Dallas Cowboys: 5 Training Camp Battles to Watch

The Dallas Cowboys no doubt didn’t enjoy how last season ended. Not only did they miss the playoffs, but they watched another rival win a championship.

With the Philadelphia Eagles claiming their first Super Bowl title, that marks the third time an NFC East foe has won a title since the last time Dallas did the same in 1995. Jerry Jones, for all he’s done in the league, still hasn’t escaped the shadow of Jimmy Johnson in all that time. Now his team is in the midst of another huge transition.

Tony Romo is gone. Dez Bryant is gone. Jason Witten is gone. There is far more uncertainty around this roster than there’s been in years. That’s what makes the upcoming training camp so interesting. A lot of starting jobs and key backup positions are up for grabs. How they play out may determine the fate of the 2018 season.

Here are the battles to watch in the coming months.

Mike White vs. Cooper Rush

Never underestimate the value of a backup quarterback. Dallas learned that in 2016 when they had Dak Prescott ready to replace Tony Romo. Now they need to ensure a plan is in place if Prescott himself goes down. Cooper Rush is the most experienced of the group and seems like the early favorite but the Cowboys aren’t giving him a chance to rest. They drafted Mike White in the 5th round. He’s got intriguing talents of his own including a strong right arm. If he can progress in his mechanics and reads quickly, he’ll be a definite threat to Rush.

Rod Smith vs. Bo Scarbrough

One of the big reasons the Cowboys fell apart last year was they had no answer for the loss of Ezekiel Elliott due to his six-game suspension. Their offense fell apart without him, and no backup was able to fill that void. No doubt they hope that’s different this year. Rod Smith emerged as a surprise option, averaging 4.2 yards per carry once he got into the lineup. He’ll be challenged by Bo Scarbrough, the big power back from Alabama. He’s a perfect fit for the system, built much like Derrick Henry but also comes with injury concerns. One of them has to show they can carry the load if Zeke goes down.

Michael Gallup vs. Terrance Williams

The Dez Bryant void is wide open and the Cowboys have to find a way to fill it. It looks like Allen Hurns is the safe bet for this job. With Cole Beasley handling slot duties, that leaves the #2 outside spot in the competition. Terrance Williams has held this position for years and no doubt expects to continue doing so. However, his pedestrian 2017 leaves him vulnerable. Rookie Michael Gallup is one of the sleepers of the draft thanks to his mix of good size and strong route running prowess. It shouldn’t take him long to acclimate to the pro level, making him a serious challenge.

La’El Collins vs. Connor Williams

The centerpiece of any Cowboys comeback in 2018 will start up front. Their offensive line remains the strength of their roster and that was reinforced with yet another high pick added to the mix. It looks like La’El Collins is on his way back to left guard after an underwhelming run at right tackle. However, it won’t be a cakewalk for him. Connor Williams showed tons of promise at Texas as a left tackle and seems like a natural transition to guard. His athleticism and pass blocking skill make him a serious threat to Collins keeping his job.

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Taco Charlton vs. Tyrone Crawford

Tyrone Crawford managed to hold off Taco Charlton as the starting defensive end in 2017 but it feels like his grip on that job is slipping. He only had four sacks last year while Charlton had three despite not starting a single game. The former 1st round pick is also expected to take over at some point, which means Crawford has to make a strong impression in training camp to ensure that doesn’t happen. Charlton has a less steep hill to climb in that regard.