Cowboys minicamp officially concluded this week, marking the end of all things Cowboys football until training camp kicks off in July. While minicamp is not the strongest indicator of how the season will go, it still gives all the Cowboys fans out there something to chew on for the next month and a half. And since this is the first minicamp for new Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, we’ll have a little more to chew on than normal.
5. Starters
It is hard to make anything of who is getting starting reps in June but that does not stop people from trying. A lot has been made of free agent running backs Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams seeing most of the burn with the first team over the exciting rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. I do not believe it will stay that way. The Cowboys, like most other football teams, relegate rookies to backup roles after they are first drafted to make them “earn their spot.” It is the same reason DE Payton Turner is starting on the defensive line in lieu of Micah Parsons instead of Donovan Ezeiruaku. If there was a game tomorrow, you can bet Ezeiruaku would be out on that field over Turner. And Blue would likely see heavier usage than the current rotation implies. Patience.
4. Kaiir Elam
Elam has been the surprise of camp so far. It seems like every practice, he manages to break up a pass. If Elam breaks out of the slump he had in Buffalo and begins to live up to his first round draft pick status, the Cowboys acquiring him for some late day draft capital will go down as the steal of the off-season. The Cowboys, outside of DaRon Bland, face a lot of uncertainty at corner. Trevon Diggs is coming off an injury with an uncertain return date, promising rookie Shavon Revel is also coming back from an injury that could impact his level of play, and nobody else on the Cowboys roster has given reason for optimism. Elam taking a big step forward would bring stability and consistency to a part of the team that sorely lacks it.
3. Pickens Power
The most exciting moment of the off-season for Cowboys fans was undoubtedly the acquisition of WR George Pickens. And the reasons why are already shining through at minicamp. It seems like a given at any practice that George Pickens will make a splash play, further reinforcing the notion the Cowboys have finally have a legitimate playmaker opposite of CeeDee Lamb. I never had any doubts about this trade, but it is always nice to hear promising updates about a notable addition to the team. Hopefully it is a sign Dak and Pickens will have a strong connection throughout the season right out of the gate.
2. Milton Mania
Joe Milton has been continuously impressive throughout minicamp. While that should be taken with a grain of salt, since every quarterback for every team looks impressive during minicamp, it still fuels the fevered minds of us dedicated fans wondering what it would be like to have a super athletic, promising young QB on the team. Milton in all likelihood will not threaten Prescott’s starting role, although that will not stop the media from endlessly speculating about whether he will. But it sure would be interesting to have a player like Milton come on the field for QB options and similar plays, allowing his athleticism and mobility to benefit the offense and shield Dak from unnecessary hits. And perhaps if he continues to impress during practice, in a few years he will become the eventual successor to Dak Prescott. All of that is just merely daydreaming right now but encouraging news from minicamp about Milton’s performance is the first step towards it becoming a reality.
1. Energy
Energy has seemingly been the word of the hour surrounding the Cowboys practices since new head coach Brian Schottenheimer took over. Players have pointed to a variety of reasons for heightened energy levels around practice, from music playing, to Schotty running around the field with his players, to requirements for the ball carrier to run all the way to the end zone on every play, regardless of if they would have actually scored or not. This is encouraging to hear as a Cowboys fan. I cannot sit here and tell you how more energy at practice will translate to more wins on the field-because it will not. What I can tell you is that more energy at practice is evidence the much discussed culture change is actually happening for this team, and is not just all talk. Schotty is building a culture that will hopefully bring more dedication, discipline, and attention to detail to a team that quite frankly has not had those things in a long time. A culture that makes us Cowboys fan say, “hey, maybe this hear is different.” Because that WILL translate to more wins on the field. And winning is something this team and this fan base DESPERATELY need.
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