Since the embarrassing loss to the Green Bay Packers, all we have heard from Cowboys Nation is how the Dallas Cowboys can’t stop the run.
Aaron Jones and the Packers ran through the Cowboys’ defense like a hot knife through butter back in January. The Cowboys’ actions this offseason have not done much to convince the fanbase they are willing to fix it.
Their solution to fix the rush defense was to draft a 7th round player from Auburn and refuse to sign Johnathan Hankins back to the team. Sprinkle in some undrafted free agents, and their efforts were complete.
Just last week, they signed Jordan Phillips, but he surprised us by revealing that he was not signed to play the 1-tech position along the defensive line. Instead, he provides mass to the 3-tech position behind Osa Odighizuwa.
At the conclusion of camp in Oxnard, California, the Dallas Cowboys announced the signing of another defensive tackle, Linval Joseph. He is a familiar face to DC Mike Zimmer, and will certainly come in specifically to play the 1-tech position.
What Does This Mean For Linval Joseph?
For Linval Joseph, this means he will come back to an NFL team for a 15th season. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the 2010 NFL Draft from East Carolina University.
After leaving the Giants at the expiration of his rookie contract, Joseph found a home in Minnesota under current Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer. In 6 seasons, the behemoth defensive tackle accumulated 32 tackles for loss, 51 quarterback hits, and 15.0 sacks.
He also earned the only two Pro Bowl nods of his career during his time in Minnesota (2016, 2017). Joseph would then spend a couple of years as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Coming to Dallas means Linval Joseph will play for his third NFC East team in his career. He was drafted by the Giants and won a Super Bowl there. After his stint in Los Angeles, he also spent one season with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he started eight games.
Joseph won’t be expected to return to Pro Bowl form, but the Cowboys hope he has enough left in the tank to make a difference in limited snaps.
What Does This Mean For the Defense?
In short, it means they got bigger. Size at the defensive tackle position has been lacking for the Cowboys for several years. Last season, they addressed it by drafting Mazi Smith in the first round.
Smith has yet to produce as a first round pick should, but he has shown development throughout training camp while still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Joseph can be a valuable veteran presence to help the young player improve.
In an article published Tuesday, I talked about free agents the Cowboys could add, and Linval Joseph was at the top of my list. Not necessarily to come in and be the starter, but because he knows Zimmer’s system at the position better than anyone else out there.
The purpose of the signing is to provide size and depth at a needed spot on the defense, but it is more about helping the young Mazi Smith develop into what the Cowboys hoped he could be when they decided to draft him.
It is similar to how Eric Kendricks was brought in as a veteran presence in the linebacker room. Kendricks has helped speed up the development of young players like Damone Clark, DeMarvion Overshown, and Marist Liufau.
Both Linval Joseph and Jordan Phillips are around 330 pounds each at their playing weight. The Cowboys haven’t had that type of size in the middle of their defense for as long as I can remember.
I’m excited to see how they can help improve the defensive line with their size and veteran savvy, and you should be excited, too.