The Dallas Cowboys are hoping to build on last season's postseason appearance and we got our first look at their quest to do just that in their preseason opening loss against the Chargers, which created even more intrigue around this team. Here are three things to look for this week ahead of their next preseason game against the 49ers:
How will Darren McFadden look on the field?
McFadden, who is expected to be Dallas' starting running back this season, is finally able to practice after missing all of camp to this point and is expected to make his debut against the 49ers. However, he needs to produce at a high level right away because according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com, continued health woes for McFadden could spell a quick end to his time with the Cowboys:
"I don't think McFadden is a lock to make the roster. If he can't stay healthy in camp -- especially after missing offseason time -- I don't know how the Cowboys will have enough confidence to bring him to the regular season. He needs to show in the final three preseason games what he can do and show some reliability in what he can bring. If he can't, then I believe the Cowboys will look for a runner ... but not one of the veterans everybody has tied to the Cowboys."
Right now, it appears that Julius Randle is the prohibitive favorite to win the #1 spot on the team's running back depth chart, with Lance Dunbar and rookie Gus Johnson potential options to displace McFadden on the team's final 53-man roster heading into the 2015 NFL regular season.
Can rookie Byron Jones earn a starting cornerback spot?
Dallas Cowboys rookie cornerback Byron Jones is playing extremely well in training camp, and is impressing his coaches with his performance. During his time with the first-team defense, he has held his own in drills against the first-team offense, including neutralizing Dez Bryant over the course of several days.
He still has some rookie lapses from time to time, but the coaching staff is ecstatic about his production and potential. He hasn't done enough to unseat the starters at either corner or safety just yet, but David Helman and Rob Phillips of DallasCowboys.com say he'll probably start the season at dime back:
"David: I’m not sure Byron is going to unseat any of the established starters as a rookie. Instead, I think the Cowboys may feature him prominently as a dime back.
"Rob: Jones really does have traits for both positions, though – he’s big and rangy enough to play safety and he has the look of a big, physical corner."
Will Brandon Weeden show any improvement?
With Tony Romo not expected to see much playing time in the preseason, backup Brandon Weeden is getting a chance to prove his worth. Many fans were underwhelmed with the performance he gave against the Chargers, but Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News says the team is happy with what they have in Weeden:
"If Tony Romo was lost for the season, it's unlikely that Weeden would take over and lead this team to a long playoff run. But if Romo went down for 2-3 games, I think Weeden is good enough to win a game or two depending on the opponents. And that's really all the Cowboys can ask for. How many teams have a backup QB that could immediately step in and there wouldn't be a considerable drop off?"
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