Dallas Cowboys make or break X-factors going into 2022

Cowboys’ Defensive X-Factors

Dante Fowler Jr’s Impact

The loss of one of the team’s most talented pass rushers in Randy Gregory could be devastating. Adding the public fighting between the Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Gregory immediately puts a spotlight on the player who will be brought in to replace him. That player is Dante Fowler Jr., who’s going to have one of the biggest magnifying glasses on him all season. He will be compared constantly to Gregory in terms of his impact on the game. Luckily for Fowler Jr., he’s already been in Dan Quinn’s defense and knows what will be asked of him.

That should help the DE hit the ground running and lessen the pressure placed upon him by a situation he had nothing to do with in the first place. Fowler Jr. was a first-round pick for a reason and if that’s what the Cowboys are able to get then it’s a win. If he isn’t able to return to form and becomes more of a rotational pass rusher and Dorance Armstrong or rookie De Williams overtakes him, then this will look even worse for Jones and the Cowboys’ defensive production overall.

Micah Parsons Free Reign

One of the main reasons the Dallas defense was able to create so much pressure was thanks to Quinn’s ability to move Parsons all over the defensive line. Teams weren’t able to figure out if he was dropping back into coverage, rushing the passer, or spying on the quarterback. That inability to account for Parsons gave the Cowboys the upper hand most of the time. This was also when Parsons was dealing with a knee injury he disclosed after the season ended, so just imagine how much more he might be able to do when fully healthy and a full season under his belt.

All of this will mean nothing if Quinn is forced to move him to the defensive end spot due to injuries or lack of production out of guys like Fowler Jr. Pigeonholing Parsons into one known location will diminish his playmaking ability and allows teams to take him completely out of the game. The Cowboys and Quinn need to do whatever they can to keep Parsons’ position on the field on each play a question mark for teams for this defense to have continued success in 2022.

Run Defense Improves

It feels like every offseason we’re talking about this Dallas defense being unable to stop the run at critical times in games. Each year we’re also talking about how this team needs to add a dominant defensive tackle to help plug holes. Yet, fans are disappointed when Dallas continues to take undersized defensive tackles.

Thankfully, the past two seasons have been different. The addition of Quinton Bohanna in 2021 and this year’s addition of John Ridgeway could finally help add size the the defensive line. Both are over 300 pounds and should be able to help keep linebackers free to make plays in the backfield of the line of scrimmage to limit rushing gains.

Bohanna has a season under his belt and should be better prepared to come in and take over the nose tackle position while Ridgeway comes in as a rotational player to start his career. If Bohanna and Ridgeway aren’t able to anchor the defensive line and allow linebackers to make plays, then this defense will continue to allow offenses to pick up yards, slow down the game, and keep Prescott and company off the field. Hopefully, this duo will finally be able to put this issue to rest.