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This time last year Womens Allen Hurns Jersey , one of the Cowboys’ biggest needs was finding a 1-technique defensive tackle who could consistently hold that role for them. The rest of the defensive line was pretty much set, as DeMarcus Lawrence was coming off a monster year and David Irving, despite getting another suspension, was still the premier 3-technique in Dallas. Now it’s February 2019, and the only thing that’s stayed the same is the dominance of Lawrence. Antwaun Woods established himself as the Cowboys’ long-awaited 1-technique with an impressive story, and Irving has seemingly become too much of a headache to deal with. His contract is up and the Cowboys likely won’t even offer him anything. So now that means they’re on the hunt for a new 3-technique defensive tackle to pair with Maliek Collins, which is a vital part of this defense. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dallas target someone in the draft, given how deep this defensive tackle class is, but there are five intriguing options that are about to hit the market as well. Henry AndersonPhoto by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty ImagesHenry Anderson is an intriguing player who could offer versatility between the two defensive tackle spots. He’s been productive in his four year pro career despite being misused for the first three years, playing with the Colts. There, Anderson played in a 3-4 scheme that asked him to function more as a run stopping space-eater. He did well, notching 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 16 QB hits, and three sacks in the mere 29 games he played in. Prior to the 2018 season, Anderson was traded to the Jets, where his pass rushing skills were utilized much more effectively. Playing in all 16 games for the first time in his career, Anderson tallied seven sacks to go along with 35 tackles and 16 QB hits. Anderson’s skills in rushing the passer were on full display when he played at Stanford too, where he recorded 17 career sacks in three seasons. If he came to Dallas, it would be the first time he’s played in a 4-3 defense, which might deter either him or the Cowboys from any interest. However, Anderson has shown he has the ideal skills to succeed in the scheme Dallas uses in the trenches http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/kavon-frazier-jersey , and his experience in a 3-4 makes him an effective option at the 1-technique role in passing downs. At 6’6” and 300 pounds, Anderson has great size that could even allow him to play some defensive end.Adolphus WashingtonPhoto by Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesAdolphus Washington spent roughly a week on the Cowboys practice squad in 2018 before being snatched up by the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cowboys obviously have interest in the 6’4”, 295-pound defensive tackle, although his restricted free agent status in Cincinnati might make a reunion impossible. Washington played at Ohio State in college and racked up 13.5 sacks and 25 tackles for loss in four years. The Bills took him in the third round and he started in 22 games in two years, enduring a scheme change during that time. His 54 tackles, ten for loss, 3.5 sacks, and seven QB hits offered a glimpse of Washington’s potential. Like Anderson, Washington could play both tackle spots in Dallas. If Cincinnati decides not to exercise their restricted free agent designation on Washington, he could be of interest for Dallas.Margus HuntPhoto by Bob Levey/Getty ImagesMargus Hunt would be a player in a position to make a seamless transition to the Cowboys defensive line. The Estonian defensive lineman received a lot of interest from the Cowboys when he came out of SMU into the 2013 draft, but the Bengals ultimately took him. In the 44 games he played in Cincinnati, Hunt never started as he was used in a limited role. Hunt then went to Indianapolis in 2017 and, like Anderson, was playing out of position. But the 2018 season saw Matt Eberflus take over and switch to a 4-3 that uses their defensive linemen the same way Dallas does. In fact, Eberflus used Hunt in much the same way the Cowboys do with Crawford, and Hunt saw some time as a defensive end in run downs and switched to defensive tackle in passing downs. As a result, Hunt had the best year of his career with five sacks, 30 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7 QB hits, and both forcing and recovering a fumble. That might make Hunt more eager to remain in Indy, but if there was any team he might consider leaving the Colts for Womens Antwaun Woods Jersey , the Cowboys and their nearly identical scheme would have to be it. He’d likely get more opportunities to get on the field as well, and should be able to get a good contract for his efforts. Brandon MebanePhoto by Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesJust like Hunt has ties to Rod Marinelli, Brandon Mebane could be a free agent target because of his ties to Kris Richard. Mebane spent the first nine years of his career in Seattle and was a big part of that defense. He then spent the last three years with the Chargers, playing for defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, one of the architects of the Legion of Boom. At 6’1” and 311 pounds, Mebane fits better at the 1-technique slot but he can play both positions and has done so at a very high level. He doesn’t sack the quarterback a whole lot - he’s never had six or more sacks in a single season - so that might disqualify him from consideration. Mebane also just turned 34-years-old, so questions about durability are present. But Richard might push for the Cowboys to add this rugged veteran along their defensive line and add him to the rotation there. Gerald McCoyPhoto by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesThis would potentially be a huge addition to the Cowboys in the same vein as last year’s almost-trade for Earl Thomas. Gerald McCoy is still technically under contract with the Buccaneers for the 2019 season, but Pro Football Focus reports that there is a “real chance” the team could move on as they change to a 3-4 scheme. If that happens, McCoy would almost certainly become a priority free agent that could command big offers, but the Cowboys would be smart to at least try and sign him. A former Sooner, McCoy has spent all nine years of his NFL career in Tampa Bay, which included two years with Marinelli’s good friends Lovie Smith and Leslie Frazier. In those nine years, McCoy has been one of the NFL’s premier pass rushing defensive tackles as he’s put up 54.5 sacks. He’s had six sacks each of the last two years, and the 2018 season marked the first time since 2011 he didn’t make the Pro Bowl. Still, McCoy was one of the best 3-technique defensive tackles and would be an ideal fit in Dallas. The only question marks around him will be price and age (he turns 31 this month). Of course, none of that even matters if McCoy isn’t cut by the Bucs, but if he is then Dallas should at the very least do their due diligence on him. Signing McCoy to a big, short-term contract would be a major development for an emerging defense. The 2018 version of the Dallas Cowboys’ entered Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in good spirits. The team had enjoyed a convincing victory over the Seattle Seahawks, had won three games in a row and eight of their last nine games to forge a formidable unit going into the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. But the strong, physical defensive unit that we’ve enjoyed watching throughout the 2018 season was nowhere to be found Saturday night. Instead we were witness to an abysmal defensive unit that posed little resistance to the Rams’ offensive juggernaut. The Cowboys eventually lost 30-22 in a game where the Cowboys made the final score much closer than it deserved to be. In short, the Cowboys were dominated and physically beaten on both sides of the line of scrimmage throughout the entire game. Let’s go to the grades. Overall: DI predicted the Cowboys would play their best, most complete game of the season. Instead Womens Jaylon Smith Jersey , they played one of their worst, not remotely approaching a winning effort. I can think of only a single player who met or exceeded expectations (Michael Gallup). Every other player, every unit, was outplayed. The defense, in particular, was exposed, surrendering:273 rushing yards - most in Cowboys’ playoff history459 total yards - second most in Cowboys’ playoff historyNearly 37 minutes time of possessionIn addition to being pummeled by the Rams’ ground game all night, the defense made no plays - at all. Zero sacks, zero turnovers and only one punt forced the entire game. Offensively things were minimally better, as the Cowboys somehow managed to put 22 points on the board. This despite a running game that was completely shut down (only 50 yards on 22 attempts) and converting only one of ten third-down attempts (worst conversion rate on the season). The offense netted only 308 yards the entire game, meaning the Rams out-gained Dallas by 151 yards (459 to 308)The only reason the team avoids an F is despite all this they somehow managed to make a game of it. A late third-quarter touchdown and two-point conversion created a one-score game. And a late TD just prior to the two-minute warning also created a one-score game. But, of course, the Dallas defense couldn’t get a stop. The Rams simply ran for two first downs to run the clock out, an 11-yard scramble by Jared Goff on third down being the back-breaker. Coaching: FHere’s what I wrote of Jason Garrett prior to the game:Needless to say Garrett didn’t share my way of thinking. Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan lined up and ran the same plays and the same concepts and added absolutely nothing new, different or out of character. They did go for it on four different fourth down opportunities so there’s that. The stubbornness was on full display on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Cowboys had clawed to within eight points (23-15) and had forced their one and only punt of the game. Facing a fourth and 1 from the Rams’ 35, the brain-trust decided to go to a jumbo package with a tight formation. You’ll never believe it but the plunge up the middle failed to gain the needed yards and the game was pretty much over. I guess banging your head against a wall enough makes you think it’s fun. I’ll also note that for the third time in Jason Garrett’s five playoff games the team faced a double-digit deficit before halftime:2014 - Detroit Lions: trailed 14-0 after 13 minutes2016 - Green Bay: trailed 21-3 after 21 minutes2018 - Los Angeles: trailed 20-7 after 26 minutesThat’s a combined 55-10 for those counting. Three times Jason Garrett’s playoff teams have emerged from the locker room unprepared for the game. They’ve been beaten up, run over and outclassed from the opening whistle. Give them credit for coming back and making the games competitive (even winning one) but one has to ask why Garrett’s teams repeatedly play horrid opening quarters in their most important games. Quarterback: CDak Prescott had a quintessential Dak Prescott game. He started out hot, going 3-for-3 for 48 yards and a touchdown strike to Amari Cooper:And then we got bad Dak. Prescott looked flustered and inaccurate as the offense punted on each of the team’s next four possessions. With no ground game whatsoever to help, Prescott was asked to put the team on his back and wasn’t able to do it. Of course, he did perk up in the final 20 minutes, as he always seems to. He led the team on two touchdown drives sandwiched around the drive doomed by the fourth-down failure. His best play of the night came on a pinpoint strike off an improvised scramble:Prescott also hit Cooper for a two-point conversion and later ran for a touchdown. But it was all too little too late. One Prescott oddity: the losing quarterback has posted the higher passer rating in all three playoff games Dak has played:Michael StrawnDak wasn’t the problem Saturday night, but he also wasn’t the solution. Running back: B-I honestly don’t know how to grade Ezekiel Elliott. He had no lanes to run through as the Rams made it their priority to stop Zeke from eating. Elliott had one 15-yard run and a 12-yard catch and that’s about it. He did make a key block on the early Cooper touchdown. But when the league’s leading running back’s biggest contribution was a block you know it was a bad night. Offensive line: D-The offensive line was simply inept. Playing against a defense that allowed more yards per carry than any other NFL team Womens Deonte Thompson Jersey , the Cowboys’ averaged a putrid 2.27 YPA; the second lowest mark in the team’s playoff history (shockingly, the worst number was the team’s victory over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX). Aaron Donald and the rest of the Rams’ much-maligned front seven simply punished the Cowboys’ offensive line. Prescott was only sacked once (a dubious sack at that) but also didn’t have tons of time in the pocket. It was a poor effort from a unit that started the season as the team’s best and ended as perhaps its worst. Wide receivers: B+If any unit showed up to play Saturday night it was this group. Gallup and Cooper combined to catch 12 balls on 18 targets for 184 yards and a touchdown. Gallup’s over-the-shoulder catch set up another touchdown and Cooper also hauled in a two-point conversion. There simply weren’t enough opportunities for this group. Tight ends: CAgain, I’m not real sure how to grade the tight ends. Dalton Schultz and Blake Jarwin did make three catches on four targets for 37 yards. But they were mostly called on to block and obviously the overall blocking was woefully inadequate. Defensive line: FIf Demarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford or Randy Gregory made a play Saturday night I missed it. The stat sheet indicates they combined for six tackles, one tackle for loss, zero sacks, zero fumbles, zero pressures and zero passes defensed. Zero is a good way to describe the way this unit performed as they were thoroughly whipped in every way imaginable. Again, the Rams punted once the entire game. Their drive table (courtesy of Pro Football Reference) is a disaster:Five drives of 64 yards or moreSix scoring drives (only a missed field goal prevented it from being seven)Three drives of 11 or more playsFive drives of at least four minutes; two of more than seven minutesMany believed the Dallas defense to be an elite unit but we should all disabuse ourselves of that notion. Here’s how that “elite” unit did the final six weeks of the season:Those are bottom ten in the league kind of numbers. Linebackers: FWhen the opponent runs at will, from opening whistle to final gun, linebackers have to be held accountable. The dynamic duo of Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch, along with Sean Lee, simply couldn’t get it done. They were credited with 20 tackles but most of them seemed to be five or more yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Like the defensive line there were zero splash plays from this unit. It was a stunning development for the two youngsters who truly did play at an elite level most of the season.Secondary: C+This unit didn’t give up many big plays but that’s mostly because they weren’t tested much. Goff was largely held in check, throwing for only 186 yards with a long play of only 21. But whenever the Rams needed him to make a play he was able to do it, as the Rams moved the ball at will. Like the other units, I don’t recall a single standout play from the secondary. The only noteworthy play was a horribly timed penalty on Byron Jones. Dallas had actually forced the Rams’ into a rare 3rd-and-long but Jones’ penalty allowed them to convert. It was particularly frustrating because:The infraction was away from the playHad the Rams completed their pass it wasn’t enough for a first downThe hands-to-the-face call was borderline (at best)Todd Gurley ran 35 yards for a touchdown two plays laterSpecial teams: BNothing really noteworthy from this group. On the positive side the coverage units didn’t allow a long return for (seemingly) the first time in months. Brett Maher converted his two extra point attempts and Chris Jones punted. Summary:I can’t help but wonder about Jason Garrett. He simply doesn’t seem to rise to the occasion. His teams don’t play their best when the stakes are highest. This isn’t new, as when we look back even the not-so-great teams of the 2011-2013 had chances to advance but always played poor in those win-and-advance games. I like Garrett and the overall job he’s done. But I’m wondering if reaching the NFL’s final eight is his ceiling? The Cowboys haven’t played terrible in all of their post-season losses but they’ve never come close to playing their best games. When you look at Super Bowl champions those team peaked in the playoffs and played their best games. Jason Garret’s teams don’t. And that’s a problem for a franchise that hasn’t reached the final four for 23 consecutive seasons. 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