For the better part of a decade many of us around Cowboys Nation have wanted the Dallas Cowboys offense to add a speed element to the game plan. Someone who would be a threat to take it to the house from anywhere on the field or take the top off of the defense on a consistent basis. We may have finally gotten our wish, and it started last year.
Whether it was a change in mentality or something one of the new coaches was looking for, perhaps Sanjay Lal, adding speed became a focus for the Dallas Cowboys offense. They decided it needed to be addressed, and did so by drafting Michael Gallup and trading for Tavon Austin and Amari Cooper. These moves without a doubt ended up saving their 2018 season.
Although the Dallas Cowboys offense added some much-needed speed last year, it hasn't stopped them from bringing in more of these types of players. In fact, nearly all of the playmakers, rookies or free agents, have that speed element to their game.
Here's a look at the speed the Dallas Cowboys offense added recently:
| Player | Position | 40 yard dash |
|---|---|---|
| Amari Cooper | WR | 4.37 |
| Michael Gallup | WR | 4.45 |
| Randall Cobb | WR | 4.46 |
| Tony Pollard | RB/WR | 4.37 |
| Tavon Austin | RB/WR | 4.34 |
| Jon'Vea Johnson | WR | 4.38 |
| Reggie Davis | WR | 4.22 |
| Jalen Guyton | WR | 4.37 |
| Devin Smith | WR | 4.42 |
Not all of the 40 yard dash times above are official. Many of these were hand timed at Pro Days, meaning they could be a little faster or slower, making them officially unofficial. Amari Cooper for instance ran a 4.42 40 yard dash at the 2015 NFL Combine, but was clocked between 4.31 and 4.37 at Alabama's Pro Day. It's the same for many players listed above.
Regardless of whether these 40 yard dash times are official or not, they are all fast and that's what the Dallas Cowboys offense was looking for. Unfortunately, not all of these players are going to make the final 53-man roster. I think we can probably draw a line after Tony Pollard on the chart, because no one after him should be considered a roster lock as of now.
Pollard will of course make the Cowboys final 53-man roster. He is already being hyped up because of the skill set he will bring to the Dallas Cowboys offense in both the running and passing game. He should upgrade the return game as well as a kick returner. But, it's his speed sets him apart.
As you can see, the Dallas Cowboys have a plethora of speed options at the disposal now. It's up to them though to figure out how to utilize the ones that ultimately make the roster. It's going to be really exciting to see how these speed demons perform in training camp and preseason.
