, Texas – Today will be a restless one for the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff and approximately 40 players, as the roster is finalized and the cut is made from 90 to 53 players. Tomorrow the wait will be over after players have endured months of strenuous training and drills throughout OTA’s, Training Camp, and the preseason.
The keys for the Cowboys heading into the 2018 season will be moving versatile receivers around on the field, finding the 6 and 7 guy to be swing tackles in the offensive line behind Joe Looney, and a safety to add depth with Xavier Wood’s hamstring injury and Kavon Frazier’s sore shoulder after a dislocation.
During the Texans preseason matchup, Michael Irvin commented on Dak Prescott’s ability as a dual-threat QB to beat defenses with his arm and his legs on a scramble. The Cowboys acquired several receivers through the draft and free agency to stretch the field at the X, Y, and slot positions to create more opportunities in the passing game. The hard part will be assessing their individual talents and lining them up in the right place at the line of scrimmage to capitalize on critical plays.
With Travis Frederick’s diagnosis with Guillain-Barre Syndrome and no timetable to his return, the Cowboys need a backup behind the new starter at center, Joe Looney. With the five starters in the o-line, the Cowboys will now need a sixth and seventh guy on the roster to be swing tacklers, who can play a variety of positions in the line and multi-task as a guard or tackle, in the event of an injury. This will free up more space on the roster for other needed positions.
The Cowboys were already thinner at safety with Byron Jones’ switch to cornerback, and now they are battling injury as well. Xavier Woods reinjured his hamstring that gave him issues during 2017, and Kavon Frazier is dealing with soreness from a dislocated shoulder. Frazier’s injury is not serious and he should be ready to go in the season opener against Carolina.
The Cowboys need better depth at the position to assist veteran Jeff Heath. Tyree Robinson is the most likely candidate to fill the position after having an impressive camp and preseason, but the Cowboys acquired Dominick Sanders and Jeron Johnson late in the preseason, and Johnson turned heads with his first debut wearing a star against the Texans. He amassed 6 tackles and is a former student of Kris Richard’s in Seattle and is familiar with his coaching style. The Cowboys will have a tough decision to make at safety.
