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2023 Dallas Cowboys Preview
A solid 12-5 regular season record catapulted the Cowboys to a wild card round win over Tampa, before losing to San Francisco in the divisional game. Their roster construction is virtually the same as ever, with one surprising, but not unwelcome addition.
Total White players on 53-man roster: 13
Total White starters: 4
Starters listed in bold.
OFFENSE
QB: Cooper Rush
RB: Hunter Luepke
TE: Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot, Luke Schoonmaker
C: Tyler Biadasz
G: Zack Martin, TJ Bass
T: Matt Waletzko
DEFENSE
LB: Leighton Vander Esch
SPECIALISTS
K: Brandon Aubrey
P: Bryan Anger
LS: Trent Sieg
RESERVE/INJURED
T: Josh Ball
WR: David Durden
PRACTICE SQUAD
C: Sean Harlow, Brock Hoffman
TE: Sean McKeon
As is becoming a normal yearly occurrence, Cooper Rush quietly and effectively handled the Dallas offense when called upon. In 2022, he went 4-1 as a starter, proving himself a competent steward of Kellen Moore's offense. Thank goodness then, that Dallas was able to pry hilarious bust and generally inept "project" Trey Lance away from San Francisco. For after all, the label of "upside" is truly the life preserver that keeps incompetent quarterbacks afloat in today's NFL.
Dallas shocked many by including RB Hunter Luepke on their 53-man roster (albeit at the fringe). A two-time FCS National Champion and 3-time first team all-Missouri Valley Conference "fullback" at North Dakota State, Luepke made some waves in the preseason both rushing and receiving out of single-back sets. There is some precedent for Mike McCarthy utilizing similarly-skilled white players in this manner: power runners like Aaron Ripkowski and John Kuhn were occasionally pressed into service as primary backs on his Green Bay squads. Hopefully Luepke is able to, at minimum, carve out an H-back-type role and further solidify his spot on the roster. A handful of rushing attempts might be too much to ask for, but hey, we can dream, right?
Tyler Biadasz and Zack Martin both again return as starters on the Dallas O-line. Martin is an absolute ironman, a veteran of nine seasons and a member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team. The 32-year old Indiana native started all 17 games in 2022, and looks to anchor their typically strong offensive line. North Dakota's Waletzko and Oregon's Bass are depth linemen.
With talented TE Dalton Schultz departing for Houston, the backups from last year all slide forward a spot. Ferguson and Hendershot were both rookies last year, but Ferguson looks to have won the starting spot to begin the season. With only 30 career receptions between the two, one of them will likely have to stand out to cement a starting spot. Rookie Luke Schoonmaker is the new addition from Michigan and contributes on special teams.
Standing alone on the defensive side of the ball is Leighton Vander Esch, returning to Dallas on a two-year deal in the offseason. Vander Esch put up his typical solid numbers in the 14 games that he played in 2022 with 90 tackles. Unfortunately, his neck issues resurfaced after an injury in week 14, and he missed the balance of the regular season, though he was able to return for the playoffs and record 20 tackles through those two games. When healthy, Vander Esch checks all of the tangible and intangible boxes you're looking for in a star linebacker. Here's wishing him health in 2023, and that his worrisome neck issues don't cut short a great career.
Practice squad features the obligatory white depth linemen and one tight end. Former FCS and Division II star wide receiver David Durden tore his ACL in the preseason, and was placed on IR. The talented Durden played a year of professional baseball in the Gulf Coast League in 2017, before turning his attention to football full time.
Edit: Added practice squad players.
A solid 12-5 regular season record catapulted the Cowboys to a wild card round win over Tampa, before losing to San Francisco in the divisional game. Their roster construction is virtually the same as ever, with one surprising, but not unwelcome addition.
Total White players on 53-man roster: 13
Total White starters: 4
Starters listed in bold.
OFFENSE
QB: Cooper Rush
RB: Hunter Luepke
TE: Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot, Luke Schoonmaker
C: Tyler Biadasz
G: Zack Martin, TJ Bass
T: Matt Waletzko
DEFENSE
LB: Leighton Vander Esch
SPECIALISTS
K: Brandon Aubrey
P: Bryan Anger
LS: Trent Sieg
RESERVE/INJURED
T: Josh Ball
WR: David Durden
PRACTICE SQUAD
C: Sean Harlow, Brock Hoffman
TE: Sean McKeon
As is becoming a normal yearly occurrence, Cooper Rush quietly and effectively handled the Dallas offense when called upon. In 2022, he went 4-1 as a starter, proving himself a competent steward of Kellen Moore's offense. Thank goodness then, that Dallas was able to pry hilarious bust and generally inept "project" Trey Lance away from San Francisco. For after all, the label of "upside" is truly the life preserver that keeps incompetent quarterbacks afloat in today's NFL.
Dallas shocked many by including RB Hunter Luepke on their 53-man roster (albeit at the fringe). A two-time FCS National Champion and 3-time first team all-Missouri Valley Conference "fullback" at North Dakota State, Luepke made some waves in the preseason both rushing and receiving out of single-back sets. There is some precedent for Mike McCarthy utilizing similarly-skilled white players in this manner: power runners like Aaron Ripkowski and John Kuhn were occasionally pressed into service as primary backs on his Green Bay squads. Hopefully Luepke is able to, at minimum, carve out an H-back-type role and further solidify his spot on the roster. A handful of rushing attempts might be too much to ask for, but hey, we can dream, right?
Tyler Biadasz and Zack Martin both again return as starters on the Dallas O-line. Martin is an absolute ironman, a veteran of nine seasons and a member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team. The 32-year old Indiana native started all 17 games in 2022, and looks to anchor their typically strong offensive line. North Dakota's Waletzko and Oregon's Bass are depth linemen.
With talented TE Dalton Schultz departing for Houston, the backups from last year all slide forward a spot. Ferguson and Hendershot were both rookies last year, but Ferguson looks to have won the starting spot to begin the season. With only 30 career receptions between the two, one of them will likely have to stand out to cement a starting spot. Rookie Luke Schoonmaker is the new addition from Michigan and contributes on special teams.
Standing alone on the defensive side of the ball is Leighton Vander Esch, returning to Dallas on a two-year deal in the offseason. Vander Esch put up his typical solid numbers in the 14 games that he played in 2022 with 90 tackles. Unfortunately, his neck issues resurfaced after an injury in week 14, and he missed the balance of the regular season, though he was able to return for the playoffs and record 20 tackles through those two games. When healthy, Vander Esch checks all of the tangible and intangible boxes you're looking for in a star linebacker. Here's wishing him health in 2023, and that his worrisome neck issues don't cut short a great career.
Practice squad features the obligatory white depth linemen and one tight end. Former FCS and Division II star wide receiver David Durden tore his ACL in the preseason, and was placed on IR. The talented Durden played a year of professional baseball in the Gulf Coast League in 2017, before turning his attention to football full time.
Edit: Added practice squad players.
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