Dallas Cowboys Final Roster Projection: No Preseason – Fallout (August)
By Reid Hanson
Dallas Cowboys Final Roster Projections: D-line
Dallas Cowboys Defensive Line (10)
DeMarcus Lawrence, Gerald McCoy, Aldon Smith, Tyrone Crawford, Dontari Poe, Dornace Armstrong, Bradlee Anae, Neville Gallimore, Joe Jackson, Antwaun Woods
The defensive line is always a tricky thing to predict because rotations are important and talent is dispersed. With a new defensive coordinator in place, it just got tougher in 2020. Not only do we question what he likes in his d-linemen, but we don’t know exactly how the front seven are going to line up.
It seems clear Mike Nolan is going to show some 3-4 looks this season and will be more open to 2-gap than Marineli ever was. Who he flexes and who he doesn’t remains to be seen. The best we can do is guess what the players have to offer and from there draw conclusions as to how they’ll be used.
If Randy Gregory is reinstated, he’s going to bump someone for a roster spot. The most expendable player looks like Joe Jackson. That hurts because Jackson is long and versatile, capable of playing both 3-4 and 4-3. Anae and Armstrong get the nod before Jackson because they offer more as pass-rushers (although this is a very tight battle between the three).
McCarthy has said he’s planning to keep just four DTs which means Woods and Trysten Hill are punching it out for back-up 1-tech. I’d like to see Hill claim it, I just don’t think he will.