Who leads Cowboys starting OG, WR and DE competitions?

[Doomsday101]

LEFT GUARD

Left guard was the biggest starting battle coming into camp, as first round pick Tyler Smith and fourth-year vet Connor McGovern were set to square off.

McGovern got the majority of first-team reps during spring practices, but the rotation has been split evenly here in Oxnard, although McGovern has started with the first team for all six practices to this point.

Smith has been the better player after one week, and it hasn’t been particularly close. Smith’s play strength, which the Cowboys raved about after selecting him in April, has really shown up in practice since the pads came on. Smith has gotten consistent movement in the run game, and has shown good athleticism when asked to pull.

McGovern on the other hand has been up and down. His hand usage at the second level in particular has been inconsistent, with linebackers dipping his blocks and causing him to play off balance.

WIDE RECEIVER #3

This competition has drastically changed in the last couple of days with the injury to James Washington. Washington and rookie Jalen Tolbert were going to begin the season as the #2 and #3 receivers until Michael Gallup returned, at which point one of them would secure the job as the #3.

With Washington’s injury, Tolbert is now firmly in place as the #3 receiver when Gallup returns, but there’s still a question about who opens the season as the third receiver for the first couple of weeks.

Undrafted free agent Dennis Houston got the majority of first team reps at Tuesday’s padded practice, but Noah Brown, Simi Fehoko, and TJ Vasher have all been impressive as well.

Purely based off of who has had the best, most consistent practices in Oxnard, Brown would be in the lead over the other three. But Fehoko was a fifth round pick last year, Vasher has a big fan in receivers coach Robert Prince, and the reps the team has given to Houston clearly indicates that they think highly of him.

RIGHT DEFENSIVE END

The defensive line will rotate heavily, and who starts games at right defensive end may not matter as much as who finishes games.

Heading into camp it was a three-way competition between Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, and Sam Williams.

Armstrong has had steady practices throughout the first week, and he beat Tyron Smith on two separate rushes on Tuesday. Fowler has a big fan in the building in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and he’s shown nice get-off and veteran savvy in evading the punch of Dallas’ tackles. Williams has received praise from Stephen Jones for his performance thus far, and he’s certainly the future at the position.

I projected Fowler for this spot a few weeks ago, but all three have performed well. This race is currently a toss-up, but I’d give the slight edge to Armstrong after the first week.

Who leads Cowboys starting OG, WR and DE competitions? (audacy.com)

 

[charron]

LEFT GUARD- it's not a competition. Even if McGovern was slightly better they would stick Smith there because of where he was drafted. For the record I don't thing McG is better overall, maybe better in pass sets but thats it.

WIDE RECEIVER #3- I think Vasher has the best chance to step up. He's been here, decent speed, and i heard he works hard.

RIGHT DEFENSIVE END- I agree not to care who starts as the rotation/ line up could change based on opponent, alignment, etc. Micah alone will be in/out of different spots along the line and at LB based on how they want to attack and that changes who else is on the field and where.

 

[Aven8]

From what I’ve read Tyler Smith is a strong dude. We haven’t had a Guard like that since Leary. Going to be fun to watch.

 

[xwalker]

LEFT GUARD

Left guard was the biggest starting battle coming into camp, as first round pick Tyler Smith and fourth-year vet Connor McGovern were set to square off.

McGovern got the majority of first-team reps during spring practices, but the rotation has been split evenly here in Oxnard, although McGovern has started with the first team for all six practices to this point.

Smith has been the better player after one week, and it hasn’t been particularly close. Smith’s play strength, which the Cowboys raved about after selecting him in April, has really shown up in practice since the pads came on. Smith has gotten consistent movement in the run game, and has shown good athleticism when asked to pull.

McGovern on the other hand has been up and down. His hand usage at the second level in particular has been inconsistent, with linebackers dipping his blocks and causing him to play off balance.

WIDE RECEIVER #3

This competition has drastically changed in the last couple of days with the injury to James Washington. Washington and rookie Jalen Tolbert were going to begin the season as the #2 and #3 receivers until Michael Gallup returned, at which point one of them would secure the job as the #3.

With Washington’s injury, Tolbert is now firmly in place as the #3 receiver when Gallup returns, but there’s still a question about who opens the season as the third receiver for the first couple of weeks.

Undrafted free agent Dennis Houston got the majority of first team reps at Tuesday’s padded practice, but Noah Brown, Simi Fehoko, and TJ Vasher have all been impressive as well.

Purely based off of who has had the best, most consistent practices in Oxnard, Brown would be in the lead over the other three. But Fehoko was a fifth round pick last year, Vasher has a big fan in receivers coach Robert Prince, and the reps the team has given to Houston clearly indicates that they think highly of him.

RIGHT DEFENSIVE END

The defensive line will rotate heavily, and who starts games at right defensive end may not matter as much as who finishes games.

Heading into camp it was a three-way competition between Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, and Sam Williams.

Armstrong has had steady practices throughout the first week, and he beat Tyron Smith on two separate rushes on Tuesday. Fowler has a big fan in the building in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and he’s shown nice get-off and veteran savvy in evading the punch of Dallas’ tackles. Williams has received praise from Stephen Jones for his performance thus far, and he’s certainly the future at the position.

I projected Fowler for this spot a few weeks ago, but all three have performed well. This race is currently a toss-up, but I’d give the slight edge to Armstrong after the first week.

Who leads Cowboys starting OG, WR and DE competitions? (audacy.com)

• LG
  • Tyler Smith is clear dominating physically. Regardless of camp depth chart, he will be the starting LG.

• WR
  • The 2nd/3rd WR can be a 'by committee' position.
  • Tolbert, Noah Brown and spot duty for other players.
  • More WR type snaps for Pollard, either from the slot or coming out of the backfield in 2 RB sets.
  • More 2 TE snaps. Kellen Moore really liked having 2 receiving TEs together (Schultz and Jarwin).
  • Ferguson has received good reviews from media people at camp and looks more athletic than Schultz.
  • McKeon's snaps were ramping up for a few games last season until he missed a game and his snap afterwards were minimal.
  • As a receiver, McKeon looked like could be as good as Schultz.

• DE
  • Another 'by committee' position.
  • Armstrong is a solid run defender and appears to have a good understand of the scheme.
  • They can go with the 'hot hand' between Sam Williams and Fowler as pass rush specialists.
  • Parsons and now Barr as LBs with pass rush ability offset any limitations at DE.

I'm more interested in OC, DT and FS.

• OC
  • Farniok was impressive for a late round rookie last year in the preseason and in the limited snaps he played during the season.
  • He has the required size when drafted.
  • His shotgun snaps might be better than Biadasz.

• DT
  • Odighi was terrific for a mid-round rookie.
  • He had to play too many snaps for an undersized rookie DT, but he projects to be a good player.
  • Gallimore's issue is staying healthy. He appears to be a solid pass rusher with sufficient size to play the run.
  • The run downs 1tech is a big question mark.
  • Bohanna played less snaps than practice squad DT Hamilton in the game that Hamilton was active.
  • Bohanna was not active for the playoff game.
  • Watkins is OK but limited.
  • Ridgeway is a rookie. He is good face to face but in 2021 Georgia schemed to angle block him and he struggled.
  • Hill is uber quick shooting gaps but seems to have balance issues.
  • I think they're OK at DT if everyone stays healthy, but any injuries could derail that position.
• FS
  • They must have a quality FS for Quinn to continue to allow Diggs to play his style.
    • Diggs jumping routes is by design in Quinn's scheme.
    • Diggs knows where the help defenders should be located and plays based on that.
    • Much of the yardage 'allowed by Diggs' was actually due to Kazee not being able to play the ball.
    • Kazee was often in position but just couldn't win jump balls and struggled to tackle.
  • 'On paper' Hooker projects as a significant upgrade to Kazee.
  • Both Hooker and Wilson have significant injury histories.
  • Quinn played 3 Safeties on 40% of snaps last season.
  • They might need a 4th Safety to step up (Muk, Bell, etc).