July 30, 2012; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys tackle Ronald Leary (65) enters the field on opening day of training camp. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

The additional names of the players to be cut today are: DB Eddie Whitley, G Ronald Leary, T Pat McQuistan, T Jeff Adams, DB Teddy Williams, C Harland Gunn, G Daniel Loper, DE Clifton Geathers, DB Lionel Smith, DE Baraka Atkins, DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, TE Andrew Szczerba, DE Ben Bass, and WR Saalim Hakim.

The obvious names missing from this list might be more surprising then those on it. QB Stephen McGee and DE Marcus Spears were both speculated to be on the roster bubble.Also shocking is that not one of the five running backs on the team have been cut. They are DeMarco Murray, Felix Jones, Phillip Tanner, Lance Dunbar and Jamize Olawale.

Could the team be shopping one of them for a trade? It could make sense for a player like Felix Jones, who is in the final year of his contract. And it would also explain the delay in the release of one of them in an overpopulated backfield.

Regardless, the Cowboys still have two cuts to go before the deadline tonight. Dallas traded the Miami Dolphins a seventh round pick in next year’s draft for back-up center Ryan Cook late last night, hence an additional player release is needed.

Other names who could be on that cut list tonight include G Derrick Dockery, T Jermey Parnell, LB Isaiah Greenhouse, LB Kyle Wilber, and S Mana Silva.

Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Today, Wednesday, July 25th, 2012, rookies, quarterbacks, and a select few veterans report to Valley Ranch for the official start of the 2012 season!  Training camp in Oxnard, CA starts on Sunday with the first full-team practice scheduled for Monday.  So much excitement!  So many questions – that all will be answered in a matter of weeks.  Consider that the 2012 Cowboys will be on ESPN for their first preseason game against the Raiders in Oakland in less than 3 weeks! (Monday, 8/13, 8pm ET)

It’s been talked about a hundred times already in what has seemed like an off season that would never end, but here’s a refresher on the list of the major questions I think the Cowboys need to answer in the next month:

1.  Quarterback – Romo is solidly in place as the starter and Kyle Orton was signed specifically to be his backup.  But, do the Cowboys keep a third quarterback?  If so, is it Stephen McGee or Rudy Carpenter?

2.  Running Back – Can DeMarco Murray come back at full strength and shake off the injury as well as the “sophomore slump” that seems to plague a lot of players?  Is Felix Jones completely recovered from shoulder surgery (medically released to practice on Monday) and will he and DeMarco find productive roles together in this offense?  The Cowboys currently have 5 running backs and 2 full backs on the training camp roster – beyond Murray, Jones, and fullback Vickers, who sticks on the regular 53 as back ups?  Garrett kept 4 running backs last year to start the season and claimed FB Tony Fiammetta off waivers signing him on 9/13/11, 2 days after the opening loss to the Jets. (more…)

As Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett, and Rob Ryan prepare to lead the Dallas Cowboys into free agency and the 2012 draft, they must all be focused on the obvious fact that the defense is the weak leak on this team. The defense gave up 24 or more points in almost half their games last year (7 out of 16); the Cowboys lost 3 games when they scored 24 or more points.

The offense is fairly solid: the interior line and a 3rd WR (if Laurent Robinson isn’t resigned) are the only big needs other than the need for depth behind the starters. Expect the Dallas Cowboys brain-trust to be focused on rebuilding the defense this off-season.

Despite having no off-season and very little new talent (just Kenyon Coleman, Abe Elam, and Sean Lee were new starters) Rob Ryan significantly improved the defense last season. This season made it painfully obvious that Ryan needs better players before we can evaluate his ability as a Defensive Coordinator (or potential Head Coach.) Expect Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett to make all reasonable efforts to get the players that Ryan wants for his defense.

Click on the link to read about the re-building that has been started and what is left to accomplish.

(more…)