Dallas Cowboys: David Irving suspension far from devastating
Dallas Cowboys defensive end David Irving had high hopes entering the 2017 offseason, but reports of his suspension shouldn’t be crippling news.
By most accounts, the Dallas Cowboys were primarily focused on addressing their pass rush this offseason. Their inability to get after opposing quarterbacks was a hindrance all year in 2016, even on the way to a 13-3 record. That’s why they spent their first-round pick on defensive end Taco Charlton and why they’ve focused on building a serviceable rotation around him.
Unfortunately, it seems that the Cowboys might be without one of those pieces to start 2017. Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan reported on Tuesday that Irving met with team officials in Dallas regarding a failed drug test. As a result, he will face a four-game suspension to start the 2017 season. Also reported by Fisher, he will appeal the failed test, so a suspension isn’t a certainty just yet.
There was a bit of buzz about Irving this offseason and the possibility that he could help anchor the pass rush. Like everyone else at defensive end for the Cowboys last season, he was wildly inconsistent in his performance. At the same time, though, his flashes and positive moments off the edge were more impressive than anyone else’s on the roster.
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Subsequently, the hope that adding more stability to the position and another year of progression would thus allow Irving to take a step forward. It’s clear watching him that, when healthy and focused, he’s a force on the end. Yet that’s obviously going to be harder to develop if he’s out for the first four games of the season.
With that being said, Cowboys fans shouldn’t consider the suspension a devastating blow. Despite the shortcomings of the Dallas pass rush a year ago, they’re in a much better position entering 2017.
Obviously Charlton is part of that, but he’s not the whole of it. The hope is that Charles Tapper will also add to the unit as he gets to take the field in the rotation. What’s more, DeMarcus Lawrence having a full 16 games of work will hopefully allow him to take a step forward this season. Throw in players like Benson Mayowa and the expensive Tyrone Crawford, and there’s hope for the crop of defensive ends without Irving in the fold.
More importantly, four games isn’t necessarily a death sentence. Yes, it’s one-quarter of the 2017 season. However, there are still 12 games beyond that when Irving can make an impact. At just 23 years old, there’s still benefit from him working in the offseason and coming back for those 12 games.
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So while the suspension is obviously both unfortunate and not ideal, it’s not a massive deal for the Cowboys. They’ve made prudent moves on the defense to ensure they’re better in 2017. Yes, it may ramp up the pressure on other players to step up. But in terms of the overall prospects of what the defense and the pass-rush is capable of, Irving’s suspension ultimately affects it minimally.