Cowboys' assistant defensive line coach Sharrif Floyd lays out 2023 plan for interior linemen
The Dallas Cowboys will be a lot better on the interior of their defense in 2023. For one, veteran nose tackle Johnathan Hankins was re-signed, and last week, the Cowboys drafted defensive tackle Mazi Smith out of Michigan in the first round. In addition to these studs, the Cowboys have Osa Odighizuwa, Quinton Bohanna, Neville […]
The Dallas Cowboys will be a lot better on the interior of their defense in 2023. For one, veteran nose tackle Johnathan Hankins was re-signed, and last week, the Cowboys drafted defensive tackle Mazi Smith out of Michigan in the first round.
In addition to these studs, the Cowboys have Osa Odighizuwa, Quinton Bohanna, Neville Gallimore, and Chauncey Golston attacking from the interior which isn't a bad group to have.
Every year is different, and teams look for new ways to go about things, that are beneficial to the team of course. Cowboys assistant defensive line coach Sharrif Floyd recently spoke on what the goal will be from the interior of the defensive line in Dallas this upcoming season.
Nailing assignments and keys is crucial here.
In football, it starts up front, on both sides of the ball, period. For a player like Smith or Hankins, or even Odighizuwa who plays on the interior, the goal is to keep offensive linemen from getting to the second level and putting a body on a linebacker in the run game so that they can roam freely and make plays.
Interior defensive linemen aren't usually tasked with being heavy sack guys. However, being able to move the pocket on passing downs is very valuable. Getting this type of contribution means that linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties won't have to cover as long.
The Cowboys are loaded on the edge as far as getting pressure with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, Dorance Armstrong, and rookie Viliami Fehoko. So, the more the interior does its job on passing situations, quarterbacks won't have a lot of time to throw which makes things easier for the defensive unit as a whole.
One thing that's been guaranteed in Dallas over the last few seasons under Dan Quinn is good defensive play, and there's little doubt that'll change anytime soon.
