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Dallas Cowboys roundtable: Discussions on the Cowboys offense and Dak Prescott’s ‘boot-gate’

July 11, 2024
NFL: Dallas Cowboys Minicamp
Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Our writers provide their opinions on the latest Dallas Cowboys news during our weekly review at the roundtable.

Every week, we gather the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek some of the writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the BTB Roundtable. This week we have RJ Ochoa, Tom Ryle, Brian Martin, Sean Martin, Jess Haynie, Matt Holleran and David Howman.

Last year the Cowboys finished first in points scored on offense. Can they replicate that success this year or where do you see the offense ranking by the end of the season?

The foundation of offensive power in the NFL lies within the trenches. Without proper protection for the quarterback, the passing game cannot flourish as routes are unable to fully develop. Moreover, the success of running plays heavily relies on creating opportunities for the ball carrier to advance beyond the line of scrimmage before facing any opposition. Any vulnerabilities in the offensive line can quickly close running lanes and hinder the running back’s ability to gain momentum.

The offensive line situation for the Dallas Cowboys is raising concerns as they prepare to field two new offensive linemen this season. The potential impact on the team’s scoring is causing unease and prompting speculation about their final standing in points scored this year. In the previous season, the Cowboys secured the top spot in the league for points-per-game. The year before that, they finished in fourth place.

Recently on PFF.com, they listed the Dallas Cowboys as having the tenth-best offensive line; this should give most Cowboys fans hope. But until everyone sees how this unit looks while playing together it’s tough to predict. They face the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, a team that finished with the sixth-most sacks last year and allowed the fewest yards-per-game.

RJ: Dallas has been one of the top scoring offenses for several seasons now and despite this fact the only person given credit for it on a regular basis is serving as a coordinator for their third team in as many seasons. Replicating the exact success will obviously be difficult so I will take them to finish beyond first, but this should still be a top flight group.

Tom: I think they will fall a bit, but just because that is so hard to maintain year to year. Add in the big changes on the line and at RB, and it is hard to see them keeping the top spot. However, the defense has some questions of their own, and this may be a year they have to try and score a lot of points to win. Add in Mike McCarthy’s offensive focus, and they shouldn’t fall far.

Brian: I have a difficult time believing the Cowboys offense will be able to replicate the success they’ve had the past few seasons. There’s just too much unknown about the reworked OL that could feature two rookies and the RB by committee approach they’ve chosen to go with this year. I hate to say it, but I think they’ll be a middle-of-the-road ranked offense this season.

Sean: The Cowboys simply need to figure out how to have success within a wider range of Mike McCarthy’s offense this season, and looking at their depth before training camp I think they can. The tight end group is deep with a lot of unknown potential, and how they may help the “run game that could” along with this reworked offensive line is a top story to watch. Dak Prescott will still be near the top of the league in any metric you want to pick, CeeDee Lamb will be himself, Brandin Cooks may improve, but ultimately I think Dallas finishes somewhere below the top spot - yet good enough to keep their winning ways alive.

Jess: Projecting they’ll be number one again is tough given the uncertainties on the offensive line, but I feel safe saying they’ll be in the top five. Dak Prescott is the key driver there, CeeDee Lamb’s still here, and I think we’re going to see a superstar breakout from Jake Ferguson. With Ezekiel Elliott’s return hopefully improving our short-yardage scoring, points aren’t going to be hard to come by. And if the defense does take a step back without Dan Quinn, which is possible, the offense may have to do more scoring to win.

Matt: Under Mike McCarthy the Cowboys have consistently been one of the best offenses in the NFL. I actually think the changes on the offensive line will help Dallas’ offense be more efficient, especially in the run game. Tony Pollard and Tyron Smith’s departure will hurt, but Dallas is still going to put up plenty of points. I don’t think they’ll lead the league in points scored again, but they’ll finish well within the top 10, maybe even in the top five.

David: The simple rule of regression to the mean probably makes it difficult for the Cowboys to repeat as the number one scoring offense, but I still expect them to finish in the top five. Dak Prescott alone makes this offense capable of fireworks, and CeeDee Lamb makes it a virtual guarantee. Plus, Mike McCarthy is a darn good playcaller, as was evidenced last year. I’m also bullish on the idea that Brandin Cooks gets back into the 1,000 yard receiving category with a full offseason of work in this offense, which should keep things productive for this offense.

LB DeMarvion Overshown is on pace to return for training camp. What’s the expectations for Overshown this season?

A number of reports state Overshown is looking healthy and in some reports, he’s even put on weight ready for the upcoming season. The expectation for Overshown is to be ready to have his workouts ramped up in training camp and be ready to take on a major role for Week 1.

A number of reports state Overshown is ready for a breakout season this year, and judging on how he was performing before the ACL injury last year, it’s not hard to believe he will be a significant part of the Cowboys defense this year. As he prepares for Oxnard, expect to see plenty of Overshown playing from the Will position and to take in wisdom from linebacker veteran Eric Kendricks who was added during the free agency period this year.

RJ: I am a bit bullish on Overshown just because we have not seen him in a very long time. Returning from injury is its own uphill battle and while we saw him thrive throughout camp and the preseason last year, he has still never truly played in an NFL game. I’m looking at him as icing on the cake and hoping that the plan isn’t to rely on him right out of the gate.

Tom: I’m going to temper my expectations on him, as well as Trevon Diggs. The fan base tends to expect players to return from serious injuries at 110%, and we need look no further than Michael Gallup to see how that can work out. I’ll be happy if he is just competent at his position in what is essentially his rookie campaign.

Brian: My expectations for DeMarvion Overshown are actually quite high. From all reports he is expected to be back 100% for training camp and preseason. On top of that, there are those who are raving about how much bigger and stronger he looks. He is tailor-made to play in Mike Zimmer’s system and I fully expect him to challenge for a starting job in Year 2.

Sean: This team still has plenty to prove between the lines when it comes to being an improved run defense, and I think it’s wise to believe it when we see it when it comes to any of these front seven players expected to make a difference. Overshown will make his presence felt both against the run and pass, but how he adapts to a new scheme and plenty of new faces lining up in front of him on the defensive line will be key. The days of hybrid linebackers getting all of the reps under Dan Quinn are gone, and Overshown, by all reports, has adapted his body while also recovering well from injury, but he still has a lot to prove.

Jess: The enthusiasm for Overshown may have exceeded realistic expectations for a kid coming off a missed year. We’ve seen guys shine in the preseason, like Luke Gifford a few years ago, but then not translate that to the regular season. We’ve also just been through the experience with Jabril Cox of a linebacker who flashed potential but then didn’t come back right from an early injury. Overshown can certainly defy these precedents but the time’s come to finally see what he’s got.

Matt: It’s never easy to return from as severe of an injury as the one DeMarvion Overshown suffered, so I’m keeping my expectations a bit low. Overshown is yet to take an NFL regular season snap and there is going to be a learning curve he’ll have to deal with. Players coming off ACL injuries tend to take a bit to return to their previous form. I think Overshown will start the season a bit slow, but by season’s end he’ll cement himself as one of Dallas’ best linebackers.

David: I’m not expecting much out of Overshown until I can actually see him on the football field in live reps. Much of the excitement around him last year was his pure speed and athleticism, and we all know how hard those traits can be affected by an injury like the one Overshown suffered last year. On top of that, the young linebacker is also having to learn a new scheme right after learning Dan Quinn’s scheme a year ago.

NFL: AUG 15 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Dak was photographed in a walking boot and it’s reported he has a minor foot sprain. Do Cowboys fans need to be concerned yet?

A photo emerged that sparked huge controversy and conversation as Independence Day landed. Dak was photographed in a walking boot which raised concerns on the health of the Cowboys starting quarterback. It was revealed, however, that Dak merely wanted to protect himself during the holiday and that the last time he was out on a boat his foot became swollen as a result of his horrific injury in 2020.

The good news is he’s no longer in the walking boot and all is fine, just plenty of overreaction and nervousness from Cowboys Nation and Dak is set to hit training camp which begins in two weeks time.

RJ: Anything involving QB1 is of note in my opinion so this is definitely something that gave me initial pause. That being said, I do not think it is the biggest deal in the world, but I would assume it will be a talking point on the tennis courts in Oxnard in a few weeks time.

Tom: Let’s say the concern is on the bench, and we don’t know for sure if it will enter the game. But when your starting QB has a history of severe ankle injury, you can’t help but feel a little unease until you find out more. Oh, and don’t forget this team may tend to underplay the severity of injuries. Dang, now I’m starting to feel nervous.

Brian: Any kind of lower leg injury no matter how minor is definitely a concern, especially for Dak Prescott after that gruesome ankle injury sustained a few years ago. No. 4 is no longer a youngster and any kind of injury right now could linger into the season if not properly handled. Fortunately, there is still a lot of time between now and the start of the season for him to heal up.

Sean: This team has made a lot of strides on the injury front under Mike McCarthy, and there is no need to restate the obvious when it comes to the pressure on the McCarthy/Dak Prescott connection this season. With plenty of time to go until any of the reps truly mean anything, I trust that the Cowboys will handle this fine and Prescott will be ready.

Jess: Professional athletes take precautions all the time that you and I wouldn’t in our day-to-day lives. Even minor foot injuries are tough to heal without boots or weight reduction, so Prescott took a step that he could afford to during the offseason to speed up his recovery. It makes sense with camp just around the corner. July 25th is the first practice and that’s when I’ll start worrying if we’re still talking about his foot.

Matt: I may be in the minority here but I am not concerned in the slightest. Dak himself made an Instagram story this weekend poking fun at all the speculation about the boot. Look, of course if this turns out to be something that will seriously affect Dak I’m going to be concerned, but we are nowhere near that point yet. Prescott does not seem worried, so neither am I. At least yet that is.

David: A lifetime spent rooting for this Cowboys franchise has taught me to live in a constant state of concern. As it specifically relates to Dak Prescott, it sounds like this is ultimately much ado about nothing, and the quarterback appears to have just been taking extra precaution. Which means we can all go back to only worrying about whether Jerry and Stephen Jones are seriously about to let their franchise quarterback walk out of the building after the season is over.

NFL: MAY 22 Dallas Cowboys OTA Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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