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Dallas Cowboys: Will defensive woes sink their season?

By Steven Mullenax

Dec 29, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys mascot Rowdy reacts in the tunnel during the second half of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. The Eagle beat the Cowboys 24-22. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys mascot Rowdy reacts in the tunnel during the second half of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. The Eagle beat the Cowboys 24-22. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite a complete overhaul this offseason, will the poor play of the Dallas Cowboys’ defense be the team’s undoing in 2017?

Last season, the Dallas Cowboys defense ranked 14th in the NFL. They were first in rushing defense and a lowly 26th against the pass. The Cowboys defense recorded only nine interceptions all season, which was tied for fifth worst in the league.

This offseason, the free agency exodus of starters in the secondary like cornerbacks Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and strong safety Barry Church forced the Cowboys to completely overhaul that portion of their defense.

Free agent cornerback Nolan Carroll was signed and a slew of defensive backs were selected in the 2017 NFL Draft. Now the Cowboys secondary consists of rookie cornerbacks like Michigan’s Jourdan Lewis, Colorado’s Chidobe Awuize and Florida State’s Marquez White.

They’ll be competing with veteran Orlando Scandrick, second-year phenom Anthony Brown and the newly signed Carroll for the starting cornerback roles.

Louisiana Tech rookie Xavier Woods will compete for a starting role at safety versus players like Byron Jones, Jeff Heath, Robert Blanton and Kavon Frazier.

Along the linebacker corps, many believe 2016 second round selection Jaylon Smith could start the regular season at middle linebacker for the Cowboys. That’s despite not having played football in well over a year due to a devastating knee injury that caused significant nerve damage.

As for the Cowboys defensive line, veterans like defensive tackle Terrell McClain and key role player Jack Crawford were lost to free agency. And in their place, free agents Damontre Moore, Stephen Paea and first round rookie Taco Charlton were added to the mix.

At this point, the Cowboys starting defense could be made up of several first-and-second year prospects and/or players who were in a different uniform altogether last season. That lack of chemistry and experience could combine to make one deadly cocktail that could easily sink the Cowboys’ promising season.

And according to one league insider, there are no easy answers for solving the Cowboys potential defensive woes in 2017.

"“Will the lack of a pass rush make the new Cowboys cornerbacks look bad, or will it be the other way around?” wrote Around The NFL Editor Gregg Rosenthal on the league’s official website on Thursday. “There are no easy answers to Dallas’ defensive woes on the roster, other than coordinator Rod Marinelli’s penchant for coaching up lackluster talent with fundamentals and hustle. …Dallas’ underrated secondary covered for the team’s faulty front last season, but that will be far more difficult after an offseason exodus of four key free agents in the back end.”"

If the Cowboys secondary was truly the reason for the defense’s success last season, it could be a very bumpy ride for the team and it’s fans in 2017. And with possible suspensions plaguing three of their defenders (Randy Gregory, David Irving, Nolan Carroll), Dallas could start the season undermanned and very inexperienced.

Next: Ten free agents who could replace Nolan Carroll in Dallas

The Dallas Cowboys only saving grace may be the development of their defensive heavy rookie class this offseason. If this talented group can get up to speed quickly, it could stop this Cowboys defense from becoming the biggest sieve in the NFL in 2017.

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