Source: Cowboys Report to Camp July 24; 5 Top Storylines to Watch
The Dallas Cowboys have wrapped up OTA's and minicamp as the group will now take a break before heading to Oxnard, California, for training camp - with a source telling CowboysSI.com that the travel date is set for July 24 and then the "State of the Cowboys Address'' - featuring Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones and coach Mike McCarthy - dubbed by our Mike Fisher "The Glory Hole Press Conference'' - to follow.
And on July 31? For the first time since the playoffs, the pads go on.
While this offseason, routes have been run against air, and there are no competitive practices ... yet several noteworthy storylines have still developed.
As training camp beings in just over five weeks, there will be plenty to keep a watchful eye on, and here are just some of the storylines to follow.
1. Simi Fehoko/Jalen Tolbert/ KaVontae Turpin WR4 battle: With the Cowboys having receivers in CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Michael Gallup as the "big three," the position for the fourth receiver spot is heating up.
Fehoko and Tolbert have made giant strides thus far this offseason and have impressed in team drills as the pair look to be duking it out for the spot.
But then there is Turpin. The lightning rod of coordinator John Fassel's special teams is another who could earn a spot, not just on the roster but in theory, also in Mike McCarthy's new "Texas Coast Offense.'' Whether or not he gets the reps in training camp and how he could be used will be interesting. ... because he is electric every time he touches the ball, even in practice against air.
2. Jabril Cox's improvement: Like receiver Michael Gallup, Cox is slowly working his way back from his ACL injury, and during OTA's and minicamps, the linebacker made his presence known.
In two-minute drills, Cox broke up a pass in the red zone, which set up a fourth-and-goal, and then on the next play, Cox broke up another pass to which his teammates erupted in joy.
He managed nine games last season but never hit the heights many expected. After showing signs of improvement during the offseason as he looks to be over his injury troubles, he could push second-year linebacker Damone Clark to partner Leighton Vander Esch in the heart of Dan Quinn's defense.
There are " bigger'' defensive stories, of course, including the chess-piece movement of Micah Parsons, the maturation of rookie defensive tackle Mazi Smith and the adjustment to Cowboys life by star cornerback Stephon Gilmore. But those are rather "known quantities.'' To take another step, Dallas needs help on another level. Maybe Cox can provide that.
3. Adapting to McCarthy's play-calling: With McCarthy now the offensive play caller as Kellen Moore was "let go," the Cowboys will be getting used to what quarterback Dak Prescott has termed the "Texas Coast Offense."
Training camp will give us a good indication of how McCarthy will want his offense run and how the long list of weapons will be utilized. Additionally, how well Prescott has learned and mastered McCarthy's play-calling wishes will be key.
4. Running back battle: Tony Pollard is now the leader of the running back room after Ezekiel Elliott was cut. But behind the former Memphis star is a long line of players itching to stake a claim for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Malik Davis showed signs of his talent last year, while Rico Dowdle is now fully recovered from his injury trouble last season. Then there is veteran Ronald Jones, who many think will take that spot behind Pollard.
Jones last season for the Kansas City Chiefs only played six games and rushed for 70 yards on 17 attempts last year ... so he's fresh.
Then there is the feel-good story of the offseason in Deuce Vaughn. The diminutive back has taken first-team reps on offense in the absence of Pollard and has also been on special teams fielding kicks. Oh, and undrafted rookie Hunter Luepke might be in the mix, too.
5. Between Now and Then ... Take your eyes off the Cowboys for the next five or six weeks because it's "the offseason''? That would be unwise. In addition to keeping track of contract movement with Dak and others, there will be the blockbuster rumors (we've explained the realities of Dallas and Dalvin Cook and DeAndre Hopkins). And there will be the continuing "churning of the bottom of the roster.'' There will also be a hunt to sign a kicker. And there will be the NFL-wide front-office crossing of fingers in hopes that young, wealthy men who are off the clock don't get themselves in trouble.
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