Cowboys – First Four Weeks Critical for this Cowboy
By Reid Hanson

The first four weeks are absolutely critical for the Dallas Cowboys right defensive end, Jeremy Mincey. This is why…
DE Jeremy Mincey, our Cowboys co-defensive MVP from last season, will find himself in a very important position this season – Mincey will be asked to start at the all-important right defensive end position (RDE). The right defensive end (RDE) is often thought of as the premium pass-rushing position on most 4-3 defenses, and the Dallas Cowboys’ defense is no different.
The catch is…he only has four weeks to prove himself.
Greg Hardy‘s four week suspension will provide Jeremy Mincey a heavy workload and ample opportunity. How he produces those first four weeks, will go a long way in determining his snaps later in the season. The good news is he’s done it before and he can do it again.
Rushing from the RDE, the pass rusher gains the advantage of hunting QBs from their blindsides (since most QBs are right-handed). Pursuit from the blindside allows for more sack opportunities, since the QB is traditionally “blind” to what is about to occur behind him.
Additionally, a blindside rush is less avoidable and more prone to result in turnovers. That is why teams typically use their best pure rusher at the RDE spot — to maximize the big play opportunities. And that’s why Greg Hardy is expected to be the primary RDE once his suspension has been served.
The Cowboys have extremely high hopes for sophomore pass-rusher, DeMarcus Lawrence. When they signed proven sack-artist, Greg Hardy this offseason, they decided to move Lawrence to the left side. The move allows the Cowboys to play Hardy at the premium pass-rushing spot, without disrupting DeMarcus Lawrence’s snap count.
Jeremy Mincey, coming off his best season as a pro, will remain in the same position he played last year (RDE) and will keep the seat warm while Hardy sits out the first four games of the season. That’s why the first four weeks are so critical to Jeremy Mincey.
The first four weeks, Jeremy Mincey will be given every opportunity to remind the Cowboys how good he was last year. If he can’t prove to be a reliable pass-rusher, he could find himself buried in the DE rotation.
Throughout training camp, we’ll be breaking down the intense competition on the defensive line. With so many versatile options on the roster, Mincey could find himself fighting for snaps if he doesn’t show greatness early.
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Early indications from Valley Ranch have Mincey and Hardy pegged as the top two RDEs, with Lawrence and Ben Gardner/Ryan Russell at LDE. The potentially dynamic rookie, Randy Gregory, waits in the wings. If in those first four weeks of the season, Mincey falters, and Gregory impresses, Gregory could find himself the #2 option at RDE and the primary RDE in nickel when Hardy moves inside.
Jeremy Mincey is a strong and talented player who works hard and fits Rod Marinelli’s defensive philosophy, so there’s no reason to think he can’t find success. But the pressure is on since Mincey is a far better pass-rusher than he is a run-stopper. In other words, Mincey doesn’t fit well in any of the other defensive line positions.
Jeremy Mincey was a bit of a liability against the run last season, so to project him to play any spot other than RDE may be playing to his weaknesses rather than his strengths.
These first four weeks are always important to a team trying to regain momentum, but in Jeremy Mincey’s case, these first four weeks are critical.
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