The Dallas Cowboys have arrived in Oxnard, CA and it's one of the most exciting times for the team and fan base.
The coaches get the opportunity to put their roster together, the players get to go out and compete for spots on the roster while building a new foundation of cohesion amongst the players new and old. The fans get the chance to see their favorite players live and have the opportunity to interact with them.
But the main goal for everyone there is to get better and build on what they were able to accomplish last season. For that to happen players are going to need to step up or risk being left behind.
We've seen how this front office likes to bring players in during training camp if they feel they aren't getting the best out of a certain position, much like they did with Anthony Barr and Jason Peters -- and later T.Y. Hilton last year.
So we should expect fierce competition during camp. With that, positives and negatives could arise. Let's star with the best possible outcomes.
1. Injury-free training camp and preseason
Every time teams head into camp, you tend to see different strategies on how they plan to manage players.
This includes putting a red jersey on quarterbacks to lessen the risk of injury. Similarly, teams keep players on snap counts in preseason games to keep players fresh and not risk injury against low-level roster players who are going all out to make the roster.
The Cowboys have been lucky at times and not so lucky in this department. Since Mike McCarthy arrived on the scene, though, he's taken a more protective and cautious approach with his players. If he can keep this team healthy going into the regular season -- non-contact injuries and freak accidents notwithstanding -- then that gives Dallas the best chance to start strong.
In a division that has a team that lost in last year's Super Bowl and another in the New York Giants who made the playoffs, the Cowboys can't afford to have any major injuries that could hamper their ability to hang with their rivals. Staying healthy is the best overall outcome this team can have coming out of training camp.
2. Cowboys find a kicker they're actually confident in
Currently, the Cowboys have two kickers on their roster, and we still aren't sure if either one will be the last man standing. Last season, Dallas brought in Brett Maher and they were lucky that it worked out for them during the regular season before his mental breakdown that caused the team to change their offensive philosophy in the playoffs.
The team can't afford to go into the season once again with their fingers crossed, hoping that who they select as their kicker will hold up.
They need to find themselves a kicker that they have full confidence in. If that happens to be Tristan Vizcaino or Brandon Aubrey, that's fine, but if they aren't fully invested in either kicker they need to make a move and bring in someone.
After last season, this front office has seen first-hand how much of an impact the kicker can have on a game plan and the morale of a roster. They must find someone they fully trust or risk being in the same boat they were last year come playoff time.
3. The talent at defensive tackle shines through
Every season we see the Cowboys pass rush and pass coverage shine during the season, but the run defense continue to lag behind in terms of production.
After the addition of Mazi Smith and the young talent they've acquired along the defensive line to go with the veterans this unit could be ready to catch up to that pass rush and pass coverage. They've got size, speed and power to combat what offenses are going to throw at them this season.
If this unit can come together quickly and become stout enough to hinder rushing attacks, it not only benefits the defense but the overall outlook of the team this season.
Finding the right rotations will be key for this unit to succeed and with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn leading them they have a chance to do something we haven't seen this unit do in a long time: stop the run.
Now, onto the worst possible outcomes at Cowboys camp.
1. Michael Gallup and Jalen Tolbert fail to impress
The Cowboys typically have a reason for going out and making a big splash. The same can be said regarding their move to bring in Brandin Cooks.
After the injury to Michael Gallup and Jalen Tolbert's inability to get on the field, the team was forced to do something and is now hoping that either one of them is able to produce consistently as their third receiver. Gallup's health following a minor offseason procedure, and Tolbert's grasp of the playbook are going to be two major factors in how this offense performs this season.
It's been proven that having a reliable third option in the passing game is crucial to the success of offenses, Gallup and Tolbert failing to emerge as that guy will hinder Dak Prescott and put pressure on a running game that will be leaning on Tony Pollard for the first time in his career.
2. Injuries to Micah Parsons or Dak Prescott
We've seen Parsons get banged up throughout the season and that's to be expected but this team can't afford to see him get seriously hurt. The same goes for Dak Prescott, who's the heart and soul of this team.
If either were to go down in camp or in a preseason game and be out for an extended period of time it could mean disaster this team's Super Bowl hopes. The coaching staff needs to be extra careful with how they use them in camp and during the season.
They are far too valuable on both sides of the football to see them go dow that it might actually be best to hold them out of preseason games. The offensive and defensive schemes they will be running aren't going to be what we see during the regular season, so why even risk it?
3. Turnover along the offensive line
The Cowboys offensive line didn't enjoy much continuity in 2022. Tyron Smith went down during training camp and then Terence Steele was lost for the season in December just as Smith was ramping up his return ot the field.
Now that everyone looks to be on track to start this season, the Cowboys need to make sure they aren't putting their starters in harms way. They are going to get their reps together during practice so there's no need to have them on the field during preseason games for more than a series or two at the most.
If the expected starters stay healthy and Zack Martin returns after his contract holdout, Dallas will have power on the outside and inside at both guard positions. That will come in handy protecting Prescott but also opening running lanes for Pollard and company in the running game.
If Prescott and Parsons are at the top of the list in terms of injuries that absolutely cannot happen, then the offensive line is a close second. The team can't afford to have any of them go down.