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Dallas Cowboys: 3 Burning questions heading into Week 1 vs. Giants

By Randy Gurzi

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 29: Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore of the Dallas Cowboys on the sideline against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter of a NFL preseason game at AT&T Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 29: Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore of the Dallas Cowboys on the sideline against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter of a NFL preseason game at AT&T Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 30: Antwaun Woods #99 of the Dallas Cowboys intercepts and carries the ball during the first quarter of the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 30: Antwaun Woods #99 of the Dallas Cowboys intercepts and carries the ball during the first quarter of the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

3. How will the D-Line hold up?

The Cowboys were defense that was dominant at times, but you would never know it based on the way the Los Angeles Rams ran all over them in the playoffs. Both Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson had their way and that led to another early playoff exit for Dallas.

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Looking back at the team they were fielding at the time, Dallas really overachieved. Their lone star was DeMarcus Lawrence and their interior tackles were Amalie Collins and Antwaun Woods.

This season, those three remain but Dallas added another stud pass rusher in Robert Quinn. Unfortunately, Quinn won’t be there in Week 1 and Week 2 as the league suspended him for taking his seizure medication. On top of that, Lawrence is still coming back from shoulder surgery and there’s no telling how he will look, even though he’s adamant he’s fine.

This could mean there will be a heavy dose of Kerry Hyder and Dorrance Armstrong this weekend. Both played well in the preseason, but this is a different animal on Sunday. They’ll need to be on their best in order to keep the defense humming.

As for Woods and Collins, they have to go out and prove 2018 was no fluke. They do have some reinforcements with second-round pick Trysten Hill and free-agent addition Christian Covington, but most of the success of the interior line will be on the starters.

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