Top 5 Concerns heading into camp

I disagree with almost all articles or thoughts from Goose Gosselin and Jon Machota.  Today I want to dive into the real top 5 concerns along with alternatives heading into Cowboys training camp.

For reference, Machota thinks the top 5 concerns, without any alternatives, are:

1) Interior offensive line
2) Wide Receiver Depth
3) Dominant second pass rusher to assist DeMarcus Ware
4) DeMarco Murray's health
5) Jason Garrett play-calling in critical moments

I almost laughed when I read this, there is no mention as to the rebuilt secondary.  The same secondary will feature most likely 3 new starters with supposedly Sensabaugh the guy who's locked down his job? Brodney Pool is a below average safety who lacks range in coverage and the rookie safety Matt Johnson who couldn't practice as much as they hoped in the offseason camps.  Then you factor in Brandon Carr will be playing left cornerback after spending his career in Kansas City as a right cornerback changing all the technique Carr perfected to earn the $50 million dollar contract. Oh yea, a rookie corner in Morris Claiborne who hasn't practiced once and also could not be signed in time for the start of training camp. Now Mike Jenkins is referred as the insurance policy, the same who struggled with injuries from day 1 to the end of the season. Then there is Orlando Scandrick as the nickel corner but did anyone feel confident about Scandrick being part of the solution to the secondary after his performance in 2011?

The secondary could become a strength but we don't know that, there are so many questions regarding it, it has to be up there just as high as the interior offensive line.

I keep hearing this crap about the wide receiver depth, fact here is if Dez Bryant & Miles Austin start at least 14 games in 2012, the depth won't matter.  The concern is that Austin most likely won't make it through the season healthy and Bryant won't make it healthy or be consistently counted on to be where he's supposed to be on the field. The depth will work itself out and the Cowboys will not sign a veteran free agent unless none of the kids show any type of ability to make plays. Whoever gets the job will also HAVE to play special teams which rules out #85, his name will never be mentioned on this blog, as he does not play special teams. I honestly feel Andre Holmes, Danny Coale and Cole Beasley make the team as the team carries 5 receivers on the roster.

 I would instead be more concerned about the entire offensive line, not just the interior. You have Tyron Smith playing a brand new position on the left side, he played right tackle at USC, to protect Romo's blindside that Free failed to do. Then the guards have been completely retooled with Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau as the projected starters, neither were considered plus starters with their previous teams. That brings us to Phil Costa, perhaps the worst offensive lineman of the 2011, is back at center but with competition from Bill Nagy and possibly Kevin Kowalski. There is also hope that rookie Ron Leary could also provide depth or even start at one of the guard spots but is that because Leary is so good or the Cowboys line in such poor shape?

Next he says a dominant second pass rusher is 3rd biggest concern on the team, I completely disagree. I feel generating a consistent pass rush from multiple positions would serve the defense better but greatly depends on young players progressing and coaches giving them a chance to play.

Fact is Anthony Spencer is not and will not be a dominating pass rusher in Dallas so forget about that. The Cowboys brass refuse to move their 2nd best pass rusher Jay Ratliff to end so forget about that. So what can they do?  Jason Hatcher should be a full-time starter at right defensive end in 2012 which should help the pass rush from one end spot. Second, Josh Brent & Sean Lissemore will be crucial in keeping Ratliff fresh down the season and help the D get stops in the fourth quarter. Third, Lissemore and rookie Tyrone Crawford should be given every opportunity to take the starting job away from Marcus Spears at left defensive end. This upgrades the defensive line which makes the outside linebackers in a 3-4 more effective since the offensive line has other players to worry about which was not the case in 2011, Kenyon Coleman and Marcus Spears were just average and worse in rushing the passer.

Next, Jason Garrett needs to follow through with his claims of competition and must earn playing time. Kyle Wilbur should be given every opportunity to take Spencer's job and especially be given a role as a situational pass rusher from Spencer's spot, he hasn't rushed the passer consistently over his career and Wilbur was drafted to be Spencer's replacement.  Finally, Bruce Carter is the wildcard, he is athletic enough to be the best blitzer Dallas has ever had in their 3-4 defense. Remember, the purpose of the 3-4 defense is to make it difficult for the offensive line to determine where the pass rush is coming from, a solid pass rushing team effort can help to accomplish this since a second dominant pass rusher is not possible in 2012 with Spencer pegged as the starter opposite Ware.

The health of DeMarco Murray is a small concern, he's already stated publicaly the ankle is doing great and ready to go for training camp. Corner's Mike Jenkins and Claiborne haven't practiced once due to their health, I put them far higher on the concern list than Murray. The depth you have at runningback is far more important than who you have penciled in as the starter, you will need all 3 runningbacks to play a significant number of snaps during the regular season.

Finally, he puts up Garrett's play-calling as the fifth highest concern?  I want Garrett to improve in that area sure, don't call timeouts right before your own team is going to kick a field goal sure. But I want more him to improve his game-preparation especially when Dallas goes on the road versus division opponents, they walk into Philly and Washington in a fragile timid frame of mind. You can really see this in the play selection especially on the road in the division, that must change!  However there is another area of concern far higher than Garrett's improvement in game-management.

How is it a perenial pro-bowler is not resigned to the team, is still available as training camp is about to open, a unproven kid is expected to pick up the slack and no one seems to notice?  The Cowboys go into training camp with Delbert Alvarado and Chris Jones as the teams only punters, longtime starter Matt McBriar is still a free agent reportedly close to a full recovery from the drop leg injury. His ability to consistently drop the ball inside the 20, incredible hang-time eliminating risk for punt returns were taken for granted but could be a different story now. Another major concern as well.