Without fail, every year this happens; it’s cliché. In the weeks leading up to the first sneak-peek at what the Cowboys depth really looks like against NFL-level competition, there is always a practice-warrior or two that emerges. Said player’s attitude and approach towards practice is second to none leading to many analyst and fans alike salivating at their potential. And then once the big lights come on in real game action that same player disappears, all their effort in practice summarily washed away as they sink below the play of their peers. It never fails.
This is how coaches ultimately decide who will be on the 53; the preseason outings, after all, are the final test that really count, not so much the quizzes (training camp/practice) leading up to it. And this year’s collection of Cowboys have 5 test to prove their value…and unlike previous years where teams where forced to cut down to 75 players the week prior to the last game, all 90 players will essentially be afforded the same chance…for the most part. Oddly, the chance you are granted largely depends on what you show in camp/practice, but what you show in camp is an after-thought to what you show come gameday.
Take Dak, for instance. By now this narrative is folk-lore, but it is absolutely applicable to my point. Dak was reportedly not a good practice player in the early going of training camp last year. Now, rather or not that was due to the lack of reps he was getting in the early going and the adjustment from college to playing at a professional level or simply because he is better with the lights on is debatable. What is not up for discussion is very few people had high hopes for Dak prior to his introduction against the Las Angeles Rams. Up to that point, the talk of the town was none other than current Free Safety Jameil Showers. Given his new position, without knowing what actually happened, you can probably already guess what ended up happening.
Dak managed 10 completions against 12 attempts for 139 yards (an average of 11.6 yards per attempt), 2 touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 154.4 QBR. Jameil Showers, whom was competing against Dak for the backup spot behind Romo, followed him in that game and against lesser competition, threw 8 completions out of 16 attempts for 99 yards (6.2 per attempt), 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions (to his credit) and a 69.5 QBR. From that moment forward, regardless of what Dak did in practice, he owned the tongues of this town. Dak Prescott became a national story overnight and held that title until shortly after the loss in the Playoffs against the Packers earlier this year.
So here’s my question: Who are those guys this year? Who has stood out and practice? Who could you see snagging the preseason MVP trophy this year? Keep in mind, though, yet another cliché that has a tendency to run its course every year is that the preseason MVP often times disappears once the regular season lights come on, but for this discussion, that is irrelevant. Besides, Dak proved last year that is not a rule written in stone, as you could argue he only got better as the season progressed.
This is purely for the conversation to kill time between now and the opening whistle tonight, so once again:
Who would you say is the practice MVP that will disappear once the lights come on tonight?
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Who is the guy that very few have high hopes for, but will absolutely make a statement tonight that he has arrived?
Caveat: Keep in mind, very few if any starters will play tonight and by merit of being starters wouldn’t really qualify for the above questions anyway.
Chidobe Awuzie, in my opinion, through very little fault of his own, is absolutely going to struggle tonight. I say “it won’t necessarily be his fault” because he has been asked to learn 4 positions as a rookie (Nickel Corner, Outside Corner, Dime Linebacker, and Safety). During a recent interview he came across as very confident he has a good handle on all of the positions he has been asked to work in, but I suspect against different NFL competition from the offense he has faced for the better part of two weeks, he is going to be spending a lot of time in his head, which will detract from the time he should be running to the ball. That, and without the benefit of oppositional tape to learn the opponent, his position in particular will suffer…and that should absolutely be expected and in no way be used to judge his value overall this early in the game.
The guy who will be the talk of the town (albeit, possibly for the wrong reasons, as well) is Dan Skipper. At 6’10” 311 lbs, he is a giant that has to overcome a slight height disadvantage on every snap. Whereas, most of the time you see guys attempting to overcome a lack of length, Skipper is operating on the opposite side of that God-must-hate-me spectrum, and overcome too much length. But the thing that separates him from most guys is he plays with an attitude…and that is an attitude that defenders absolutely hate.
What I am predicting will happen is that the opportunity to play against someone other than his own team is going to lend focus to his craft. Furthermore, given the nasty demeanor he seems to play with, I suspect he will also draw some Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalties from the opposition, which will mean he may be the first offensive lineman in Cowboys history that is good for the occasional first down, despite the lack of an actual football in his hands.
Who you got?
After weathering the storm, they then will have the rudder in hand. And won't snap the main staff by going across shore break, and flipping over.
