The Dallas Cowboys are just a few days away from kicking off their first preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams and if you’re anything like me, you are beyond excited to have football back in your life once again.
Okay, I’ll admit that preseason games aren’t all that exciting, but it gives us a chance to see firsthand the new additions to the Dallas Cowboys and what the team might look like when the 2016 season kicks off.
It’s highly unlikely that any of the starters for the Cowboys will play very much, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t players to keep a close eye on throughout the football game.
There are numerous Dallas Cowboys players to watch closely against the Los Angeles Rams, but below are the ones that I will personally be paying close attention to throughout the entirety of the game.
They are all broken down into their respective positions to hopefully give you a better understanding of the type of competition they might have ahead of them on the depth chart.
Today, we will focus on the offensive side of the ball and follow it up tomorrow with the players I will be watching closely on the defensive side of the ball.
Quarterback
We all know that Tony Romo won’t play very much against the Rams, so that means we will get to see both Jameill Showers and Dak Prescott play the majority of the game.
I personally believe that the Dallas Cowboys are taking a wait-and-see approach in regards to the backup QB position, especially when you consider the free-agent QBs currently available.
Both Showers and Prescott have a rare opportunity to prove to the coaching staff that they are capable of handling the backup QB responsibilities and that there isn’t any need to add any outside help.
A lot of eyes will be on these two young quarterbacks, including mine.
Running Back
I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally get to see Darius Jackson in a game situation. There is a lot to like about his game and I think he will receive the bulk of the workload against the Rams.
Jackson has become one of my “pet cats” this off-season and he possesses all the tools that should make him a really good running back in the NFL. I think so highly of him I even wondered if he could become better than Ezekiel Elliott.
With Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar unable to practice while recovering from injuries, and Ezekiel Elliott sidelined for the time being, Darius Jackson has been taking full advantage of their absences in practice.
Jackson has a chance against the Rams to step away from the small school spotlight and prove why he’s worthy of playing in the NFL. A strong showing could make it really difficult on the coaching staff when it comes to making roster cuts and could possibly make Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar expendable.
Wide Receiver
Andy Jones is an undrafted wide receiver that I’m really looking forward to watching against the LA Rams.
Jones has performed well in training camp and opened a lot of eyes.
Andy Jones (#81), has been a popular name thrown around as a player that continues to impress and make plays. In fact, Kevin Brady, a fellow Staff Writer here at Inside The Star recently wrote an article about how impressive Andy Jones was in the Blue/White Scrimmage.
I was really looking forward to watching Ed Eagan, but he was just recently released. The timing of the move is somewhat surprising, but these are the types of things happen during the off-season, especially the closer we get to the start of the season.
Regardless, you’re going to want to keep an eye on #81 against the Los Angeles Rams. If he continues to make plays the way he has been, he’s going to be really hard to keep off of the final 53 man roster.
Offensive Line
The Dallas Cowboys starting offensive line is set in stone, so I want to pay particularly close attention to a few of the linemen that are competing for the few backup positions available.
The swing tackle position is concerning so I will be keeping a close watchful eye on #79 Chaz Green and see if he has developed enough in his second year to earn that backup role.
I will also be watching some of the interior offensive line, such as Joe Looney who will hopefully be able to secure the backup role at both center and guard for the Dallas Cowboys in 2016.
The offensive line will be a little difficult to evaluate properly due to the fact that these players don’t receive much playing time, but watching what they do individually is usually a little bit more helpful.
Tight End
We pretty much know what we have in Jason Witten, James Hanna, and Gavin Escobar, so I really want to see how Geoff Swaim and former basketball player Rico Gathers play.
Gathers is a really raw prospect, so I’m anxious to see where he’s at in his development and if he seems lost with what’s going on.
Swaim on the other hand is looking to prove to the coaching staff that he is worth keeping around, perhaps at the expense of former second round draft pick Gavin Escobar.
If Swain can prove his worth, I think the Dallas Cowboys should start to showcase Escobar’s skill set more in the preseason and see if there is a team willing to trade for him. Of course, Escobar has to be ready for his last opportunity if he wants to remain with the Dallas Cowboys in 2016, especially if he wants to possibly seek a trade.
Which Dallas Cowboys players will you be paying close attention to against the Los Angeles Rams?
Please feel free to use the comment section below to let us all know what players are on your watchlist and don’t forget to come back tomorrow to check out the players on the defensive side of the ball to watch.
