Cowboys vs. Rams: Five players to watch for Dallas
Between Mike McCarthy's debut as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Dak Prescott entering another prove-it season, the addition of CeeDee Lamb to the offense, and an aggressive defense led by Mike Nolan, there is a lot to be excited about ahead of tonight's showdown with the Rams. Sean McVay and Jared Goff will […]
Between Mike McCarthy's debut as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Dak Prescott entering another prove-it season, the addition of CeeDee Lamb to the offense, and an aggressive defense led by Mike Nolan, there is a lot to be excited about ahead of tonight's showdown with the Rams.
Sean McVay and Jared Goff will be looking to get off to a hot start and forget about their lousy 2019 season that included a 23-point loss to the Cowboys. Both teams underwhelmed a season ago, but both squads are also optimistic about their chances to break through in 2020.
For the Cowboys, it will be interesting to see who steps up and plays a big role in the first year of the McCarthy era. We know what to expect from the big names on the roster, but there are players in new or more important roles that will have more on their plate in 2020 than in years prior — the defensive backfield immediately jumps to mind.
Here are five players that we are looking for to step up or have a big game on Sunday evening.
Blake Jarwin
There are expectations surrounding the Cowboys that Blake Jarwin emerges as a legitimate tight end threat this year now that the starting role is his. No longer does he have to split snaps with Jason Witten, and now Kellen Moore has the opportunity to unleash the Oklahoma State product on defenses.
Defenses will likely be focused on containing Ezekiel Elliott in the run game while preventing the trio of Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb from making too big of an impact in the passing game. That could allow more opportunities for Dak Prescott to look Jarwin's way, as early as against the Rams.
Xavier Woods
The Cowboys decided against pursuing Earl Thomas to fill the void at safety — at least for the time being. We heard going into last season that Xavier Woods was primed for a breakout season, but the 2017 sixth-round pick never fully go things going in the secondary.
Still, Woods has been a solid player in the defensive backfield for the Cowboys during his career in Dallas. The secondary is, without question, the weakness of this defense. Woods will likely be tested by Jared Goff on Sunday night, meaning he will have some opportunities to make some plays for the Cowboys.
A lackluster performance from Woods in week one could lead to a long night for the Cowboys.
Darian Thompson
Darian Thompson is expected to start alongside Woods at safety. The Cowboys moved on from former Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears defensive back Ha Ha Clinton Dix, leaving an opportunity for Thompson to grab that role by the horns and cement himself as a reliable player in Mike Nolan's defense.
While many Cowboys fans are cautious about relying on Thompson as a starter in the secondary, head coach Mike McCarthy had some high praise for the former Boise State defensive back during training camp:
Thompson was a third-round pick by the New York Giants in the 2016 NFL Draft, but it appears that he has found a home with the Dallas Cowboys. While the release of Clinton-Dix may point towards HCD's decline, it could also signify how much trust the coaching staff has in Thompson.
The matchup against the Rams, who have a pair of tight ends that can make plays down the field and receivers that can create mismatches, will go a long way in telling us how far Thompson has come.
CeeDee Lamb
Perhaps the player that Cowboys fans are most excited about watching on Sunday night is none other than 2020 first-round pick CeeDee Lamb. The 2019 All-American torched defenses every Saturday during his collegiate career, and it is still a wonder how he fell all the way to the Cowboys' 17th overall draft pick this April.
Lamb is expected to be a big time player for the Dallas Cowboys as soon as he steps on to the football field. While some of the expectations coming from the fan base are a little too far, it is a lot fun to think about all of the possibilities that the trio of Cooper, Gallup, and Lamb will accomplish this season.
The first Dak-to-CeeDee completion will all of Cowboys Nation roaring.
Cam Erving
The Cowboys do not have the elite offensive line that we have become accustomed to watching during the past decade, but there is still talent in the trenches with Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, and La'el Collins protecting Prescott and paving the way for Elliott.
Unfortunately, Collins was placed on injured reserve, and the Cowboys will be without their star right tackle for at least the first three games of the year. That means that Cam Erving will be thrusted into the starting role at that position.
Smith and Martin are both elite, but Erving joins an offensive line that is also looking for players to step up at center and left guard. Joe Looney has returned to the starting lineup after filling in nicely for Travis Frederick in 2018, while Connor Williams is back in the starting lineup after beating out Connor McGovern in camp.
As for Erving, it remains to be seen how the veteran lineman out of Florida State will play in place of the talented Collins. The former Kansas City Chiefs lineman has had some concerning moments on the field during his career, which brings back bad memories of Chaz Green.
Look for the Rams to send some pressure on Erving's side to get pressure on Dak Prescott and mess up the Cowboys' offensive game plan. It would be smart for Kellen Moore and Prescott to utilize play action and the quick game to counter that.
Erving's performance will likely go a long way in determine how successful the Cowboys offense — and the team as a hole — is against the Rams.
Featured image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
