NBC analyst and former Buccaneers and Colts head coach Tony Dungy believes he’d be worried about the health of the defensive line if he were involved with the Dallas Cowboys in any way, and it’s not hard to see why.
Tyrone Crawford is out for the season with a torn Achilles. Former All-Pro Jay Ratliff is out for at least the first six games of the season, after being placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a knee issue. And defensive end Anthony Spencer is in danger of missing the regular season opener after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.
“To me, the weakness will be the defensive line and getting those guys up to speed,” Dungy said, per the Dallas Morning News. “I talked to [the Cowboys coaching staff] at the Hall of Fame Game and there were a lot of good things that took place. I know Monte Kiffin stressed hustling to the football, playing physical and creating turnovers. And I saw that in the preseason.
“That defense is based on four down-linemen being able to get pressure and control the line of scrimmage. Without [Jay] Ratliff playing and [Anthony] Spencer [not] getting a lot of time in the preseason, the health of that defensive line, to me, is what I’d be worried about. If those guys can play, and they get that good rotation of 6-7 guys on the defensive line, I think they can do some great things. But to me, that’s the question mark right now.”
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