Organized Team Activities are in the books! Throw a parade! Seriously. This means that we just checked off another thing from our offseason to-do list. We are that much closer to the 2015 season!
Coach Garrett spoke to the media before today’s OTAs and expanded briefly on the current state of the team. Dez Bryant (who still has yet to sign his franchise tender) and Rolando McClain (rehabbing in Alabama) were both still absent. Coach did give us two things to sink our teeth into. Byron Jones has seen some looks at safety (although that’s not exactly breaking news) and fellow rookie La’el Collins has seen more repetitions at guard than he has at tackle. Collins has been thought since his signing to be the potential starting left guard for the team. Perhaps the team is drinking that kool-aid.
In terms of what we saw on the field at Valley Ranch, the starting defensive line scared me more than Jurassic Park (am I the only person who finds that movie terrifying?). Jeremy Mincey lined up at left end, Randy Gregory at the right, and Tyrone Crawford and Greg Hardy filled in at the tackle spots. Obviously second year player Demarcus Lawrence (who didn’t practice today) will be in contention for that left defensive end spot, but that defensive line sounds and looks formidable. If these guys can get it together, under the guidance of Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli, they can be an elite unit. Can you imagine the training camp battles between them and the offensive line?
Speaking of that offensive line the first team drills saw Darrion Weems at right tackle, Doug Free is still rehabbing and not practicing, and Ronald Leary at left guard. I don’t read a lot into this as Free is still tender and Collins is being eased in. I’m excited to see third round draft pick Chaz Green get in there and would like to see him get some action with the starters to see what he’s made of. Perhaps at training camp. Or on my Madden team.
The running back position has been under the NFL microscope all offseason. Ryan Williams did not practice and Darren McFadden, nursing a hamstring, wasn’t a full go. This meant lots of repetition for Joseph Randle, and the more work with the full first team he can get the better.
Sean Lee looked great. Randle tried to give him a juke and Sean didn’t bite. Lee’s instincts have always been phenomenal so hopefully with OTAs behind him he feels great physically and is past that mental block. He spent the final twenty minutes of drills participating in the 7-on-7 drills so he’s very hungry for football action.
The Cowboys’ mandatory three-day mini camp is next week so we’re all going to have to hold our breaths until then. That’ll be an exciting time as hopefully we can see some faces that we haven’t out on the field. Can’t wait!
