It’s been a whirlwind of emotions lately for Dallas Cowboys fans and to think the real action hasn’t even begun is both thrilling and nerve wrecking. Cuts, retirements and trades have all gone down within the last 30 days, but with rookie minicamp kicking off on Friday we finally have some football coming our way with a few specifics to look out for.
Connor Williams
The lineman out of Texas brings some serious depth to the Cowboys roster and it’ll be fun to see how Williams channels his inner Tyron Smith, who he said he has identified with since his days as a Longhorn. Williams tweeted out this video on Tuesday and I’m not going to lie, it’s got me hype.
Everyday. Work everyday to take yourself to new heights. #HardWork pic.twitter.com/uMeNjEqmwR
— Connor Williams (@cwill) May 8, 2018
A 315lb. left guard with this insane athleticism? Sign me up. I want to see more. Texas coach Tom Herman vouches for Williams’ diversity and football IQ stating that he is “athletic enough to play tackle” and “smart enough to play center.” So if these qualities shine through at rookie camp then it’s safe to say this star-studded offensive line is in for a treat.
Michael Gallup
Gallup may have been picked up in the third round but he has a serious chance to earn a starting role this season considering the team needs an x receiver to fill the void of Dez Bryant. He may not be at an x receiver level yet, but with Terrace Williams sitting out for a few weeks due to injury, Gallup has an opportunity to truly develop and build an on-field relationship with Dak.
Michael Gallup is talented enough to make an instant impact in Dallas! pic.twitter.com/O4iflaM66v
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 4, 2018
Ryan Switzer was in a similar situation last season when Cole Beasley was recovering from an injury and he arguably stood out the most among the rookie class. If Gallup takes advantage of the opportunity he could be a valuable asset to this team especially if he stays clear of those “body catches.” (wink)
Leighton Vander Esch
The Cowboys used their first round pick on the promising linebacker out of Boise State. Going into the draft the team knew it needed to solidify the offensive line after last year’s fiasco when both Tyron Smith and Sean Lee missed games due to injury. Vander Esch will probably be receiving a lot of close attention this weekend given that he was the Cowboy’s top pick.
Sean Lee talking Leighton Vander Esch w/ @BenandSkin: "He has a sense of urgency to be a great, great linebacker. Being able to watch a little bit of tape of him, there's not a lot of 6-5, 250-pound linebackers who move like they're 230…You can tell he's the complete package."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 4, 2018
It’s going to be fun to see how he moves out on the field this season. With this revamped, beefed up offensive line, I have little to no doubt in Vander Esch.
Before we get too excited let’s remember that rookie mini camps are not designed to weed out any players just yet. This is the time where rookies get to work through the playbook without the intensity and heavy pressure that comes with OTAs and training camp. It’s an exciting time. Not much will be revealed regarding full potential and skill, but it sure will be fun.
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