Cowboys Reveal 1st Depth Chart: Top 6 Surprises
"Surprises'' might be too strong a word. "Revelations''? Let's go with that, as the Dallas Cowboys have on the slate a Saturday afternoon preseason game at AT&T Stadium against the Jacksonville Jaguars ... and have a freshly-minted depth chart to go along with it.
First, to that depth chart itself ...
What jumps out on the Cowboys' depth chart? Let's begin on offense ...
*Where 12 "starters'' are listed. Does that mean a third receiver is tabbed as a starter, as is often the case. Yes, Michael Gallup is that third guy. But that makes 11. So who's the extra? The starting tight end is listed as Jake Ferguson ...but the team also lists Peyton Henderson as a starting tight end.
*What about Zack Martin? Yes, owner Jerry Jones can put the contract holdout out of mind if he wishes - read here - but there's the perennial All-Pro listed as always as the starting right guard.
*What is the running back pecking order behind Tony Pollard? It's Rico Dowdle, then Malik Davis, then Ronald Jones, then rookie Deuce Vaughn and then rookie Hunter Luepke ... and maybe this is a hint for how the Saturday rotation works out, surely with Pollard sitting alongside Dak Prescott with a ballcap and a clipboard.
And any notables on the defensive depth chart? Yup ...
*Johnathan Hankins is listed ahead of rookie Mazi Smith. But - surprise? - Neville Gallimore is listed as a second-team defensive tackle.
*Dorance Armstrong joins DeMarcus Lawrence as the starting defensive ends. Hey, wait, where's Micah Parsons? No, he's not "disappeared to Africa.'' He's listed as a starting "Lion-backer,'' er, linebacker, alongside Leighton Vander Esch.
*And in the secondary? DaRon Bland is that "12th starter,'' with all of the "Three-Headed Monsters'' at safety also listed. Israel Mukuamu is listed as the fourth safety behind them. Kelvin Joseph lines up as a reserve nickel corner. And it sure looks like rookie Eric Scott Jr. is the No. 3 corner.
Is this an "unofficial depth chart''? Sure. But it is influenced if not authored by the coaching staff, and it marks a significant step toward what we might see in preseason Game 1.
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