Danny

Coale

A thickly-built slot receiver and four-year starter for the Hokies, Coale racked up 143 catches for 2,131 yards and eight touchdowns. Most of his damage will come over the middle, but Coale has enough speed to get free on the outside. Also a capable returner, Coale should compete for the Cowboys’ No. 4 receiver gig in camp.

“We feel like (Coale) has good traits to be an inside receiver, also the physical skills to be an outside receiver,” Garrett said. Coale manned the slot in college. Even if Coale wins the Cowboys’ No. 3 job, at 6-foot-0, he won’t be utilized in the red zone and on deep balls the way Laurent Robinson was. Aside from perhaps in deeper PPR leagues, Coale won’t have fantasy value as a rookie.

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, it’s a broken fifth metatarsal that should keep Coale out a month. The Cowboys hope to have Coale on the field early in training camp, but the missed practice time will set the fifth-rounder back in his competition for the third receiver role. Andre Holmes, Kevin Ogletree, Dwayne Harris, and undrafted rookie Tim Benford are also vying for the job.

Cole had surgery on May 24 to repair a broken fifth metatarsal in his left foot. While he should be healthy by the opener, the absence from OTAs and probably a large chunk of training camp will cost Coale a chance to begin the season as Dallas’ third receiver. He’s not set up for a big 2012 impact. Coale does project as an intriguing slot option, but he’s going to have to stay healthy.

Coach Jason Garrett admitted as much last Thursday. Coale’s slot prowess and the Cowboys’ lack of a certified No. 3 receiver made him a popular sleeper pick following the draft, but it’s hard to see Coale making an impact even if he does manage to nail down a roster spot. Coale needs to show something in Saturday’s preseason game against the Rams.

By the time the fifth-rounder overcame foot and quad injuries, he had fallen too far behind Kevin Ogletree, Dwayne Harris, Cole Beasley and Andre Holmes. The undrafted Beasley has been a more promising slot prospect this summer. Coale hadn’t shown much speed or quickness coming off injury, according to beat writer Todd Archer.

Coale sustained a fracture in his left foot on the first day of OTAs. If healthy, the slot man is part of a unimpressive group of wideouts behind starters Dez Bryant and Miles Austin. Coale, Andre Holmes, Kevin Ogletree and Dwayne Harris are all in the mix for the No. 3 gig.

Per beat writer Brandon George, Coale hasn’t “cut much yet,” so that could be a bit overly optimistic. Coale can’t miss more than one or two preseason games if he’s to have a legitimate chance at locking down Dallas’ No. 3 receiver job.

Garrett “feels good” about Coale, but concedes that the rookie is “way behind” at this point. With Andre Holmes, Cole Beasley, Tim Benford and Dwayne Harris all pushing Kevin Ogletree for the No. 3 receiver job, Coale’s roster odds are becoming increasingly longer.

Jones also hinted that Holmes may have jumped to the head of the class among the candidates for third receiver role. Kevin Ogletree and Cole Beasley played with the starters in three-wide sets, but Holmes is coming on strong. The Cowboys will move Miles Austin to the slot when they go three-wide if Holmes wins the No. 3 job.