2018 Cowboys depth chart released: Rookie starter, Rico Gathers third-string, Kony Ealy second-string - RJ Ochoa, Blogging The Boys The scoop of the day comes from Ochoa, who posted the first article on the first official Cowboys depth chart of 2018, which offers up a few surprises: Unsurprisingly Connor Williams is starting at left guard for the Cowboys. Darius Jackson did get the nod over Bo Scarbrough which will likely shock some people, but the truth is Darius is a better option as of now. Many have suspected that Geoff Swaim and Blake Jarwin are the favorites at tight end and this first depth chart corroborates that idea. Rico Gathers is listed third so rookie Dalton Schultz still has some work to do apparently. Also a little surprising: Kony Ealy is listed as a second-stringer ahead of both Dorance Armstrong and Charles Tapper. Here’s what the full depth chart currently looks like, with returning players marked in green, rookies marked in yellow, and trade/free agent additions marked in orange: OFFENSE POS First Second Third Fourth WR1 Allen Hurns Michael Gallup Noah Brown Ricky Jeune LT Tyron Smith Cameron Fleming Bryce Johnson LG Connor Williams Kadeem Edwards Dustin Stanton C Travis Frederick Joe Looney Marcus Martin RG Zack Martin Marcus Martin Damien Mama RT La’el Collins Chaz Green Jake Campos Korren Kirven TE Geoff Swaim Blake Jarwin Rico Gathers Dalton Schultz, David Wells SR Cole Beasley Tavon Austin Deonte Thompson Marchie Murdock WR2 Terrance Williams Lance Lenoir K.D. Cannon Mekale McKay QB Dak Prescott Cooper Rush Mike White Dalton Sturm RB Ezekiel Elliott Rod Smith Darius Jackson Bo Scarbrough, Jordan Chunn FB Jamaze Olawale DEFENSE POS First Second Third Fourth DE Tyrone Crawford Taco Charlton Charles Tapper Austin Larkin DT Datone Jones Brian Price Richard Ash DT Jihad Ward Daniel Ross Antwaun Woods Lewis Neal DE DeMarcus Lawrence Kony Ealy Dorance Armstrong Joby Saint Fleur SLB Damien Wilson Justin March-Lillard Chris Covington Eric Pinkins MLB Jaylon Smith Leighton Vander Esch Tre’von Johnson Joel Lanning WLB Sean Lee Joe Thomas Kyle Queiro CB Byron Jones Jourdan Lewis Marquez White Donovan Olumba CB Anthony Brown Jourdan Lewis Duke Thomas CB Chidobe Awuzie Duke Thomas Charvarius Ward SS Jeff Heath Kavon Frazier Jameill Showers FS Xavier Woods Marqueston Huff Tyree Robinson Kam Kelly SPECIAL TEAMS POS First Second Third Fourth P Chris Jones Brett Maher K Dan Bailey Brett Maher LS L. P. Ladouceur Scott Daly H Chris Jones KOR Jourdan Lewis Duke Thomas Darius Jackson PR Duke Thomas Lance Lenoir Jourdan Lewis Cowboys TE Rico Gathers eager to log game experience in ‘18 - Logan Reardon, NFL.com Rico Gathers’ transition from a college basketball star to an NFL tight end has seen plenty of bumps along the way, but the third-year player seems ready to make it on the field in the regular season. “I’m a smart football player, I have to learn the game,” Gathers said. “For me, I always have to assess before I go into a play rather than a player who has done this their whole life. They basically go up there on the line and know where they got to be. I say to myself, well ‘shoot, we got this, I got to do this.’” Gathers isn’t alone in his switch from college basketball to pro football. Some of the best tight ends in NFL history -- including Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham -- played basketball in college. There is a clear correlation between the two sports that benefits certain tight ends. Six Dallas Cowboys veterans who have stepped their game up in camp - Tom Ryle, Blogging The Boys Ryle looks at six players who are making some noise in camp after struggling some in 2017. Byron Jones, Terrance Williams, Taco Charlton, Charles Tapper, and Rico Gathers make Ryle’s list, but perhaps the biggest surprise on this list is Chaz Green. After the dismal job he did a year ago, it would not have been a surprise if the team had released him. But they didn’t, and Green spent a lot of time working on his game in the offseason. After some rough early days in camp (including having to leave practice for the hydration issues he always seems to be fighting), he has started to show up in a better way, winning some reps. It was thought that Cameron Fleming was going to walk in and just take Green’s spot on the roster, but that is not looking nearly so certain, as Fleming has not been as consistent as he should. There has been some discussion of whether Fleming is better at the RT spot, with Green maybe having an edge at LT. That could throw a curve at the staff, forcing them to keep nine O linemen. But Green is putting up a real fight to be the swing tackle, something that seemed unimaginable just a few weeks ago. If he earns it, then some of us (raises hand) may have to eat a lot of crow. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott said Cole Beasley has earned his trust - Clarence Hill, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Hill offers up some impressions from yesterday's activities in Oxnard. It was interesting listening to Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner interview Prescott along with Irvin on the NFL Network. He wondered if Prescott had anyone he trusted yet to go to on 3rd and 6 when he needed a first down as he often did to Witten and Bryant in the past. Surprisingly, Prescott listed receiver Cole Beasley as the person he would trust to target in those situations right now based on their past success. Prescott’s ability to throw the deep ball has been questioned since his rookie season. It remains a question now. He said on the NFL Network that he is excited about the deep speed of Tavon Austin and Deonte Thompson and has fun airing it out them in practice. But he also acknowledged they have yet to make consistent connections if any, and it remains a work in progress.<doc-sep>Are you ready for some Dallas Cowboys' preseason football? If ever there was a rhetorical question, that's it right there. It's been over seven months since the team last played a game, having missed the playoffs on the heels of a disappointing 9-7 finish to the 2017 season. What came next was a maelstrom of headlines, dominated by the release of All-Pro wideout Dez Bryant and the retirement of future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten, creating a vortex atop the depth chart for both positions going forward. The Cowboys need to find successors to the record-breaking production and leadership both Bryant and Witten provided, and that begins when they take the field at Levi's Stadium to battle an age-old rival in the San Francisco 49ers. They'll do so without defensive end David Irving, who continues to battle personal issues and has yet to report to training camp, being excused by the team for now. That makes for a tenuous situation going forward, considering he'll also be suspended for a total of four games to start the season -- his second suspension in as many years. This adds another question mark to the already existing pile as Maliek Collins, the spell for Irving at 3-tech, is sidelined with a broken foot. It'll be interesting to see who steps up going forward, but some under-the-radar talent has already begun to do just that in Oxnard, CA over the past two weeks. That said, it's time to see what the depth chart looks like for the Cowboys to begin the preseason -- according to the San Francisco Gamebook -- keeping in mind it's unlikely you'll see high-value starters on the field just yet. An asterisk (*) next to the name indicates a virtual nil chance of them taking the field. Two asterisks indicate a possible appearance followed by an immediate exit. For everyone else? It's time to work.<doc-sep>The Cowboys begin their 2018 preseason period this Thursday on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. It’s always a treat when Dallas and San Francisco square off, even if it’s just an exhibition match. It’s a historic rivalry and a meeting of two of the NFL’s marquee franchises. As it is only the first preseason game of the season there’s not likely going to be much we can discern from this game about the Cowboys (or 49ers for that matter) starters. Here it is, per the San Francisco gamebook, the first Dallas depth chart of the season. Let’s try not to overreact. Offense WR: Allen Hurns, Michael Gallup, Noah Brown, Ricky Jeune LT: Tyron Smith, Cameron Fleming, Bryce Johnson LG: Connor Williams, Kadeem Edwards, Dustin Stanton C: Travis Frederick, Joe Looney, Marcus Martin RG: Zack Martin, Marcus Martin, Damien Mama RT: La’el Collins, Chaz Green, Jake Campos, Korren Kirven TE: Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin, Rico Gathers, Dalton Schultz WR: Cole Beasley, Tavon Austin, Deonte Thompson, Marchie Murdock WR: Terrance Williams, Lance Lenoir, K.D. Cannon, Mekale McKay QB: Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Mike White, Dalton Sturm RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Rod Smith, Darius Jackson, Bo Scarbrough, Jordan Chunn FB: Jamize Olawale Defense DE: Tyrone Crawford, Taco Charlton, Charles Tapper, Austin Larkin DT: Datone Jones, Brian Price, Richard Ash DT: Jihad Ward, Daniel Ross, Antwaun Woods, Lewis Neal DE: Demarcus Lawrence, Kony Ealy, Dorance Armstrong, Joby Saint Fleur SLB: Damien Wilson, Justin March-Lillard, Chris Covington, Eric PInkins MLB: Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Tre’von Johnson, Joel Lanning WLB: Sean Lee, Joe Thomas, Kyle Queiro CB: Byron Jones, Jourdan Lewis, Marquez White, Donovan Olumba CB: Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Duke Thomas CB: Chidobe Awuzie, Duke Thomas, Charvarius Ward SS: Jeff Heath, Kavon Frazier, Jameill Showers FS: Xavier Woods, Marqueston Huff, Tyree Robinson, Kam Kelly Special Teams P: Chris Jones, Brett Maher K: Dan Bailey, Brett Maher LS: L.P. Ladouceur, Scott Daly H: Chris Jones KOR: Jourdan Lewis, Duke Thomas, Darius Jackson PR: Duke Thomas, Lance Lenoir, Jourdan Lewis Unsurprisingly Connor Williams is starting at left guard for the Cowboys. Darius Jackson did get the nod over Bo Scarbrough which will likely shock some people, but the truth is Darius is a better option as of now. Many have suspected that Geoff Swaim and Blake Jarwin are the favorites at tight end and this first depth chart corroborates that idea. Rico Gathers is listed third so rookie Dalton Schultz still has some work to do apparently. Also a little surprising: Kony Ealy is listed as a second-stringer ahead of both Dorance Armstrong and Charles Tapper. Jason Garrett has said throughout training camp that the Cowboys aren’t going to focus on having Tavon Austin handle returns throughout the preseason. We’ve seen Jourdan Lewis get work there before and he’s getting the nod once more. In fact, Lewis is seemingly the Cowboys utility player to plug-and-play wherever they need him to based off of this as he’s the immediate backup on the outside and at slot corner as well as apparent return man. What are your thoughts, BTB?<doc-sep>Another episode of BTB’s OchoLive is ready for your viewing pleasure. Today’s episode is dedicated to the Cowboys depth chart heading into the first preseason game. Is Tavon Austin a WR or RB? Is Leighton Vander Esch running with the 2s important or not? How much should we believe in the tight ends? See what your fellow Cowboys fans had to say. Check it out and a big shoutout to RJ for creating the show. Also, check in the afternoon for the show live on the Facebook page on most days.<doc-sep>
We’ve waited a long time for the Dallas Cowboys to play football again. This Thursday brings the return of the greatest action known to man, even if it is just preseason action. We got our first depth chart of the season on Tuesday. While it is still only preseason, depth charts provide a lot of information. It’s somewhat of an indicator of how the Cowboys staff is thinking, and that’s always valuable. Here’s what the full depth chart currently looks like, with returning players marked in green, rookies marked in yellow, and trade/free agent additions marked in orange: OFFENSE POS First Second Third Fourth WR1 Allen Hurns Michael Gallup Noah Brown Ricky Jeune LT Tyron Smith Cameron Fleming Bryce Johnson LG Connor Williams Kadeem Edwards Dustin Stanton C Travis Frederick Joe Looney Marcus Martin RG Zack Martin Marcus Martin Damien Mama RT La’el Collins Chaz Green Jake Campos Korren Kirven TE Geoff Swaim Blake Jarwin Rico Gathers Dalton Schultz, David Wells SR Cole Beasley Tavon Austin Deonte Thompson Marchie Murdock WR2 Terrance Williams Lance Lenoir K.D. Cannon Mekale McKay QB Dak Prescott Cooper Rush Mike White Dalton Sturm RB Ezekiel Elliott Rod Smith Darius Jackson Bo Scarbrough, Jordan Chunn FB Jamaze Olawale DEFENSE POS First Second Third Fourth DE Tyrone Crawford Taco Charlton Charles Tapper Austin Larkin DT Datone Jones Brian Price Richard Ash DT Jihad Ward Daniel Ross Antwaun Woods Lewis Neal DE DeMarcus Lawrence Kony Ealy Dorance Armstrong Joby Saint Fleur SLB Damien Wilson Justin March-Lillard Chris Covington Eric Pinkins MLB Jaylon Smith Leighton Vander Esch Tre’von Johnson Joel Lanning WLB Sean Lee Joe Thomas Kyle Queiro CB Byron Jones Jourdan Lewis Marquez White Donovan Olumba CB Anthony Brown Jourdan Lewis Duke Thomas CB Chidobe Awuzie Duke Thomas Charvarius Ward SS Jeff Heath Kavon Frazier Jameill Showers FS Xavier Woods Marqueston Huff Tyree Robinson Kam Kelly SPECIAL TEAMS POS First Second Third Fourth P Chris Jones Brett Maher K Dan Bailey Brett Maher LS L. P. Ladouceur Scott Daly H Chris Jones KOR Jourdan Lewis Duke Thomas Darius Jackson PR Duke Thomas Lance Lenoir Jourdan Lewis Backup tackles are Cameron Fleming and Chaz Green When the Cowboys signed Cameron Fleming in free agency there were a lot of questions (remember when people thought it meant La’el Collins back to guard?). Months later, with Fleming firmly entrenched as Tyron Smith’s primary backup, it’s hard to be disappointed with how the Cowboys have hedged their bet. Tyron’s absence last season was a big contributing factor to the ineptitude Dallas experienced on offense. While it’s not shocking to see Cameron behind Smith, it is at the very least chin-stroking interesting to see Chaz Green at right tackle. Dallas worked Chaz Green as a swing tackle up until last year when they tried to make him a left guard, and they have him listed as G/T on the official team website. Perhaps Chaz is readying himself to be ready on either side at tackle (he’s worked both this offseason), but it appears that’s where he’ll line up in an ideal world. Geoff Swaim is the leading man at tight end, Rico Gathers is third-string Swaim has long been the favorite to be the Cowboys “starter” at tight end in the P.W. (post Witten) world but there have been all sorts of other murmurings. Remember that Dallas loved Blake Jarwin so much that they finally permanently removed Kellen Moore from the 53-man roster last season in order to protect Jarwin from getting poached by the Eagles (if Dallas hadn’t, would Philly have drafted Dallas... Goedert? Hmm. ), and he’s alternated with Swaim with the 1s while at camp. There has also been a contingency of folks who believe rookie Dalton Schultz can lead the way at tight end, but he finds himself rounding at the end of the line. In Dalton’s defense, he missed a portion of camp early on to attend the birth of his son (priorities fam, no pun intended) and the preseason could largely shift things. It was the preseason a year ago that launched Rico Gathers up 53-man rosters in living rooms all over Cowboys Nation, at the beginning of this preseason he is trailing literally everybody he’s trailed so far in Swaim and Jarwin. Maybe Gathers will up his stock over the next few weeks, but it seems more likely that Dalton will leapfrog him at some point.