Dallas Cowboys prepare to unleash the rookie revolution
By Brad Austin
The Dallas Cowboys will begin preparations for a rookie revolution this year during their first offseason minicamp this weekend.
The Dallas Cowboys are a day away from the first official look at their rookie class.
The annual three-day rookie minicamp takes place this Friday to Sunday. Participants will include drafted rookies, undrafted rookie signings, and some first-year players.
After a rookie year forfeit, Jaylon Smith was expected to get a small taste. However, his long-awaited debut has been tabled until OTA’s later this month.
Nevertheless, a limited preview of the rookie revolution is set to begin in Frisco.
In the coming revolution we must also include de facto rookies. These are talented first-year players unable to make their true rookie debut in 2016.
Smith (MLB) and Charles Tapper (DE) highlight this additional group. Injury issues forced both 2016 draft picks to miss their rookie campaign.
Rico Gathers (TE) will also join the do-over club. The former college basketball player spent last year learning the game after not playing football since middle school.
Despite the steep learning curve, both Gathers and Jerry Jones believe he’s ready to contribute this season.
"“Honestly, I feel like this year I’m ready to be on the 53-man, ready to score some touchdowns, ready to go make some plays.” — Rico Gathers to The Star-Telegram"
ROOKIE REVOLUTION IN KEY BATTLES
The Cowboys will spend the next several weeks learning where players fit best and assign them accordingly before heading to training camp.
In August there will be eight open starting positions hotly contested by debut players.
TIGHT END (2) – James Hanna, Geoff Swaim, Gathers (2016 – 6th rd)
LEFT DEF END – David Irving, DeMarcus Lawrence, Tapper (2016 – 4th rd)
RIGHT DEF END – Taco Charlton (2017 – 1st rd), Lawrence, Benson Mayowa
MIDDLE LB – Jaylon Smith (2016 – 2nd rd), Anthony Hitchens, Mark Nzeocha
RIGHT CORNER – Orlando Scandrick, Nolan Carroll, Chidobe Awuzie (2017 – 2nd rd)
SLOT CORNER – Jourdan Lewis (2017 – 3rd rd), Scandrick, Anthony Brown
STRONG SAFETY – Jeff Heath, Xavier Woods (2017 – 6th rd), Awuzie
KICK RETURNER – Ryan Switzer (2017 – 4th rd), Lucky Whitehead, Lewis
NEW FACES READY TO WIN RACES
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All eight debut players listed above will be 2017 contributors.
Of those, five will show enough sudden impact to earn starts in Week 1.
In the front seven Charlton will get the start at one end, joined by Smith at MLB.
The secondary will enjoy new life with Lewis securing the slot corner, while Woods or Awuzie claim the strong safety spot.
Switzer was drafted primarily to jolt the return game and will do so from day one.
VETERANS SHAKE OFF CHALLENGERS
The other three open starting spots will continue to be held by veterans.
When healthy, Hanna is by far the most complete TE behind Jason Witten. If he’s not ready, Gathers will need meaningful game experience before leaping Swaim.
Brown will return as the starting left corner. Finally reaching full health after two seasons, Scandrick will join him and reclaim his past starting job at right corner.
The last time Scandrick was 100% he started on the right side as the team’s highest rated corner in both 2013 and 2014.
Awuzie won’t replace either veteran on the outside in base defense, yet will get specialty package snaps or muscle his way into the strong safety mix.
Next: The Dallas Cowboys top five position battles of 2017
I expect Crawford to move back inside to DT, which helps Tapper’s bid at DE. However, Charlton, Lawrence, and Irving are too talented to remove two from a starting role.