Cowboys mailbag: Questions on position groups and Markquese Bell with guest writer Brad Sham
Our latest mailbag features plenty of questions about the Dallas Cowboys, with guest writer Brad Sham
Every week, we take questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook about Dallas Cowboys players and other issues surrounding the team. This week we have a guest writer, Cowboys commentator Brad Sham. So let’s get right into it.
“As training camp gets closer, which positions do you feel confident about and which are you nervous about?”
(@Craig Sykes on Facebook)
Mike: Quarterback, tight end, offensive guard and safety have the biggest votes of confidence. Wide receiver is close behind but that position rests in purgatory until the CeeDee Lamb situation gets resolved. The offensive line as a total group is unnerving based on two rookies starting, and we have questions on Terence Steele. The guard position is one place that’s both talented and durable with Zack Martin and Tyler Smith.
The defensive tackle position creates the most anxiety. There is no doubt they will add to this position during camp as there just isn’t any depth. Another questionable position is running back. The questions revolve around what’s the plan for Ezekiel Elliott and his snap count, what’s Rico Dowdle going to look like and how many carries will he get, and how efficient will this ‘running back committee’ actually be by the time the regular season kicks off.
Dana: While it may not be the most exciting answer, I’ve got a lot of confidence in the kickers on the Cowboys. Bryan Anger and Brandon Aubrey (Banger and Butter) have both shown excellence and consistency in their play and have earned my trust and confidence, especially after last season. In 2023, Anger broke the record for average net yards per punt with 45.3 yards. Aubrey missed only one field goal the entire season, scoring more points than any other player in the NFL. Both earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods. Until proven otherwise, confidence in the kicking game couldn’t get any higher.
On the other side of the coin, the defensive tackle position is the most cloudy. Osa Odighizuwa is the most solidified player of the group, however he is nursing a hip injury. Mazi Smith still needs to prove himself after a disappointing rookie season. Carl Davis will work to get more playing time this season but spent a lot of 2023 on the practice squad after joining the team. The other two names in this group, Justin Rogers and Denzel Daxon, are both rookies. While it is possible that the clouds may dissipate after training camp and the preseason, it is hard to have a ton of confidence at the position right now.
Brad: Feel pretty good about the secondary, however they line up. Some safety depth there. I think the receivers will be a plus group. Have to be nervous about defensive tackle aside from Odigizuwa, and I’m not sure what the plan is for left tackle if Tyler Guyton doesn’t look ready. It would mean revamping the offensive line.
“Where do you think things stand at Safety. Will Markquese Bell just slip into Jayron Kearse’s role? Or does Mike Zimmer have a different plan?”
(@Hugh James on Facebook)
Mike: As far as things look so far, Bell is set to rejoin the safety group which only adds to the already talented depth at the position (if you can believe saying that as a Cowboys fan). Bell did fine last year as a linebacker, but as the season rolled on you could see the fatigue setting in. That was mostly down to the fact he’s undersized for the position and he was taking a lot of punishment from defending the run.
Bell is way too talented to leave out and Zimmer will need to get creative to find ways to get him snaps. That could mean occasionally getting back in the linebacker group. With players like DeMarvion Overshown and Damone Clark with questions on their levels of durability, Bell adds a safety net for injury, or at least a “break glass in emergency” for a few quarters if either starter get hurt.
Dana: The three-headed monster that was Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker and Jayron Kearse is now down to two heads with Kearse no longer on this roster, which may be sufficient for the starters on Mike Zimmer’s defense. However, Zimmer may want to use different players for different packages to keep offenses on their toes. That is where guys like Markquese Bell and Juahyeh Thomas will come in.
Markquese Bell spent a lot of time filling the linebacker role last year but expect him to be back with the safety group this season. All of that LB experience may work in his favor in his bid for snaps on the field. Knowing what goes on in the mind of the men in front of him and improved communication could shape him into an even better safety.
As for Thomas, he should be pushing for playing time as well. Although his time on the field so far has been limited, he has used his opportunities to show his physicality and toughness. It will be very interesting to see how both Bell and Thomas have improved at training camp and in the preseason.
Brad: Not sure if there will be a role like Kearse’s. That’s one of the differences between the Dan Quinn and Zimmer systems. I think Bell and Juanyeh Thomas are both ready for expanded safety roles but they’ll be different than last year.
Question from Dublin, Ireland. Will we re-establish the run game this season?
(@fredflunk on Twitter)
Mike: Everything the Cowboys have done so far this offseason, except draft/sign a top RB, points toward the coaches wanting to return to the run game and lean on that side a lot more. Taking two maulers in the draft that can contribute straight away is a big nod towards the coaches wanting to establish the run game. And with those two linemen linked with Tyler Smith, who is also a solid run blocker, is even more telling on the coaches plans. Then of course the team went out and got Zeke to come back, plus they added Royce Freeman. All of this is points toward the team wanting to reassert its dominance back in the run game.
Dana: The plan that the Cowboys’ have devised for re-establishing the run this season is a “running back by committee” approach. The hope is to keep the RB’s fresh for a full 17-game season. The key ingredient for this plan to be successful is improvement on the offensive line when it comes to scheme and run-blocking. Looking at the 2023 season, yes, there were yards left on the field by the running backs. However, many of the runs were stuffed at or before the line of scrimmage with no holes to even try to break through.
That said, the Cowboys have added a couple of young studs on the offensive line through the draft. Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe have the potential to be solid starters on this team for the next decade. But is it expected that they will be better run-blockers than their predecessors, Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz, in their very first season in the NFL? It seems like a very tall order to fill, but only time will tell.
Brad: You always have to be able to run the ball but this is a passing team now. I very much like having Elliott back and I’m curious to see if Royce Freeman, signed from the Rams, can help. And I still think there’s a back on some other team right now who could be here. I think their running game will be adequate, not a strength.
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