Cowboys’ Secondary: A New Look for the Upcoming Season

OXNARD, Calif. — One question heading into the Cowboys’ season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles: How will the Cowboys cover the Eagles’ passing attack, led by the talented tandem of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith? Each had a 100-yard receiving game in two wins against the Cowboys last year.

Well, after nearly a couple of weeks in California, we might have an idea. Spoiler alert: It’s a little different than some may have expected.

The Starting Secondary

The Cowboys have consistently used former first-round pick Kaiir Elam and former All-Pro DaRon Bland in their starting secondary when all were at practice. Bland missed a few practices early in camp after welcoming a child.

The rest of the starting contingent has been a rotation based on whether Bland lines up inside or outside. When Bland has lined up in the slot, Troy Pride Jr. and Isreal Mukuamu have rotated as the other outside corner. When Bland has been outside, Kemon Hall has lined up in the slot.

A Different Look from Last Year

Last year, the Cowboys had dreams of a trio featuring Bland, Jourdan Lewis, and Trevon Diggs. This year’s likely starting secondary features a little less firepower on paper, to say the least. Hall, Pride, and Mukuamu have started a combined 12 games in their career.

Injuries and Rehabilitation

There are other options for the Cowboys’ secondary this season. They just aren’t expected to be ready for the beginning of the season. Diggs went to the ground during rehab work Thursday before he left the field. He changed into non-workout clothes and didn’t do any more rehab work the rest of practice.

Another option eventually is rookie third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr., but he likely won’t be ready to start the season, two people familiar with his status told The Dallas Morning News. Revel is still rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered last September at East Carolina. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told The News that Revel’s timeline isn’t “necessarily longer” than anticipated.

Revel is on the Non-football injury/illness list. Rookies are allowed to be on that list from injuries that happened in college.

Rehabilitation Progress

Revel has done brief rehabilitation work on the field during training camp. He also participated in a pre-practice walkthrough on Thursday.

If Revel isn’t ready to start the season, then he could be a candidate for the Physically Unable to Perform list. Players placed on the PUP list won’t count against the roster but they will miss the first four games of the season.

Cowboys’ Coaching Staff Weighs In

“We’re not going to put a timetable on it,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said about Revel’s recovery. “He’s doing some great things.

“He’s progressing nicely and doing a good job.”

Without Revel, and without Diggs, and without Josh Butler, who is also on the PUP list, the Cowboys are left with a secondary that’s unproven and lacking depth. Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said earlier this week that he looks at that reality as a chance for others to prove themselves.

Opportunities for Growth

“You’re going to lose guys during the course of the year,” Eberflus said. “You’re never going to be at 100%. You have to learn how to move your scheme to fit the skill set that you have. And I understand at some points you have to cover people, right?”

Like Brown and Smith in Week 1. And Malik Nabers and the Giants in Week 2. And D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze with the Bears in Week 3. And so forth.

Positive Signs from Unproven Players

The good news for the Cowboys: Some of those unproven players are starting to prove themselves. Elam has three interceptions in camp and he’s looking confident with this new opportunity: two things he didn’t necessarily have in Buffalo. Kemon Hall and Troy Pride Jr. have caught the eye of Schottenheimer with their physicality and their competitiveness.

Bland has been the most vital, though. He’s played inside in his career and outside. This year, with the way the secondary is looking, he might be doing both during games.

Bland’s Flexibility

“I was actually talking to him about it the other day,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s got a great feel. He can play all those spots. We’re going to move him around. We do a lot of things from a disguise element, which is good, so you can even see him in a game playing different spots. You might see him in one nickel package where he’s playing the boundary corner, and then you might see him in another nickel package where he’s playing in the slot, and there will be times when we’re matching him up on certain receivers, following a guy, but that’s the flexibility that a great player like DaRon has. He owns that. He wants to do that. He wants to be in those positions to try and take away an opponent’s best player.”

Bland can’t take away all their players, however.

Conclusion

The Cowboys’ secondary is looking different this year, with some unproven players stepping up to fill the gaps. While there are still concerns about the depth and experience of the secondary, the coaching staff is optimistic about the opportunities for growth and the flexibility of players like Bland.

FAQs

Q: Who are the starting cornerbacks for the Cowboys?

A: The starting cornerbacks for the Cowboys are Kaiir Elam and DaRon Bland, with Troy Pride Jr. and Isreal Mukuamu rotating in as the other outside corner.

Q: What is the status of Shavon Revel Jr.’s rehabilitation?

A: Shavon Revel Jr. is still rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered last September at East Carolina and is likely not ready to start the season.

Q: Who is on the Physically Unable to Perform list?

A: Josh Butler is on the PUP list, and Shavon Revel Jr. could be a candidate for the list if he is not ready to start the season.

Q: What is the coaching staff’s approach to the secondary?

A: The coaching staff is looking at the reality of the secondary as a chance for others to prove themselves and is focused on moving the scheme to fit the skill set of the players they have.