What I'll be looking for will probably be what most are expecting, but I'll go ahead and give a list:
La'El Collins - RT or LG? Where will he be getting the majority of snaps, or are they split evenly?
Randy Gregory - He is a natural pass rusher. I always say that being good at getting after the QB is simply a knack that some guys have and some guys don't. I think Gregory does have elite ability to get after the QB. His change of direction is elite for a guy who is 6'6" and he is one of those guys who are naturally strong. His arms are so long they look like meat hooks, plus, he's a smart guy who takes coaching well, so I expect him to be getting to QB's more often than many fans do. Will be fun to watch. He could approach double digit sacks if given enough opportunities, IMO.
Byron Jones - The guy simply has every tool you could ask from a DB and he is a quick learner, so I expect him to be effective right away and by the time regular season starts... I think you'll see Jones getting as many snaps as any DB on the roster. Marinelli will use him in a number of ways and there is no reason he shouldn't have success right off. Counting his snaps at CB and FS should keep us all entertained all camp long.
Linebackers - There are so many guys trying to make the squad at LB, and there are going to be a lot of pretty decent LB's that won't make this 53 man roster. Hitchens is a real nice player and as well as he played last year... I expect him to make a big jump going into his second season. Wilson, I think the coaches really like him a lot. They were very pleased to get him where they did. Damien actually does remind me a lot of Hitchens... only I think Wilson is a tad slower. Wilson seems to be a little more of a thumper though. Honestly, they're so similar that you might could just say they're the same player and be closer to the truth. I read a preseason college football magazine the other day while waiting for the wife to finish shopping... and when I got to the U of Minnesota page, they said the first thing the Golden Gophers have to do on defense is to find a replacement for Damien Wilson. They said he had such a huge impact on the defense that they said it will be almost impossible to find all he did in one player. Said it might take two or three guys to make up for his loss.
Wilson is a damn fine player. He was a difference maker at U of Minn. I think he'll be very good in the NFL. It is early yet... but I think Wilson is going to be a sure enough stud in this defense. He was made for Marinelli's scheme, and for Garrett's RKG approach. It is more clear now why they were so excited to get him in the 4th.
Rolando and Sean Lee will be something to watch together on the field and if their health holds up, it will be a pleasure to watch them work together. Brains and Brawn. Should be fun as hell for us all.
I also expect Gachkar to make the squad because he's smart and plays special teams very well. He would know his assignments if he has to go in for an injured player and helps in other areas of the team, so I'd be shocked if he doesn't make it. Jasper Brinkley is a very solid backup MLB. He would be a two down player but Dallas has plenty of LB's for their nickle. Brinkley is there in case McClain goes down for a couple of games and Marinelli doesn't want to lose that big, strong guy in the middle. He is no Ro... but he is still physical as hell.
Guys like Kyle Knox, Keith Rivers, and Kyle Wilber face an real uphill struggle to make the team, IMO. If any one of them does, I think it might be Knox. The guy is fast as most safeties, young, and should be impactful on special teams.
Running Backs - Not a lot to be said here because pretty much everyone in the known Universe will be watching this position group. Still, it is going to be very interesting to watch. Will one guy become the bell cow? Will three guys do it by committee? Will someone else be brought in to give more competition? Will Ryan Williams finally be healthy and play up to his natural ability? Will Dunbar make it yet again, or is he redundant to what Randle can do?
IMO, the question with Greg Hardy isn't how well he will do or how much of a difference he will make... he is going to make a huge impact on Marinelli's DL, and with his versatility and ability to play either side, plus his ability to slide inside in the nickel, he is going to be a Star. The only question is how many games will he have to miss? Right now if I had to guess, I'd probably say he ends up missing 4 to 6 games after it is all said and done. Those first few games will go by quickly and Dallas fans are going to absolutely love what he brings to the defense... and to the whole team. Hardy is going to terrorize QB's. That is what he does. Getting Aaron Rogers *** on the ground is all we needed at the end of last year, and Hardy brings the relentless energy and the tools and ability to get it done, and get it done quickly.
Offenses are going to have to spend an awful lot of their resources to keep Hardy from wrecking their game plan. They'll double and triple team him once he gets going. Hardy along with Crawford and Lawrence are going to require so much attention from offensive coordinators and offensive line coaches, that Randy Gregory is going to see a whole lot of chances to get one-on-one blocking. With Gregory's speed, quickness, bend, and those long, strong arms, he is going to get to the QB... and he's going to do it way more than many people expect. What Randy has can't be taught... and he is going to tear up some offenses, IMO.
Can't wait!
Will the offense use Beasley more? By the end of the season, they were making sure to get Bease several opportunities per game and he was definitely taking advantage of it. Is that going to continue?
Will Street push Williams at the #2 WR spot? Should be an interesting battle.
At times last year, Escobar looked like a real weapon. Will that continue? Or is it just something they bring out from time to time to surprise defenses?
And finally, the OL will be a blast to watch. Collins at RT or LG? Splitting reps between the two or focusing on one? Bernadeau moved to center? I think so. Free staying healthy? Will the team use whichever talented OL that isn't the starter (probably either Collins or Leary) some as a 3rd TE in short yardage situations?
Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin are beasts... each one of them. They are all so young though and only have one year of playing together, so they are going to improve from last year. How much will they improve? If Collins wins a starting spot, how long will it take all 5 starters to gel into a cohesive unit? By the end of the season, I expect the 5 starters to be dominating defenses. If they use the 6th OL to play 3rd TE in short yardage, it could really be sweet to watch.
That isn't all of course... but it is some of what I'm looking forward to seeing.
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
