Cowboys: Key link on defensive chain is grinding after re-signing
For a moment, it seemed that the Dallas Cowboys would have to wait a while to re-sign nose tackle, Johnathan Hankins. The Cowboys were able to finally get it done at the end of March and immediately gave themselves the run-stopper they need on the interior of their defense. Hankins isn't wasting time preparing for […]
For a moment, it seemed that the Dallas Cowboys would have to wait a while to re-sign nose tackle, Johnathan Hankins.
The Cowboys were able to finally get it done at the end of March and immediately gave themselves the run-stopper they need on the interior of their defense.
Hankins isn't wasting time preparing for his second season in Dallas though.
Hailey Sutton of DallasCowboys.com posted a video clip on Saturday showing the big man getting back to work on his get-off on the line of scrimmage with defensive line specialist Arpedge Rolle at the Five-Star Linemen Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Of course, casual fans of the game will watch the video above and criticize Hankins for being "slow". However, he's a 330-pound interior defensive lineman, so it's not like he's supposed to move like running back Tony Pollard or something.
For as good as the Cowboys' defense has been over the last two seasons (led the NFL in turnovers in each), they have struggled at times to stop the run. This is what led the Cowboys to bring in Hankins last year, and the dividends were immediate.
Thanks to Hankins being a space-eater and taking on double teams the Cowboys held running backs Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings, Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts, and Dameon of the Houston Texans to under 85 yards respectively.
The re-signing of Hankins was big, but it shouldn't change the Cowboys' thinking in the NFL draft. Hankins is only back on a one-year deal, so the Cowboys still need to target another 1-tech defensive tackle later this month.
If the Cowboys' defense is going to stay a dominant unit, Hankins will play a big role in doing so.
