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OXNARD, Calif. - Dallas Cowboys training camp is upon us here in Oxnard, and the head coach is on the record regarding the purpose of it all.
"I make no qualms, that that's the goal,'' Brian Schottenheimer recently said. "The Super Bowl next year is Feb. 14th, 2027.
"We plan on being there."
As Schottenheimer takes charge of his second training camp, he'll have newcomer Christian Parker as his daily battle partner as the 34-year-old assumes the defensive coordinator role for the first time.
As is the case with every training camp, there are storylines aplenty and a host of questions that fans and those inside the building need to be answered.
Here, "Fish in Oxnard: The Cowboys Top 10 Camp Questions Toward A Playoff Answer'' ...
1 - Who backs up Dak Prescott?
Working on the assumption that Prescott himself isn't a "question mark'' (and is, instead, a legit MVP candidate) ...
This feels like the first time in recent memory that we have a legitimate quarterback battle behind Dak. Joe Milton had the No. 2 role last year, but when the Cowboys decided to sign Sam Howell, that was a big sign that Dallas isn't sold on Joe and his development.
Howell has skins on the wall as a starter (18), and right now, you can say he is the better quarterback out of the two when it comes to "bus-driving'' a team.
Yes, Milton has the physical traits you marvel at, but what the coaching staff wants is competency, the ability to read a defense, to go through your progressions, and to drive this team when called upon.
Howell can do that. Can Milton?
Oxnard - and the preseason games - will give us the answer.
READ MORE: Cowboys Hire Dak Prescott Former Backup To Coaching Staff
2 - Who will be the "green dot" for Parker?
Who will quarterback Parker's defense? We know DeMarvion Overshown will get first crack at it as has been wearing it all offseason.
But we wonder if the oft-injured linebacker shouldn't be freed to just concentrate on one thing: Don't be "oft-injured.''
Are there other candidates, such as first-round stud Caleb Downs (doubtful, as he's a rookie) and Dee Winters (a newcomer who's never really been the signal-caller before during his time with the Niners)?
Sure.
But D-Mo seems to be the designated guy ... for now.
3 - Who will win the left tackle job?
Let's be clear here: the Cowboys want Tyler Guyton to win the job. He's a first-round pick, and he is their best chance at solidifying Dak's blindside.
But the Cowboys made it very public that Nate Thomas would battle Guyton for the starting role.
If Guyton is "the guy" Dallas thinks he is, this battle can be over almost before it even begins.
But if not?
If Thomas somehow usurps him at camp, that's an issue. And if neither of them are good enough, it might mean All-Pro Tyler Smith kicks out to tackle and T.J. Bass slots in at guard. ... an imperfect solution.
READ MORE: Cowboys Insider: 'Writing On The Wall' For Joe Milton At Training Camp
4 - Can Dallas find a pass rush?
We know Quinnen Williams (inside) and Rashan Gary (from the edge) can get to the quarterback, but who else can give the Cowboys some pass-rush juice? First-round rookie Malachi Lawrence is the one who we will be keeping our eyes on.
Overall, do the Cowboys have the weaponry to fix a bad number - just 35 sacks last season, their second-lowest return in a decade (31 in 2020)?
Or do they need more big-time help of the sort attached to the Maxx Crosby trade rumors that just won't go away?
5 - Who's the other running back?
Jaydon Blue will be the big watch here. Can the maturing back finally showcase the skills that had many fans giddy when he was drafted out of the University of Texas? Can he lower his pad level and show patience, waiting for running lanes to open up? Or will he mistakenly use his blazing speed to force every issue?
Sources inside the building long ago that Blue is seen as the "Lightning" to Javonte Williams' "Thunder.'' But there is an intriguing complexity here ...
Phil Mafah, not Blue, is actually seen as the logical replacement for Williams if the veteran goes down due to his similar "starter-caliber'' play-style.
Mix in Malik Davis, who already has skins on the wall in Schottenheimer's system from last year, and we've got ourselves a three-way competition for snaps.
READ MORE: Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Called NFL’s ‘Most Underappreciated’ QB Amid MVP Prediction
6 - Where does Caleb Downs fit?
Downs will be a Swiss Army Knife for Parker. Likely to play some corner (nickel/slot), safety, and even down near the box as a run-stopper, Downs could be seen as Mr. Fix-It.
Will it be a case of too much, too soon at camp?
How Dallas' new defensive coordinator utilizes his prized draft pick - and how soon he does it all - will be a fascinating watch in Oxnard, because much of the hope fans have for 2026 centers on Downs being the centerpiece of this defense.
7 - How does WR depth chart stack up?
CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens (with no contract drama, thank goodness) and Ryan Flournoy top the depth chart, and KaVontae Turpin will be the No. 4 receiver. But then who?
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jonathan Mingo, Anthony Smith, Traeshon Holden, Tyler Johnson, Camden Brown, and Jordan Hudson make up the room as camp begins.
You can make the case that all are on the roster bubble in Oxnard, and who manages to climb the depth chart will be an interesting watch.
How many receivers will Dallas carry? If it is five, just one of those mentioned will survive roster cuts. If the Cowboys carry six, who will be the two receivers to make up the room?
MVS is the veteran option, who can be a reliable target, but the others are unknown commodities. Who can make a name for themselves? And will it really matter once Lamb and Pickens start lighting up the scoreboard?
8 - Are the cornerbacks healthy and fixed?
The secondary is still a big reason to be nervous about 2026. Will DaRon Bland's foot finally be healthy? Can Shavon Revel Jr. be the player Dallas drafted him to be? Will ex-Rams rotational starter Cobie Durant be better than both of them?
Caelen Carson (who is the forgotten man in all of this), Josh Butler, Trikweze Bridges, Downs, Reddy Stewart and Derion Kendrick can also all be in play here.
But who emerges as the starters?
Bland and Revel are the optimal names, assuming good health for both. But we don't want to assume anything until we see them work in camp.
READ MORE: Do Cowboys Have WR Depth Problem Ahead Of Training Camp?
9 - How soon does Parker establish his new scheme?
Dak and CeeDee have already stated how annoying it is going against Parker's defense at minicamp, and that will be turned up a notch in Oxnard as Parker's full array of defensive tactics will be on show.
But how does he get his vision of what we're calling a "3-4 Hybrid Defense'' off the ground? With new players, new calls and new position names, how steep is the learning curve?
Much of the hope and excitement this offseason has been because of the type of coach Parker is and the vision he has for this defense. But how he gets that to come alive against one of the best offenses in football is going to be a fascinating watch.
10 - Can "communication issues'' be fixed - and be all about football?
The Cowboys defense in 2025 was the NFL's worst, and "communication'' was a central problem for the 7-9-1 team; the secondary especially looked lost.
Can Parker fix that?
There's something more here regarding "communication,'' though. More so than in decades, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems content with letting "the football people'' do their jobs without him muddying issues with headline-grabbing silliness.
So ... along the path toward Schotty's lofty goal ...
Can the admittedly entertaining Jones, starting right now here in Oxnard, stay in his lane enough to quell our often-stated concerns that "Sometimes Jerry's Cowboys seem like a marketing company that plays football on the side''?
Continue reading...
"I make no qualms, that that's the goal,'' Brian Schottenheimer recently said. "The Super Bowl next year is Feb. 14th, 2027.
"We plan on being there."
As Schottenheimer takes charge of his second training camp, he'll have newcomer Christian Parker as his daily battle partner as the 34-year-old assumes the defensive coordinator role for the first time.
As is the case with every training camp, there are storylines aplenty and a host of questions that fans and those inside the building need to be answered.
Here, "Fish in Oxnard: The Cowboys Top 10 Camp Questions Toward A Playoff Answer'' ...
1 - Who backs up Dak Prescott?
Working on the assumption that Prescott himself isn't a "question mark'' (and is, instead, a legit MVP candidate) ...
This feels like the first time in recent memory that we have a legitimate quarterback battle behind Dak. Joe Milton had the No. 2 role last year, but when the Cowboys decided to sign Sam Howell, that was a big sign that Dallas isn't sold on Joe and his development.
Howell has skins on the wall as a starter (18), and right now, you can say he is the better quarterback out of the two when it comes to "bus-driving'' a team.
Yes, Milton has the physical traits you marvel at, but what the coaching staff wants is competency, the ability to read a defense, to go through your progressions, and to drive this team when called upon.
Howell can do that. Can Milton?
Oxnard - and the preseason games - will give us the answer.
READ MORE: Cowboys Hire Dak Prescott Former Backup To Coaching Staff
2 - Who will be the "green dot" for Parker?
Who will quarterback Parker's defense? We know DeMarvion Overshown will get first crack at it as has been wearing it all offseason.
But we wonder if the oft-injured linebacker shouldn't be freed to just concentrate on one thing: Don't be "oft-injured.''
Are there other candidates, such as first-round stud Caleb Downs (doubtful, as he's a rookie) and Dee Winters (a newcomer who's never really been the signal-caller before during his time with the Niners)?
Sure.
But D-Mo seems to be the designated guy ... for now.
3 - Who will win the left tackle job?
Let's be clear here: the Cowboys want Tyler Guyton to win the job. He's a first-round pick, and he is their best chance at solidifying Dak's blindside.
But the Cowboys made it very public that Nate Thomas would battle Guyton for the starting role.
If Guyton is "the guy" Dallas thinks he is, this battle can be over almost before it even begins.
But if not?
If Thomas somehow usurps him at camp, that's an issue. And if neither of them are good enough, it might mean All-Pro Tyler Smith kicks out to tackle and T.J. Bass slots in at guard. ... an imperfect solution.
READ MORE: Cowboys Insider: 'Writing On The Wall' For Joe Milton At Training Camp
4 - Can Dallas find a pass rush?
We know Quinnen Williams (inside) and Rashan Gary (from the edge) can get to the quarterback, but who else can give the Cowboys some pass-rush juice? First-round rookie Malachi Lawrence is the one who we will be keeping our eyes on.
Overall, do the Cowboys have the weaponry to fix a bad number - just 35 sacks last season, their second-lowest return in a decade (31 in 2020)?
Or do they need more big-time help of the sort attached to the Maxx Crosby trade rumors that just won't go away?
5 - Who's the other running back?
Jaydon Blue will be the big watch here. Can the maturing back finally showcase the skills that had many fans giddy when he was drafted out of the University of Texas? Can he lower his pad level and show patience, waiting for running lanes to open up? Or will he mistakenly use his blazing speed to force every issue?
Sources inside the building long ago that Blue is seen as the "Lightning" to Javonte Williams' "Thunder.'' But there is an intriguing complexity here ...
Phil Mafah, not Blue, is actually seen as the logical replacement for Williams if the veteran goes down due to his similar "starter-caliber'' play-style.
Mix in Malik Davis, who already has skins on the wall in Schottenheimer's system from last year, and we've got ourselves a three-way competition for snaps.
READ MORE: Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Called NFL’s ‘Most Underappreciated’ QB Amid MVP Prediction
6 - Where does Caleb Downs fit?
Downs will be a Swiss Army Knife for Parker. Likely to play some corner (nickel/slot), safety, and even down near the box as a run-stopper, Downs could be seen as Mr. Fix-It.
Will it be a case of too much, too soon at camp?
How Dallas' new defensive coordinator utilizes his prized draft pick - and how soon he does it all - will be a fascinating watch in Oxnard, because much of the hope fans have for 2026 centers on Downs being the centerpiece of this defense.
7 - How does WR depth chart stack up?
CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens (with no contract drama, thank goodness) and Ryan Flournoy top the depth chart, and KaVontae Turpin will be the No. 4 receiver. But then who?
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jonathan Mingo, Anthony Smith, Traeshon Holden, Tyler Johnson, Camden Brown, and Jordan Hudson make up the room as camp begins.
You can make the case that all are on the roster bubble in Oxnard, and who manages to climb the depth chart will be an interesting watch.
How many receivers will Dallas carry? If it is five, just one of those mentioned will survive roster cuts. If the Cowboys carry six, who will be the two receivers to make up the room?
MVS is the veteran option, who can be a reliable target, but the others are unknown commodities. Who can make a name for themselves? And will it really matter once Lamb and Pickens start lighting up the scoreboard?
8 - Are the cornerbacks healthy and fixed?
The secondary is still a big reason to be nervous about 2026. Will DaRon Bland's foot finally be healthy? Can Shavon Revel Jr. be the player Dallas drafted him to be? Will ex-Rams rotational starter Cobie Durant be better than both of them?
Caelen Carson (who is the forgotten man in all of this), Josh Butler, Trikweze Bridges, Downs, Reddy Stewart and Derion Kendrick can also all be in play here.
But who emerges as the starters?
Bland and Revel are the optimal names, assuming good health for both. But we don't want to assume anything until we see them work in camp.
READ MORE: Do Cowboys Have WR Depth Problem Ahead Of Training Camp?
9 - How soon does Parker establish his new scheme?
Dak and CeeDee have already stated how annoying it is going against Parker's defense at minicamp, and that will be turned up a notch in Oxnard as Parker's full array of defensive tactics will be on show.
But how does he get his vision of what we're calling a "3-4 Hybrid Defense'' off the ground? With new players, new calls and new position names, how steep is the learning curve?
Much of the hope and excitement this offseason has been because of the type of coach Parker is and the vision he has for this defense. But how he gets that to come alive against one of the best offenses in football is going to be a fascinating watch.
10 - Can "communication issues'' be fixed - and be all about football?
The Cowboys defense in 2025 was the NFL's worst, and "communication'' was a central problem for the 7-9-1 team; the secondary especially looked lost.
Can Parker fix that?
There's something more here regarding "communication,'' though. More so than in decades, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems content with letting "the football people'' do their jobs without him muddying issues with headline-grabbing silliness.
So ... along the path toward Schotty's lofty goal ...
Can the admittedly entertaining Jones, starting right now here in Oxnard, stay in his lane enough to quell our often-stated concerns that "Sometimes Jerry's Cowboys seem like a marketing company that plays football on the side''?
Continue reading...
