For the seventh time in franchise history, a Dallas Cowboys game ended in a tie last Sunday. Dallas played one of the most exciting games in recent memory, ending in a 40-40 stalemate against the Green Bay Packers.
While the Cowboys did some great things in that game, mainly on the offensive side of the ball, there is plenty that needs to be cleaned up if they want to get back on a winning track this week against the New York Jets. With that thought in mind, today we take a look at two players Dallas should use more in Week 5.
1) DE James Houston
Back in late July, the Dallas Cowboys took a flyer on 26-year-old pass-rusher James Houston. The now four-year pro started his NFL career with a bang, totaling eight sacks in his rookie year. In the two following seasons, Houston was unable to replicate that performance, totaling just one sack in 13 games.
Despite his lack of recent production, Dallas believed it was a worthwhile gamble to sign Houston and see what he had left in the tank. Coming out of the preseason, there was a real question whether the former sixth-round pick would make the 53-man roster, but the Cowboys decided to keep Houston on the active roster. So far, that move has paid off in a big way.
Four games into the season, Houston has been Dallas’ most productive pass-rusher. The 26-year-old leads the team with a 78.7 pass-rush grade and two sacks. Last week against the Packers, Houston made one of the biggest plays of the game, recording a strip-sack on Jordan Love that led to a key Cowboys touchdown.
Houston has performed nearly every time he’s been on the field. Despite this, he has not played more than 22 defensive snaps in a game this season. That absolutely has to change, and the Cowboys need to start giving Houston some of the snaps they are giving to Dante Fowler and Sam Williams.
With just how disappointing the Cowboys’ pass rush has been as a whole, there is zero reason James Houston should not play the most snaps of any pass-rusher on Dallas’ roster. This week against the Jets, the Cowboys should unleash Houston and see just how disruptive he can be with increased playing time.
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2) OT Nathan Thomas
For the first time this season, the Cowboys made a non-injury induced move on their offensive line in Sunday’s game. Early in the first half, Dallas removed starting right tackle Terence Steele in favor of 24-year-old Nathan Thomas.
The former seventh-round pick played a few series at right tackle before switching over to left tackle when starter Tyler Guyton entered concussion protocol. Thomas ended up playing 17 offensive snaps and did not allow a single pressure on 12 pass-block opportunities.
With Guyton’s status in doubt this week, the Cowboys may be forced to start Thomas at left tackle as his replacement. Even if Guyton is ready to go, Dallas needs to find a way to get Thomas on the field. The easiest way to do so would be to give him Terence Steele’s starting job at the right tackle spot.
It may not happen this week, but there’s a very good chance Nathan Thomas is your Cowboys starting right tackle by midseason.
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