Hazardous Conditions: Workload questions key for these Cowboys

The Cowboys are a veteran-led team coming off back-to-back-to-back, 12-win seasons. At this point, starting positions are locked up and rotations and expected workloads are generally set. Dallas’ 1-tech position isn’t so clearcut.

The defensive tackle spot that lines up in A-gaps goes into the 2024 season as a rather fluid situation. The hierarchy is in place, but the workload and defined roles are yet to be determined. Overall ability and job performance will be an important factor in how the Cowboys divvy up opportunities, but conditioning may ultimately dictate workloads and snap share.

Mazi Smith, the Cowboys top draft pick from 2023, has been handed the starting job based largely on his draft pedigree. He massively underachieved as a rookie but since he has the tangible traits of a good 1-tech, the team is committed to give him every opportunity to succeed as a starter.

Training camp went as expected for the young Michigan DT. Smith came to camp bulked up and motivated, which led to far better results on the field than what happened a year ago. An allergy reaction cost him a preseason game, but overall Smith had a positive summer.

After testing some young and inexpensive depth options in camp, the Cowboys decided to invest in the veteran stability of Linval Joseph. The 6-foot-4, 329-pound 1-tech has familiarity with Mike Zimmer and his defense and provides a fairly clean fit behind Smith. Signed late in August, Joseph will take some time getting into game shape. At nearly 36-year-old, it’s unknown how many defensive snaps the 14-year veteran can give Dallas, but his, and Smith’s, conditioning will likely play a big part.

Smith, roughly 13 years his younger, has legitimate conditioning questions surrounding his workload. He only averaged 18 snaps per game as a rookie and looked noticeably less effective as games progressed. With added weight on his frame in 2024, Smith still has stamina issues to overcome and shouldn’t be expected to carry a traditional workload for a starting DT.

Joseph is new to the fold in Dallas but if he can pick up where he left off the past two seasons, the Cowboys should be able to adequately fill the snaps at 1-tech with a 50-50 split between the two. Joseph played in 15 games over the last two seasons, averaging 23 defensive snaps per game. A combined 40 snaps between the two should be enough to cover the Cowboys since in obvious passing situations there won’t be a 1-tech DT on the field.

The Cowboys want Smith to succeed, and they plan to give him as many snaps as he can effectively handle in 2024. How many that proves to be will likely come down to his conditioning and ability to hold up late into a game.

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