Cowboys OTAs Begin: Lineup Projection - 5 'New Starters' On Offense?

Dallas Cowboys OTAs are on here inside The Star in Frisco, and a lineup projection suggests maybe you really can have it all.

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys want both "positive change'' and "continuity.'' And yes, as the team's OTAs begin today here inside The Star in Frisco, maybe you really can have it all.

Coach Mike McCarthy's continuing installation of his version of the West Coast Offense has been a priority this offseason, starting with "teaching the teachers.'' And now that the coaches have it down? The anticipation is high in regard to how it's all going to translate for the Dak Prescott-led offensive unit.

Said new coordinator Brian Schottenheimer: "First of all, I love (Dak); I've always admired him from afar. I love the man, I love the work ethic, he's just a tireless preparer. The way the guys follow him, the way he wants to be coached, and how he wants to be open-minded to try different things from a fundamental standpoint. 

"That shows you the sign of a true winner, a champion, and it's been awesome, and I'm looking forward to working with him."

And how will it look this season - and today - when Dak and company line up? We've got the defense predicted here. And below? Here's our best guesses on offense regarding the 2023 season 

Quarterback: Dak Prescott

Running Back: Tony Pollard

Receiver 1: CeeDee Lamb

Receiver 2: Brandin Cooks

Receiver 3: Michael Gallup

Tight End: Jake Ferguson

Left Tackle: Tyron Smith

Left Guard: Tyler Smith

Center: Tyler Biadasz

Right Guard: Zack Martin

Right Tackle: Terence Steele

As you can see, that group technically has five "new'' starters. There is the most obvious one (Cooks via trade). But also with Pollard (with Ezekiel Elliott cut) and Ferguson (with Dalton Schultz leaving for Houston), that's two more. Gallup neither started nor ended the season as a starter due to injury, so he's "new.'' And then there is Tyler Smith, who if he kicks inside with be "new'' there as well. (We won't count Tyron's right-to-left shuffle as "change.'')

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones recently came clean with the obvious, saying, "Our top five linemen are our top five linemen (meaning Tyron, Tyler, Biadasz, Martin and Steele. We really felt like that if we're going get your best five guys that have played in this league, that those are your best five. We'll see what happens from there."

Now, "what happens'' today? There is one O-line wildcard because Steele is still rehabbing. So what we need to watch are "The Smiths.'' Would it be a waste of time to have Tyron, who ended last year unselfishly playing right tackle, practice over there? If Tyler is going to be the left guard, why not let new vet Chuma Edoga and youngsters Josh Ball and Matt Waletzko do the left-side shuffle? We can toss fifth-round rookie Asim Richards into the pile as well, though Dallas wants him to learn at guard.

Another different from today vs. the future might be at tight end. How soon does second-round Luke Schoonmaker push Peyton Hendershot as the No. 2 guy? How soon does he compete with Ferguson for the top job?

In total, it's actually impressive that Dallas - which in the last few years has under McCarthy boasted one of the NFL's best offenses - has so many good answers this early. The Cowboys will work Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of this week, and as always, CowboysSI.com will be here inside The Star to guide Cowboys Nation through the proceedings.

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