We don’t get snap counts for practices from the team. What we do get is an increasing amount of training camp videos, increasingly from DallasCowboys.com themselves.
Which is why I reviewed all the videos I could find with Dak Prescott at quarterback, and charted which offensive and defensive player was in on which play. Overall, I found 19 documented plays, not all in sequence, but that doesn’t really matter if you’re just running scripted plays.
The first thing to look at is a simple snap count which details which player was in on how many plays. And that’s exactly what the two tables below show.
Cowboys’ Offensive Snapcount, 19 plays with Prescott as QB
O-line
Running Backs /Fullback
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Player
Snaps
Player
Snaps
Player
Snaps
Player
Snaps
Guyton
19
J. Williams
7
Flournoy
17
Ferguson
9
Smith
19
Blue
6
Lamb
10
Schoonmaker
7
Beebe
19
Luepke
6
Pickens
10
Spann-Ford
6
Booker
19
Mafah
4
Turpin
6
Steele
19
Davis
1
Mingo
3
Valdes-Scantling
3
The big boys on the offensive line were in for every snap Dak Prescott played, but then the Cowboys started subbing in and out most of their presumptive players from the final 53. The numbers suggest Malik Davis may have a shot at the 53, while Jonathan Mingo might be battling it out with Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the final WR spot.
Cowboys’ Defensive Snapcount, 19 plays with Prescott as QB
Defensive Tackles
Outside Linebackers
Inside Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Safeties
Player
Snaps
Player
Snaps
Player
Snaps
Player
Snaps
Player
Snaps
Kenny Clark
16
Rashan Gary
12
Shemar James
8
Caleb Downs
15
Malik Hooker
15
Quinnen Williams
13
Donovan Ezeiruaku
11
DeMarvion Overshown
7
Shavon Revel
10
Markquese Bell
11
Otito Ogbonnia
7
Malachi Lawrence
7
Jaishawn Barham
7
Daron Bland
9
Jalen Thompson
9
Jonathan Bullard
3
Sam Williams
4
Dee Winters
6
Caelen Carson
9
Jay Toia
2
James Houston
3
Dominic Richardson
1
Cobie Durant
8
Devin Moore
3
Derion Kendrick
1
The top four seems pretty clear here, with Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams, Rashan Gary, and Donovan Ezeiruaku as the presumptive starters, and its nice to see that the rookies Malachi Lawrence and Jaishawn Barham appear poised to move up at some stage.
For the linebacker/secondary groups, Caleb Downs is a true charting nightmare, and I hope he will have a similar effect on opposing offenses. His 15 snaps numerically charted as follows:
8/15 at Corner5/15 at Linebacker2/15 at Safety
But where he actually played is very difficult to tell, especially with the angle and shortness of the available clips.
Beyond Downs, it’s surprising to see Shemar James lead the linebackers ahead of DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters. Same thing at corner, where Shavon Revel leads Daron Bland and Cobie Durant, and Markquese Bell ahead of Jalen Thompson at safety is also a bit surprising.
All of this is just 19 snaps in the second practice without pads and tackling, so let’s not be too hasty in drawing any definite solutions. The coaches are likely trying to get a good look at some areas they still have questions about, including guys who will be battling to hang on to a roster spot.
Also note, that of the 19 plays, there were 19 different lineups on offense and 19 different lineups on defense, which suggests the coaches were using these plays just as much for installing the playbook as they were testing out different players and player combinations.
As for how much the first team reps will determine the final 53-man, The Bouncer, a tune form 90s dance duo Kicks Like a Mule, explains it best: “If your name’s not down, you’re not coming in.”
For those interested, here’s detailed breakdown of the lineups for the 19 plays.
7 plays in sequence, all players identified
J.Williams right tackle for 2 yards (first contact M. Lawrence)
D.Prescott pass deep left to G.Pickens for 21 yards (first contact. C. Carson)
D.Prescott short right to CD Lamb for 6 yards (first contact. S. Revel)
D.Prescott screen pass short right to J. Williams for 37 yards (first contact. D. Ezeiruaku)
J.Blue left tackle for 14 yards (first contact M. Hooker)
D.Prescott short left to J. Ferguson 8 yards (tackle by S. Revel)
P. Mafah up the middle for 14 yards (first contact J. Thompson)
QB
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
RB
J. Williams
Blue
Mafah
J. Williams
Blue
Luepke
Mafah
WR
Turpin
Lamb
Lamb
Turpin
Luepke
Lamb
Lamb
WR
Valdes-S.
Pickens
Mingo
Valdes-S.
Flournoy
Pickens
Pickens
WR
Mingo
Flournoy
Flournoy
Flournoy
Spann-F.
Flournoy
Flournoy
TE
Spann-F.
Ferguson
Ferguson
Ferguson
Schoon-maker
Ferguson
Schoon-maker
LT
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
LG
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smith
OC
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
RG
Booker
Booker
Booker
Booker
Booker
Booker
Booker
RT
Steele
Steele
Steele
Steele
Steele
Steele
Steele
DL
Gary
Gary
Lawrence
Gary
Gary
Lawrence
Lawrence
DL
Clark
Clark
Clark
Clark
Clark
Clark
Clark
DL
Q. Williams
Q. Williams
Q. Williams
Q. Williams
Ogbonnia
Ogbonnia
Toia
DL
Ezeiruaku
Ezeiruaku
Houston
Ezeiruaku
Ezeiruaku
Houston
Houston
LB
James
Winters
James
Overshown
Overshown
Winters
Richardson
LB
Barham
Barham
Downs
Winters
Barham
Downs
James
CB
Downs
Durant
Downs
Downs
Downs
Carson
Downs
CB
Revel
Durant
Revel
Revel
Revel
Revel
Carson
CB
Bland
Carson
Carson
Bland
Bland
Durant
Durant
S
Hooker
Hooker
Hooker
Hooker
Hooker
Thompson
Thompson
S
Thompson
Thompson
Thompson
Bell
Bell
Bell
Bell
Main Source: DallasCowboys.com
7 plays, not in sequence, all players identified
D.Prescott short right to G. Pickens for 5 yards (first contact. D. Bland)
(Playaction) D.Prescott short right to R. Flournoy for 11 yards (first contact. C.Carson)
D.Prescott deep right to G. Pickens incomplete. Penalty on S. Revel, DPI, 25 yards
J.Williams left tackle for 6 yards (first contact J. Thompson)
D.Prescott crosser deep left to. CD Lamb for 20 yards (first contact D.Bland)
D.Prescott slant deep middle to CD Lamb for 26 yards (first contact S. Revel, M. Bell)
D.Prescott deep middle to J. Mingo for 43 yards (first contact D.Moore)
QB
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
RB
Blue
Blue
Blue
J. Williams
Davis
Blue
J. Williams
WR
Lamb
Luepke
Pickens
Lamb
Luepke
Lamb
Flournoy
WR
Pickens
Turpin
Flournoy
Pickens
Lamb
Pickens
Turpin
WR
Flournoy
Flournoy
Turpin
Flournoy
Flournoy
Ferguson
Mingo
TE
Ferguson
Spann-F.
Schoon-maker
Schoon-maker
Schoon-maker
Spann-F.
Schoon-maker
LT
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
LG
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smith
OC
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
RG
Booker
Booker
Booker
Booker
Booker
Booker
Booker
RT
Steele
Steele
Steele
Steele
Steele
Steele
Steele
DL
Gary
Lawrence
Gary
Gary
Gary
Lawrence
Lawrence
DL
Clark
Bullard
Clark
Clark
Clark
Clark
Clark
DL
Q. Williams
Ogbonnia
Q. Williams
Q. Williams
Q. Williams
Q. Williams
Q. Williams
DL
Ezeiruaku
Toia
Ezeiruaku
Ezeiruaku
Ogbonnia
Gary
S. Williams
LB
James
S.Williams
Overshown
Overshown
Ezeiruaku
Overshown
Barham
LB
Downs
Winters
Downs
Barham
James
Barham
Downs
CB
Revel
Barham
Carson
Carson
Winters
Downs
Kendrick
CB
Durant
Moore
Revel
Durant
Carson
Revel
Revel
CB
Bland
Carson
Durant
Bland
Bland
Moore
Moore
S
Hooker
Downs
Thompson
Thompson
Thompson
Hooker
Hooker
S
Bell
Hooker
Bell
Hooker
Hooker
Bell
Bell
Main source
Mike Leslie
Jon Machota
Joe Hoyt
Jon Machota
Jon Machota
Sebastian Sanchez
Sebastian Sanchez
5 plays, not in sequence, not all players identified
D.Prescott short left right to CD. Lamb for 13 yards (first contact, S. Revel)
P. Mafah left tackle for 75 yards – Play whistled dead after 30 yards, but likely a TD.
K. Turpin jet sweep left for 12 yards (ran OOB)
D.Prescott incomplete short left to B. Spann-F. (PBU by D. Bland)
D.Prescott short middle to G. Pickens for 8 yards (first contact C.Carson)
QB
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
Prescott
RB
J. Williams
Mafah
Mafah
J. Williams
J. Williams
WR
Lamb
Luepke
Lamb
Luepke
Luepke
WR
Pickens
Valdes-S.
Pickens
???
Pickens
WR
Ferguson
Flournoy
Turpin
Ferguson
Flournoy
TE
Schoon-maker
???
Ferguson
Spann-F.
Spann-F.
LT
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
Guyton
LG
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smith
Smith
OC
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
Beebe
RG
Booker
Booker
Booker
Booker
Booker
RT
Steele
Steele
Steele
Steele
Steele
DL
Lawrence
Gary
???
Gary
Gary
DL
Clark
Bullard
Bullard
Clark
Clark
DL
Q. Williams
Ogbonnia
Ogbonnia
Q. Williams
Q. Williams
DL
S. Williams
Ezeiruaku
S. Williams
Ogbonnia
Ezeiruaku
LB
Barham
Overshown
???
Ezeiruaku
Winters
LB
James
Winters
James
Overshown
James
CB
Downs
Downs
Barham
Winters
???
CB
Revel
Durant
Carson
Durant
Carson
CB
???
Bland
???
Bland
Bland
S
Hooker
Hooker
???
Downs
Thompson
S
Bell
Bell
Bell
Hooker
Hooker
Main Source
Jon Machota
Sebastian Sanchez
Joe Hoyt
Tommy Yarrish
Nick Harris
The plays shown here are obviously skewed in favor of plays that look good on social media; they don’t include a lot of failed plays, and I didn’t find a lot of highlight plays by Joe Milton and Sam Howell, so I left those out altogether. However, Calvin Watkins reports some unofficial QB numbers from 11-11 drills: Dak Prescott 14-17, Sam Howell 5-9, Joe Milton 3-7. We have 11 of Dak’s completions, and just one of his incompletions in the tables above.
Also note that many of the highlights show players running to the endzone, even though they would have been tackled much earlier in a real game. That’s why I included “first contact” in the play description, as that’s likely where the play would have ended had there been real tackling.
Day Two of camp, no pads, no tackling – much too early to be talking about a depth chart. But who cares, we’re doing it anyway.
What’s your take on the 19 plays above?