Dallas Cowboys 2009 Training Camp: Five Things to Watch (Part II)

If Spencer comes on, no qb we play will be safe.

He’s going to be ready for camp I think. If he takes it easy early maybe he can get fully healed.

these are generally the things i’m most interested in for the season, so interested in any relevant news from training camp…

1. Felix Jones.

Versatility. Lining up in different spots, motion, split out, screens… how many different ways can they create mismatches and get him the ball in space? Plus kick returns of course.

2. Miles Austin.

Of course I want to see how the Tony/Roy chemistry comes together and how Roy can fulfill expectations, but I’ve been routing for Miles for a while and this should be his breakout year, so I’m really even more excited to see what he can do. He could be a really great receiver. Can we get some more like Green Bay 08? Consistently? Health wasn’t an issue before last year I don’t think, now 2 injuries last year and whatever held him out of mini-camp (and the time lost there) is not really a trend yet, but it is worrying enough to not want to hear of even a minor injury on him in training camp. I want Miles healthy for the year and becoming the receiver we and the Cowboys think he can be.

3. Martellus Bennett.

We’ll can expect to see a lot of 2-TE sets. You can run a power offense out of it and Ds have to respect that, but with Jason the best TE in football Witten and the supreme size and athleticism of Martellus both potent receiving threats as well as strong blockers, Tony will be able to choose his mismatch and really cause problems for defenses. With Witten we know what we’re gonna get in talent, work ethic, leadership by example, versatility, consistency, toughness, all around just a damn good football player. Martellus Bennett, learning behind the best, has the potential to be even better if his mental focus can fulfill his physical ability. Aside from being an entertaining character who adds some nice spice to the team hopefully without causing too much distraction, I can’t wait to see what he does on the field this year.

4. Gerald Sensabaugh.

Seems like a big unknown to me still, but could be a big key to the whole defense, by being even competent in the coverage role as SS and allowing Wade to stop compensating for that weakness, unleash everyone else, and fully implement the aggressive nature of his scheme. If he’s more than just competent and really brings a good game, he could help complete the puzzle for this D to become elite.

5. Junior Siavii and Marcus Dixon

Okay, maybe this isn’t really among my top 5 things I’m interested in for training camp, but I do want to throw it in the mix, it’s up there somewhere. What are they going to do behind Rat? Are they really confident in Siavii even as long as he hasn’t played, and if so what are they seeing, does it show up in camp? Will Dixon get into the mix at NT? Might they still do some deal to bring in a vet?

Key players STAY HEALTHY!!!!

1. Nickel linebacker

2. A plan for the runningback position

3. Number 2 WR

4. Martellus Bennett’s role in the offense

5. Is Doug Free going to be anything more than a backup

There are only three real starting battles…RCB, LG, and 2nd WR. These will be debated to death.

If you use BP’s standard (13-14 starters), you can see three battles that offer a little more uncertainty.
1. Nickle LB - This is also known as the Bobby Carpenter watch. If Jason Williams AND Stephen Hodge clearly outperform “Barbie”, his salary may become his albatross.

2. Dime Safety – This may actually be a better battle than the RCB competition. Look, everyone (including the coaches and players) know that both Scandrick and Jenkins will play and play often. But the Dime Safety represents >20% of the plays and either a CB or 3rd Safety will man the spot. The rookies have a trust issue. The 3rd year players (Watkins, Ball, and Brown) will most likely man this spot. The other 2 most likely don’t make the roster.

3. 3rd TE – While not a critical battle (hell, we may not even “need” a 3rd TE), the candidates to make the roster have some stiff (pun not intended) competition. 3rd year ex-Charger Chandler vs. Gates II (Hannah) vs. Draft pick Phillips. It’s not sexy, but it sure shapes up as a great TC sub-plot.

But this offseason has shown that a youth movement is underway. While most believe that nearly all the draft picks will make the roster, I believe the single biggest battle (actually, series of battles) will be the Rookies (including UDFAs) vs 3rd/4th-year players.

9th/10th DB (2 or 3 slots): Ball vs. Brown vs. Watkins vs. Smith vs. Michael Hamlin.

OL (1 spot): McQuistan vs. Proctor vs. Gibson vs. Isdaner vs. Turkovich…(Brewster gets a bye)

DL (1 spot): Maybe the most unsung battle. Dixon vs. Bowen is going to be special, because the winning athlete will see the field this season. You can add Siavii and Anderson to the mix. However they are competing against each other, every other roster, every other position for the 53rd slot, and Spears/Olshansky.

1. DBs
I think there was alot of finger pointing and arguably 2 positions that were weaknesses last year. With Sensabaugh and Jenkins/Scandrick, the cowboys should be at least decent again. Too many bad angles and blown coverage, didn’t allow Hamlin to make plays and hopefully he bounces back. Lots of backups to watch in camps/preseason!!

2. LBs
Brooking should be a slight upgrade and hopefully Spencer won’t be a downgrade. Either way we need a presence in the middle of the field and need some ball-hawks here. Too many big plays. Have some veterans here, but hope that they make their “presence” known. Oh yeah, and Carpenter/replacements.

3. OL
This has to be on the list considering the health of these guys. Hopefully isn’t a big of problem this year. Not gonna beat it to death, but we need to see some backups step up in camp.

4. WRs
Nothing but question marks here. Lots of potential and we will start getting a whiff of it in camps. Lets hope Miles stays healthy. Chance to really see how hard RW has worked out this off-season. After all that “reality”, do you think Holley can make it?

5. Special Teams
Another reference to “4th and Long” but wanting to note how important is to have a guy who can make plays on special teams. Either if its the home-run big plays, the quick down field tackles, or just sending it to the endzone everytime. We have plenty of potential to make note of.

1. Montecito Tex
Can he recover from the devastating loss of Jessica? Can he find another player or coach to ride like those monkeys we see on dogs at the Shrine Circus? Will the world-wide shortage of Calvados impact the flow of his bitter yet elegant prose?
2. Terry.
Will he finally be revealed as Tony Romo’s agent/life coach? Will the constant pressure of living in Stillers Country finally take its toll and cause him to change his signature to “Semper Big Ben”? How many paychecks can he actually bet before he requires his own personal bail-out?
3. DalaiLuke
It’s simple here. Which players’ careers will be annihilated with the stroke of his keyboard when he names yet another unfortunate victim “my pet cat”? And can he be stopped before he hurts someone really important? Wait, Luke, please don’t answer that. We beg you.
4. One.Cool.Customer
Can he finally apply all 23 of Hilbert’s Problems to a four-minute period of a 1994 Dallas-Eagles game and what will it all mean? Will his friends, family and two or three hundred BTB members finally stage a “Math Intervention”, removing ready access to his TI-84 Plus Silver Edition? What are the odds, really?
5. Dunkman
Can he learn to type? Has he topped out in his ability to painstaking figure out who posted what to answer what post 28 levels up? Will Grizz cancel his BTB account once and for all?

There a lot more camp battles, but I was limited by time. And of course, my typing ability.

I am back. Can anyone update me on the injuries from Mini-camp? Miles Austin?

We just need a guy that is good enough that an opposing punter won’t want to just boom it down field and give the guy space to run. Keep it short by kicking it out of bounds or just short to not give him space. I feel we could have had that with Hawkins but we’ll see how “D-Lo” can do (in case you didn’t read on dc.com that is the name DeAngelo Smith likes to be called). Hopefully we can at least get that going. The Ravens game just made me mad because all their punter did was just boom it downfield because we didn’t have a capable returner.