Cowboys: 5 Ups, 5 Downs, 5 To Watch Vs. Jags in Opener

"Real football'' is sorta here, with Saturday's 4 p.m. preseason opener against visiting Jacksonville the latest stop along the way. In this camp, like in this game, there have been and will be some "ups'' and some "downs'' to go along with "some to watch.'' Here are five from each category. ...

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Dallas Cowboys are speeding toward real football, with Saturday's 4 p.m. preseason opener against visiting Jacksonville the latest stop along the way. In this camp, like in this game, there have been and will be some "ups'' and some "downs'' to go along with "some to watch.'' Here are five from each category. ...

FIVE CAMP 'UPS' from the start in Oxnard ...

1 Micah Parsons, 'Lion-Backer.' Coach Mike McCarthy is talking about Micah's ability to ruin a practice in tones that suggest he's never quite seen anything like it. The first-team All-Pro is single-handedly making the Dallas O-line look inept on a regular basis, and his movement as a chess piece in coordinator Dan Quinn's defense makes him a regular-season game-plan wrecker waiting to happen.

2 CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks, "Texas Coast Offense'' Keys. But QB Dak Prescott is actually, by the numbers, a deep-ball guy. All of this was already a match for Lamb. But Cooks' speed could take this thing to a new level.

3 Trevon Diggs and Stephon Gilmore, 'Batman and Robin.' Or is it "Robin and Batman''? ... because both of these cornerbacks are fully capable of being "the guy.'' Gilmore is the smooth professional, Diggs the noise-maker. Gilmore's highlights are subtle. Diggs' highlights go viral. Which is better? Good luck to opposing offenses figuring that out.

4 DeMarcus Lawrence, 'Tank.' Tank continues to play mean while also looking lean ... and his willingness inside the Cowboys’ defense to also fight to play the run is a quiet key.

5 Deuce Vaughn, 'The Toy.' The Cowboys vowed privately to find a way to avoid cutting Vaughn ... and he's making that decision one that isn't going to take any transaction chicanery. At 5-5, yes, he looks like an oddity, a toy. If he shows on Saturday that he can leverage his 175-pound body in a way to survive pass protection? He's a candidate for the No. 2 job, right there with Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis.

FIVE DOWNS from camp in Oxnard ...

1 The O-Line, 'Or Maybe Just Zack?' tartersCould any team survive the absence of a talent like Zack Martin, presently staging a contract holdout? Probably not. Get that thing settled before Week 1 at the Giants and this group can be fine. But right now? The Cowboys are throwing multiple reserve offensive linemen at the problem. And the problem remains troublesome enough that a vet signing or trade might be in order.

2 Ronald Jones, "RoJo - Oh-No!' Expected to compete for the No. 2 running back job, he's been usurped by all of the other fellas because he presently has a groin problem (he won't play Saturday) and because once the season starts, he's suspended for two games. "Out of sight/Out of mind''might be in play here.

3 Kelvin Joseph, "Who's the Boss?'' The cornerback depth chart? There's Diggs, and there's Gilmore and there's DaRon Bland. Then pops up the rookie Eric Scott Jr. Nahshon Wright is there. The rehabbing Jourdan Lewis might be.

Joseph? The fact that he's trying to become a sound special-teamer isn't enough.

4 Simi Fehoko, 'Volleyball.'' Fehoko started camp being guilty of a volleyball interception off a good Dak Prescott throw ... and things haven't gotten better. He's well behind Jalen Tolbert for the WR4 job, and rookie Jalen Brooks is now chasing him for any roster spot at all.

5 Kicker, "The Situation.'' The experiment is a flop. Read on ..

FIVE to watch Saturday ...

1 Brandon Aubrey, "Soccer Star.'' Team owner Jerry Jones has offered a public vote of confidence. We don't believe him. McCarthy is going to try to force-feed chances to Aubrey in this game. ... while veteran kickers watch on TV, patiently waiting for what seems like an inevitable phone call from Will McClay.

2 Mazi Smith, "I Don't Even Like football!'' Smith - who favors the violence of the game over its beauty - has been dealing with a knee issue, but plans to play here. As we've grown fond of saying, "Mazi might not like football. But football sure likes him.''

3 Luke Schoonmaker, "Get Well Schoon!'' The second-round rookie tight end has done almost nothing all summer while rehabbing from a foot problem. What do we want to see in this game? Something. Anything. "Schoon'' in a uniform would be a start.

4 WR4, "No More 'Underwear Olympics.'' Jalen Tolbert, WR. He Tolbert and Brooks and Turpin have all had their camp moments. Now, what happens when the "football bullets'' fly? The Cowboys won't bother with Turpin as a returner in this game as they want to throw him the ball here. Is there room for all three of these guys to get showcased?

5 DeMarvion Overshown, "Agent Zero.'' Linebackers in Dallas? It's Micah Parsons and Leighton Vander Esch, of course. But there is room for more, as Damone Clark leads a group that also includes the talented but raw twosome of Jabril Cox and Overshown.

"I'm going to be everywhere!'' Overshown said confidently ... but for now, all he and the rest of the 90-man roster needs to be is on time on Saturday afternoon here in Arlington.

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