Dallas Cowboys: Sack predictions for each war daddy
By Broe Reeve
With their talented defense, including numerous war daddies, the Dallas Cowboys could lead the NFL in sacks this upcoming season.
After going 13-3 in 2016, it seemed like the Dallas Cowboys were only one player away from getting over the hump, and the team just needed a war daddy. In fact, here’s what Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Jean-Jacques Taylor on ESPN Radio last offseason.
"“If I have a chance to bring one of these premier pass rushers, one of these ‘war daddies’ that takes two to block, if I have a chance to get a player like that, I would.”"
That led the Cowboys to take Michigan defensive end Taco Charlton with the 28th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Little did Dallas know they already had a war daddy on the roster who was about to blow up with 14.5 sacks.
This offseason’s hype train is full steam ahead and I think this Cowboys pass rush has a chance to be very special in 2018.
Hear me out. Here’s why I believe the Boys will lead the league in sacks in 2018. Let’s break it down covering each war daddy.
DeMarcus Lawrence
“Tank” Lawrence is a pass rushing monster. He was finally healthy and able to put his talents on display and ripped the league up with 14.5 sacks.
That’s the most sacks a Cowboy has had since DeMarcus Ware had 19.5 sacks in 2011. In his prime and in a contract year, Tank could explode for even more in 2018.
Prediction – 16.0 sacks
David Irving
Irving has been suspended the first four games of the season, just like he started last year. However, in only eight games Irving still finished with 7.0 sacks. When his game is on he brings one of the best interior rushes in the league.
All-World Aaron Donald had 11.0 sacks from the same position and was named defensive MVP last year. If Irving stays healthy, imagine how many sacks he can rack up in 12 games instead of just eight.
Prediction – 9.0 sacks
Taco Charlton
Charlton was the Cowboys first-round pick last season and got off to a slow start as a lot of rookies do. Taco got more playing time as the year wore on and ended up getting all three of his sacks in his last nine games. He finished strong getting eight of his 11 pressures in the final four games.
Going into his second season, the sky is the limit for the talented 23-year old. Charlton could be just what the Cowboys need coming off the other side of Lawrence.
Prediction – 7.0 sacks
Randy Gregory
Gregory has only played two games over the last two seasons, but he has flashed major potential. He was a top-10 talent that slipped in the draft because of off the field issues, but there’s just not that many men on the planet like him. His upside is undeniable.
Gregory dominated the last game he played against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Seventeen of the 2016 regular season.
Gregory constantly pressured Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and finished the contest with seven combined tackles and a sack in that divisional matchup. If the Cowboys get half the player that he was in that game, they will take it.
Prediction – 6.0 sacks
Tyrone Crawford
Crawford is the veteran of the group who has posted 13.5 sacks over the last three seasons. He is solid and sets the edge. I expect his snaps to be slightly cut back this year. But limiting Crawford’s play, it could keep the veteran defender fresh and actually give him more pass rush juice this season.
Prediction – 3.0 sacks
Depth – Maliek Collins, Kony Ealy, Jihad Ward, Charles Tapper, Dorance Armstrong
Collins has 7.5 sacks over the last two seasons and has the ability to get some real push up the middle. Ward was a player Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli really liked. He can help out at defensive tackle as well, especially in the first few games while Irving is suspended.
Ealy was almost the Super Bowl 50 MVP after he recorded 3.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. The Cowboys will certainly take that kind of production as part of their deep defensive line rotation. Tapper and Armstrong are both young and unproven. They should have a chance to contribute as well.
Prediction – 8.0
Linebackers and Secondary
The Cowboys aren’t known to be a blitzing team but Marinelli will dial it up from time to time. I don’t expect that to change but the group should add a handful of sacks.
Prediction – 3.0
Next: The all-time best defenders to wear the Star
That’s a whopping 52.0 sacks for the Dallas Cowboys pass rush. That doesn’t match the unusually high number of 56.0 sacks the Pittsburgh Steelers got last year. But it would lead the league most seasons. With the young secondary expected to improve and force opposing quarterbacks to hold onto the ball just a tick longer, the Cowboys war daddies could dominate the league in 2018.