FRISCO, Texas – The time has arrived. The NFL regular season is about to commence. Against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Dallas Cowboys will take the stage in the 2021 season opener at Raymond James Stadium. The spotlight will once again shine on America’s Team. A new beginning dawns. Here are five storylines for the Cowboys ahead of Thursday’s highly anticipated initial campaign.
- The Offensive Line: Last season, a makeshift offensive line ensued for the Cowboys. Dallas was without its group of five starters up front and history seems to be repeating itself as Thursday nears. The Cowboys will potentially be without six-time pro bowl right guard, Zack Martin. The Notre Dame product was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive. Head Coach Mike McCarthy all but ruled him out of the game, meaning Connor McGovern would start at right guard in place of Martin. However, the front office has not ruled him out. Executive Vice President Stephen Jones told media at the Miller Lite House Ribbon-Cutting ceremony “still not out of the question. We haven’t ruled him out totally. He’s obviously, protocol is the protocol. It is what it is. He’s got to put together two negative tests and be able to make it…we can fly him in on Thursday.” Jones declined to disclose where Martin is in the process of producing tests or if he has been asymptomatic but did note “we feel very good that he is doing really well.” Right tackle La’el Collins missed the entirety of the 2020 season due to a hip injury. Despite returning to the field this offseason, Collins has been limited in practice over the last couple weeks with a neck stinger. He was able to practice on Sunday and did padded work with the team on Monday, but his progression to game snaps (~ 65) will be something to monitor.
- Dak Prescott Returns to Live Action: First, Prescott suffered a compound right ankle fracture and dislocation in Week 5 last season prematurely ending his otherwise ascending year. Then, it was a right shoulder muscle strain that he suffered in the first padded practice in Oxnard. Prescott was held out of preseason action and the competitive portions of practice as a precautionary measure as his volume of throws increased. He will make his grand return and ignite the Cowboys’ offense. The team’s unquestioned leader will step on the field without questions hovering on his contract situation after signing a lucrative deal over the summer. His acclimation and comeback story will draw eyes.
- Starting Defensive Rookies: Linebacker Micah Parsons and Osa Odighizuwa have earned starting roles in Dan Quinn’s scheme. The first-year players will have a true test right out of the gate, facing arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history in Tom Brady. Not to mention his myriad of playmaking weapons. A daunting task but the pair have impressed throughout camp. Parsons opted out of the 2020 season at Penn State. In college, he predominately dominated near the line of scrimmage with his burst through gaps and little coverage reps shown on tape. The Cowboys had an all-encompassing goal in mind for Parsons. The staff is building the defense around his skillset. Parsons has lined up at Sam, Mike, and Will on and off the ball. “That right there is what’s impressive,” Stephen Jones remarked to D210SPORTS. “How he digests all the different things that he is doing. You have seen it out there. He lines up at Mike. He comes up the middle. He can get on the edge, be opposite of Randy [Gregory] and put pressure as an outside rusher and then you have seen him also in coverage make plays on the ball. His speed- 250 pounds and 4.3 whatever it is. You see it. You feel it when he is out on the field. He’s just very instinctual. Things come easy for him, and he has really digested all his roles that he will have on this defense.” Fans will get their first comprehensive look at Parsons, as well as Odighizuwa. Neville Gallimore, the presumed starter, dislocated his elbow and was placed on the team’s Reserve/Injured list. He will miss multiple weeks, creating an opportunity for Odighizuwa. He has continuously caused fits for blockers with a powerful swim move to gain leverage. Getting Tom Brady off of his spot on Thursday will be key for the Cowboys’ defensive line. Dallas’ pass rush will be vital against Tampa Bay and as history will confirm, Quinn’s units are effective with a dominant defensive line creating pressure.
- Continuity on offense? Thursday will be the first opportunity to see continuity on the Cowboys’ offense. Many cornerstone players have missed significant time throughout the offseason, including Prescott, Amari Cooper, and members of the offensive line. Tight end Blake Jarwin tore his ACL in last year’s season opener against the Rams. Dalton Schultz had a breakout year in his absence, notching 60 receptions. Now, the dynamic tandem is back. They are often overshadowed by the hype of the Cowboys’ receiver trio of Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup but Jarwin and Schultz elevate the club’s passing attack. Both have had tremendous chemistry with Prescott during practice on slants/crossers, and deep routes stretching the field vertically. The offense will be together again, but it begs the question, can the offense re-write the red zone struggles and ball security issues of last season? Tampa Bay’s defense led the league in run defense last year and Todd Bowles’ aggressive one-gap scheme harasses opposing quarterbacks on stunts/blitzes. Dallas’ offense will not be able to rally from behind like last season and come out with a W against the Bucs.
- Dan Quinn’s Debut as First-Year Coordinator: Quinn’s upgraded unit has been the focal point of discussions throughout the offseason. Dallas added seven defenders in free agency and eight more in the draft to bolster last year’s failed experiment under Mike Nolan. Quinn’s hands-on approach has garnered praise from defensive players and the energy he brings to practice has been contagious. His hire and the defensive acquisitions have sparked excitement. That hope will be tested against Tampa Bay. The group is loaded with talent and Thursday will be the first true glimpse at Quinn’s scheme and how the players execute in it.
