A scouts perspective

A scouts perspective

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Top 5 Concerns for Cowboys heading into camp

Top 5 concerns as Cowboys enter training camp

- Rebuilt offensive line, Phil Costa is the only returning starter at the same position from 2011 and he is my # 1 concern on the line.
        - Free Agent Jason Brown is still available who would be upgrade over Costa but Jerry Jones appears to not be willing to make a move.   I do not understand why he's willing to let a definite upgrade pass him by, is Jerry the GM not fully aware of players available to make upgrades?  Is he hell bent on staying with Costa despite the problems last year?


- Rebuilt secondary
        - Gerald Sensabaugh is the lone returner to that unit while free agent additions, Brandon Carr and Brodney Pool project to start along with 1st round pick Morris Claiborne. However, Carr will be learning a new position at left cornerback having played his entire career on the right side. Pool is an average safety who's lack of range in coverage will severely limit him. Factor in a rookie who will have to adjust to covering the Super Bowl champs in week 1.

- New Punter
        - Matt McBriar signed a one-year deal with the Eagles leaving the Cowboys with a new punter since 2003. Special teams flies under the radar until they make a mistake often resulting in a game-changing play. Field position can be a best friend to a struggling defense causing the opponent to go further for points, Dallas' D isn't by any stretch solid enough to give an edge to their opponent.  2nd year punter Chris Jones will have the inside track at the starting job.
       
- Cornerback
        - Common though is Dallas is stacked at corner with Carr, Claiborne, Jenkins and Scandrick. Since when did the names Jenkins and Scandrick give such faith and confidence to Cowboy fans outside of the day they were drafted?  These 2 struggled along with the entire secondary last season and Jenkins begins camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Scandrick has consistently failed to make plays on the ball despite being in excellent position to defend passes.  I think we should let these guys prove it on the field that one: learn a new position technique (Carr), they make the leap to the NFL (Claiborne), stay healthy (Jenkins) and make plays when in position (Scandrick). If they do that, I'll agree Dallas has excellent cornerback depth but not until then.

- Wide Receiver Overall
        - The entire receiver depth chart is terrifying. Dallas is one injury away from a Andre Holmes or another undrafted rookie starting at receiver for this team. That statement can be made for several NFL teams but not all those teams had both their projected starting receivers miss multiple games over the past two seasons.. Austin missed 6 with Dez 5.
        - That makes the backup receivers even more important, only SMU's Cole Beasley and Andre Holmes have earned the most praise through the off-season.

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