Biggest Question Marks for Dallas Cowboys as Training Camp Gets Underway

Question marks abound when talking about the Dallas Cowboys. If it's not the owner causing waves—see Jerry Jones' pissed-off comment about Dez Bryant—it's the team’s decision not to name Kevin Ogletree as the starting slot receiver.

Questions just seem to surround this team.

So while training camp gets going and players work themselves back into shape (I’m looking toward you, Felix Jones), I will address a few of the most burning questions about America’s team.

And yes, the Cowboys still are America’s team. Just check the latest poll.

Let’s take a look at some of the questions.

Cowboys Offensive Line

The guard position is unsettled; this we already know. The new problem along the offensive line is injuries.

Guard Bill Nagy hurt his ankle, newly signed guard Mackenzy Bernadeau had hip and knee surgery and Kevin Kowalski is suffering through an ankle injury as well.

Maybe the good thing about all of this is that it happened the first couple of days of training camp and not in the middle of the season.

But even with the injuries, we are still left to wonder who will occupy the two guard spots on opening day.

My guess, with injuries and only a few days of camp serving as observation, is that we'll see Nagy start the season along with Kevin Kowalski.

Once the injuries have been satisfied, I'm sure the team will work Bernadeau back into the rotation.

Slot Receiver

Who will run the slot for the Cowboys this season? Kevin Ogletree doesn't have a hold on the position and one of the leading favorites, Andre Holmes, failed his conditioning test.

So who wants the job?

The Cowboys are still searching the waiver wire for a veteran presence just in case the young players do not work out.

My money is still on Danny Coale for the very near future, but as of right now, I do not see a clear winner for the position.

If a veteran comes out and catches the team's eye, he will be signed. It's just a matter of how the player will fit within Jason Garrett's offense.

Who Will Emerge on the Defensive Line?

Sean Lissemore is ready for a breakout type of year. He’s entering his fourth season out of William and Mary and seems poised to make a lot of noise in 2012.

I fully expect for him to make a move to starter during training camp. In fact, even if his camp is just run of the mill, I believe he should still be given the opportunity.

In regards to Lissemore and the defensive line, ESPNDallas.com is reporting that the team may release Marcus Spears or Kenyon Coleman if Lissemore shows that he can handle a starting role.

Seems to make more sense to keep Spears because he’s better than Coleman but he costs more. So if Lissemore can show and prove, we may no longer see Coleman or Spears in a Cowboys uniform.

How Will Dez Bryant Respond?

There has been so much news lately about Dez Bryant that it is tough to discern how the team is handling his situation.

Jerry Jones is too pissed off to talk to him and Bryant isn’t available to the media.

So how is Bryant handling all of the extra attention? Is he immersing himself within the Cowboys playbook? Are his legal issues forcing him to fully focus on football?

It also doesn’t help that Jerry Jones said that Bryant hasn’t been in football shape during his first two NFL seasons.

He is insanely talented and has the potential to turn into an All-Pro receiver. But will his off-the field problems bring him down?

Were Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne Worth the Investment?

Man, I sure hope so. If these two guys don't deliver in 2012, then many will believe that the Cowboys wasted money on Carr and a possible draft pick on Claiborne.

I believe that both men will be okay, and if they cannot pick up on defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme, they'll both be able to lean on their athletic ability.

But the bottom line is that the Cowboys have to see results from the defensive secondary.

Depth shouldn't be a large issue for them this year as they have the aforementioned players and former Pro Bowl player Mike Jenkins.

For Cowboys fans across the nation, there is hope that Eli Manning and Drew Brees won't torch the team's secondary to death. If there is too much confusion and convulsion, Dallas is toast.

-JH