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The Dallas Cowboys first outside free agency signing was unsurprisingly not a major splash, but the team did add an effective player at a position of need in defensive tackle Christian Covington. The Cowboys have been searching for long-term answers at DT for some time now. Without the best track record signing free agents to fill this void, the Covington signing is hardly one to put the Cowboys over the top.
In limited snaps with the Houston Texans in 2018 however, Covington picked up a career-high 3.5 sacks with a total of eight QB hits over 12 games. Now joining Rod Marinelli’s defensive line rotation, Covington will have a chance to prove his value as the latest Dallas defender to sport No. 95.
Not quite as physically impressive as that jersey’s predecessor, the now-departed David Irving, Covington is still a force to be reckoned with at 6-foot-2, 310 pounds. A square player with rare movement ability, Covington has the desired position flex for the Cowboys to feature him all over their still-thin defensive front.
Strengths
For his size, Covington shoots gaps very well and is a threat from any spot to pressure the quarterback. What Covington lacks in athletic ability to set up rush moves, he makes up for with a strong first step and relentless motor.
From the 1T position, where Covington can relieve projected Cowboys starter Antwaun Woods, Covington is disruptive up the field and tough to displace at the line of scrimmage. Even when forced to restart his rush, Covington knows how to keep a wide base and is very rarely washed out of a play entirely.
Covington’s initial punch didn’t knock back blockers at the rate his production would warrant, making his numbers all the more impressive as he relied on sustained bull-rush efforts to get home. Even when blockers get into Covington’s thick frame, he has a plan to swipe them away and stay in the play.
Also asked to line up inside at 3T and occasionally at defensive end for the Texans, Covington flows well as a down-the-line player. This is a player that catches offensive linemen by surprise with his suddenness at times, using it to his advantage to shed blocks and finish plays.
Weaknesses
The Cowboys free-agent signings of recent years have been consistent with their draft strategy, rarely adding the type of talent that deters them from stockpiling younger players. With Covington’s best position being one of the few with a solid starter projected for 2019, the Cowboys still have a need at 3T to address.
Relying on Covington to consistently make plays at 3T would be a mistake, as it fails to utilize his best trait as a suffocating presence in the middle of a line. Covington simply isn’t polished enough as a rusher to survive in this role, getting steered off his path when playing through contact.
Struggling to drop his shoulders and win the leverage battle, Covington can become predictable over an extended body of work the Cowboys could be forced to give him. His highest snap count total last season was 30, still less than half the Texans defense played in that game.
Summary
Call the Cowboys signing of Covington what it is, the type of move this team was expected to make at this point in free agency. Some significant names remain at positions of need for this club, but for now their priority remains on retaining their own free agents with Covington in the fold.
Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli should be excited about working with a player that fits his mold as well as Covington. Never giving up on a play with the upside to greatly help the Cowboys linebackers stay off blocks, Covington could quietly be one of the best moves of this Cowboys offseason.
He also may just as easily become the latest example of the Cowboys getting what they paid for, leaving them with a player that makes little overall impact. If Woods continues to step up in place of Covington, this won’t be the worst case scenario for the Cowboys. It would however highlight a frequent problem of failing to take the next step thanks to outside free agents hardly cracking the lineup.
When Covington gets on the field this summer for training camp, look for the Cowboys offensive line – from Zack Martin all the way down – to have their hands full. Whether or not he sustains this presence will be determined by the moves the Cowboys must continue to make around Covington on the defensive line.
Gallery
Cowboys 7-round Mock Draft: March 15, 2019
Continue reading...
In limited snaps with the Houston Texans in 2018 however, Covington picked up a career-high 3.5 sacks with a total of eight QB hits over 12 games. Now joining Rod Marinelli’s defensive line rotation, Covington will have a chance to prove his value as the latest Dallas defender to sport No. 95.
Not quite as physically impressive as that jersey’s predecessor, the now-departed David Irving, Covington is still a force to be reckoned with at 6-foot-2, 310 pounds. A square player with rare movement ability, Covington has the desired position flex for the Cowboys to feature him all over their still-thin defensive front.
Strengths
For his size, Covington shoots gaps very well and is a threat from any spot to pressure the quarterback. What Covington lacks in athletic ability to set up rush moves, he makes up for with a strong first step and relentless motor.
From the 1T position, where Covington can relieve projected Cowboys starter Antwaun Woods, Covington is disruptive up the field and tough to displace at the line of scrimmage. Even when forced to restart his rush, Covington knows how to keep a wide base and is very rarely washed out of a play entirely.
Covington’s initial punch didn’t knock back blockers at the rate his production would warrant, making his numbers all the more impressive as he relied on sustained bull-rush efforts to get home. Even when blockers get into Covington’s thick frame, he has a plan to swipe them away and stay in the play.
Also asked to line up inside at 3T and occasionally at defensive end for the Texans, Covington flows well as a down-the-line player. This is a player that catches offensive linemen by surprise with his suddenness at times, using it to his advantage to shed blocks and finish plays.
Weaknesses
The Cowboys free-agent signings of recent years have been consistent with their draft strategy, rarely adding the type of talent that deters them from stockpiling younger players. With Covington’s best position being one of the few with a solid starter projected for 2019, the Cowboys still have a need at 3T to address.
Relying on Covington to consistently make plays at 3T would be a mistake, as it fails to utilize his best trait as a suffocating presence in the middle of a line. Covington simply isn’t polished enough as a rusher to survive in this role, getting steered off his path when playing through contact.
Struggling to drop his shoulders and win the leverage battle, Covington can become predictable over an extended body of work the Cowboys could be forced to give him. His highest snap count total last season was 30, still less than half the Texans defense played in that game.
Summary
Call the Cowboys signing of Covington what it is, the type of move this team was expected to make at this point in free agency. Some significant names remain at positions of need for this club, but for now their priority remains on retaining their own free agents with Covington in the fold.
Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli should be excited about working with a player that fits his mold as well as Covington. Never giving up on a play with the upside to greatly help the Cowboys linebackers stay off blocks, Covington could quietly be one of the best moves of this Cowboys offseason.
He also may just as easily become the latest example of the Cowboys getting what they paid for, leaving them with a player that makes little overall impact. If Woods continues to step up in place of Covington, this won’t be the worst case scenario for the Cowboys. It would however highlight a frequent problem of failing to take the next step thanks to outside free agents hardly cracking the lineup.
When Covington gets on the field this summer for training camp, look for the Cowboys offensive line – from Zack Martin all the way down – to have their hands full. Whether or not he sustains this presence will be determined by the moves the Cowboys must continue to make around Covington on the defensive line.
Gallery
Cowboys 7-round Mock Draft: March 15, 2019
Continue reading...
