Dallas Cowboys: 4 things to watch Week One at Carolina

2. Will one of the Cowboys wide receivers step up?

Over the course of the offseason, the Dallas Cowboys wide receiving group has been arguably the most scrutinized of all position groups. The Cowboys come into the season with a very unproven receiving core without a proven leader of the group.

Veterans Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams look to bounce back from very disappointing 2017 seasons, and newcomers Allen Hurns, Michael Gallup, and Tavon Austin will try to be the spark plug that the Dallas offense was looking for. All in all, if the Cowboys want to make a return to the playoffs this season, they will need one of their wideout to step up and take the number one receiver role by the horns.

Throughout the preseason one receiver did not prove to be “the guy” so the question remains to be seen if that will change when the games really matter. Facing a tough defense like Carolina, the Cowboys will need one or two of their receivers to step up and have a big day if they want to come home 1-0.

3. What will Leighton Vander Esch‘s effect be on the Dallas defense?

Leighton Vander Esch’s first NFL Preseason did not go as well as he would have planned.

The rookie linebacker who was selected with the 19th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft in April battled a groin injury throughout camp, that kept his players on the field very limited. Dallas was very cautious with Vander Esch making sure he would be ready to play in week one of the regular season.

The Cowboys succeeded with their goal of getting Vander Esch healthy for week one, but it remains to be seen what kind of impact he can have on the Dallas defense.

The Cowboys starting defense was by far their most impressive unit this preseason, and adding Vander Esch to the mix can only make it stronger.

With it being his first NFL game there will be some expected bumps in the road, but Vander Esch has a chance to be a game changer and turn the Dallas defense from good to very good.