The Dallas Cowboys were considered underdogs by Vegas and many other betting sites before week 1. That underdog status brought many doubters out of the woodwork, predicting a loss to the Cleveland Browns.
I’m here to say that the doubters can take those doubts and throw them in the Ohio River after the performance the Cowboys put on in Huntington Bank Field. Let’s take a look at those concerns, and how the Cowboys dispelled them on national television.
The Dallas Cowboys proved the doubters wrong this past Sunday in Cleveland.
Rookies
One of the biggest concerns heading into the matchup in Cleveland was the fact that three Cowboys’ rookies were being thrown into the fire as week 1 starters, and a fourth was pegged as a heavy contributor to the defensive line rotation.
Each of the four proved the doubters wrong.
Tyler Guyton
The biggest concern of the four rookies was definitely Tyler Guyton. Primarily a right tackle at Oklahoma, Guyton made the switch to the left side once he was drafted by the Cowboys. The massive human drew the task of replacing another massive human, Tyron Smith, who left in free agency to the New York Jets.
On top of the pressure of his first start at left tackle, Guyton had the added pressure of blocking the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the majority of the game. Myles Garrett is an absolute monster on the edge, and Guyton held his own with a little help from an occasional chip block from the running back.
At the end of the day, Garrett was credited with three pressures and one sack that led to a forced fumble. Whether it was a fumble or an incomplete pass is irrelevant. The point is that Garrett only touched Dak Prescott once in the entire game when Guyton was the primary blocker.
Cooper Beebe
Another rookie making his first NFL start at a different position was Cooper Beebe. Beebe hasn’t played center since he was in Pee Wee football, and spent most of his time at guard while playing his college ball at Kansas State.
Beebe, with his proud parents in attendance, gave up zero pressures in pass coverage. That’s an impressive stat when players like Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris were lined up across from him for the majority of the game.
Dalvin Tomlinson did get home up the middle of the line to sack Prescott with a helmet to his chest, but the film showed Tomlinson was actually Zack Martin’s responsibility on the play.
More good things to come for Beebe as he develops at his new position.
Caelen Carson
After doubting the offensive line, doubters then shifted their focus (me included) to the matchup on the outside between rookie CB Caelen Carson and former Cowboys WR Amari Cooper.
Cooper is widely considered one of the best route runners in the NFL. Guarding him one on one is a daunting task for even veteran cornerbacks, so you can appreciate the concern of a rookie stepping in.
Carson jumped an out route to Cooper on the first ball thrown in his direction and nearly intercepted it. Later in the game in zone coverage, Carson played it perfectly and nearly came down with the interception right off of his fingertips.
Cooper finished the day with two receptions for 16 yards on nine targets with Carson as the primary defender. The walking seatbelt can keep that nickname after his performance in week 1.
Marshawn Kneeland
Although Marshawn Kneeland won’t get credit for the start, he was a key contributor to the defensive line rotation that helped hold the Browns to 3.3 yards per play and six sacks.
Kneeland finished the game with three tackles, two quarterback hits, and a batted ball at the line of scrimmage. Not shown in the basic stat sheets is the fact he was credited with six pressures and came in near the top of the league along with several other Cowboys’ defensive linemen.
Returning Injuries
The Cowboys got some terrible news about All-Pro CB DaRon Bland before the season even started. A stress fracture requiring surgery meant the NFL single-season record holder for interceptions returned for touchdowns is out for 6-8 weeks.
A rookie cornerback taking his place was just the first of the worries about the boundary cornerbacks.
Trevon Diggs
Trevon Diggs tore his ACL after landing awkwardly in practice before a week 3 matchup in Arizona during the 2023 season. Nearly 12 months of rehabilitation later, and the concern was if he would ever be the same player again after watching RT Terence Steele and former WR Michael Gallup go through the same ordeal.
Those questions were quickly answered when Diggs looked like his former self, even intercepting his first pass of the season. Browns’ QB Deshaun Watson tested Diggs early, but soon found out throwing in his direction wasn’t a good idea.
Diggs’ ACL appears to be fine, and I expect another All-Pro season from the ball-hawking cornerback.
DeMarvion Overshown
LB DeMarvion Overshown essentially redshirted his rookie season after tearing his ACL in a preseason game in Seattle last year. He got mental reps all year, but there was concern if his speed would return after the injury.
Well, you can take those concerns and throw them out the window because Overshown was all over the field in the first regular season action of his career. The Texas product recorded a team-high 11 tackles, one tackle for loss, two quarterback hits, and the first sack of his young career.
Overshown was shot out of a missile in pursuit of a scrambling Watson, and took him down to the turf before Watson even knew he was there. If those types of plays continue, the Cowboys linebacker corps is in good hands for years to come.