What to watch for during the Dallas Cowboys scrimmage

The Dallas Cowboys are set to play their annual scrimmage on Sunday and these are just a few things that I will be watching for.

Change is always difficult in the NFL but it also comes with excitement. Having hope is contagious and that is how I see this year’s Dallas Cowboys squad. It has been unfortunate to get most of what this team has been up to secondhand but everyone will finally get a glimpse of the new staff.

I am excited to see all of the new shiny toys the Dallas Cowboys have acquired but I also want to see how some of the usual suspects have adapted to the new way of life. We often hear of certain veterans that don’t like or fit the new scheme so it will be interesting to see if any veteran player struggles.

First and foremost, I am anxious to see if the Dallas Cowboys start off in an even or odd defensive front. I know that the team will be pretty vanilla in what they want to show to their opponents but lining up differently will show a clear message that the Dallas defense is going to mix it up.

The biggest complaint players appeared to have had with the old regime is that the defensive staff wanted the players to just line up and play and keep everything in front of you. That does not appear to be the case anymore which is exciting and terrifying at the same time.

I want to see how well both Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith are adapting to their new positions. I truly believe that these players are now in their proper place. Smith labored a bit running sideline to sideline and cutting his assignment nearly in half should be beneficial.

Vander Esch can now use his elite play diagnosis and athleticism to patrol the middle and clean up all plays. I am also interested to see the hype of undrafted linebacker Francis Bernard. Word is that this kid is very vocal and has been flying around the field.

I also want to take a good look at the competition at safety. There is a certain someone apparently waiting in the wings and this scrimmage might either be the final nail in the coffin or could open up a new round of discussions. Newly acquired safety Ha Ha Clinton Dix has apparently not taken a stranglehold of the position and has been sharing time with journeyman Darian Thompson.

That is definitely not how I envisioned this signing but for whatever reason, things just sometimes don’t pan out as hoped. I am also going to keep a close eye on one of my pet cats in safety Donovan Wilson. Head coach Mike McCarthy has talked a lot about how their safeties are interchangeable so his coverage skills must be on full display if he wants to compete for a starting spot.

The defense certainly has a lot of question marks but what about the offensive side of the ball?

The offense is a bit clearer when it comes to what they want to accomplish but there are definitely a few questions that remain. The vanilla approach will most certainly be on full display but I am hoping that their vanilla or base offense will be 11 personnel.

For those that are not familiar, 11 personnel is taking your basic offense but replacing your fullback with an extra wide receiver. With this approach, the real fun begins when coordinators move the tight end around to create mismatches. Play action works masterfully in this formation as defenders have to account for the run while having an extra defensive back rather than a linebacker to defend.

The cameras will certainly be on new wideout CeeDee Lamb but I am more interested in seeing how well the competition at the fourth wide receiver spot is coming along. Devin Smith and Cedrick Wilson will probably both make the team but any type of injury to the top three instantly thrusts one of these two into the spotlight.

The offensive line is starting to concern me so I will definitely be watching the play in the trenches. The Tackle spots for sure will almost be my focal point when reviewing tape the following day. The top three spots are just about locked up but the fourth tackle will certainly have my attention.

I know that special teams are almost impossible to evaluate during a scrimmage due to restraints in tackling so getting my first live look at kicker Greg Zuerlein will be interesting. There was no doubt that kicker Brett Maher had a strong leg but the ball did not look like it came off his foot easily.

The reports from training camp have painted a picture that the ball just bursts off his foot is something I am looking forward to seeing. I hope to see a player that was truly affected by an injury last year and not a player in decline for other reasons.

I hope for an injury-free competition but one that is spirited and as aspiring as all the reports from the Star have been. Football is finally here. It is time to put the guesswork aside and see what the 2020 Dallas Cowboys will be about. Enjoy the scrimmage everyone.