OXNARD, Calif. -- The Dallas Cowboys open their 2024 NFL training camp Thursday at the River Ridge Residence Inn complex.
Here's a closer look at a few storylines:
Biggest question: Will the running back by committee work?
There is no fallback plan for the Cowboys, so it must. Some combination of Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, Deuce Vaughn and/or Malik Davis must come up with the 1,920 yards the Cowboys ran for last season with Tony Pollard as their lead back. Elliott is coming off career lows in yards and carries in his lone season with the Patriots, while Dowdle is coming off career highs in yards and carries. Freeman is something of a mystery, but the coaches like what they have seen. The Cowboys have pared back their run game to be better at a few things rather than trying to have answers for everything. They are banking a lot on an offensive line that will have two new starters with far less experience than Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz did. For a franchise that has boasted workhorses like Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, DeMarco Murray and Elliott, this approach will be far different.
The most compelling position battle: Center
Center is hardly a sexy battle, but the Cowboys need to replace Biadasz, who signed with the Washington Commanders. The top contenders as camp opens are Brock Hoffman and third-round pick Cooper Beebe. Hoffman has one start at center in his career, while Beebe played every position but center at Kansas State. Hoffman, however, has earned the faith of the coaches with the diligence of his work, and coach Mike McCarthy has lauded his leadership skills. Beebe has the makeup and skill set to handle the spot too, but he will have to win the job from Hoffman during the preseason games.
Most impactful offseason addition: Mike Zimmer
It's not a player, considering how the Cowboys quietly approached free agency and picked late in the first round. It has to be Zimmer, their new defensive coordinator. He inherits a defense that excelled under Dan Quinn for three seasons with their ability to affect the quarterback and take the ball away. But there are areas to improve, most notably the run defense. Quinn was content to use multiple safety looks that led to some size mismatches, and big plays allowed were an issue. Zimmer's scheme will employ more linebackers and be more sound against the run, although that could lessen the sacks and takeaways. Zimmer has some bite to him as a coach, which some in the organization feel the defense needed.
The player with the most to prove: Mazi Smith
Last year's first-round pick (No. 23) must make the biggest of second-year jumps if the Cowboys are going to succeed against the run. His rookie year was forgettable. He had 15 tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and five quarterback pressures while playing 28.4% of the snaps. He played just four snaps in the playoff loss to Green Bay. His weight dipped below 300 pounds, and he was largely ineffective. With Zimmer, he will be asked to do more of the things he did at Michigan than he was last season under Quinn. He had offseason shoulder surgery and spent most of his time doing his rehab away from the team. If he can show the form he had at Michigan, eating up space for others to make plays, then he will have put his rookie year behind him. If not, then the Cowboys will have missed on a first-round pick.