Dallas Cowboys 2023 training camp in Oxnard, California is in full swing.
Through the first few padded practices, the Cowboys defense seems to have gotten the better of the offense.
Early clips featured a fierce pass rush, that if not for Dak Prescott’s red jersey, would have resulted in multiple sacks.
That pass rush is led by none other than Micah Parsons, who has cemented his claim for a way too early Defensive Player of the Year candidate as I detailed in my last article.
In the most recent practice, Prescott and crew stepped up their game by scoring at will in the red zone.
This prompted some friendly banter between Dak and Dallas’ new $97 million man, Trevon Diggs.
The defense finally did get a stop, and some back and forth dialogue between the two ended up with Diggs telling Dak to “Shut your bi*ch a** up!”.
Eagles twitter ran away with this, claiming it’s disrespectful to talk to the quarterback in that manner, suggesting that the team is falling apart beneath the surface.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
That feisty attitude and competitive nature is exactly what separates this defense from any other the Cowboys have had in many years.
This group, led by a perfect mixture of young studs and established veterans, has the makings of a championship defense if the ball bounces the right way.
The defense features several veteran players who leave no doubt about the product they will display on the field.
Young talent is what Dan Quinn needs to rise to the occasion if this defense is going to reach elite status like he had in Seattle with the Legion of Boom.
Specifically three young players need to deliver to elevate this defense to not only one of the best in 2023, but among the best in NFL history.
Mazi Smith
Dallas hasn’t had a defensive tackle like rookie Mazi Smith since, well…never.
Mazi is in a league of his own with his size to agility ratio and that demi-god like strength.
Men who stand at 6’3″ 337lbs are not supposed to be able to move like Mazi does.
He was specifically drafted to help the Cowboys’ rush defense woes, and his ability to do that will do wonders for the unit.
His wide frame and elite strength make him a near immovable object in the middle of the defensive line.
The coaching of defensive line coach Aden Durde coupled with the tutelage of veteran Johnathan Hankins should excite every Cowboys fan.
It’s the perfect recipe to improve one of the weakest spots on the roster in recent years.
There’s also a bonus level to this player.
If Mazi can generate pass rush from the interior, it would add another element to the position that Dallas hasn’t had since the days of La’Roi Glover.
Damone Clark
Entering his second season, the expectations for Damone Clark are through the roof of AT&T Stadium.
It might seem a little unfair to expect such a large leap from a sophomore 5th round pick, but it’s warranted.
Clark wasn’t projected to be a 5th round pick coming out of LSU.
A spinal issue was found by doctors at the 2022 NFL Combine that caused teams to change their original projection of the 1st or 2nd round.
The Cowboys took a chance on him in the 5th round, and it seems they will be rewarded.
Clark was predicted to redshirt his entire rookie year, but surprisingly returned in Week 8.
Despite only playing in 10 games, Clark was on the field for 59% of the defensive snaps.
He was increasingly efficient as the season progressed, and all signs point to an even larger role in 2023.
If Clark can follow in the footsteps of fellow linebacker Leighton Vander-Esch, it would give the Cowboys two stalwarts in Quinn’s 4-2-5 base lineup.
Elevated linebacker play will put this defense at another level.
Sam Williams
The success of the Cowboys’ defense relies on another second year player to make the leap.
Sam Williams was every effective in a limited amount of snaps his rookie season.
In just 27% of the defensive snaps, Williams racked up 22 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, and nine QB hits.
He did have some bone-headed penalties that come with his aggressive style of play, but that’s just a discipline issue that can be cleaned up.
A huge leap forward for Williams would mean good things for the Cowboys.
Even as a rookie, Big Sam was one of the Cowboys best run defenders, as proven by his tackles for loss mentioned above.
Taking his game up another notch in year two provides Dallas with an all around player to line up across the formation from Micah Parsons or DeMarcus Lawrence.
Currently, the right defensive end position features players that specialize in either rushing the passer or stopping the run, but not both attributes at the same time.
Sam Williams can change that.
Elevation in play from Mazi, Clark, and Williams can take the Cowboys defense to an historical level.
Chances are, that will lead to a Super Bowl, and we will all be ecstatic for that.