Previewing Day 2 of Dallas Cowboys Training Camp: Focus on Rod Marinelli, Mackenzy Bernadeau

A year after defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford tore his Achilles tendon on the opening day of training camp, the Cowboys made it through Thursday without incident. That was a positive development for a team that isn’t generating much buzz around the league. The Cowboys, who went through a light offseason-like workout Thursday, will continue to practice in similar fashion Friday before donning the pads for the first time Saturday. The offense and defense will do drills separately except in the morning walkthrough and the first eight minutes of the afternoon practice.

What to watch for: Pay attention to Rod Marinelli’s whereabouts. He was active Thursday coaching the defensive line. The Cowboys coordinator exclusively presided over the unit last season. This year he is pulling double duty with some assistance from assistant head coach Monte Kiffin, the man he replaced. At 65, Marinelli has a lot of vim and vigor. But it will be interesting to see how he manages the Cowboys’ defensive front at the same time he coordinates the defense in practice.

Who to watch: Focus in on Mackenzy Bernadeau. The savvy veteran is working with the first team at left guard after Ron Leary landed on the active/non-football injury list because of a strained hamstring he suffered Monday in the player-run conditioning test. Bernadeau had been rotating with Leary at the position in the spring after starting 11 games at right guard last season. In the coming days, Bernadeau could take advantage of Leary’s absence and pull out front in the race to become the starter.