In less than a week the Cowboys will be starting their 2012 training camp. Although they have made a lot of moves this off season with free agent signings along with some of their own free agents leaving, there are still questions when it comes to the roster. There could be as many as three different players along the offensive line this year. The secondary has been rebuilt and will have at least two new players and maybe a third depending on the safety position. The good news is that the core group of players is still in place with Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray, DeMarcus Ware and Sean Lee.
Gone are players like Brady James, Keith Brookings, Martellus Bennett, Matt McBriar, Alan Ball, Montrae Holland, Terence Newman, Laurent Robinson and Abe Elam. Some of them will be missed and others will be forgotten quickly.
New to the Cowboys as they head into training camp are free agents Brandon Carr, Lawrence Vickers, Mackenzy Bernadeau, Nate Livings, Dan Connor, Kyle Orton and Brodney Pool. The Cowboys are also excited about first round draft pick Morris Claiborne stepping in to contribute right away. As well as some of the other draft picks hopefully being able to help the team early rather than later like, Danny Coale, Tyrone Crawford, Kyle Wilber and Matt Johnson.
As with any training camp the excitement level is high, big things are expected and the hope is that the team has done everything they can do to improve so that they can reach that next level. What's exciting is that with so many different players it creates competition and that will be a positive for the Cowboys. Some of the interesting stories and questions going into training camp are...
Quarterback : In past seasons the Cowboys have had Brad Johnson and John Kitna backing up Tony Romo. Now they have Kyle Orton who is a tremendous upgrade to the backup QB spot. I don't believe there is competition for the starting spot because there is no question that Tony Romo is the starter, but what I'm hoping for is that Orton can push Romo a little and help him to become a better player.
Wide Receiver : Now that Laurent Robinson has left the team, once again the question will be who will step up to become the third receiver? Kevin Ogletree will be trying again to secure that spot, but had not been able to do so in the past. Young receivers like Raymond Radway, Andre Holmes and Dwayne Harris will also be fighting it out along with rookies Danny Coale and Cole Beasley. Is the Cowboys third receiver currently on the roster or will they be looking for another veteran receiver like Robinson as the season gets closer?
Offensive Line : How will the Cowboys interior line shape up during training camp? Phil Costa looks to remain the Cowboys center, but will face competition from Kevin Kowalski and maybe even Bill Nagy. The Cowboys brought in Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau through free agency to be their new guards this season. But with Bernadeau still recovering from hip surgery, it's going to open things up for Bill Nagy, David Arkin and rookie Ronald Leary. The tackles are set, but Tyron Smith and Doug Free are switching sides this season. Is Smith ready to take on the challenges at left tackle at such a young age? With so many changes to the offensive line it's up to new line Coach Bill Callahan to form these players into a solid unit.
Linebackers : Sean Lee became a solid starter for the Cowboys in 2011, as well as the anchor and leader of the Cowboys defense. What will be decided in training camp and the preseason is which player will be alongside Lee on the inside. Free agent Dan Connor is a five year veteran who will be working against Bruce Carter who is now over a year removed from knee surgery. The competition between Connor and Carter should be interesting. Anthony Spencer is back opposite DeMarcus Ware for at least 2012, but will Victor Butler push Spencer for more playing time? There is also rookie Kyle Wilber who will be looking to get on the field as well.
Safety : With Gerald Sensabaugh holding down one safety position who will step up and take over the other safety position? The Cowboys signed free agent Brodney Pool, but he will be facing fierce competition from third year player Barry Church. Some believe that Church has the edge going into training camp. Adding to the safety competition will be rookie Matt Johnson.
The five positions listed above are just some of the stories to look for as training camp gets going. There are also these stories to watch...
1. How will Mike Jenkins fit in on Cowboys this season or will he be traded at some point?
2. Is Sean Lissemore ready to step in and be a starter and where does rookie Tyrone Crawford fit in on the defensive line?
3. Can Felix Jones stay healthy this season?
4. Is DeMarco Murray the real deal at running back?
Even with so many stories and unanswered questions as training camp begins, the Cowboys are once again stacked with talent and are looking for their rookies to step in and make a difference. Competition is good for any player and I'm hoping it makes the Cowboys into a stronger, better team as they get ready for the 2012 season. As a fan I'm excited about the players currently on the Cowboys roster as well as the training camp battles that will take place. The Cowboys have a good mix of veterans and younger players. I'm looking forward to see how things play out as the regular season gets closer and to see what the final product is going to be when the Cowboys take the field on September 5th against the NY Giants.
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