The Cowboys have changed recent strategy to focus on the defensive side of the ball, rather than the offensive.
FRISCO — For years, Dallas Cowboys they have been built on offense. Players of Pro Bowl they’ve filled the lineup, from quarterbacks to running backs to tight ends to offensive linemen.
Recently, there has been a change, and this Tuesday confirmed what the Cowboys about his defense.
It began in the morning with the rehiring of the safety Donovan Wilson through a three-season agreement and up to 24 million dollars; continued later in the day with the Cowboys sending to the Indianapolis Colts selection No. 176 of the 2023 NFL Draft by the corner of Pro Bowl, Stephon Gilmore; and for the night, the linebacker Leighton Vander Esch he had renewed with the team on a two-year, $11 million contract.
defensive coordinator Dan Quinn he must be smiling.
In Wilson y Vander Esschlos Cowboys they retained their two leaders from last season in tackles. Wilson was one of two defensive backs in Dallas that filled every major stat item in 2022: sacks, tackles for loss, interceptions, pass deflections, fumble recoveries and forced fumbles. Vander Essch he missed the final three games of the regular season with a trapeze injury, but still had 100 tackles, and his absence down the stretch played a big part in the team struggling against the run.
Gilmore strengthens the cornerback position on the opposite side of Trevon Diggswho has been elected to Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons. He had two interceptions last season with the Colts –one of them arriving against the Cowboys— and remains one of the best in personal coverage despite having reached the age of 32.
It’s the kind of move that can take a defense to the next level. In it NFL Scout CombineI asked the executive vice president of the Cowboys, Stephen Jonesif the Cowboys They felt the need to make a move like Deion Sandersrecalling the 1994 addition of cornerback member of the Hall of Fame to those teams of Super Bowl.
“Whenever you can add a great player, you have to see it,” he declared. Jones. “We’ve done that over the years. I mean, we’ve traded [selecciones de primera ronda]just like [con] Amari [Cooper]. We have changed some for Joey Galloway y Roy Williams and paid a lot of money to Deion. I mean, we’ve done stuff like that in the past. It’s not like we’re against it. We have to believe that it’s the right move for our team at that point in time.”
Gilmore It’s not Sanders at its best, but it does provide Cowboys something they were not going to have with Anthony Brown (coming back from a torn Achilles tendon), a late first-round pick, or even another first-round signing.
It provides credibility Cowboys They haven’t had in their second corner, probably, since Anthony Henry will play on the opposite side of Terence Newmanbetween 2004 and 2006. If it is not Henry y Newmanthen it is the couple of 2009 of Newman y Mike Jenkinswith both being elected to the Pro Bowl in that campaign. Next to DaRon Blandwho led the Cowboys with five interceptions last season, the Cowboys they have a solid trio, a group that could be even stronger if Jourdan Lewis He can recover from a Lisfranc injury.
Los Cowboys they’re hopeful they can keep the defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., who had six sacks in 343 defensive snaps a season ago. If they do, the pass rush would consist of Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Fowler y Sam Williams. In 2022, the Cowboys totaled 54 sacks, tying for third in the league and the most by a defense of Dallas since2008.
At linebacker, they have Vander Essch paired with Damone Clarkbut they will probably need to add more to the group.
high school returns with Wilson, Jayron Kearse y Malik Hooker in the safety position with the aforementioned cornerbacks. Last season, the Cowboys they led the NFL in steals, a year after leading the league with 34 steals.
In 2023, they can match the legendary ‘Steel Curtain‘ of the Pittsburgh Steelerswho were the last team to lead the NFL for three consecutive seasons (1972-74).
