When the Cowboys acquired Jordan Phillips from the Giants via trade last week, common sentiment was the 6-foot-6, 341-pound defensive tackle would be in the 1-tech rotation with Mazi Smith. Size and stoutness are the primary trait of a good NFL nosetackle and since Phillips qualifies as one of the biggest and strongest humans on the planet, the assumption was understandable.
Recent statements have indicated that is in fact not the destination for the nine-year veteran. Despite the gargantuan size, the vast majority of Phillips’ career snaps have come at the 3-tech position. 3-tech is widely considered the primary pass-rushing position from the defensive interior. It’s where the Cowboys Osa Odighizuwa makes his money in Dallas, and where Phillips is slated to land on the 2024 Cowboys.
While he's had the size to play NT, he's always played more 3T at his previous stops. Shouldn't be surprised, just kind of an optical illusion seeing a 320+ due at 3T.
Think this plays into the notion that DAL has been wanting to get bigger on the inside to help vs the run.… https://t.co/MlyllSO6Yv
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) August 20, 2024
As one of the top 3-techs in the NFL, Odighizuwa is the clearcut starter inside for Dallas. His issue hasn’t been his ability on the field but rather his ability to hold up throughout an entire season. It was important for the Cowboys to find someone to take some of the weight off his shoulders. They tried with Chauncey Golston in the past and now they’re trying with the newly added Phillips.
At 280-pounds, Odighizuwa is a somewhat undersized DT in the NFL. The extra 60+ pounds Phillips offers is going to be a huge boost for Dallas run defense. Even though 3-techs are tasked with applying the majority of interior pressure, they have clear run-stopping responsibilities as well.
Mike Zimmer has a history of employing large DTs side by side on his defenses so a combination of Smith and Phillips in the same package isn’t surprising. Zimmer’s ability to dial up blitzes in the A-gaps give him that luxury. It’s an issue discussed in the past and a reason Micah Parsons has been frequently seen playing off-ball inside the box.
“I don’t care about stats, people look at stats and think you have a great game,” Phillips said. “For me as long as my linebackers are making All-Pro, Pro Bowler, I did my job for the year. They didn’t do that by themselves, I kept people off them and, on the way, I’m getting some sacks and tackles.”
The Cowboys have an explosive young LB corps heading into 2024. If they can be kept clean and allowed to operate, the sky is the limit for this bunch. Having the girth inside at tackle to occupy blockers has to be music to their ears.
Odighizuwa hasn’t been poor at that, he’s just somewhat limited with his size. Saving him for primarily passing downs won’t just put him in the best position to succeed, but it will also keep him fresh throughout the course of a season. It doesn’t mean Phillips will only play rushing downs and Odighizuwa will only play passing downs, just that Zimmer can lean to that direction when dividing snaps.
The addition of Phillips deepens the 3-tech rotation for Dallas. It gives the Cowboys another pass-rusher and pocket-collapser on the interior and also beefs up the run defense from a position typically associated with the pass rush.
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