Cowboys OTAs: What They're Telling Us So Far

The Cowboys are finishing up their second week of OTAs. So far, the news has been pretty routine, which is exactly what you want from an OTA. Usually the only news of significance made at OTAs is bad news, so we'll take the mundane and see what it tells about the Cowboys future.

-- After starting the first week of OTAs learning to play right tackle, the Cowboys moved rookie La'el Collins to left guard. Not coincidentally, but obviously by design, one of those two positions are where he'll likely take over long term. It seems like guard is a much more natural position for him based on his own words.

Last week, Collins was lining up mostly at right tackle. Left guard, the position he will likely compete for a starting spot this season, comes a little more natural to him.

"You're right there with down linemen, so everything is a lot quicker, which is good for me," Collins said. "I feel like that is part of one of my strengths, being able to get on guys quick is an advantage."

Long term, though, the Cowboys might like him at right tackle. Doug Free is aging, Ron Leary is still relatively young, so they might want Collins out at tackle once it's time for Free to go. We'll have to wait and see.

-- Yesterday, it turns out there was a Lance Dunbar sighting. I say that somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but with all the attention paid to Joe Randle, Darren McFadden and even Ryan Williams, Dunbar has been the forgotten man. But he has special skills this offense could use.

If they handed out MVP of the day trophies, then it would have gone to running back Lance Dunbar. He caught four passes from Tony Romo in the two-minute drill work to close the first-team's work in practice and had the linebackers on skates in seven-on-seven drills. Perhaps this really is the year the Cowboys use Dunbar more.

He could be the quintessential third-down back, and maybe this year the Cowboys will actually change running backs on third downs.

-- Randy Gregory keeps losing his lunch, but is gaining weight. Remember Gregory's first practice when he didn't make it to the end? Well, in yesterday's session he had some trouble holding down his lunch. But, he is doing something the Cowboys really want him to do. Gain weight. He can use his quickness as his main skill, but he needs some bulk and strength to handle the running game and to handle when tackles actually get their hands on him. So far, he's up to 243 from 235 at the combine. The Cowboys want him over 250.

-- Greg Hardy is not only talented, but has an unbelievable work ethic. Ever since he showed up, all we've heard about is how hard he practices, how intense he is, how his level of effort is rubbing off on other players. Without doing a rehash, there are definitely things many of us didn't like about his signing, but from a purely football standpoint, he could be the key to this defense. Not only what he brings on the field, but the way he amps up the effort in practices.