RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesNov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. (27) celebrates during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Cowboys 2026 training camp starts this week, those with the most to prove – Shane Taylor, Inside The Star
Will this be the training camp the Cowboys learn what they have in Shavon Revel Jr.?
Shavon Revel Jr.
Look man, this cornerback room is the worst thing about this team, and they did a great job of getting better this offseason, but this unit has to figure it out.
Shavon Revel should feel a lot of pressure, he could either hit a home run or find a backseat over the few weeks starting today.
Had it not been for a knee injury that kept him from playing in 2024, Revel Jr. would likely have been a first-round pick. The Cowboys decided to take a swing at him in the third round of last year’s draft, and they’re now in a position to cash in.
This group is dealing with a lot of injuries, but the best thing about the Cowboys new defensive coordinator is that Christian Parker knows how to get corners to play at the highest level, and Revel has a real chance to make a name for himself, not just this year, but going forward and that starts this week.
New Coaches
Look, I could be here all day talking about different players and so on, but how about the new coaches that this staff has?
We need to see them with the media there and get these guys fired up and more so on the defensive side and I can’t wait to see the energy on the defense from what Parker is going to bring to the table.
I really do think this culture, with the guys they have there now and Jerry Jones letting football finally be that and stopping all the drama is a good thing.
If the defense can be average, no reason why, starting this week, this football team shouldn’t be set up to have a good year.
Cowboys’ training camp battle presents a best-case scenario that could transform Christian Parker’s defense before season even starts – Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports
The Cowboys need to find out which cornerbacks can hold up in man coverage, which is not something they played a lot at all in 2025, but another area Revel can stand out.
The best-case scenario involves Revel Jr.
Here’s where it gets fascinating. Even though Revel Jr. is the riskiest bet, he might also represent the best outcome for this defense.
Parker comes from a Philadelphia Eagles defense that played man coverage at the highest rate in the NFL in 2025, according to data from Matchquarters.com . And when the Eagles played man, they were the best at it, posting the top EPA per play in man coverage. With Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell on the outside, Parker’s unit produced the best passing defense in football over the past two seasons.
The problem Parker faces in Dallas is that he may not have the personnel to play man coverage at the same rate. The Cowboys are going to run a match defense, which can lean either zone-heavy or man-heavy depending on talent. If the Cowboys’ outside corners can only play zone, Parker loses a critical tool.
That is to say, Revel’s development changes everything.
Revel’s college tape shows a player who thrived in man coverage. He told DMN in 2025 he spent 90% of his career at East Carolina playing. If he can prove he’s reliable in zone during training camp, which is what the Cowboys will play the majority of the time (even the league-leading Eagles only played man at a 44% rate), Parker suddenly has options. He can go to man coverage when the situation demands it instead of being locked into zone, which is pretty much what Dallas did last year.
No.1) Can the defense make this team a contender? – Staff, DallasCowboys.com
Finding out what the bar is for the defense based on how well the offense hits the ground running will be fun to follow in Oxnard.
Kurt: A common theme has been that if the defense can just be average, the Cowboys should be contenders. But is average good enough? Among the top 10 teams for fewest points allowed in 2025, eight made the playoffs while five of the 10 that were ranked 11th to 20th (or average) reached the postseason. Only one, Chicago at No. 23, made it despite having a subpar defense. So yes, with a good offense, an average defense should contend for a playoff spot.
But in terms of raising the Lombardi Trophy, average generally won’t get it done. Over the last 10 seasons, eight of those champions finished in the top 10 for fewest points allowed, and the other two were in the top half of the league. So Dallas already has to make quite a jump from a year ago just to truly contend for the playoffs. To go from dead last in points allowed to winning the Super Bowl? It’s never been done before, meaning the Cowboys would have to take a historical leap.
Mickey: Better put, the defense can’t become the No. 1 reason for the Cowboys not contending, and that means not finishing with a winning record; not contending to win the NFC East; not contending to win at least one, maybe two playoff games; not contending for at least their first NFC title since 1995.
Because in 2025 that defense cost the Cowboys dearly, at least a winning record, knowing they finished with a playoff-caliber offensive performance, and that includes Dak’s numbers, numbers from their two Pro Bowl wide receivers CeeDee lamb and George Pickens, and a 1,201-yard rushing performance from Javonte Williams, the most single-season rushing yards by a Cowboys running back since 2019 when Zeke finished with 1,357 yards.
Cowboys offseason surprisingly drama free, enter training camp more focused – Brian Martin, Blogging The Boys
It’s been all about football in the months leading up to camp for the Cowboys, and that is a very refreshing thing.
Unlike in the past though, Jerry Jones and Company made their intentions clear in regards to Pick...
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