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The big news on Thursday was the release of the preseason schedule:
2015 Dallas Cowboys Preseason Schedule - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
The Cowboys 2015 preseason schedule was released on Thursday. The highlights include:
- a preseason opener at San Diego Chargers for the second straight year
- the Cowboys' first trip to Levi’s Stadium to take on the San Francisco 49ers
- a Week 3 matchup with the Vikings at AT&T Stadium
- a meaningless preseason finale against the Texans
This is good news on two fronts: One, it means that we are that much closer to the regular-season schedule's release. Two, it helps all of us annual training camp pilgrims get a clearer sense of when things will get underway in Oxnard. Time to contact my travel agent!
And, in other news, there's a draft thingy coming up...
Cowboys draft breakdown: DT Carl Davis - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
Todd Archer's film breakdowns of potential Cowboys draft targets continues with an analysis of Iowa DT Carl Davis. Archer's conclusion:
Cowboys fit: He can play either defensive tackle spot and there were times I liked him more as a nose tackle than a three technique. He has really good quickness off the ball and can split double teams. But I keep going back to whether the Cowboys would take a defensive tackle at No. 27, which might be too high for Davis. The second round might be a better spot but he is likely to be gone by the time the 60th pick rolls around. Honestly, I'd be surprised if he's even on the Cowboys' draft board.
Possible Pick: Ohio State WR Has Undeniable Ability As A Deep Threat - David Helman, The Mothership
The Mothership's draft preview series continues with a peek at Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith, one of the recent visitors to Valley Ranch. Tiny Jim offers a reasonable takeaway:
How He Helps the Cowboys: It would be slightly surprising to see the Cowboys take a receiver as high as they’d have to select Smith, given their top trio of Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley. That said, they need a burner who can bolster their return game, and they don’t currently have a bonafide deep threat among their receiving options. Smith could be both.
2015 NFL Draft profile: What I see in Kevin White, WR, West Virginia - Bob Sturm, DMN
The Sturminator's draft series continues its merry pace with a look at the big Mountaineer wideout. Here are Sturm's concluding remarks:
Summary: I would not say he is the best receiver in the draft, but he is absolutely the most jaw dropping and perhaps the one with the highest ceiling. If one of this group turned into a superstar in 3 years, you would be wise to consider White for that job. He is really special in terms of doing what football is all about – changing the game in one second with a move that leads to a wide open speedster running into the end zone. He is very good, but you do wonder if he is as versatile at all aspects of his game as Parker or Cooper. That said, he is also working from behind in terms of major college instruction and might continue to develop with physical gifts that are unfair. You always want players who defy the Xs and Os by just doing something amazing and Kevin White can do a lot of that. The question for teams making that decision is whether they believe he can be consistent at all of the little things to invest a Top 10 pick in him. But, somebody is going to think that he is worth that, I assume.
Phillips, The Mothership's new (er, old) Senior Writer, proffers a handful of names at a position in which the Cowboys are highly unlikely to draft anyone: tight end. Here's one result from this less-than-meaningful exercise:
Nick Boyle, Delaware – Boyle drew praise at the Senior Bowl for his blocking prowess, lining up at fullback as well as tight end. The 6-4, 270-pounder was a productive four-year starter for the Blue Hens. He isn’t an elite athlete, but he does enough well in addition to blocking to warrant a Day 2 or 3 pick.
Reinstated Adrian Peterson would be option for Cowboys, Cards, Jags - Peter King, The MMQB
Peter King opens his weekly mailbag with a brief overview of the Adrian Peterson situation, which of course includes the Cowboys. Here's his (surprisingly rational) take:
It’ll be interesting to see if any team succumbs to the lure of Peterson. Arizona and Dallas are still the leaders in the clubhouse, but I’ve talked to both teams in recent weeks, and I don’t think either will be held hostage for Peterson. If he’s going to get traded, I don’t see it happening under these circumstances. I see Dallas or Arizona—or my upset special, Jacksonville, still awash in cap money—making this deal only if Peterson can make the financials easier on them, and if the Vikings are willing to take a lesser pick for him. For now, I don’t think the Vikings are willing to do that. And so it’s a stalemate.
More offers an insightful piece on Roger Goodell's impending decision on Greg Hardy's domestic violence case. To Moore, the commish is certain to bow to the court of public opinion. To wit:
Can Goodell hand Hardy a two-game suspension and argue precedent gave him no choice? Can he say he desperately wanted to impose a six-game suspension and blame a policy that is not retroactive for refusing to give him that option?
Sure. But how will that play in the court of public opinion? Why would Goodell subject himself and his office to the ensuing firestorm, especially since Hardy had no money taken out of his pocket by the league last season as he sat on the commissioner’s exempt list?
Goodell can decide on a suspension that falls somewhere between two and six games, but that’s a compromise that makes no one happy and still leaves the commissioner looking weak on this issue.
Goodell has only one play to appease a skeptical public. That’s to impose a six-game suspension knowing it will be appealed.
Ahhh, Lawyers. Don't you love 'em?