If you still feel raw or bitter about the Week 1 performance by the Dallas Cowboys on defense, you aren’t alone. After an entire offseason of hype and promises, the Cowboys delivered one of the most vile defensive performances we’ve seen in a while.
While they didn’t give up 59 points like the Panthers, they were unable to get off the field, and it severely shortened the game. That outcome is worse, as it kept Dak Prescott and the Cowboys' explosive offense off the field.
The Cowboys have a lot to fix before Week 2, but it wasn’t all detestable. There were some bright spots that you can take solace in despite the loss. And one player particularly shone in their first NFL action, and that was none other than Caleb Downs. Let's grade Downs' debut.
Cowboys rookie Caleb Downs passes first NFL test
In a recent article by Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus, he wrote about every first-round rookie coming out of Week 1. Downs graded out very well by PFF, as he was the second-highest-graded rookie safety out of the gate. Here is a snippet of what the site had to say about the former Ohio State star:
“Downs got his Cowboys career off to a solid start with a solid 68.9 PFF grade. His most impactful play was a strip sack of Jaxson Dart that nearly resulted in a turnover. He also produced a run stop among his six total tackles. Downs was mostly a non-factor in coverage, but his versatility and physical style were both on display throughout the night.”
The strip-sack by Downs was arguably the best defensive play of the night for Dallas, but they were unable to recover the fumble. And that was a theme for the Cowboys in Week 1, as they forced four fumbles but only recovered one. Even just one more recovery probably alters the outcome in favor of Dallas on Sunday night.
However, the point remains that Downs was really good in his NFL debut. Downs played 61 snaps on defense, including 34 as a slot cornerback and seven as a linebacker. And with Malik Hooker expected to miss the next several weeks with a fractured forearm, Downs will likely get an even bigger workload in Week 2.
Caleb Downs' importance is going to continue to expand
One thing that remains to be seen is how the Cowboys use Downs in coverage. Do they use him as a pure slot defender? Or could we see him match up against tight ends in the near future? Or could Dallas use him more as a true free safety with Hooker now out of the lineup?
The good news is that Downs should have success just about anywhere on the field, but the goal should be to find his best role where he can be the most impactful.
There are certainly going to be some ups and downs for Downs (no pun intended) moving forward, but it’s pretty clear that he is already one of the very best defenders on this defense. More importantly, he is a playmaker, and Christian Parker would be wise to keep blitzing him, especially with their lack of a pass rush.
Overall, it was a very solid outing for Downs, and we should expect the Cowboys to keep putting more on his plate in the coming weeks. If they want to have any chance of being a competent season, they are going to need Downs to turn into a superstar sooner rather than later. The good news is that at this point, that seems like more of a question of “when” and not “if.”
Caleb Downs Week 1 Grade: B+
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