4 takeaways from the Cowboys’ OTAs and minicamp practices
The Dallas Cowboys have wrapped up their OTAs and minicamp practices (the latter a bit early, thanks to Mike McCarthy). Now, the players will go on a five-week hiatus until the start of training camp in Oxnard.
There are still several pressing questions surrounding this team after their collapse at the end of 2021. But heading into the 2022 season, the Cowboys looks to have regained their focus on the goals they wanted to achieve last season. After these practices, we can try to start getting a feel for what we can expect from this team going forward. So, let’s take a look back and see what we learned from the first few weeks of offseason programming.
4 things we learned from the 2022 Cowboys OTAs and mandatory minicamps
1. Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and DeMarcus Lawrence look fully healthy
Last season was a tough one for these three players. Prescott was dealing with a shoulder injury early on in camp followed by a mid-season calf issue that seemed to hamper his ability to make throws on the run and even plant his back foot and let it rip. Elliott dealt with a nagging knee injury that turned out to be a PCL ligament tear that he played with most of the season. Then, Lawrence broke his foot and missed most of the season because of it.
Now, there are several reports that all of them have slimmed down and each is saying they are feeling the best they have in a long time. It finally feels safe to say that these three are ready for bounce-back seasons.
Prescott and the team are ready to start using his legs more on designed runs and rollouts. Elliott looks quick and that loss of weight will pay dividends in his ability to hit holes faster and be more elusive. Lawrence says he has been working hard this offseason and seems motivated by his sack competition with Cowboys’ sack leader Micah Parsons.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Ezekiel Elliott is “completely healthy right now, and he’s had a tremendous offseason. I mean, the weight that he’s been pushing in the weight room, just the numbers he has been cranking out have been very, very impressive. …He’s in top shape.” pic.twitter.com/qTxbmU5kn7
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) June 16, 2022
If all three of these men are able to stay healthy, we should expect to see boosts on both sides of the football. Prescott will benefit from Elliott getting back to being a threat on the ground and Elliott will benefit from Prescott’s mobility and ability to push the ball down the field. That will open up more running lanes thanks to fewer defenders in the box.
Lawrence was already a great pass rusher, but the loss of weight should help him in the quickness department. With him and Parsons leading the charge, the Cowboys’ pass rush could continue their success from last season and could be even better.