FRISCO, Texas — At the conclusion of an NFL team’s year, it is only natural to reflect back on the previous season, the high points and the low points. Finishing with a 6-10 record, the Dallas Cowboys had a year mirroring a roller coaster. Here is a reminiscent look at the squad’s 2020 season.
Top Three Plays:
Speed Demon Trevon Diggs-
In week three against the Seahawks, Diggs showcased why the Dallas Cowboys chose him in the second round: pure speed and relentless effort. The rookie was paired with Seahawks’ wideout DK Metcalf in man coverage. Russell Wilson threw a bomb down the field to Metcalf on a deep post. He had created separation from Diggs with no safety help for Dallas and had an open shot to the end zone once he caught the ball in stride. What Metcalf did not expect was Diggs running for his life, catching up, and punching the ball out for a touchback. Diggs was beat on the route but never gave up in his pursuit to prevent the touchdown and gave the ball back to the offense.
Trickery for the Touchdown-
Not only is this play special because of the stellar execution and play call by Kellen Moore, but also because it is Dak Prescott’s final touchdown prior to his season-ending injury in week five; one he catches himself. Rather bittersweet given the later circumstances watching it back on film but nonetheless remarkable. Down by three with :23 left in the second quarter, Prescott handed the ball off to Ezekiel Elliott in shotgun, Elliott pitched it to Cedrick Wilson, who passed the ball to Prescott for the touchdown. The reverse worked beautifully and gave the Cowboys a lead before halftime. Trickery at its finest.
The Lamb Catch Seen Around the World-
This is a catch that coaches will add as a teaching tool and standard of excellence. Like Diggs’ play earlier, Lamb’s touchdown reception showcased why the Cowboys’ jumped to grab him as the 17th overall pick in the 2020 Draft. No.88’s full catch-radius was on display against Minnesota. Down by one point with 4:58 left on the clock in the second quarter, Andy Dalton threw the ball to Lamb in the corner of the end zone. With Gladney in tight coverage, Lamb looked over his shoulder for the football, twisted his body mid-air, made a one-handed catch, and hauled the ball in as he fell to the ground. An insanely difficult catch to make and Lamb made it look easy. An elite catch that no doubt signifies the potential Lamb possesses and the bright future he will have in the NFL.
Worst Three Plays:
Odell Beckham Jr. Gadget-
It is no secret that the Dallas Cowboys had a lackluster season, particularly horrendous on the defensive side of the football. This awful play encompassed a lot of the unit’s struggles in one fell swoop. In week four, the Cowboys were down by three with 3:35 left in the ballgame, Baker Mayfield flipped the ball to Odell Beckham Jr. on a fake. OBJ avoided a tackle by Aldon Smith in the backfield and then had clear room to run down the perimeter. He turned a 20-yard loss into a 51-yard touchdown run. Due to poor angles and effort by Dallas’ defensive squad, OBJ had open space down the sideline straight to the end zone.
The Double Move Roast-
A microcosm of the Cowboys’ secondary issues. In week six, down by 14 against the Cardinals, Daryl Worley tried to turn outside in the direction he thought Christian Kirk was going. Kirk then perfected a double move to break inside and create separation on the go route. Kyler Murray saw the opening downfield and launched an 80-yard bomb to Kirk for the touchdown with Worley far behind. A play that landed Worley watching from the sideline. He was later released by the Cowboys during the year.
No Stopping Lamar Jackson-
Everyone knows the dual-threat ability of Lamar Jackson. Allowing a speedy 37-yard touchdown run by the opposing quarterback is not a winning formula. At the end of the first quarter from 4th and two, Jackson exploited Dallas’ historically bad defense. Leighton Vander Esch had his eyes in the backfield and moved to the right, thinking Jackson handed off the football to the running back. LVE gave up the gap and no one was there to fill the hole and Jackson took advantage of the seam. Jaylon Smith blitzed the C-gap at the line of scrimmage and Darian Thompson, who had been at the second level initially with Vander Esch, rushed forward when the play broke down and was caught by a blocker as Jackson took off for the end zone.
Player Highlight on Offense:
Amari Cooper-
Despite a makeshift offensive line and revolving door at quarterback for a good portion of the season, Cooper’s production level stayed consistent. He finished with over 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth time in his career (six seasons) and served as a reliable weapon on offense throughout the 2020 season, with no road-game splits and with four different quarterbacks under center. He became the fourth player in franchise history to reach 90 catches and his 92 for the year were a career high. No.19’s route running is top amongst wide receivers and he fluidly created separation from corners with how quickly he shifts in and out of breaks. Cooper played the first season of his five-year, $100 million contract and he certainly lived up to and exceeded the lofty expectations of the Cowboys’ No.1 receiver.
Player Highlight on Defense:
DeMarcus Lawrence-
As an edge defender for America’s Team and the highest paid one at that, the spotlight shines a little brighter. Lawrence’s production and value are often judged by sack numbers but that does not tell the complete story. He had 6.5 sacks in 2020 but is the complete package regardless if he knocked down the quarterback or not. No.90 played at a high level, garnering a Pro Football Focus ranking of seventh among edge rushers this past year. Lawrence led the Cowboys in quarterback pressures (37), tackles for loss (7), and forced fumbles (4) in 2020. Given the team’s lackluster year, he was not named to the pro bowl but that does not mean he did not have that caliber of a year, like Cooper. He constantly collapsed the pocket around quarterbacks and brought down ball carriers to limit their yards per carry. It was a ‘learning curve’ year for the Cowboys’ defense under first-year coordinator Mike Nolan, switching from a base 4-3, two-gap approach to incorporating 3-4 looks utilizing a two-gap technique. Lawrence had a lot to battle with adjusting to a sit and hold style at the line of scrimmage, but his production level was consistently there.
Most Underrated Players:
Dalton Schultz-
After having just one reception in 2019 behind Jason Witten and Blake Jarwin on the depth chart, Shultz proved his worth in 2020. Shultz assumed the starting tight end role following Jarwin’s season-ending injury in week one and took full advantage of his opportunities. The Stanford product showcased his complete ability as a pass-catcher and blocker. He became the fourth tight end in franchise history to amass 60 receptions in a season and consistently gained yards after the catch making defenders miss in space. He was often overlooked but if he was not catching the ball himself, he was paving the way for one of his teammates to do so. He was fearless as a run and pass blocker that extended plays and sustained drives. Schultz is certainly one of the most improved and underrated players on the Cowboys’ roster and Kellen Moore will likely dial up more two-tight end sets in 2021 benefiting Schultz and Jarwin.
Donovan Wilson-
Even though Wilson did not get the starting nod until midway through the season, his physicality and jarring hits quickly turned heads. Wilson amassed 71 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and two interceptions in 2020. He was constantly around the football and brought an energy the defense had been lacking. He is an instinctive safety with an innate ability of getting to the football. He showcased his skills in coverage, as well as in the box. Wilson elevated the performance of those around him and stayed square to finish tackles in the open field to prevent yards gained by ball carriers. Not every play during the year was perfect as the defense’s ranking will attest to, but overall, Wilson’s name continued to pop up on impactful plays and his ferocity on the gridiron jumped off the tape. Definitely a secret playmaker the Cowboys unleashed in the backfield and one to keep an eye on in the future.
Promising Youngsters:
CeeDee Lamb-
Wearing the famed 88 in Dallas carries a lot of weight and Lamb did not disappoint. He made several incredible contorted catches down the stretch and carried himself like a veteran in the way he prepared. He totaled 935 receiving yards and 74 receptions in his rookie season, with two, 100-yard performances. Lamb took a lot of snaps from the slot in 2020 and worked the middle of the field with many famed catches of his own. Lamb worked with several different quarterbacks at Oklahoma and was productive with each: Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts. In 2020, he faced the challenging task of playing for four different QB’s in one season his rookie year, but he continued to progress and thrive in Moore’s offense. Lamb is aggressive at the point of attack and will likely continue to have a star-studded career.
Trevon Diggs-
The ballhawk corner impressed in his first year. Diggs missed four games due to a foot fracture and sure he had lapses in coverage at times as expected, but still led Dallas in interceptions (3) and pass breakups (15). He had two interceptions against the Eagles, becoming the first Cowboys’ rookie to accomplish the feat since Sean Lee in 2010. According to Pro Football Focus, Diggs graded out as the best rookie corner in the league from weeks seven to 17 with a coverage grade of 83.4 (1st) and a completion percentage allowed of 58.8 % (3rd). He played the ball in the air and had a promising debut year in the NFL.
