Cowboys Defense: 4 NFL Practice Squad Players with Potential

The Dallas Cowboys head into week seven of the NFL season with a 2-3 record and third place in the NFC East. Disappointing would be an understatement. Many of the team’s struggles have come from the defensive side of the ball. Stopping the run, especially, has been a difficult task for Rod Marinelli’s defense.

Over the past few days I’ve been scouting some other team’s practice squads. While a lot of people will roll their eyes at the thought of signing a player off another team’s practice squad, don’t forget that David Irving–maybe the Cowboys’ most disruptive defensive lineman–was signed off of Kansas City’s practice squad just a few years ago.

There were a few players who caught my eye in this process that I was a big fan of pre-draft. They could help this team at a few different positions on defense.

DT Antwaun Woods, Tennessee Titans

Antwaun Woods was a draft crush of mine in the 2016 NFL Draft. After going undrafted in the ’16 Draft, the Tennessee Titans signed him as an undrafted free agent. He plays nose tackle in the Titans’ 3-4 defense, which I think is limiting his potential.

Woods is a shorter defensive tackle at only 6-foot-0, 320lbs. but he plays with good leverage and power in his lower half. He would fit in great as a one-technique in the Cowboys’ 4-3 scheme.

The Cowboys currently have Brian Price as the only true one-technique, but Woods is a much better option if you ask me. His power, explosiveness off the ball, and ability to hold up his man at the point of attack would help the Cowboys run defense immediately.

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OLB Joshua Perry, Indianapolis Colts

When I found Joshua Perry on the Colts’ practice squad, it was a bit shocking to learn he wasn’t already on an active roster. So I decided to go back and watch some film.

If you’re looking for a linebacker to help stop the run, Perry is your guy.

At 6-foot-4, 254 lbs, Joshua Perry is a big bodied thumper in the middle of the field. Likely fitting in as a MIKE in the Cowboys’ 4-3 scheme, he would be a good rotational linebacker who is probably a two-down player for now.

Perry has good vision, range, and instincts that allow him to make plays at the line of scrimmage and sideline to sideline.

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LB Connor Harris, Arizona Cardinals

One thing this Cowboys defense lacks is consistent tackling. Connor Harris was one of the NCAA’s best tacklers at the linebacker position.

Harris isn’t overly athletic, but he has a motor that doesn’t stop running and a tremendous nose for the football.

Harris isn’t a guy who will help much in coverage, but when it comes to stopping the run, he can help this football team as a two-down rotational player at all three linebacker spots.

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EDGE Tyrone Holmes, Cleveland Browns

Tyrone Holmes is a guy who had tons of success in college, but has also had some success in the NFL. After being drafted and released by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016, he ended up with the Browns and was on the 53 man roster for 11 games.

In a limited role during his rookie season, Holmes registered a sack and six tackles. The one knock on Holmes coming out of Montana was if he’d be able to hold up setting the edge and playing the run. Admittedly, that’s not his strength, but rushing the passer is.

Tyrone Holmes is a weak side defensive end and the Cowboys are currently playing Tyrone Crawford–a defensive tackle–at WDE. Holmes is a quick twitch-style rusher with great explosion off the ball and the ability to bend the edge to get to the quarterback.

Currently, the Cowboys only have DeMarcus Lawrence, Damontre Moore, Benson Mayowa, Taco Charlton, and Tyrone Crawford as defensive ends, and Crawford may be making a move back to defensive tackle to help that position out. Holmes would be a good depth player and offer some juice of the edge.