Cowboys Ranked 8th in Roster Talent

[garyo1954]

Pro Football Focus recently posted their team roster rankings over at ESPN, and the Cowboys slide into the top ten at position number eight. As many would expect, that is based on a dangerous offense loaded with weapons.

Biggest strength: There is no reason that this passing offense, if healthy, shouldn’t be one of the league’s best. QB Dak Prescott’s 85.2 PFF grade before his injury last season was on pace to be the highest of his career. Even in Prescott’s absence, rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb proved himself to be one of the more dynamic slot receivers in the league. His 877 receiving yards from the slot in 2020 were fewer than only Cole Beasley’s. Lamb, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup are certainly in the conversation for best wide receiver trio in the NFL.

Biggest weakness: This secondary bled production to opposing passing offenses in 2020, and it didn’t get noticeably better this offseason. Second-round selection Kelvin Joseph has a chance to start opposite Trevon Diggs. While that might represent an upgrade in talent, last season showed the risk involved with relying heavily on rookie cornerbacks. Eight of the 20 highest yards per coverage snap marks at the cornerback position belonged to rookies in 2020, including Diggs in Dallas. The Cowboys are banking on young players improving on the fly in a new system.

Tampa Bay tops the roster rankings, followed by Kansas City, Cleveland, Buffalo, Baltimore, Green Bay and Los Angeles (Rams).

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nf...d-on-one-ranking-system/ar-AALDkAb?li=BBnbfcL

 

[805BoysInBlue]

No true veteran presence in the backfield is what might be the weak link on this defense. I know Anthony Brown and Lewis are here but that's not saying much

 

[garyo1954]

No true veteran presence in the backfield is what might be the weak link on this defense. I know Anthony Brown and Lewis are here but that's not saying much

I wondered about that myself. Reading another article where SBNation breaks down the strengths and weaknesses by position it seems somebody likes likes the CB and Safeties....

Cornerback - good
Sheer numbers play a part here. With nine currently on the roster (if you count Israel Mukuamu as a safety, which seems to be the plan) there is a good chance of going into the season with a strong group here. Trevon Diggs did well as a rookie and is expected to improve, Joudan Lewis seems to be the man in the slot, and Anthony Brown provides a more solid player to line up opposite Diggs than many think. Rookie Kelvin Joseph got off to a rough start, but they aren’t going to cut a second-rounder. Nahshon Wright, Maurice Canady, C.J. Goodwin (who is believed to be a lock as a special teams ace anyway), Deante Burton, and Reggie Robinson II are all contenders to make the roster, and there is a good chance at least one of them will emerge as quite good during camp and preseason games. Perhaps this is too optimistic here, but I feel quite comfortable with this bunch.

Safety - fair
This was a close call, because an argument can certainly made that this should be poor. Donavan Wilson and Demontae Kazee should be a solid pair of starters, but the remainder of the group, including Mukuamu, are not that reassuring. Jayron Kearse may be the best of the rest.

The only poor rating was for LBs.

 

[JoeKing]

Pro Football Focus recently posted their team roster rankings over at ESPN, and the Cowboys slide into the top ten at position number eight. As many would expect, that is based on a dangerous offense loaded with weapons.

Biggest strength: There is no reason that this passing offense, if healthy, shouldn’t be one of the league’s best. QB Dak Prescott’s 85.2 PFF grade before his injury last season was on pace to be the highest of his career. Even in Prescott’s absence, rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb proved himself to be one of the more dynamic slot receivers in the league. His 877 receiving yards from the slot in 2020 were fewer than only Cole Beasley’s. Lamb, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup are certainly in the conversation for best wide receiver trio in the NFL.

Biggest weakness: This secondary bled production to opposing passing offenses in 2020, and it didn’t get noticeably better this offseason. Second-round selection Kelvin Joseph has a chance to start opposite Trevon Diggs. While that might represent an upgrade in talent, last season showed the risk involved with relying heavily on rookie cornerbacks. Eight of the 20 highest yards per coverage snap marks at the cornerback position belonged to rookies in 2020, including Diggs in Dallas. The Cowboys are banking on young players improving on the fly in a new system.

Tampa Bay tops the roster rankings, followed by Kansas City, Cleveland, Buffalo, Baltimore, Green Bay and Los Angeles (Rams).

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nf...d-on-one-ranking-system/ar-AALDkAb?li=BBnbfcL

Hanging that ranking on this team based on last year's talent when that exact roster no longer exists and this year's talent is untested is absurd.

 

[Jake]

Roster talent is great (obviously), but QB play, defense, and smart coaches win championships. The Cowboys haven't put all 3 together in some time.

 

[Trueboysfan]

Roster talent is great (obviously), but QB play, defense, and smart coaches win championships. The Cowboys haven't put all 3 together in some time.

I am with you on the coaching part...i think with the right coaching what we have now on defense will be fine. Toward the end of the year last year the defense really started to come along IMHO and I think they will continue to improve with our new defensive coord...QB position is plenty good. Dak has all the talent needed to take the boys to the next level.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I will not rest until we win another off-season championship.

 

[Typhus]

No true veteran presence in the backfield is what might be the weak link on this defense. I know Anthony Brown and Lewis are here but that's not saying much

pre snap adjustments can help disguise that, but there will be a lot growing pains, cant deny that.

 

[Section446]

The Cowboys always have one of the top ten "talented" rosters in the league, every single year.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

This is interesting and while I like to see Dallas ranked this high, I take it with a grain of salt.

The talent level of all 32 teams is a lot closer than the "experts" would want you to believe. The difference to me is coaching and scheme; and that is where Dallas has fallen short for the better part of the past 25 years. They've had some really talented teams but nothing to show for it.

 

[CowboyRoy]

The Cowboys always have one of the top ten "talented" rosters in the league, every single year.

Top talented offense I would say. Last year half of them were injured on offense.

But it does give you an indication of how bad the coaching was the last 10 years.

 

[CowboyRoy]

This is interesting and while I like to see Dallas ranked this high, I take it with a grain of salt.

The talent level of all 32 teams is a lot closer than the "experts" would want you to believe. The difference to me is coaching and scheme; and that is where Dallas has fallen short for the better part of the past 25 years. They've had some really talented teams but nothing to show for it.

JASON GARRETT!!

 

[TheMightyVanHalen]

No true veteran presence in the backfield is what might be the weak link on this defense. I know Anthony Brown and Lewis are here but that's not saying much

Could be. But I think Kazee is going to surprise a lot of people. I don't know if he's considered a true veteran though.

 

[Alexander]

Always love our talent but gosh we keep failing. Wonder why?

 

[MoistMayonnaise]

Meh, another meaningless ranking.

 

[JayFord]

the talent on the offensive side is amazing! its imo a complete offense when healthy

the defense imo talent wise is middle of the pack maybe even 20th

if the D can just be average i think we can win a SB

 

[StarBoyz83]

the talent on the offensive side is amazing! its imo a complete offense when healthy

the defense imo talent wise is middle of the pack maybe even 20th

if the D can just be average i think we can win a SB

The defense was above average in 17 18 and 19. Easily the best defenses dallas has had since like 07 08
Also the offense needs to start showing up in the 1st half of games. That was the cause for a decent amount losses also.

Power ranking wise I'd put dallas at 16 going Into this season. But the weak schedule has my hopes up a little.

 

[LittleD]

Ranking 8th in any analysis means no championship game and no SB for yet another year or two.

 

[Redball Express]

Pro Football Focus recently posted their team roster rankings over at ESPN, and the Cowboys slide into the top ten at position number eight. As many would expect, that is based on a dangerous offense loaded with weapons.

Biggest strength: There is no reason that this passing offense, if healthy, shouldn’t be one of the league’s best. QB Dak Prescott’s 85.2 PFF grade before his injury last season was on pace to be the highest of his career. Even in Prescott’s absence, rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb proved himself to be one of the more dynamic slot receivers in the league. His 877 receiving yards from the slot in 2020 were fewer than only Cole Beasley’s. Lamb, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup are certainly in the conversation for best wide receiver trio in the NFL.

Biggest weakness: This secondary bled production to opposing passing offenses in 2020, and it didn’t get noticeably better this offseason. Second-round selection Kelvin Joseph has a chance to start opposite Trevon Diggs. While that might represent an upgrade in talent, last season showed the risk involved with relying heavily on rookie cornerbacks. Eight of the 20 highest yards per coverage snap marks at the cornerback position belonged to rookies in 2020, including Diggs in Dallas. The Cowboys are banking on young players improving on the fly in a new system.

Tampa Bay tops the roster rankings, followed by Kansas City, Cleveland, Buffalo, Baltimore, Green Bay and Los Angeles (Rams).

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nf...d-on-one-ranking-system/ar-AALDkAb?li=BBnbfcL

I have us right behind Highland Park and WT White HS but ahead of Grambling. Only because we have no marching band that strutted. I am sure Jerrah is working on the band part as we speak.

 

[Future]

No true veteran presence in the backfield is what might be the weak link on this defense. I know Anthony Brown and Lewis are here but that's not saying much

What exactly is a "true veteran?" Brown is going into his 6th year, Lewis and Kazee their 5th.

Three of your 5 starters in the secondary are in at least their 5th year. It doesn't take 10 years to be a veteran.