Heavy on defense and special teams Sturm’s final Cowboys 53-man roster projection

 Thankfully, we have a fun exercise to replace any sort of game recap with here as trying to dignify that preseason game from Sunday with Jacksonville with words is probably a bridge too far. So let's skip it. Late last week, I did a post on how special teams determine rosters. I believe what I wrote for sure, but I also have to admit that the math of this particular roster selection may put my initial thoughts to the test.

https://theathletic.com/2797291/2021/08/30/sturms-final-cowboys-53-man-roster-projection-heavy-on-defense-and-special-teams/

What will the Cowboys do? Special teams decide so much, but usually get so little of the roster attention

 This is the point in the preseason where I do my roster projections - as any good NFL writer should. Look for it as part of my Morning After piece next Monday after the final fake game of the preseason. If you follow my work, you should definitely know that a big part of the final 10 spots on a 53-man roster will always be about two things for me: Contracts and special teams. You know about contracts and guaranteed money and the difficulty the Jones family seems to have with painful goodbyes.

https://theathletic.com/2789142/2021/08/26/what-will-the-cowboys-do-special-teams-decide-so-much-but-usually-get-so-little-of-the-roster-attention/

From Micah Parsons to Quinton Bohanna, film tells stories of the Cowboys' 2021 rookie class

 This week we know the Cowboys are really zeroing in on the makeup of their roster. So this is the first of a two-part series where we will first look at the progress of the 11 draftees from April and then later in the week mix in the all-important special teams discussions which often help us know who is making the team and who is not. But, first things first. Today, I am offering thoughts on the new 11 picks and what they have shown me in camp and during the preseason.

https://theathletic.com/2784968/2021/08/23/from-micah-parsons-to-quinton-bohanna-film-tells-stories-of-the-cowboys-2021-rookie-class/

The devil is certainly in the details and the details of the Cowboys offense must improve

 The focus on the media is often what starts conversations in the public. What you read about (or hear) that morning may influence what "is talked about" around the water cooler. It isn't a great system for what wheel gets the grease, but it is the best one we have. The opposite is also true. Maybe, if we, the media, don't talk about something enough, it gets ignored by the masses. Again, not always, but often, if everyone isn't pointing and yelling at something, maybe its concern level remains low.

https://theathletic.com/2779032/2021/08/20/the-devil-is-certainly-in-the-details-and-the-details-of-the-cowboys-offense-must-improve/

20 questions, from Dak Prescott's return to Jaylon Smith's future and reasons to be positive

 We are going to try to get these done more often. You send me your feelings and concerns and I respond with some thoughts and words. Twenty questions can happen as often as you guys like during the season, but let's test drive this car with an Aug. 17 version and see how it goes.

https://theathletic.com/2774559/2021/08/17/cowboys-mailbag-why-be-positive-dak-prescott-randy-gregory-jaylon-smith-and-more-20-questions/

The issues of 2019 and 2020 are still there for Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith

 There is no question that if you found something better to do Friday night, you need to not sit in regret. If you burned your sports pass for late last week on a baseball game played in a cornfield, you chose well. There were moments of significance Friday night in Arizona, for sure. Dak Prescott appearing to throw passes in warmups would have to qualify, although another week of not throwing should probably not bother too many people with the Cowboys still having three weeks to prepare.

https://theathletic.com/2770245/2021/08/15/one-snap-from-friday-night-the-issues-of-2019-and-2020-are-still-there-for-cowboys-lb-jaylon-smith/

NFL 100: At No. 29, Emmitt Smith did what he did for longer and better than anyone

 Welcome to the NFL 100, The Athletic's endeavor to identify the 100 best players in football history. Every day until the season begins, we'll unveil new members of the list, with the No. 1 player to be crowned on Wednesday, Sept. 8. 

Any time you talk about someone with all of the records in their given pursuit, there is an instinctive reaction from those who back others in the conversation to try to cheapen those records by saying it is merely a product of longevity.

https://theathletic.com/2757539/2021/08/13/nfl-100-at-no-29-emmitt-smith-did-what-he-did-for-longer-and-better-than-anyone/

Cowboys camp Monday briefing: Three important draft picks for two spots on the offensive line

 The Cowboys offensive line is a fascinating study at the moment as they are coming off a year that was a clear and solid disaster. There were more injuries to key veterans that cost Tyron Smith, La'el Collins and Zack Martin all massive chunks (if not all) of 2020. This helped the entire offense implode due to shifting every week.

https://theathletic.com/2760098/2021/08/09/cowboys-camp-monday-briefing-three-important-draft-picks-for-two-spots-on-the-offensive-line/

Sturm’s Morning After: The Cowboys’ defensive lineup provides clues on the plans at linebacker

 The Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night in Canton was, in fact, played. It did happen and if you watched it, you saw some classic uniforms and a few isolated things here and there worth noting. But, let's be honest: If you decided to skip it, you can still call yourself an NFL enthusiast and keep your Cowboys fan card. Jon Machota offered his insights from last night and I encourage you to check those out here.

https://theathletic.com/2755643/2021/08/06/sturms-morning-after-the-cowboys-defensive-lineup-provides-clues-on-the-plans-at-linebacker/

NFL 100: At No. 45, Larry Allen lives in mythological lore, but he was real and spectacular

 Welcome to the NFL 100, The Athletic's endeavor to identify the 100 best players in football history. Every day until the season begins, we'll unveil new members of the list, with the No. 1 player to be crowned on Wednesday, Sept. 8. 

To properly express Larry Allen's legend amongst those who played with him, against him and viewed him from close range, we must enter into evidence that routinely his ability was discussed in terms that made comparisons somewhat pointless.

https://theathletic.com/2743769/2021/08/05/nfl-100-at-no-45-larry-allen-lives-in-mythological-lore-but-he-was-real-and-spectacular/

NFL 100: At No. 47, Cowboys’ Randy White terrified opponents unlike any undersized DT in history

 Welcome to the NFL 100, The Athletic’s endeavor to identify the 100 best players in football history. Every day until the season begins, we’ll unveil new members of the list, with the No. 1 player to be crowned on Wednesday, Sept. 8.

It has been a long time since he played in the NFL, so memories of the Manster on the football field will belong only to those at least 40 years of age.

https://theathletic.com/2723624/2021/08/04/nfl-100-at-no-47-cowboys-randy-white-terrified-opponents-unlike-any-undersized-dt-in-history/

Put up or shut up: Five Cowboys players heading into massive ‘prove-it’ years in 2021

 A few years ago, we started adding this to our annual training camp checklist, and it is that time again.

https://theathletic.com/2746608/2021/08/03/put-up-or-shut-up-five-cowboys-heading-into-massive-prove-it-years-in-2021/