Dallas Cowboys: 1 bold prediction for each positional group

Defensive Line

Prediction: The Cowboys defense will continue to struggle against the run

The Cowboys’ defense was historically bad in 2020. Against the run, Dallas finished 31st in the NFL allowing a whopping 158.8 yards on the ground per game to opposing offenses. That was due in large part due to a major whiff in free agency that brought defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe to Dallas.

What’s changed? Well, the Cowboys are banking on new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to have the biggest impact. Unfortunately, Quinn doesn’t play defensive tackle. And neither will Neville Gallimore, as the second-year defensive tackle is expected to land on Injured Reserve soon due to an elbow injury.

The position that failed the Cowboys in 2020 is now being left in the hands of two more veteran free agents in Carlos Watkins and Brent Urban and two rookies in Osa Odighizuwa and Quinton Bohanna.

Just like last season, the Cowboys are playing under a new defensive coordinator and in a new scheme. But this time around they had a proper offseason training program to install it. Still, expect a slow start out of the gate and hope for steady, weekly improvement to follow. It might get worse before it gets better.