Cowboys Hot Topic: Jadeveon Clowney is already showing leadership
When the Dallas Cowboys traded Micah Parsons, edge rusher immediately became a concern. It showed in their Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but last week versus the New York Giants that blinking light became too much to ignore. Team owner Jerry Jones announced that the Cowboys were signing veteran Jadeveon Clowney right after their first victory.
The deal was agreed upon before the Cowboys’ thrilling overtime win. Once Clowney signed it on Monday, he spoke about why he wanted to come to Dallas, and another defensive lineman that was recently added to the roster had a lot to do with it.
As soon as Kenny Clark signed here, I told my agent that it would be a good move for me.
On Wednesday, Clowney was a part of his first practice as a Cowboy. Of course, this is the time for him to get accumulated to the scheme of Matt Eberflus, but the veteran went the extra mile as well. He was captured by Clarence Hill of DLLS going over techniques and coaching up some of the younger pass rushers on the Cowboys.
It may seem small to some. However, for a guy who has had the success that Clowney has (three-time Pro Bowler) to come in with the attitude of not only wanting to be in Dallas, but also to teach younger guys what he’s learned can be extremely beneficial. Iron sharpens iron, and Clowney is showing that right out of the gate.
Clowney may not give Dallas the 2018 or 2019 version of himself with the Houston Texans when he accumulated 18.5 sacks over that span, or even equal his 2023 campaign with the Baltimore Ravens when he racked up 9.5 sacks. He can set the edge against the run, which has always been his superpower, and he’s still effective rushing the passer as he was a top-20 edge last season when it came to pass-rush win rate.
The Cowboys’ defense hasn’t looked the best so far in the first two games, except on the interior defensive line. Osa Odighizuwa, Solomon Thomas, and the aforementioned Clark have played good ball. Clowney, who says he has plenty left in the tank, thinks he can give the edge group in Dallas a much-needed boost for the rest of the season.
I like the secondary. I like that they got Kenny Clark for the inside. They just needed some edge rushers and I feel like I can go out here and help this defense.
Time will tell how much of a contributor Clowney will be for the Cowboys in 2025. One thing is for certain, at the moment, it feels very promising.
Cody Mauch injury just left the Bucs between a rock and a hard place
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be 2-0 to start the year for the fifth straight season, but it's come at a price. The Bucs are getting absolutely decimated by injuries and we're only two games into the 2025 campaign. Not good.
The latest injury to hit the Bucs unfortunately also came at the expense of their offensive line, which is already a banged up unit. Right guard Cody Mauch is out for the season with a knee injury in an event that seemingly came out of nowhere.
This made the Bucs offensive line situation go from bad to worse, as Tampa is already without starting left tackle Tristan Wirfs while right tackle Luke Goedeke exited Week 2's match-up against the Texans after just two drives. Now the Bucs will be without their starting left tackle, right guard, and right tackle as they open their 2025 season at home on Sunday against the 0-2 Jets.
Bucs OL situation goes from bad to worse after Cody Mauch season-ending injury
With Wirfs, Mauch, and Goedeke out, that means Tampa's starting offensive line will probably consist of Graham Barton at left tackle, Michael Jordan at left guard, Ben Bredeson at center, either Dan Feeney or Elijah Klein at right guard, and Charlie Heck at right tackle. That is... not an ideal lineup, to say the least.
The Jets have recorded five sacks in their first two games and former first-rounder Will McDonald IV leads their defense with two of those five sacks. New York might not have a good team but Bucs fans know better than anyone how a bad offensive line can completely change the game (cough Super Bowl 55 cough). They might be on the other end of that this Sunday, unfortunately.
The good news is that while Mauch is going to miss the entire year, Wirfs should be returning in the next few weeks and the hope is that Goedeke can return by the end of the season as well. One thing is for certain though and it's that Baker Mayfield is going to be feeling the pressure week in and week out.
