Jaylon Smith: Battling The Uncontrollable

The Dallas Cowboys provided a jaw-dropping moment in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, when they decided to write linebacker Jaylon Smith’s name down on their draft card. Why in the world would they draft a linebacker so highly when there’s a chance he may have to sit out the entire 2016 season? Well, Smith’s selection is based more on his future potential and that he can fully recover from a devastating knee injury that also caused nerve damage. If he can fully recover and become the player he was at Notre Dame, then the Cowboys would’ve drafted a player that is arguably the best defensive player in the entire 2016 NFL Draft. Can you say draft day steal?

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Written by: Brian Martin

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What Will Determine Cowboys Rushing Success?

The construction of the Dallas Cowboys offense reached it’s climax of sorts during this years draft when we all heard those incredible words: The Dallas Cowboys select Ezekiel Elliott, running back, Ohio State University. The entire NFL world erupted. Whether you thought the pick was awful because the devaluating of the running back position over the years has shown us that investing too much into a back can be dangerous, or you thought the pick was fantastic as it solidified an offense that had already shown how great it could be, you had an opinion. And a strong one at that.

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Written by: Kevin Brady

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Cowboys Sophomores: Left Guard La’el Collins

The Dallas Cowboys have an embarrassment of riches along their star-studded offensive line. Coming onto the scene in 2014 by springing DeMarco Murray to the league rushing title, the unit that is full of former first round picks, excluding undrafted left guard La’el Collins, has only gotten better, younger, and deeper since then. This past season, with injuries derailing the team’s offense by taking out Tony Romo and Dez Bryant, the offensive line still led Darren McFadden to 1,089 yards on the ground – paving paths for the veteran to run through in a man-blocking scheme, which is not their collective strength. McFadden’s 2015 performance proved just how talented the Cowboys’ line is. A new face along this line was rookie La’el Collins, who replaced the reliable veteran Ron Leary as a starter for 11 games.

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Written by: Sean Martin

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Examining Expectations for Ezekiel Elliott

Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott has come into the NFL with the highest of expectations. He was selected fourth overall in a league that has continued to shy away from running backs early in the draft. Elliott has joined a Dallas Cowboys roster that boasts the best run-blocking offensive line in the league. Running backs are expected to hit the ground… well…

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Written by: Jess Haynie

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Stephen Jones Worried About Losing Cowboys Fans

It’s not often we get complete candor from NFL Team executives. Usually there’s a positive spin put on most situations, or simply the avoidance of a tough subject. However, in a recent press conference, Stephen Jones made about as honest a statement about the Cowboys’ relationship with their fans as you’ll ever hear. When asked if he’s worried that there is a generation of Cowboys fans who don’t remember the team from its championship years, Jones said: “I mean, I’m worried every day that we don’t get a championship.

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Written by: Jess Haynie

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Tony Casillas Makes Bold Prediction For The 2016 Dallas Cowboys

Almost a year ago Tony Casillas lost out to Jethro Pugh in our Countdown To Kickoff when we unveiled the Greatest #75 in Dallas Cowboys History. Casillas, the 2nd Overall Pick in 1986, is very familiar with Cowboys History. He’s not only one of the best to wear #75 for the club, but he was a part of two squads that claimed World Championships (Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII). He’s poured blood, sweat, and tears into the Cowboys and went back to visit the practice fields where many of them have lived since his days in the blue and silver when the Cowboys held their final practice at the historic Valley Ranch on Thursday. It was a festive, and nostalgic, affair as Coach Garrett emphasized the importance of the moment and its historic value to the 2016 Dallas Cowboys.

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Written by: RJ Ochoa

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Tweet Break: McFadden’s Mess, Mini Camp Motivation, and Eagles Gon’ Eagle

Last week on Tweet Break, we took a bumpy ride through some offseason tweets that made us laugh and smile, but most importantly, they made us miss Dallas Cowboys football. A new edition of this series here on Inside The Star can only mean that we are closer to watching the silver and blue on Sundays though! On top of that, we have an awesome collection of tweets this week to get through. Let’s get to it, Cowboys Nation! McFadden’s Mess One of the most notable events of the week was the unfortunate injury suffered by the Cowboys “starting running back,” Darren McFadden.

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Written by: Sean Martin

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Healthy Competition: 5 Matchups To Watch In Camp

The battle between starting tight end and established veteran Jason Witten and young phenom starting safety Byron Jones has already begun. And boy is it going to be a fun one. During mini-camp this week, Witten caught a ball on Jones and immediately turned around and yelled “All day!” before heading back to his huddle. The two are obviously fierce competitors, and while some people are looking for a decline in Witten with age, he is clearly working to keep himself on a productive track.

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Written by: Kevin Brady

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Cowboys Mini-Camp: Day 3 Takeaways

The next time we will see the Cowboys on the practice field will be for training camp in Oxnard, California. By that time, the preparation for the 2016 season will be in full force, and the position battles across the field will be heated. For now, the Cowboys have concluded mini camp, with DallasCowboys.com once again bringing us a glimpse of Thursday’s historic practice. Here are my final thoughts on what fans were able to see.

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Written by: Sean Martin

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Where Does Chaz Green Fit in Offensive Line?

One of the big mysteries on the Dallas Cowboys roster right now is offensive lineman Chaz Green. Is he a guard? Is he a tackle? Does he have any shot at being a significant player this season? A third-round pick in last year’s draft, Green was essentially “redshirted” in 2015 with a known hip issue that required surgery.

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Written by: Jess Haynie

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