Felix Jones, Kevin Ogletree and rookie Dez Bryant will probably be competing for the kickoff return job during training camp.  Jones played in 14 games for the Cowboys last season and he returned 30 kickoffs for 678 yards (22.6 avg).  The 23-year old Jones has now played in 20 games in his NFL career and he has returned 46 kickoffs for 1,112 yards (24.2 avg) with 1 TD return.  Being a RB, Jones has the most power of the three candidates for this job but he also has a big role on the offense.

23-year old WR Kevin Ogletree played in 11 games for the Cowboys last season and he returned 8 kickoffs for 166 yards (20.8 avg).  He will have the smallest role on the offense of this trio and that might work in his favor trying to win the kickoff return job in 2010 for the Cowboys. 

Rookie first round pick Dez Bryant could be used on kickoff returns as he has the perfect skill set to excel at it.  But, the Cowboys probably want him to focus on offense in his rookie year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COWBOYS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  C

The Cowboys are solid inside at guard and center but they need a couple of guys to step up at T for the 2010 season.  Doug Free will step into Flozell Adams’ old spot at LT.  Free played a lot at RT last season and he showed a lot of ability both run and pass blocking.  They really need him to step up and protect Tony Romo’s back.  LG Kyle Kosier isn’t a standout but he’s a solid player who gives his all on every play.  Center Andre Gurode is a masher in the running game but he’s a average pass blocker.  The same holds true for RG Leonard Davis as he is the best run blocker the Cowboys have.  But he could improve a tad on his pass blocking.  RT Marc Colombo is a solid player when healthy but he only lasted 9 games last season.  Alex Barron will give the Cowboys solid depth behind Colombo and Free.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COWBOYS O-LINE in 2010:  C 

63-year old head coach Wade Phillips will be on the hot seat this season.  Owner/GM Jerry Jones wants a home game in the Super Bowl played at Dallas Cowboys Stadium this year.  Phillips led the Cowboys to a 11-5 record during the regular season and they were 1-1 in the playoffs.  He is now 33-15 (68.8%) during his three regular seasons with the Cowboys and he is 1-2 in the playoffs.  Phillips has been a NFL head coach 10 years now and he is 81-54 (60%) during the regular season but he’s only 1-5 (16.7%) in the playoffs when it counts.  Phillips better have his team ready to go deep into the playoffs this season or he could be looking for a new job.

23-year old David Buehler will likely graduate from being a kickoff specialist to a full time place kicker in 2010.  He has a big leg and he has looked good so far in training camp.  But we’ll see if he can handle the job when the bullets start to fly for real.  The Cowboys don’t have any other experienced kickers on the roster so it’s Buehler or bust in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COWBOYS KICKERS in 2010:  C

26-year old Miles Austin will be the #1 WR for the Cowboys in 2010.  He played in 16 games (9 starts) for the Cowboys last season and he caught 81 passes for 1,320 yards (16.3 avg) with 11 TD grabs.  Austin made the Pro Bowl in 2009 for the first time and he will try to make it two in a row in 2010.  Austin has now played in 53 games (9 starts) in his four years with the Cowboys and he has caught 99 passes for 1,674 yards (16.9 avg) with 14 TD grabs. 

28-year old Roy Williams enters training camp as the Cowboys’ #2 WR but he will have to fight off rookie Dez Bryant to keep the job.  Williams played in 15 games (13 starts) for the Cowboys last season and he caught 38 passes for 596 yards (15.7 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He has now played in 85 games (76 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 319 passes for 4,678 yards (14.7 avg) with 37 TD grabs.  Williams has made it to 1 Pro Bowl in his NFL career but it’s going to be hard for him to ever get to that level again in Dallas.

23-year old rookie Dez Bryant is hitting the ground running for the Cowboys.  The 6′1″, 217 pound first round pick out of Oklahoma State has been catching everything in sight for the Cowboys in practice so far.  He recently refused to carry Roy Williams’ pads during practice and that could be a good thing or a bad thing.  The kid is probably trying to get into Williams’ head as they are competing for a starting job in training camp.

31-year old Patrick Crayton has been a solid player for the Cowboys in the past but he’s buried on the depth chart heading into training camp.  Crayton played in 16 games (6 starts) for the Cowboys last season and he caught 37 passes for 622 yards (16.8 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  He has now played in 82 games (32 starts) in his six years in the NFL and he has caught 196 passes for 2,888 yards (14.7 avg) with 23 TD grabs.  Crayton has also carried the ball 6 times for 39 yards (6.5 ypc) in his NFL career.  He has lobbied for a trade for a while but he will have to bite the bullet and play for the Cowboys in 2010.

25-year old Sam Hurd will also have a hard time moving up the depth chart in Big D.  Hurd played in 16 games (1 start) for the Cowboys last year and he caught 7 passes for 121 yards (17.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 50 games (5 starts) in his four years with the Cowboys and he has caught 31 passes for 510 yards (16.5 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

22-year old Kevin Ogletree showed some potential as a rookie with the Cowboys last year.  He played in 11 games (0 starts) for the Cowboys last year and he caught 7 passes for 96 yards (13.7 avg).  He also carried the ball 1 time for 6 yards.  Ogletree has big time potential but he will likely be brought along slowly by the Cowboys.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COWBOYS WRs in 2010:  A