The Dallas Cowboys’ ability to stop the run the last few years has been a huge problem. This will be the first season that a new face will call the plays with hopes he can figure out a way to change the narrative.
Someone I trust a bit more than former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Mike Zimmer has proved over the years to be able to fix most problems on that side of the ball, and to my surprise, the Cowboys have actually been doing something to try and make sure they don’t get embarrassed by teams that run the football in 2024.
Give Credit Finally
Although the moves have been for guys that have been in this league for a decent amount of time, Jerry Jones did make a handful of moves near the end of August that should help the defensive line. He is beefing it up.
Dallas traded a 2026 sixth-round pick to the New York Giants in exchange for veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and a 2026 seventh-round pick on August 15th.
In a odd turn of events, the Cowboys released Carl Lawson on Tuesday. They signed him late in training camp, but after all the cuts were made yesterday, they decided he still wasn’t good enough.
I found that really odd.
Last Wednesday, Jerry made another move that at least should help for the time being. I am not sure how much he has left in the tank, but he has one job.
Plug the holes and help stop the dang run. Linval Joseph signed a one-year deal for $2.5 million guaranteed. He can earn up to $4 million after incentives.
Joseph spent six seasons in Minnesota under new Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike ZImmer, who was his Vikings head coach at the time.
He is clearly way passed his prime, but he provides crucial depth up front for a Cowboys squad that was an below average run defense in 2023 (112.4 rushing yards allowed per game, 16th in the NFL).
Tough Test Early
The Cowboys are going to be put to the test early this season with six of their first ten games against teams that made the playoffs a year ago.
The defensive line and the back end will be put to the test with DaRon Bland going down.
They start things off with the Browns who have Nick Chubb running the ball, and added Jerry Jeudy with Amari Cooper.
They then take on the Saints, who do have Alvin Kamara. He can torch you if you are careful. Then the following week, they have to deal with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
On paper, that is a load to deal with. This front is going to be tested from the get go. The offense will need to help them out big time against the Ravens.
The good news is the Dallas Cowboys signed CeeDee Lamb this week, that takes the pressure off the offensive side of the ball, at least for now.
He agreed to a four-year, $136 million extension. Lamb now has the second-highest average annual salary at $34 million per year, coming in just behind Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson (four years, $35 million per year).
Jerry Jones finally did all his business at the end of the summer. Not surprising. He made sure he could stay in the media for as long as possible. Once the preseason was over, he got the Lamb deal done.
It is going to be a fun week ahead now that Lamb has been paid, and we can see the core group back together suit up for week one. The Cowboys have a chance to quiet a lot of folks early this season.
