12 Dallas Cowboys critical for success in 2023 (the Dirty Dozen)

Last Thursday marked the beginning of the Dallas Cowboys’ Voluntary Organized Team Activities.

I cannot comprehend the appeal of watching dudes in shorts and t-shirts run around with no physical contact, but it may be exciting for Dallas Cowboys fans. When the pads are put on during training camp. All the required knowledge will be uncovered.

Paying another fine is not in Mike McCarthy’s plan. The Dallas Cowboys lost an OTA session this year and their coach, Mike McCarthy, was fined $100,000 for repeated violations, including a previous fine of $50,000 in 2021.

What was the reason? According to the NFL, the Cowboys were excessively physical during voluntary organized team activities. Oh, my goodness! This is all you need to know about these glorified walk-through practices.

As people engage in viewing the VOTAs. I will focus my attention on the twelve most important players of the Dallas Cowboys. Their success in 2023 will rely on the role they play.

I am open to altering my opinion after training camp.

DeMarcus Lawrence

He is regarded as the undeniable alpha of the Dallas Cowboys defense. Among all the players  along the defensive line, he stands out as the most complete.

Throughout the last season, it became increasingly clear that the defensive ends of the Cowboys were experiencing difficulties in maintaining their position at the edge of the field. Let me be clear, I am referring to DeMarcus Lawrence.

His ability to defend against the run has remained elite and shows no signs of diminishing. His performance in terms of pass rushing may not be as strong as it was when he had two consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks.

During the 2023 season, Lawrence showed his skills with a total of six sacks, three forced fumbles, 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 13 QB hits. Despite his age, he still remains a formidable force that cannot be underestimated.

Leighton Vander Esch

The Dallas Cowboys made a wise decision by re-signing the wolf hunter, and it is considered a great acquisition for the team. Not since 2018 has Vander Esch had such an impressive football season as he did this past year.

Although he possesses a range of skills and abilities, his versatility often goes unnoticed.

Leighton Vander Esch defensive Alignment Snap counts in 2022

Defensive Line = 20

In the Box = 671

Free safety = 0

5 Slot = 50

Corner = 4

Allowed 7.3 yards per reception in coverage.

Allowed 142 Yards After the Catch = Lowest of career.

Don’t listen to Cowboys Twitter.

In addition, his team really felt the absence of his talent for positioning his teammates when he was out for a few games last year.

Mazi Smith

The Dallas Cowboys have finally addressed one has been a major weakness in their defense for a long time. With their first round pick in the draft they selected DT/NT Mazi Smith out of Michigan.

The Cowboys run defense has been a problem. Mazi Smith is a solution to fixing it. I don’t care if content creators on twitter are butt hurt because Dallas didn’t take a stupid pill and select Joey Porter Jr or resign Carlos Watkins.

If Carlos Watkins is your best interior defensive lineman who have problems. Love him as the 4th best player but not your first.

That is not going to cut it.  Imagine what Micah Parson could achieve is the Cowboys had a true bully inside. Brian Baldinger makes a strong point about this.

Mazi Smith is a grown man doing things in the weight room that would make Larry Allen smile.

No one is asking him to do anything he is not capable of doing. Handle the double teams, keep the linebackers clean, and break things.

The entire Dallas Cowboys defense will benefit greatly in 2023 from pairing Mazi Smith and Johnathan Hankins.

Stephon Gilmore

Trevon Diggs is a top-notch player! On the back end, he is the team’s primary play-maker. One of the NFL’s premier defensive backs, the two-time Pro Bowler has amassed 17 interceptions and 49 passes defended in just three seasons.

Sunday afternoon, business decisions are the only exception. Diggs’ worth is undeniable. His running mate has been the subject of questions.

Those questions reared its ugly head for the Dallas Cowboys when Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis were lost for the season. The Cowboys found Xavier Rhodes in storage with the help of Door Dash. It was really bad.

Israel Mukuamu did a good job against the 49ers, but they aren’t a team that puts pressure on you in the passing game.

The 2021 draft picks haven’t proven themselves capable yet. Last season, DaRon Bland jumped them both. Despite being a rookie taken in the 5th round, Bland quickly became an impact contributor for the Cowboys this past season.

Instead of standing pat, the Dallas Cowboys quietly acquired Stephon Gilmore by following the 2nd crack commandment.

Stephon Gilmore has shown that he can still perform at a high level.

Stephon Gilmore in 2022:

2 Int

82.6 passer rating allowed

11.3 Yards Per Reception.

Staying healthy could enable him to help the Cowboys lead the NFL in takeaways for a third year in a row.

Terence Steele

Prior to his injury, Terence Steele was playing at a level that was on par with any right tackle in football. His pass protection has improved significantly, while his run blocking is at an elite level.

Based on his rehab progress, he ought to be ready to rock and roll for the start of the season. Tyron Smith’s peak days are gone, making him essential to the Cowboys. He did his best at right tackle, but Steele is better suited for that position.

You can go argue with a blue rock.

Tyler Smith

Keeping Tyler Smith at left tackle is the favored option for Dallas, as they believe it is the position he will occupy for most of his Cowboys career. Should a left guard cannot emerge, Smith may have to assume the position.

As a result, Tyron Smith would take over at left tackle and Steele would continue to hold down the fort at right tackle.

This holds true. Depending on the team’s needs, Tyler Smith will be required to play either the left tackle or left guard position.

Regardless of which position he is asked to play, it is imperative that he maintains the level of performance that he exhibited in 2022.

Tyler Biadasz

Tyler Biadasz holds the utmost importance on the offensive line. The main reason is because there no one else on the roster who has shown he can play center at the NFL starting level for an extended period.

Playing center is more than just snapping the football.

If Biadasz is out for a long time, the Dallas Cowboys would be in trouble. Brock Hoffman, Alec Lindstrom, or Matt Farniok will come up next.

Tyler Biadasz not only needs to remain healthy but also enhance his skills for the benefit of the entire offensive line.

Zack Martin

Zack Martin is the Last of the Mohicans. With, Travis Frederick retired and Tyron Smith at the end tail of his career. Martin remains the gold standard.

His level of excellence is so high we forget to mention him enough. He makes the difficult look easy.

He is the elder leader, the leader of the group up front, and the best player on the offensive side of the ball. He is the NFL’s best right guard and one of the best offensive linemen.

CeeDee Lamb

Last season, people questioned CeeDee Lamb’s ability to be a number one wide receiver. The talk was pointless and nonsensical.

Throughout his time in Dallas, Lamb’s performance has been on the rise, with 107 receptions, 1,359 yards, and nine touchdowns being his best in 2022.

With the west coast offense being installed in Dallas. I’m expecting Lamb to have a tremendous year. Under Mike McCarthy’s play-calling, his YAC ability will flourish.

The addition of Brandon Cook will make Lamb even more of a threat.. Without CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys passing game will struggle. He is crucial to the success of the Cowboys’ passing game.

Tony Pollard

Tony Pollard is the nitro of the Dallas Cowboy’s machine. His speed and explosiveness is apparent every time he touches the football.

Since Elliott is no longer on the roster, the Cowboys will have to rely heavily on Pollard, who takes the offense to a higher level when he’s fully utilized.

A career-defining year in 2023 is what the Dallas Cowboys require from him.

Micah ParsonsMicah Parsons is the rarest of unicorns. Without question he is the best player on the roster. While Tank Lawrence is the Odysseus of the defense. Micah Parson is the Achilles of the defense.

Achilles was considered a the greatest hero in the Greek army during the Trojan War. It was prophesied that the Greeks could not win the Trojan War without him.

The Dallas Cowboys’ pass rush burns hot when Parsons is leading the charge. A elite game wrecker and play-maker.

Dak Prescott

Regardless of what anyone says. There is no player more important than Dak Prescott on the roster.

The key to the Cowboys making a Super Bowl run this season is Prescott playing his best ball while maintaining his health. Dallas doesn’t require him to throw for 4200 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Prescott is required to function as a commander on the battlefield. He’s the go-to person for taking charge during crisis situations and leading his team to the endzone.

He cannot contribute to the problem on the field. He doesn’t necessarily have to be the solution, just a part of it.. There’s no player more significant than the quarterback.

Prescott’s leadership will determine how far the Dallas Cowboys go to accomplishing their goals in 2023.

That’s my Dallas Cowboys’ Dirty Dozen.