OXNARD, Calif. – Two full weeks into training camp, let's take stock of what we've seen so far of these Dallas Cowboys.
And going to take a pass on the defense. Too many missing pieces to make an assessment.
Of course, no Micah Parsons. And from the looks of things, might better get used to his MIA, especially after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says, "What you all don't know is what I offered him. It's a hell of a lot more than you think I did. That's what you don't know."
And another thing we don't know: How much Micah and them are asking for. Might be more than we think they are.
Plus, even after this stalemate is settled, chances are Micah's going to need a good two weeks to get in football shape. Remember, he hasn't done any real football thing since that 23-19 season ending loss to Washington on Jan. 5. No pads. No contact. Some early morning conditioning.
This isn't like Michael Irvin signing on a Thursday and playing in the Monday night season opener against, uh, Washington in 1992. This isn't a running back missing all of training camp, like Emmitt Smith – twice – or Ezekiel Elliott, who ended up with 13 carries four days after signing in 2019.
This is Micah. This is a guy who will be going up against 330-pound offensive linemen from a defensive end position, being double-teamed, offenses giving no quarter just because they might not think he is ready to play. Last thing the Cowboys would want, even if he signs the week of the Sept. 4 season opener – because you know Micah will not want to miss appearing on national TV in the NFL's season-opening game against the Eagles – is a soft tissue injury sidelining him for a couple of weeks.
Remember, there will be 16 more games to play following the opener.
And to continue, no Trevon Diggs yet, and who knows when he will be ready to practice. Not close yet, and he hasn't been in pads since Dec. 9. Didn't have DaRon Bland out there for the better part of a week. No Kenneth Murray, at least having returned Saturday and was back in team drills on Monday but having missed a week. Sam Williams in pads for the first time in a year. Must figure out who is replacing Jourdan Lewis in the slot. There is an assortment of choices, looking at Bland, Kemon Hall and Markquese Bell. Third-rounder Shavon Revel still rehabbing. Second rounder Donovan Ezeiruaku looking good, but let's see the rookie in at least a preseason game first, maybe even in Tuesday's scrimmage against the Rams.
Just hard to tell.
But on offense, oh, that offense just might be what the Cowboys hang their helmet on, but too me, depending on one huge factor:
The offensive line.
See, Dak Prescott is Dak Prescott. He's back. Now healthy, why not circa 2023 Dak again?
Wide receiver? Might be the deepest position on the team. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will be a be handful for any defense. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer is making every intention to turn KaVontae Turpin into a legitimate wide receiver, not just some offensive gimmick, potentially paying huge dividends. Jonathan Mingo is playing as if he belongs. Jalen Tolbert in a rotational third spot is where he belongs, making a catch on Monday to remind everyone he's still here.
Tight ends? Jake Ferguson is healthy. Luke Schoonmaker is making significant strides. And this past Saturday practice, the Cowboys wore out Princeton Fant, and this doesn't even account for Brevyn Spann-Ford's current injury absence.
As for running back, don't see a thing wrong with Javonte Williams. With Miles Sanders out a few more days with a sore knee, Jaydon Blue is being given first-team snaps. This guy is going to surprise as but a fifth-round pick. And sure seems Hunter Luepke, the Swiss Army knife, is unleashing another blade, fullback, one-back, tight end, pass catcher.
That brings us to the offensive line. And isn't that always the X-factor? Without those guys, and those guys playing well, these skill players will have no chance to shine. No chance to excel. Neutered by their own team's deficiency, if that is the case.
The Cowboys acknowledged the importance as much. In lieu of Zack Martin's retirement, the Cowboys used the 12th pick in the draft on All-America guard Tyler Booker, only the second time in franchise history they used a first-round pick on a guard (as both Martin and Tyler Smith were listed as tackles at Notre Dame), the first being John Niland with the fifth choice in 1966. Thought it that important attempting to replace a sure Pro Football Hall of Fame guard.
But here is what gives me pause. Start with Booker. He's a rookie. Mighty talented but needs to learn a lot in a short period of time. Then losing their inside safety net, Rob Jones, fracturing a vertebrae bone in his neck. Out two to three months. Not good, and the 17-game starter in Miami last year was playing well.
Then the offensive line stalwart, the two-time Pro Bowler Smith missing a couple of days with knee tendinitis. Hate that.
And now the Cowboys will be without starting left tackle Tyler Guyton, last year's first-round draft choice seemed to be getting it until suffering a bone fracture in his knee and might be hard-pressed to be ready for the opener. That would mean the two guys vying to become the swing tackle, Asim Richards and Nate Thomas, are now battling for the starting job. Between the two of them, one NFL start for Richards, which is one more than Thomas, having spent his entire rookie season last year on IR. The two are sharing first team reps.
So do not wonder why the Cowboys have taken an inexpensive swipe at adding some experience to that room, having turned back the clock to sign former starter La'el Collins to a one-year, veteran minimum split contract worth just $1.255 million, which means he will earn only a portion of that base if he lands on injured reserve.
But here is the encouraging part of this move. Collins looks to be in great shape. Once playing in the upper 320s, Collins checked in at 300 and had an impressive workout. At age 32, LC will be the oldest player in the O-line room at this point of training camp and owns the most NFL starts at 89. Plus, Collins had experience playing guard before becoming a full-time offensive tackle.
Look at LC as an insurance policy … for now, the Cowboys having kept track of the offseason work they knew he was putting in for a possible return and finally put in the call last week for a workout invite he passed with flying colors.
"I'm super excited to show what I got left in the tank," Collins said, already getting some snaps on Monday with the second team and a few with the first.
When Schottenheimer was asked the end of last week about the offense, by the way his offense, he said, "I think we are taking care of the football better. I like that. Offensively, the big plays are starting to show up, starting to connect on those (passes).
"I love the energy; I love the physicality. The evaluation process is on-going."
Especially on the offensive line, the fulcrum to all those talented spokes in the wheel.
