Gerald McCoy injury will hurt, not destroy Dallas Cowboys defense
Gerald McCoy went down with a knee injury at Dallas Cowboys training camp.
The Dallas Cowboys defense has been a topic of criticism this offseason, largely centering around the departures of cornerback Byron Jones and defensive end Robert Quinn in free agency. While not a perfect unit, though, the team did a nice job of replenishing the talent on that side of the ball. Not only did they recently sign defensive end Everson Griffen but had also signed veteran defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, among others, as well.
After a short stint in Carolina, McCoy figured to be an integral part of the Cowboys defensive line in 2020. Unfortunately, Monday’s practice at The Star in Frisco might have brought that to a halt. At camp, McCoy went down with a knee injury. Cowboys COO Stephen Jones later confirmed to reporters that McCoy had suffered a ruptured quad, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Losing McCoy hurts. It’s clear that Dallas was counting on the veteran to revamp the defensive line. But at the same time, it may not be a death blow.
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Losing Gerald McCoy hurts the Cowboys defense but doesn’t kill it.
One of the reasons fans and analysts were so excited for McCoy in Dallas was that he brought the exact type of presence the team has been looking for over the past few years. He’s a pass-rushing defensive tackle who can consistently get penetration up the middle. Not having that this season as they’d hoped is going to be tough to swallow.
Having said that, losing McCoy isn’t going to sink the 2020 season for the Cowboys. No, Dontari Poe isn’t going to fill his fellow free-agent newcomer’s shoes. But Dallas staple Tyrone Crawford, a third-round pick from the 2021 draft could.
Crawford is the forgotten man on the Dallas defensive line, largely because he spent much of last season injured. Having said that, coaches have long been enamored with him because of his versatility to move inside and outside on the line. But with this latest injury to McCoy, the plan should be simple: Move Crawford to a full-time inside role.
In the simplest terms, 2019 second-round pick Trysten Hill has shown no signs of being ready to contribute in a meaningful way without McCoy in the fold. And while rookie Neville Gallimore is intriguing, he’s more of a preferred backup to Poe. Crawford, however, can slot into that penetration 3-tech role and be serviceable.
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The Cowboys defense is going to be worse with Crawford taking McCoy’s place. At the same time, it’s not going to be a substantial dropoff. A unit that had some optimism brewing in the wake of the Griffen signing shouldn’t have anyone discouraged. There is a contingency plan in place and a quality one at that.