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By Jon Machota 1h ago
You know the names of the most valuable players. It’s difficult to imagine the Cowboys meeting expectations this upcoming season without significant contributions from Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarcus Lawrence, Amari Cooper and Zack Martin.
But what about some of the other key players?
There’s plenty of blame to go around for Dallas’ disappointing 8-8 finish in 2019, starting with the front office and coaching staff all the way down to the bottom of the roster.
For things to get turned around and the Cowboys to maintain their streak of making the playoffs every other year since 2014, several key players need to step up. Here are 10 who need to improve this season.
1.) Jaylon Smith. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2019, but most would agree that Smith played better in 2018. Blame can be passed around from the way Smith was used in the scheme to the impact of not having a healthy Leighton Vander Esch alongside him. Regardless, the Cowboys need a big year out of one of their team captains. One of Smith’s greatest strengths is running downhill and getting after ballcarriers. Under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, Smith could be presented with more opportunities to do that, including more chances to rush the passer. He’s come up with 6.5 sacks over the previous two seasons. However Smith is used, the Cowboys need more explosive, game-changing plays out of their middle linebacker.
2.) Leighton Vander Esch. He missed nearly half of last season with a neck issue that was surgically repaired this offseason. Vander Esch has since recovered and is expected to be a full participant whenever the team is allowed to return to offseason activities. Dallas’ 2018 defense was at its best when Vander Esch and Smith were swarming together, combining for 261 total tackles, most of any defensive tandem in the league. It’s hard to envision the defense not being improved in 2020 if Vander Esch is back to making plays as often as he did his rookie season when he was in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation.
3.) Chris Jones. The normally solid punter had a down year in 2019. Injuries were likely a factor. He averaged a career-low 41.6 yards per punt after averaging over 44 yards the previous eight seasons. His net average also declined to a career-low 37.0 yards. The Cowboys clearly still believe Jones can get the job done. They did not draft a punter or add one in free agency. Dallas’ special teams unit needs to get better in just about every area in 2020, and that includes punting.
4.) Tyrone Crawford. Injuries are becoming a trend on this list. Crawford was never healthy last season. Hip issues caused him to miss 12 games, ultimately forcing him to have season-ending surgery. He’s expected to be fully recovered and ready to be a factor this season. His versatility is one of his greatest strengths. Crawford can play end or tackle, something that could be very beneficial as the Cowboys transition into a more multiple defensive scheme. Depending on what Dallas gets from Aldon Smith (or Randy Gregory), Crawford could be best utilized at end. If Gerald McCoy or Dontari Poe are unable to stay healthy, Crawford could be a bigger help on the interior of the defensive line.
5.) Xavier Woods. This has the potential to be a breakout year for Woods. He’s expected to team with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to be Dallas’ starting safeties. Many thought last year would be that big season for Woods after he turned heads with several big plays during training camp. He tied for the team lead with two interceptions and finished fourth in total tackles with a career-high 77. It’ll be interesting to see how a more aggressive style on the back end impacts Woods’ ability to make game-changing plays.
6.) Chidobe Awuzie. Another defensive back entering his fourth season in Dallas. Awuzie has the most starting experience of any of Dallas’ returning cornerbacks. He has started 36 career games with 30 coming over the last two seasons. There just haven’t been enough plays on the ball from the former second-round pick. Like we mentioned with Woods, perhaps the more aggressive coverage style the Cowboys are expected to utilize will help improve his chances of having a breakout season. Depending how things shake out during training camp, Awuzie could also get some looks at safety.
7.) Connor Williams. With Travis Frederick retiring, the Cowboys badly need Williams to take the next step in his third season at left guard. Williams, who has started 21 games there, will have some competition from 2019 third-round pick Connor McGovern. Dallas is set at left tackle (Tyron Smith), right guard (Zack Martin) and right tackle (La’el Collins). There needs to be more stability at left guard as Frederick’s replacement at center will likely either be Joe Looney or rookie Tyler Biadasz. Neither is expected to play near the Pro Bowl level that Frederick did when healthy, but their job will be a lot easier if they have dependable players on each side of them.
8.) Connor McGovern. Last year was essentially a redshirt season for McGovern. He was expected to compete with Williams for the starting left guard position; however, a pectoral injury never allowed that to happen. McGovern also has experience starting at center in college, so he could also work into that competition. Either way, Dallas needs something from McGovern this season, even if that means just being a versatile backup on Sunday that can instantly step into any of the three interior positions.
9.) Dorance Armstrong. Armstrong could get more opportunities to rush the passer depending on what the Cowboys get from Aldon Smith (or Gregory). Entering his third season, Armstrong has mainly been used as a rotational pass rusher. He has 2.5 sacks and seven QB hits in 30 career games. Perhaps there will be more opportunities for him to have a breakout year under a new defensive coaching staff.
10.) Trysten Hill. Some might have already written off the Cowboys’ first pick in last year’s draft. Hill didn’t make much of an impact after being selected with the 58th overall pick. He only played in seven games, totaling five tackles and no sacks. At a defensive tackle position where he wasn’t exactly buried on the depth chart, Hill needed to be a bigger factor. Will that change under a new coaching staff? Maybe not. The Cowboys have recently addressed the position with veterans like Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe as well as drafting Neville Gallimore in the third round. Hill still has a chance to contribute, but he needs to win over the new coaching staff first.
You know the names of the most valuable players. It’s difficult to imagine the Cowboys meeting expectations this upcoming season without significant contributions from Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarcus Lawrence, Amari Cooper and Zack Martin.
But what about some of the other key players?
There’s plenty of blame to go around for Dallas’ disappointing 8-8 finish in 2019, starting with the front office and coaching staff all the way down to the bottom of the roster.
For things to get turned around and the Cowboys to maintain their streak of making the playoffs every other year since 2014, several key players need to step up. Here are 10 who need to improve this season.
1.) Jaylon Smith. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2019, but most would agree that Smith played better in 2018. Blame can be passed around from the way Smith was used in the scheme to the impact of not having a healthy Leighton Vander Esch alongside him. Regardless, the Cowboys need a big year out of one of their team captains. One of Smith’s greatest strengths is running downhill and getting after ballcarriers. Under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, Smith could be presented with more opportunities to do that, including more chances to rush the passer. He’s come up with 6.5 sacks over the previous two seasons. However Smith is used, the Cowboys need more explosive, game-changing plays out of their middle linebacker.
2.) Leighton Vander Esch. He missed nearly half of last season with a neck issue that was surgically repaired this offseason. Vander Esch has since recovered and is expected to be a full participant whenever the team is allowed to return to offseason activities. Dallas’ 2018 defense was at its best when Vander Esch and Smith were swarming together, combining for 261 total tackles, most of any defensive tandem in the league. It’s hard to envision the defense not being improved in 2020 if Vander Esch is back to making plays as often as he did his rookie season when he was in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation.
3.) Chris Jones. The normally solid punter had a down year in 2019. Injuries were likely a factor. He averaged a career-low 41.6 yards per punt after averaging over 44 yards the previous eight seasons. His net average also declined to a career-low 37.0 yards. The Cowboys clearly still believe Jones can get the job done. They did not draft a punter or add one in free agency. Dallas’ special teams unit needs to get better in just about every area in 2020, and that includes punting.
4.) Tyrone Crawford. Injuries are becoming a trend on this list. Crawford was never healthy last season. Hip issues caused him to miss 12 games, ultimately forcing him to have season-ending surgery. He’s expected to be fully recovered and ready to be a factor this season. His versatility is one of his greatest strengths. Crawford can play end or tackle, something that could be very beneficial as the Cowboys transition into a more multiple defensive scheme. Depending on what Dallas gets from Aldon Smith (or Randy Gregory), Crawford could be best utilized at end. If Gerald McCoy or Dontari Poe are unable to stay healthy, Crawford could be a bigger help on the interior of the defensive line.
5.) Xavier Woods. This has the potential to be a breakout year for Woods. He’s expected to team with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to be Dallas’ starting safeties. Many thought last year would be that big season for Woods after he turned heads with several big plays during training camp. He tied for the team lead with two interceptions and finished fourth in total tackles with a career-high 77. It’ll be interesting to see how a more aggressive style on the back end impacts Woods’ ability to make game-changing plays.
6.) Chidobe Awuzie. Another defensive back entering his fourth season in Dallas. Awuzie has the most starting experience of any of Dallas’ returning cornerbacks. He has started 36 career games with 30 coming over the last two seasons. There just haven’t been enough plays on the ball from the former second-round pick. Like we mentioned with Woods, perhaps the more aggressive coverage style the Cowboys are expected to utilize will help improve his chances of having a breakout season. Depending how things shake out during training camp, Awuzie could also get some looks at safety.
7.) Connor Williams. With Travis Frederick retiring, the Cowboys badly need Williams to take the next step in his third season at left guard. Williams, who has started 21 games there, will have some competition from 2019 third-round pick Connor McGovern. Dallas is set at left tackle (Tyron Smith), right guard (Zack Martin) and right tackle (La’el Collins). There needs to be more stability at left guard as Frederick’s replacement at center will likely either be Joe Looney or rookie Tyler Biadasz. Neither is expected to play near the Pro Bowl level that Frederick did when healthy, but their job will be a lot easier if they have dependable players on each side of them.
8.) Connor McGovern. Last year was essentially a redshirt season for McGovern. He was expected to compete with Williams for the starting left guard position; however, a pectoral injury never allowed that to happen. McGovern also has experience starting at center in college, so he could also work into that competition. Either way, Dallas needs something from McGovern this season, even if that means just being a versatile backup on Sunday that can instantly step into any of the three interior positions.
9.) Dorance Armstrong. Armstrong could get more opportunities to rush the passer depending on what the Cowboys get from Aldon Smith (or Gregory). Entering his third season, Armstrong has mainly been used as a rotational pass rusher. He has 2.5 sacks and seven QB hits in 30 career games. Perhaps there will be more opportunities for him to have a breakout year under a new defensive coaching staff.
10.) Trysten Hill. Some might have already written off the Cowboys’ first pick in last year’s draft. Hill didn’t make much of an impact after being selected with the 58th overall pick. He only played in seven games, totaling five tackles and no sacks. At a defensive tackle position where he wasn’t exactly buried on the depth chart, Hill needed to be a bigger factor. Will that change under a new coaching staff? Maybe not. The Cowboys have recently addressed the position with veterans like Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe as well as drafting Neville Gallimore in the third round. Hill still has a chance to contribute, but he needs to win over the new coaching staff first.
