Tag: Chauncey Golston

Cowboys already spending 13% of cap on depleted edge rusher group

The defense end group makes up a big portion of the teams salary cap and will only get pricier. | From @ArmyChiefW3

The defensive side of the ball for the Dallas Cowboys doesn’t boast the type of contract numbers dedicated to the offense. The large cap hits defensive ends command rings true, but the available options behind them are slim. A sneaky need for this team is that a counterpart opposite of star pass rusher Micah Parsons must be found.

But Dallas has been known to be frugal and overspending on a single position group doesn’t fit their approach to team building.

Dallas was built to put pressure on the quarterback to allow their ballhawk-type secondary to cash in on the disruption. No matter the changes this defense will undergo with Mike Zimmer taking the baton from Dan Quinn, applying pressure on the opposing quarterback is something all teams want to accomplish. The remaining pass-rush production behind Parsons needs attention, but at what cost?

7 Cowboys veterans who could be on the trade block

A look at several veterans who could command a quality return in trade talks after this weekend’s exhibition finales. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Are the Dallas Cowboys a top-heavy team, or do they have the necessary depth to survive the regular-season gauntlet? It appears on paper the club has several positions where the talent is overflowing, but there are a handful where injuries could cause a major downgrade in performance. The loss of rookies DeMarvion Overshown and John Stephens in Saturday’s exhibition against Seattle proved that point.

Linebacker and tight end are two of the club’s unproven spots and thus losses there seem to be catastrophic to the club’s talent level. Still, other positions seem well prepared for the 17-week grind as long as calamity stays at bay. It feels like Dallas has the ability to move some pieces at certain positions and potentially get plug-and-play returns at other spots of need.

Dallas needs veteran depth on the offensive line, so maybe there’s a chance to flip an asset for a team looking to save cap space there and allow younger, cheaper options to ascend. Maybe there’s some veteran help for Dallas to have as a backup to the youngsters at tight end and linebacker as well. Dallas can use future draft capital to acquire said help, but player-for-player swaps can be more enticing when feasible.

Here’s a look at several players who could be on the trade block following this weekend’s preseason finale against the Raiders.

Practice report: Collins, Prescott, Goodwin, Wilson among Cowboys’ full participants

Dallas saw several key players participate fully in what coach Mike McCarthy dubbed the team’s “heaviest workload” before the season opener. | From @ToddBrock24f7

“Today is huge for us,” said Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy on Monday morning, in advance of the day’s practice session. With Dallas slated to kick off the 2021 season Thursday night, McCarthy and the team are several days ahead of their typical weekly workflow. That made the Labor Day practice a significant one, especially following the news that All-Pro right guard Zack Martin had tested positive for COVID over the weekend and would almost assuredly miss the season opener versus the Buccaneers.

But Monday’s practice- which McCarthy referred to as “our heaviest workload of the whole preparation” for Thursday’s game in Tampa- brought huge news indeed for several Cowboys players who are making their way back to game readiness.

Offensive tackle La’el Collins was a full participant on the day, as were quarterback Dak Prescott, cornerback C.J. Goodwin, edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, and safety Donovan Wilson.

Defensive end Chauncey Golston was at first listed as a full participant; the club later released a correction reclassifying the Iowa product as “limited.” Offensive lineman Ty Nsekhe was also limited in the day’s work.

Collins missed all of last season with hip issues and then was forced out of two separate practices in recent weeks with a neck stinger. His return to form will help an offensive line that will have its hands full Thursday, minus their best player and going against the defending Super Bowl champs, who just activated Ndamukong Suh off their Reserve/COVID list.

Wilson was pulled from practice on August 25th with a groin injury, and will be important to a defensive back rotation aiming to shut down Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Tom Brady’s cast of lethal pass-catchers.

Prescott, of course, is coming off last season’s horrific ankle injury and a muscle strain in his throwing shoulder that kept him out of preseason action entirely and limited for much of camp. It is no understatement to suggest that, as Prescott goes, so go the Cowboys.

Recovery from back surgery caused Lawrence to miss all of the team’s spring work and most of training camp. He was on the PUP list until August 3rd. He, too, was held out of preseason games and is eager to return to live action.

Special teams ace Goodwin missed four weeks with a bad hamstring and returned to practice just last Thursday.

Golston remains a mystery to anyone not inside the Cowboys’ facility. The rookie was selected in the third round of the draft, but started training camp on the PUP list with a hamstring malady.

Nsekhe has been bothered by a foot issue. His availability in Tampa will be important, given the focus on the offensive line and questions about whether the starters will be able to remain healthy.

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News: Some Cowboys still on roster bubble, another COVID add, considering Cam?

Several will have survived “final” cuts only temporarily to make room for returning COVID players; will the Saints use Cowboys’ home field? | From @ToddBrock24f7

Cowboys fans ended their Tuesday night with another episode of the reality series Hard Knocks, but several players lived it in true living color just hours earlier. So-called “final” roster cuts were the big story of the day, with two dozen players either released or waived. Some were axed only as a technicality and will be back within days; others made it onto the 53-man roster only as a temporary stay. We’re analyzing every move at every position as the true 2021 roster continues to take shape.

Within that, several interesting subplots. What- if anything at all- should Cam Newton’s release by the Patriots mean for the Cowboys’ backup quarterback situation? Which injured Cowboys will have to give up their roster spots to players coming off the COVID watchlist? And who just got put on that list?  The ’21 draft class continues an impressive streak in Dallas, an undrafted reality show winner gets the leading-man treatment in the incredible true story of his life, the Cowboys’ next big defensive star hooks up with one of the club’s past greats, our player profiles focus on the rising secondary, and Dez Bryant makes another clutch catch. That’s all on tap in this edition of News and Notes.

News: COVID forced late shakeup for Cowboys before Texans game, Dak’s progress, game coverage

The Cowboys were a mixed bag in the Houston loss, while COVID concerns caused a late swap for a key coach, and Dak Prescott aced pregame. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys were calling their preseason meeting with Houston a “dress rehearsal” for the regular season. Saturday night showed that some of the cast in Dallas isn’t quite ready for the curtain to go up on this show. The first half provided some encouraging moments from Cooper Rush, Tony Pollard, Cedrick Wilson, and the Cowboys defense, but Ben DiNucci’s poor performance throughout the second half overshadowed the good stuff in a 20-14 loss.

The best bit of news from Saturday night? Dak Prescott’s warmup workout should give Cowboys fans a boost. The quarterback was nearly perfect, despite reports floating around from one notable insider who is questioning his health. Speaking of health, Dan Quinn and Carlos Watkins are suddenly in the COVID-19 spotlight in what will be a developing story over the next few days and weeks. All that, plus a profile on perhaps the most mysterious Cowboys player currently on the roster, clues from Stephen Jones about the backup quarterback situation, Jason Witten kicks off his Friday night football gig, and Emmitt Smith looks to help others lead the field in his latest sporting venture. Here are the News and Notes from a busy Saturday.

Dallas Cowboys 2021 player profile: Chauncey Golston

Drafted a round earlier than most thought, Golston has some work to do to fill the envisioned role he’ll play on the defensive line. His injury isn’t making that quest easier for the rookie. | From @CDPiglet

Length, effort, hand usage, motor, leadership and versatility were all examples of words used to describe Iowa DE Chauncey Golston going into the NFL draft. Golston was a three-star recruit out of high school who didn’t get much attention from a lot of big colleges despite tallying 96 tackles and 22 sacks in his final two years of high school. The Iowa Hawkeyes were the only team to offer Golston a scholarship. After basically being red shirted for two seasons in order to add bulk to his frame, Golston started to pay dividends for the Hawkeyes as a redshirt sophomore.

Golston was extremely consistent his final three seasons at Iowa. He put up 35, 47 and 45 tackles respectively, nine for a loss as a sophomore, 9.5 as a junior, and 8.5 as a senior. He also added 3.5 sacks, three sacks, and 5.5 sacks in those final three years too. Golston wasn’t graded out as a top pick in the draft, he was more of a run-stopping edge setter, without top-tier pass rush traits. That combination isn’t look upon positively for defensive ends going into the draft, and the Dallas Cowboys were criticized in some quarters for the pick being too early for Golston even though he wasn’t drafted until the third round at pick No. 84.

The next player up in the Cowboys 2021 player profile countdown is No. 59, rookie DE Chauncey Golston.

Dan Quinn talks Parsons, Cowboys’ front 7 through first phase of training camp

Dan Quinn had good things to say about many of the Cowboys defenders in a post training camp media session. We go through the quotes on the linebackers and linemen at the top of the depth chart. | From @AsaHenry_55

From the moment Dan Quinn arrived in Dallas he has been commended by those close to the team for his infectious passion for football and clear plan for fixing one of the league’s worst defenses. The good news for Quinn is that he doesn’t need to get the Cowboys to the top of the defensive ranks, as just getting to league average would be a massive improvement upon 2020.

Quinn has been very hands-on while installing the defensive scheme and teaching new techniques, which has allowed him to get a good gauge of his new players and their progress this offseason. During Friday’s  media session the former Atlanta Falcons’ head coach gave positive reports on numerous defenders who will need to have solid seasons for Dallas to achieve its goals.

Linebacker continued to be a main topic of conversation, which was expected as many viewed the position as Dallas’ most competitive and intriguing entering training camp. The other group that will play a massive role in improving the rush defense, the defensive line, received the second-most attention.

Cowboys sign last two rookies on 1st day of 2021 training camp

A quirk in the CBA leaves most 3rd-rounders unsigned until right before camp. Here’s why two of Dallas’ three picks that round waited until the last, last minute.

The roster is complete. The Dallas Cowboys trimmed the group down on Saturday, but the core of the 90-man offseason roster has been known for months now.

Following the 2021 draft, the club agreed to terms with a series of undrafted free agents and while the rookie pool pretty much outlined the parameters of each selection’s deal, the third rounders were slow to put ink to paper. That’s to be expected, as the third rounders have the most wiggle room within the collective bargaining agreement’s rookie wage scale. As is often the case, the Cowboys and their third rounder went to the deadline as camp approached. Well, two of their three third rounders. On Wednesday morning, prior to the training camp pressers, it was announced Nahshon Wright and Chauncey Golston were finally under contract.

What took them so long? There’s a little bit of wiggle room for third-round draft picks when it comes to negotiating their rookie deals. While the first round draft picks get fully guaranteed deals, the second rounders get partially guaranteed base salaries, the third rounders do not. The only thing guaranteed is there signing bonus.

More to the point, third rounders fall in the sweet spot of the 25% rule. This rule maxes out the year-to-year raise players can get.

Each year of a CBA has a minimum salary associated with it based on years of service in the league. Third-round draft picks can increase their salary year-to-year up to the 25% rule, meaning they can make more than minimum base salary. Because of this, they are the only draft picks whose contracts aren’t already set in stone. There’s room to negotiate, and negotiate the players and teams do.

The difference can amount to as much as $500,000 over the course of the four years, and for players with no guarantees outside the initial bonus, this is a big deal.

What made things even crazier is that year by year, the average third round is getting closer and closer to making the maximum amount. Until this year, when Houston’s Nico Collins got the full 100% of the maximum. Naturally, players drafted earlier in the round than Collins’ No. 26, wanted this deal if they hadn’t signed yet.

It should be assumed the reps for Wright and Golston waged war on this level as well.

Regardless, the Cowboys entire draft class is now under contract and ready to start practice on Thursday.

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Cowboys News: Dak Prescott vs Matt Stafford debate, playing a 17-game slate

Ranking Dak Prescott and the NFC East QBs, re-tallying sack totals to 1960, bold predictions for the Cowboys, and what 17 games feels like. The latest Cowboys News and Notes.

So much brouhaha over one spot in a countdown. ESPN touched off a firestorm when it slotted Matthew Stafford over Dak Prescott in a recent ranking of NFL quarterbacks, and Cowboys Nation has thoughts. Meanwhile, NFL.com pays a backhanded compliment by calling Prescott the best passer… in the worst division for the position. Fans are wondering if a new Prescott backup is coming before training camp, and Prescott himself is showing off the new Nike cleats he’ll be endorsing. (Elsewhere, Dez Bryant showcases a pretty famous pair of cleats of his own.)

In other news, what would happen to the list of all-time sack leaders if they were an official stat prior to 1982? One outlet runs the numbers to find out. Also, dig in to what players can expect this 17-game season by looking to the eight men who have already done it. We’ve got player profiles of defenders Randy Gregory and Brent Urban, rookie Chauncey Golston could be a big-time sleeper, and there’s a bold prediction regarding rookie Osa Odighizuwa. Finally, a look at the remarkable career of tight end Mike Ditka and the integral role Tom Landry played in reinvigorating his Hall of Fame career.

Cowboys rookie Chauncey Golston wants ‘to be a swiss army knife’ for DL

Chauncey Golston adds more depth to the Cowboys pass rush. However, the former Iowa Hawkeye is willing to play multiple positions if asked.

It was no secret that the Dallas Cowboys were going to go heavy on the defensive side of the ball in the 2021 NFL draft. They did so by making eight selections on defense (had 11 picks total), with three coming on the defensive line.

Osa Odighizuwa (third round) and Quinton Bohanna (sixth round) were brought in to add depth along the interior. Chauncey Golston, a defensive end out of Iowa, was selected in the third round as a depth piece for the Cowboys outside pass rush. However, after his first mini-camp practice last Friday, Golston stated he’s ready to play wherever he’s given a chance to.

“You want to be a Swiss army knife,” Golston said, via the team’s website. “So, you want to be able wherever there’s opportunity.”

Golston only recorded two tackles as a freshman in 2017. A year later, albeit as a key reserve, he began to show his talent by racking up 35 tackles (nine tackles for loss), 3.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, an interception, and a pass defended. Over his last two seasons, Golston was very productive with 92 combined tackles (18 tackles for loss), 8.5 sacks, two interceptions, six passes defended, and a forced fumble. He would be named honorable-mention All-Big Ten in 2019 and first-team All-Big Ten in 2020.

Although he primarily rushed the passer from the edge, Golston showed his versatility during his days are Iowa by sliding inside to play defensive tackle. He talked on Friday about his willingness to play the 3-technique in nickel and dime packages as well.

“That’s how I got on the field my first time in Iowa,” Golston said. “I’ve always been trying to get on the field no matter what or where. So, if I’m on the inside, I’m just trying to make a play. At the end of the day, it’s football.”

Position flex is exactly what teams look for in today’s NFL. Golston’s quick first step and ability to bend off the edge make him a solid piece behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory. Also, he uses good power and excellent hands to shed blockers on the interior, which can add another body alongside Neville Gallimore and Trysten who each showed promise in 2020.

The former Hawkeye began his NFL journey dawning the shiny silver helmet of the Cowboys as an outside pass rusher, and he’s focused on getting the nuances of Dan Quinn’s defense down so that he can contribute right away.

“I’ll be focusing on defensive end right now,” Golston said. “That’s all we’ve gotten to so far. But overall just trying to get better at learning the defense and being a better first-step player.”

Quinn mentioned back in January that he was looking to pinpoint specific roles for players on the roster that had unique skill sets. With Golston’s ability to play multiple positions, Quinn can add his name to that list.

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