The Dallas Cowboys have two secret weapons in 2018

The Dallas Cowboys have talent and depth across their defensive line. But can these two secret weapons push the unit to another level in 2018?

With Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving out for four weeks and defensive end Randy Gregory getting himself back in game shape after an extended time off, the team has two mercurial talents on the back burner. Will they prove to be secret weapons come the second half of the season?

Irving and Gregory have both had their battles with substance abuse as well as mental health, and have yet to prove they have overcome these issues. Irving seemed to be past it all and playing well in 2017 with seven sacks in only eight games. But this offseason proved to be a huge battle for Irving with custody battles, depression, and suspension all taking their toll on the lineman.

In fact, with all the excitement about the pass-rushing talent this team has as well as Irving’s poor offseason, Irving has at times been the odd man out. In a season where he could play himself into big money and a long-term deal, Irving is under pressure to capitalize.

With the time off to heal and get his body right, I think Irving has a chance to seize the moment and make a significant contribution this season. If Irving can play the remaining 12 games at the level he displayed in 2017, then the team will be playing January football with a stocked defensive line.

Gregory was in a more dire situation than Irving has been in. With a lengthy history of substance abuse violations dating back to the 2015 combine, Gregory has been given his final opportunity and is one slip-up away from never playing professional football again. However, I feel as though he offers more hope than Irving as his extensive rehabilitation process has supposedly made a significant impact on Gregory.

If Gregory can return to his physical peak (he reportedly entered camp at 242 pounds much to the delight of the coaching staff), then he can become a serious impact player. Though traditionally slight for his position, Gregory has incredible length and hand strength that allows him to control blockers and play the run like a guy 30 pounds heavier.

Mix in his ridiculous bend, speed, quickness, and instincts and you see why he was a potential top 10 selection. With his head on straight and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli at his side, I believe Gregory can come back and be a Pro-Bowl caliber player.

If these two defensive linemen can make their way back in good form, the starting line-up in the back-half of the 2018 season can potentially be DeMarcus Lawrence at left end, Irving at the three-technique, and Gregory at right defensive end. This would give the team three Pro-Bowl caliber players along the line going into a 2019 draft filled with one technique studs in the top 100 picks.

If these secret weapons materialize, expect the team to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks for years to come.