The Dallas Cowboys are banged up. Injuries continue to steadily mount across the defense, with the secondary taking the brunt of it. This has forced the team to bring in more resources from the outsideto help stop the bleeding.
One injury that isn’t drawing as much attention is defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard. The veteran suffered a calf strain against the Ravens on Sunday and is expected to be out for three to five weeks. Unlike the hits to the secondary, this one doesn’t seem as hurtful because
the Cowboys still have a very strong interior defensive line unit led by Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Otito Ogbannia.
That’s a little comforting as the big three had a better day versus the Ravens. Williams and Clark have drawn some heat early as they’re both attached to big contracts. Fans expect big things. Both looked sharper against the Ravens, as did the low-cost free agent acquisition Ogbannia, who continues to toss blockers aside and close down running lanes. Having these three means the starting unit remains intact.
But the loss of Bullard isn’t as inconsequential as it may seem. The veteran has been the perfect signing for this defense. He’s a savvy defender with smarts and toughness, and adds more heavy hands to the rotation. He is coming off one of the biggest plays of the year for the defense with a huge fourth-down stop when he and fellow DT teammate Ogbannia didn’t give way to the Ravens’ offensive line, causing running back Derrick Henry to be tackled in the backfield and resulting in a turnover on downs.
Bullard is an important part of this unit because defensive coordinator Christian Parker relies on a deep rotation of interior defenders. In Parker’s defense this group must hold gaps while battling double-teams. It’s been somewhat effective as teams are having less success running the ball inside on the Cowboys. Sure, the total rushing yards allowed aren’t great, but that’s because they’ve surrendered 50+ yards to each starting quarterback in all three games so far, but if you look at how they’ve contained the starting running backs, the rushing stats tell a different story.
Week 1: Cam Skattebo = 4.5 yards per carry
Week 2: Jacory Croskey-Merritt = 3.8 yards per carry
Week 3: Derrick Henry = 3.4 yards per carry
They’re improving. And it helps to have fresh guys always available so the group doesn’t miss a beat on any given series. Last week against the Ravens, the snap count distribution went as follows:
75% Quinnen Williams
70% Kenny Clark
62% Otito Ogbannia
36% Jonathan Bullard
23% LT Overton
This means everyone is likely to take on a little more of the workload while Bullard is out, with the rookie fourth-round pick LT Overton being the most obvious beneficiary of playing time. Overton has excellent base strength with a never-ending motor to chase down ball carriers. He also has 33 1/4 inch arms, giving him added range to attack.
Overton might not be the only guy getting more opportunities. Undrafted free agent rookie Tommy Dunn was a fan favorite in the preseason for continually making plays, to the point where some thought he could make the 53-man roster despite the team already being so deep at the position. He didn’t, but he cleared waivers and was stashed on the Cowboys’ practice squad. This 305-pound youngster has nice get-off, disciplined hands, and very good functional strength to shut down interior gaps. He’s a great depth piece, and we could see his debut really soon.
Over the next month or so, the Cowboys will continue to be tested as they attempt to fill voids left from all their injuries. While handling the depleted secondary remains a daunting task, they are more equipped to handle the loss of Bullard. It just means more opportunities for their rookies, and if these young defensive tackles can replicate his blue-collar efficiency, the defense should be able to keep its interior defense strong.
