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Cowboys Defense

Well, here we are in the off-season for the NFL and all teams are heading towards free agency and the draft, perpetually preparing for bettering the roster and the team.  I read an interesting article recently that the Dallas Cowboys have actually drafted more defensive players than offensive players in recent drafts.  They have been spending their premium picks, however, on offense.  Now it seems to be time to reverse that trend and start building the defensive front.

Something important to keep in mind as we prepare for 2017 is that the Cowboys drafted two young defenders last year who never saw the field.  One, Charles Tapper, shows great speed and seems to have a pretty high ceiling as a DE in Dallas's 4-3, but it remains to be seen if he will live up to the hopes and expectations from the coaches and front office.  He was a fourth round pick last year, so chances are good that he could materialize and be a difference-maker on this defense.

The other player is, of course, Jaylon Smith.  What a beast he could be in the middle of Dallas's defense!  He seems to be coming back to full health, if one judges based on the limited videos being released of him in his training.  He also seems to have added some muscle this year, which should only make him even more of a tackling machine once he sees the field.

With the addition of a top-tier pass rusher or two in the 2017 draft, and a solid cornerback...or two...PLUS the addition of Tapper and Smith, the Cowboys' defense will be getting a great influx of talent at positions of need.  It could be the start of a new golden age of the Dallas Cowboys, and all of us who root for the silver and blue are excited at that prospect!

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