Cowboys training camp is leaving fans with plenty to wonder about

Dallas wrapped its first week of training camp and coaches still don’t have clear answers at several spots on the roster.

The biggest questions left unanswered center on the defense and along the offensive line.

Fans hoping for quick answers will need to wait a bit longer.

The linebacker group stands out as the top mystery through the opening stretch. DeMarvion Overshown has looked like one of the defense’s clear leaders and seems fully healthy after last year’s injury trouble.

Marist Liufau rookie Jaishawn Barham and Shemar James have each shown flashes worth notice.

None of that proves the group can hold up against the run over a full season though.

Coaches have kept things interesting by rotating communication duties among a few linebackers. That’s usually a sign a real competition is still going on.

It also means no one player has locked down the job just yet.

Rookie corner still finding his footing

Shavon Revel has given the Cowboys plenty of reasons for excitement about his future.

His rookie week also showed there’s still work left to do.

He’s flashed good length and real competitiveness in coverage during his snaps.

Revel has gone against George Pickens plenty during camp and Pickens has won several of those one-on-one reps.

Pickens brings elite ball skills and a knack for making plays through contact.

That kind of daily test should actually speed up Revel’s growth even though the results haven’t always gone his way yet.

Defensive front waits on the pads

Early camp naturally favors the offense and this year is no different for Dallas. Quarterbacks wear jerseys that keep them off limits for contact.

Pass rushers have to pull up once they reach the pocket instead of finishing the play.

Offensive linemen aren’t firing off the ball with full aggression either.

That setup makes it tough to judge whether the defensive front can turn into one of the league’s stronger units.

The first padded practice should offer a much clearer picture of who can really win in the trenches.

Offensive line shows promise but needs more proof

The offensive line has been a bright spot through the early practices. Even so it’s hard to know exactly where that unit stands until real physicality gets added to the mix.

Dak Prescott has had plenty of clean pockets to work through his progressions so far.

That kind of comfort matters but it also comes with the same caveat as the defensive front.

Nobody will know the true strength of that group until pads come on and starters start hitting each other for real.

Training camp always answers some questions while raising new ones.

Dallas will get some things clearing up in the coming days as practices ramp up in intensity.

The next stretch should start separating real progress from early camp illusions for both sides of the ball.

Key takeaways

• Linebacker depth behind DeMarvion Overshown remains the biggest open question for the defense
• Rookie corner Shavon Revel is developing fast but still adjusting to elite receivers like George Pickens
• Both lines need padded practices before anyone can judge their true strength