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Kane Ala
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Anything Cowboys is big news, but some things are bigger than others.
Training camp is only a few short weeks away and it will finally provide an opportunity to answer this summer’s biggest questions. Can Tony Romostay healthy? Wait no, that was last year...and the year before that. Anyways, it’s a brand new season and with it will be some brand new questions. Here are three of the most captivating story lines heading into training camp.
Is Jaylon Smith Healthy Enough?
This one is obvious and shared by so many Cowboys fans and you’re probably tired of hearing about it, however it’s important to understand it’s significance.
So much is made about the complete remodeling of the Cowboys secondary that this position group has garnered the most discussion when it comes to what to expect this season. Four defensive backs who contributed a heavy amount of snaps are gone - Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Barry Church, and J.J. Wilcox. And while that would seem like something that could have a huge effect on the defense, it’s not. Sure, the play of these rookies can fluctuate from good to not-so-good, but how hard is it to supplement the skills of a bunch of middling players? Don’t get me wrong, the players lost aren’t terrible players, but neither are these new additions. Players like Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, and Nolan Carroll will offer something similar to 2016, whether it ends up being a little better or little worse.
But where the team could see a big change is at the linebacker position. The health of Jaylon Smith is huge when it comes to what he can give the defense. If he’s not as mobile as many of us were hoping, then he offers very little value this season and the team is essentially stuck with the 2016 version of linebacker. Anthony Hitchens is a good enough player where he’s not going to be jumped by an ailing Smith.
However, if Smith is moving well, this makes him an exciting player on defense. He is a phenomenal athlete and can be extremely disruptive if he’s at full heath. But regardless of what Dr. Byron Jones says, he won’t be, however that doesn’t mean he won’t be at a point where he’s extremely effective on the field. Only time will tell, but the upside of this situation can really change just how good the Cowboys defense is. And with the recent issue with Damien Wilson, the value of healthy Smith becomes even more important.
***SNIP***
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