Dallas Defense Vs Slot Receivers

2020 washington defense vs slot receivers This website uses cookies We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Fantasy Points Allowed is a metric that indicates how good or bad each NFL defense is at limiting fantasy production to their opponents. Teams that rank in the top 8 surrender the most fantasy points.

While the NFL is set to kickoff the 2020 season, it is never too early to take a look at the upcoming draft.

The Dallas Cowboys are coming off one of the better drafts in recent memory. The biggest shock is that Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb fell right into their lap at No. 17 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Lamb joins a receiving corp that already has two 1,000-yard receivers in Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper. Lamb takes over in the slot, and that is scary thought for opposing defenders.

They followed up that selection with Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs, a prospect who likely got first-round consideration. The Cowboys didn’t stop there, as they would continue to load on the defensive side of the ball. Oklahoma defensive lineman Neville Gallimore joined his college teammate Lamb in Dallas. With the loss of Gerald McCoy, Gallimore will be counted on to play a big role.

The Cowboys continued their class with cornerback Reggie Robinson II out of Tulsa to help ease the loss of Byron Jones in free agency. He will likely be in the mix at both safety and corner. The last defensive player selected came with Utah edge defender Bradlee Anae in the fifth round. A steal in this class, Anae isn’t the most athletic guy, but you won’t find a more technically sound player.

The Cowboys finished up their 2020 class by getting James Madison quarterback Ben DiNucci. He seems like a project for new head coach Mike McCarthy, who is no stranger to developing quarterbacks. He should provide depth beyond this upcoming season with Andy Dalton slated to back up Dak Prescott.

The team is looking to recapture the NFC East championship, a title they have alternated with the Philadelphia Eagles for the last four seasons. If it remains true to the trend, the Cowboys will be crowned division champs this time around.

Still with all of the talent on this team, they still have their issues. You can’t point to one side of the ball or the other; they have holes on both.

Here are the three positions where Dallas could use the most help in the 2021 NFL Draft:

1 Safety

AP Photo/Brandon Wade

Stop me if you have heard this one before. The Cowboys brought in HaHa Clinton-Dix to couple with Xavier Woods on the back end. However, the early reports out of camp are that Darian Thompson is likely the starter opposite of Woods.

Beyond the 2020 NFL season, the Cowboys don’t have any a safety with starting experience under contract. If the team is sold on Woods, they will need to find someone else to pair him with for the future.

Beyond Woods, Clinton-Dix and Thompson, the Cowboys have rookie Reggie Robinson II, who could play a flex role for the defense under Mike Nolan. Robinson has the experience at corner, with the ball skills the position has seriously been lacking. Donovan Wilson makes up the final spot at the position.

Wilson was a late-round selection under the previous regime, but never seemed to make any headway on the depth chart. Last preseason, Wilson made plays and flashed for the defense. The previous staff didn’t provide him the opportunity for more playing time in the regular season.

2 Offensive Tackle

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Tyron Smith has been one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL for the last decade when healthy. Unfortunately, Smith has missed three games in each of the last four years. The last time Smith played a full season game in 2015. Even at age 29, his body hasn’t held up for an entire year, and it might be time for the Cowboys to start looking for his eventual replacement.

Behind Smith is where the water gets a bit more murky. They have Mitch Hyatt and Terence Steele as potential backups for Smith as a swing tackle. Hyatt was cut last year when they trimmed the roster down after he signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.

The Cowboys also have Steele, an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech. While having either as a swing tackle isn’t a bad option, neither give the team the confidence they could fill in for an extended period.

With Smith already having issues in camp with staying healthy, this need to find an offensive tackle needs a violent shove forward. Another option is looking at Connor Williams, who played left tackle at Texas, but he appears to still be locked in at the guard spot.

3 Tight End

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It’s the beginning of a new era in Dallas. With Jason Witten leaving for Las Vegas, it becomes Blake Jarwin’s time to shine. Jarwin is more of a modern tight end, less about blocking and more about attacking defenses up the seam. Jarwin has flashed his potential, showing at times how he can impact a defense.

Behind Jarwin comes the former Oklahoma quarterback Blake Bell. The “Belldozer” is more of a blocker and secondary option at the position. Last year, he finished with eight receptions for 67 yards for the Kansas City Chiefs. He will likely be used as a blocker and fullback for the Cowboys.

Dalton Schultz is very much in a similar role as Bell as more of a blocker and less of the pass catcher. At the NFL level, Schultz has 13 career receptions for 122 yards. He could find his way onto the field as the third tight end or fullback as a lead blocker for Ezekiel Elliott.

Dallas Defense Vs Slot Receivers 2019

Dallas Defense Vs Slot Receivers Week

Dallas Defense Vs Slot Receivers 2020

The Cowboys shouldn’t look to replace Jarwin, but rather more depth alongside him. Having two capable tight ends or even big slot receivers will only enhance the offense, which will also take pressure off other offensive weapons, and apply more on opposing defenses.