FRISCO, Texas – The last stretch of the offseason is upon us. The next time the Cowboys get together, it will be time for training camp. The roster is nearly full and that should mean a healthy dose of competition – at all positions.
In the coming weeks, the writers of DallasCowboys.com will focus on each position to find the most intriguing battles as we get ready for training camp. Today, we continue the series with quarterback.
Battle To Watch:
Well, there's no question about the No. 1 spot. Dak Prescott will lead the offense for a third straight year after accumulating 33 starts (32 regular season; 1 playoff) in his first two seasons. As training camp nears, the central issue is who steps in if Prescott were to miss significant snaps for the first time in his career. Cooper Rush won the backup job from Kellen Moore – the team's new quarterbacks coach – as an undrafted rookie last year and had brief mop-up duty in two games. Rush's time in the system gives him an early edge over fifth-round draft pick Mike White, but the rookie showed NFL promise at Western Kentucky in a scheme with traits similar to Moore's old Boise State offense.
Don't Forget About:
The backup battle lasted into late October a year ago, so perhaps evaluation will continue past preseason. Rush began poaching second-team snaps from Moore by the end of training camp and eventually got the No. 2 spot, moving Moore to the practice squad. Keep an eye on White's progress in training camp. The more experience he gets, the more intriguing this competition might become.
Bubble Watch:
Last year, the Cowboys kept three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster for only about half the season. But after April's draft, team executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team could very easily carry three again. Both Rush and White have a great chance of making the team at this point. For now, here's an unofficial guess at how the offseason depth chart stacks up:
Locks:
Dak Prescott
Contenders:
Cooper Rush - Mike White
Long Shots:
Dalton Sturm
