Dallas Cowboys: Predicting the Starting Defense

With the Dallas Cowboys training camp about to get under way, the starting defense could look predictable at some positions, and different in others.

With the Dallas Cowboys about to start training camp, the defensive starters will be something most people will watch with anticipation. A new coaching staff with a new scheme will likely change some things up and allow players to play to different strengths. That makes predicting what the starting group will look like difficult, but interesting.

Keep in mind this is for training camp and perhaps the first game, but could change by the end of the season. This is just how I see the Cowboys starting defense through training camp. Injuries, COVID, etc, can all change things quickly.

What we do know is that the starting linebackers are pretty much set baring any health issues. Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith, and Leighton Vander Esch are pretty well entrenched. The depth behind them is probably up for debate. Justin March and Joe Thomas are probably your two depth guys, but I don’t see either of them pushing the top three.

Defensive line is fairly predictable as well if we are looking at it genuinely. The front four will probably start off with Demarcus Lawrence, Dontari Poe, Gerald McCoy, and Tyrone Crawford. If Randy Gregory is reinstated and Aldon Smith looks remotely like he did before he left football, then one of the two of them could push Crawford by the end of camp. The Cowboys have some decent depth if everyone is reinstated and healthy, then include the rookies should be okay.

The safeties are pretty predictable right away as well. Xavier Woods and HaHa Clinton-Dix are your two starting safeties right away. They could give some playing time to Donovan Wilson, Darian Thompson and Luther Kirk, but Woods and HaHa should be your best two safeties of the group. They could add someone who gets cut or try to move someone to safety, but for now, those are the two best on the roster.