Dallas Cowboys: Five wonders during the 2018 OTAs
The Dallas Cowboys are in OTA mode. With the summer temps heating up, so are the wonders surrounding the team. Here are five to think about.
Well, it’s getting hot out there. The Dallas Cowboys 2018 season is still months out, but the fight in Big D is brewing. It’s not week one, but we still have some football in the form of OTAs.
The Cowboys are holding OTAs May 29th to the 31st. Also, the team is getting together June 4th to 6th.
With that in mind, here are five quick wonders I have about America’s Team.
The mystery and mystique of Tavon Austin
Though not a central cog in the Dallas Cowboys system, the media is making the Austin role a bigger deal than it is.
The guy, who’s been called a web back, receiver and running back, will certainly get his touches. So, I wonder if the media is making this Austin acquisition bigger than it really is?
I’m excited as the next person about what Austin can do with his feet in Big D. On top of that, I think his touches will be more meaningful and productive than Ryan Switzer, had he stayed in town.
I suppose the spotlight on Austin takes away the light on the receiver one spot, which isn’t a bad thing when you think about it.
Rico Gathers walking into the shadow
I wonder how big of a hole Jason Witten left in Big D?
The guys on the roster now have big shoes to fill and the surrounding players have a lot of leadership roles to pick up. With Mr. Reliable out, somebody has to step up to be the next security blanket.
Gathers has a big opportunity. His journey starts now during the OTAs.
Jourdan Lewis the number one
If the Cowboys’ defense is to have an identity, one that stalks opponents and gives the team an overall edge, Dallas needs a big-time cornerback with a face.
I wonder if Jourdan Lewis will step into this role?
The guy is feisty. Young. Talented.
At the core, he’s a football player with tremendous upside. In a lot of ways, I feel the Cowboys’ success or failure on defense will be determined by Lewis’ play on the turf.
The new Ezekiel
Watch All or Nothing on Amazon Prime and you’ll know how big a toll Ezekiel Elliott‘s suspension played on the team and the running back’s mind.
In fact, it wasn’t defenses that stopped the All-Pro back — it was himself.
Now that 2017 is behind, I wonder how crazy Elliott will go in 2018? Is 2018 the year he runs wild, making up some yardage for the games he missed in 2017?
Well, the Cowboys used a second-round pick on a left guard in 2018, so that should add to his weaponry.
First come, first served
The Dallas Cowboys’ first four games are against NFC teams with the firepower to make the playoffs.
I wonder how important is it for the Cowboys to start strong in 2018? If Dallas wants to set the tone early, they’ll have to prove it with the Panthers, Giants, Seahawks, and Lions. I don’t know about you, but that is a stacked four to get around.
The Cowboys split those games, two at home and two as visitors.
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Right off the bat, we’ll get to see the 2018 configuration take place. We’ll see how the Austin scheme plays out. Does Rico get the start? Is Lewis the main man on the depth chart? And how will Elliott run now that his mind is solely on football?
A guy can only wonder.