The Cowboys “big three” that will be key to the 2021 run defense

If the Cowboys defense is going turn it around these three must step up.

The Dallas Cowboys defensive rebirth has begun, Now they are preparing to get to work to find the best players to put on the field to start the season. New defensive coordinator Dan Quinn knows that for a defense to be successful they must be able to stop the opposing team’s running game since that is the easiest and safest way to get yards if a defense is vulnerable. This unit must be able to get ball carriers on the ground early and often, and for this to happen the Cowboys are going to need to rely on their “big three” along the defensive line to get the job done.

So far the Cowboys plan has been going pretty well. They were able to add one of the big three in this year’s draft class in defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna. The 6’4, 330-pound mountain of a man looks to have been hand-picked by Quinn to anchor the middle of his defensive line on early downs. That’s a very good thing for Cowboys fans as the Cowboys haven’t really looked to bring in a player of this size and ability to affect the running game like they have this season with Bohanna. If Bohanna can pan out for Quinn and this defense, then that’s one piece that the Cowboys can rely on to clog up the middle.

The second player on the Cowboys needs to see continued growth out of second-year defensive tackle Neville Gallimore. Late last season Gallimore was given more chances on the field and he took advantage of them. Gallimore showed a knack for being able to make plays in the running game as well as affecting the quarterback in the passing game. The Cowboys will need that and hopefully Gallimore has been able to add to his game and make himself more of a force along the defensive line for the Cowboys.

The final piece to the puzzle deals with the return of defensive tackle Trysten Hill who is returning from a torn ACL. Hill is another important piece to this defensive front as he was doing well before his injury in 2020. If he is able to return at full health then the Cowboys are getting another big body that has the ability like Gallimore to affect both the running game and passing game. While he is a question mark for the Cowboys at this time, he is no doubt a part of their plans going forward.

When you put these three together you are hopeful that they will be able to slow down the opposition’s running game. Bohanna, with his size and strength, to go along with the speed and power of Gallimore and Hill could be a winning combination. If their plan is successful the Cowboys will be able to get these three big bodies going and on the same page, then they will be able to focus their concerns on a secondary that is untested heading into the season.