NFC East

Dallas Cowboys: DT Gerald McCoy “Loves” Defensive Scheme

By Matthew Lenix

Posted on July 3, 2020

The Dallas Cowboys came into this offseason with several question marks at key positions. As we know in the game of football, it all starts on the line of scrimmage. For years, defensively, the Cowboys have ignored the importance of building the interior of their defensive line to complement DeMarcus Lawrence rushing from the edge.

Unlike previous offseasons, the Cowboys didn’t wait to plug this particular hole with just another guy, instead, they brought in one of the league’s best at the defensive tackle position. Gerald McCoy, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, will be the Cowboys new lead dog on the interior defensive line.

McCoy has been one of the league’s most disruptive defensive tackles for quite some time. Since entering the NFL in 2010, he’s been selected to six Pro Bowls and made four All-Pro teams as well. He’s compiled 59.5 sacks over that span, including at least five sacks in every season since 2012. His 37 tackles in 2019 were his second-most over the last five seasons and his seven stops behind the line of scrimmage were his third-most over that same time frame.

So as you can see, even ten years in, McCoy is still causing sleepless nights for offensive coordinators league-wide. Now, he’ll get to display his skills in new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s scheme, which will feature three and four-man fronts.

McCoy is eager to get started, as he relayed to DallasCowboys.com awhile back.

“I talked to the coaches a little bit. (The scheme) fits me,” McCoy said. “Everything they want to do is everything I love to do. And they’re going to let me be me. They’re bringing me in to be me – get up the field, disrupt the passer, get in the backfield and make plays. That’s what I love to do and that’s what they’re going to allow me to do.”

The Cowboys have agreed to a 3-year deal with veteran DT Gerald McCoy, per @toddarcher. McCoy had 5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss and 13 QB hits last year in 16 starts for Carolina. The 3rd overall pick in the 2010 draft has been to 6 Pro Bowlspic.twitter.com/p5QEoxJ6OI

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 18, 2020

McCoy won’t be engaged in battle by himself though, as his former teammate in Carolina, Dontari Poe, will play alongside him as the team’s top guy at the 1-tech. Adding his nearly 350-pound frame, and his Pro Bowl/All-Pro credentials to complement McCoy, give the Cowboys an opportunity to be very formidable on the interior, which will assist Lawrence and the other edge rushers.

The Dallas Cowboys had one of if not the best offseason they’ve had in a long time and it got kick-started with the addition of McCoy. If he’s anything close to the player he’s been throughout his career the Cowboys will be much better on the interior defensive line in 2020.