Photo Courtesy: Dallas Cowboys
FRISCO, Texas — July is here which means the return of football.
Dallas Cowboys’ 2021 training camp will officially commence in a week. The month of preparation in Oxnard, California will provide a blueprint for the upcoming season. As players emerge on the practice field, rosters will be finalized and starting jobs set as competition breeds top-tier talent. A fresh start begins. Rookies will put on pads for the first time and veterans will return, aiming to make a mark.
Second-year head coach Mike McCarthy will strive to rally the team and create a positive culture after last season’s disastrous 6-10 conclusion. A defensive rebuild is underway with Dan Quinn taking over the unit and fans will get their first glimpse at his vision and direction. Dallas could have a turnaround year and become contenders for the NFC East title. It is there for grabs and training camp will set the foundation.
This begs the question, as training camp begins, which Cowboys’ players should we be watching closely?
Dak Prescott, Quarterback
This is an obvious one. Dak Prescott will make his much-anticipated return after his 2020 season ended prematurely following a compound right ankle fracture and dislocation in Week 5. Prior to his injury, Prescott was in the offensive MVP conversation with record-setting numbers and production as the Cowboys’ signal caller. Fast-forward and he is ready for a comeback. The staff continuously stressed that Prescott was “ahead of schedule” in his rehab and his presence at OTAs was not a contradiction, but rather evidence.
With his movement and throwing motion, he showed no limitations throughout minicamp. Prescott participated in everything but team drills as a precaution. The Mississippi State product took part in 11-on-7 work, where the offensive line is on the field, but the defensive line was not, to prevent a player potentially rolling onto his mended ankle. Prescott is not only the face of the franchise but the heart of the team. Having him back under center will elevate the rest of the offense in Kellen Moore’s system.
“The way Dak worked throughout the whole offseason, the way he pushed himself, the way he came back, and is able to be on the field with everybody else right now, it’s amazing,” left tackle Tyron Smith described to media. “It lights a fire under you to push a little bit more harder. If your quarterback is going to push like that, we got to push the same way or even harder for him.”
He is entering his prime in Year 6- Prescott received his lucrative deal and he has plenty of talented weapons at his disposal. His pre-snap reads have become more fluid, and he is on pace for a stellar campaign. Already atop the conversation for Comeback Player of the Year, No. 4 will be one to watch in training camp.
Ezekiel Elliott, Running Back
After a highly publicized holdout and lofty payday in 2019, Ezekiel Elliott has faced ever-increasing criticism. The spotlight shines brighter on Dallas Cowboys and Elliott, the team’s featured back, is no exception.
In 2020 behind a makeshift offensive line, No. 21 hit a career-low yards-per-carry (4.0) and rushing yards (979). Granted, stats to not tell the whole story. He often assisted in pass protection, creating opportunities for teammates. In addition, the Ohio State product produced dirty runs between the tackles to gain additional yards, but the numbers do not look flashy. The main reason for the “regression” narrative that began circulating last season, was ball security. Elliott amassed as many fumbles as he did touchdowns (lost four, compared to six touchdowns) in 2020. They say fumbles come in bunches and that proved true, as defenses picked up the issue on tape and actively worked to punch out the ball.
Following Prescott’s season-ending injury and the O-Line dropping like flies due to injury, Elliott put the weight of the team on his shoulders. Too heavy a burden for any single player to carry, pun intended. In 2021 with Prescott’s return and a healthy offensive line, the sky is the limit for Elliott. Everyone has seen his impressive footwork and agility workout videos throughout the offseason on social media. Elliott looks leaner and quicker on cuts with the ball in his hands. His hard work throughout the offseason and commitment to growth, will no doubt translate to the field.
Heck, when QB1 says Elliott is in the “best shape of his life or best shape he has been in the NFL,” that is cause for excitement.
Micah Parsons, Linebacker
Micah Parsons was drafted 12th overall in April to become an instant impact player and thus far, he has not disappointed. Maturity concerns out the window with his demeanor in Dallas and transparent interaction with media, Parsons has continued to impress on the field with dominance. His downhill burst and instincts are as good as advertised from his time at Penn State.
Parsons’ initial role was labeled as the Mike (middle) linebacker in Quinn’s scheme, but the staff has stressed that players will be rotating. During installs at OTAs, he got to rush from the edge.
“There are third down packages I am going to be in,” Parsons stated to media during OTAs. “On first and second down I am going to be in the box. On third down they are going to find a way to get me to the quarterback, which I am excited about.”
At Penn State in Brent Pry’s system, Parsons thrived attacking the line of scrimmage and collapsing the pocket on blitzes. The Cowboys’ have taken notice and are placing him in a variety of roles in order to maximize his strengths when the season starts. Training camp will provide more clarity on his role, but Parsons has the makings to become a cornerstone player on Quinn’s defense.
Trevon Diggs, Cornerback
Following his second-round selection in 2020, Trevon Diggs became an immediate starter. Despite inconsistencies at times, he led the team with three interceptions in 11 game starts. As all first-year players do, he went through growing pains and the adjustment to the NFL. However, coming from Alabama and Nick Saban’s tutelage in Tuscaloosa, he was prepared.
Diggs will be the Cowboys’ projected No. 1 corner entering 2021 after the loss of Chidobe Awuzie in free agency. He will have to make the jump in Year 2 as a cornerstone player in Dallas’ secondary. He has the potential to be an elite player in the league with the right intangibles and will continue to develop in 2021. His season ended prematurely after breaking a bone in his foot against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 8 and he missed four games. Prior to the injury, he notched 48 tackles, two interceptions, broke up 10 passes, had one forced fumble and one sack in nine games. He was activated from IR before the matchup against the 49ers.
Despite the setback, the confidence was built.
“I’m gaining a lot of confidence,” Diggs exclaimed at the conclusion of the 2020 season. “I can go up against anybody and compete with anybody and I’m supposed to be out here. So now I feel like with me stepping up to the challenge every week with whoever it is, I’m ready. I’m prepared.”
Tyler Biadasz, Center
The Cowboys need a new anchor in the offensive line. Dallas traded with the Philadelphia Eagles to snag Tyler Biadasz in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Last season, he played in 12 games and compiled four starts during his rookie campaign. Biadasz’s season was cut short due to injury. He suffered a hamstring pull during pregame warmups in Week 9 and did not play a single snap against the Steelers. Prior to the injury, Biadasz stepped in for injured Joe Looney (MCL sprain) in Week 4 and started every game. He performed so well that Looney could not reclaim his job when he returned from injured reserve in Week 8. However, after suffering the hamstring injury, Biadasz was placed on injured reserve.
He showed promise, enough to earn a selection onto Pro Football Focus’s midseason All-Rookie Team. Biadasz will have an increased role in 2021 and consistently took primary reps at center through offseason workouts. The Cowboys need someone to fill the void left by Travis Frederick and Biadasz fits the bill. He even reminds La’el Collins of the former five-time pro bowler.
“He’s speaking with more confidence,” Collins stated on his impression of Biadasz. “He’s asking the questions that you want a center to ask against certain different things, adjustments, and everything like that, what to do. And, so, it’s funny, man. He reminds me a lot of a little bit of Trav [Frederick]. He’s got a lot of Travis in him. He’s great to see because we all know how great Travis was.”
Leighton Vander Esch, Linebacker
This is a prove-it year for Leighton Vander Esch. The Cowboys’ declined to exercise his fifth-year option and the ‘wolf hunter’ is striving for a breakout in Year 4. The hindrance for Vander Esch has been health. The Boise State product has had a plethora of injuries since 2019 that have derailed his otherwise ascending career in Dallas. From a broken collarbone, vertigo, to a neck stinger, he missed six regular-season games in 2020 due to injury and seven in 2019. Now fully healthy, he is gearing up for 2021.
The former first-round pick is now adjusting to a new scheme under Dan Quinn. He confirmed that his role will be similar to what it was before the Mike Nolan reign of terror a year ago and with a bolstered defensive line, the linebackers will be freed up to make more plays on the ball. Quinn has been rotating linebackers but given Vander Esch’s injury-prone history, he will likely play the weakside role. That will allow him up to run to the football and will decrease collisions with blockers in gaps. Not only would the position play into Vander Esch’s skills but prolong his career. The role would act as an insurance policy and his length played into the decision.
“As far as the weakside goes, just the length that he has, he can play behind a three-technique, like a big guy like Nev [Neville Gallimore] who can get onto the block and allows him to scrape and run fast. Those are just a few of the things that he’s done,” Quinn said to media. “On the edges of the field and on the perimeter and on the sideline, those are really a lot of times when these length moments show up and I think that’s an excellent example of why Leighton not only has speed to cover ground but he also has the length to go make the play.”
The linebacker corps. is one of the most interesting heading into training camp. The club added Keanu Neal in free agency, and selected Micah Parsons (first round) and Jabril Cox (fourth round) in the 2021 NFL draft. The Cowboys did not bring in Neal to not play him and they did not select Parsons 12th overall not to play him. To top it off, although a misleading statistic, Jaylon Smith led the team in tackles last season and received a large chunk of snaps throughout OTAs/minicamp. He rarely left the field and his job seemed secure. So where does that leave Vander Esch and Cox? Time will tell and training camp will provide more clarity. No. 55 is one to keep an eye on.
Donovan Wilson, Safety
Despite only being named a starter midway through the 2020 season and missing two games due to a groin injury, Donovan Wilson turned heads with his playmaking ability and physicality in the secondary. In eight game starts last season, Wilson ranked fourth on the team with 2.5 sacks, second with three forced fumbles, and second with two fumble recoveries. His instinctual play was a bright spot on the defense last season that was desperately lacking for positives.
It appears his role as the Cowboys’ box safety of the future is secure but a new era dawns with Dan Quinn. Jayron Kearse and Damontae Kazee were acquired during free agency and received the bulk of the snaps in OTAs. Wilson was always around the football last season and made critical open field tackles that limited ball carriers. His impact should not be overlooked, and he will likely put on a big show at training camp.
His influence can best be described by head coach Mike McCarthy.
“He has really stepped up and taken control of the safety position,” McCarthy remarked to D210Sports. “He makes plays. He makes plays every time he is in the game back there. You can see and feel his impact all the time.”
Blake Jarwin, Tight End
Blake Jarwin might not be the main storyline heading into camp but an exciting one to put it lightly. The team’s starting tight end went down in Week 1 with a torn ACL. The ascending star not only had his entire season ripped out from under him but then had to watch his injury practically go unnoticed by those to household names Dak Prescott, Tyron Smith, and La’el Collins.
In addition, Dalton Schultz went on to have a monster year for the Cowboys as a pass-catcher. He compiled 63 catches for 615 yards with a revolving door at quarterback and a patchwork O-line. Now with training camp, Jarwin will be worked back into the mix. During OTAs as a precaution, he was present but did not participate as he continued to rehab. The hope was to have him ready for camp in Oxnard.
Jarwin stressed to dallascowboys.com, “I’ll just keep pushing along, and I anticipate, Day 1 of training camp, being ready to roll.”
The Cowboys lost blocking tight end Blake Bell to free agency in March and added to the room by signing veteran Jeremy Sprinkle and adding two more undrafted rookies in Nick Eubanks and Artayvious Lynn. Sean McKeon also returns to the group.
More and more teams are employing multiple tight end sets to create mismatches, and the Cowboys are in good shape with Jarwin and Schultz. Returning from injury raises question marks and training camp will be the first look at Jarwin since the injury. Grab the popcorn for that sighting!
