PFF says Cowboys' defensive line will be highly effective next season
The Dallas Cowboys needed to hit the trenches on both sides of the ball in the NFL Draft, and they did. However, their defensive selection will provide quicker dividends. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith is an immediate upgrade, and his role will be a big one in 2023. Pro Football Focus not only likes the fact […]
The Dallas Cowboys needed to hit the trenches on both sides of the ball in the NFL Draft, and they did. However, their defensive selection will provide quicker dividends.
Defensive tackle Mazi Smith is an immediate upgrade, and his role will be a big one in 2023. Pro Football Focus not only likes the fact that Dallas took Smith, but they also feel he solidifies that opposing teams need to be very careful when dealing with their defensive line.
The Cowboys drafted Mazi Smith with their first-round selection, and in doing so they set themselves up to field a menacing defensive line. With the news of Micah Parsons moving to full-time edge rusher, they now have Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence on the edge and a plethora of interior defensive linemen to rotate between them
Dallas is pretty stacked on the edge and the interior when it comes to depth. Sam Williams, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, and rookie Viliami Fehoko give edge insurance, and Chauncey Golston as well who plays on both the interior and the edge. Quinton Bohanna and Neville Gallimore along with Golston give Dallas a solid good depth on the interior.
Smith and Osa Odighizuwa will be key as the likely interior starters. The better they are at moving the pocket, drawing double teams, and being effective run-stoppers will give Parsons and Lawrence more chances at one-on-one opportunities, and in the case of the former, it will mean a graveyard of quarterbacks left after he's done.
The aforementioned Golston and Fehoko are intriguing pieces. Assuming the latter makes the roster, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will have more bodies with position flex which will allow him to come up with even more looks in his attack.
Dallas has led the NFL in turnovers in each of the last two seasons. If they want a shot at making it three straight, the defensive will need to be on its game, and all signs point to that happening.
