Trevon Diggs replacement is hyping up for his increased role
There is no one-for-one replacement for Trevon Diggs. He's too good, too dynamic, and the Dallas Cowboys losing him for the season to a torn ACL is a massive concern. There's no way to spin the injury as a positive for Dallas, but it does give the Boys a chance to flex their secondary depth.
Head coach Mike McCarthy preached as much to the media this week, saying he felt the opportunity for the secondary depth was right there for the taking. He addressed Diggs' replacement, DaRon Bland, specifically, saying he is extremely confident in his abilities.
Bland, for his part, is hyping himself up for the opportunity despite the dark tone in the facility after losing such a good player for the remainder of the season. Bland's role changes dramatically now to the outside cornerback role, but solidifying his role will afford him more consistency.
Bland, in his sophomore season, is grading at 77 overall on Pro Football Focus. He's allowed four receptions on eight targets and secured an interception. He's sure to get more targets here on out and get plenty of opportunity.
Micah Parsons drawing triple teams in practice
The Dallas Cowboys continue to look incredibly wise for drafting Micah Parsons after 11 teams passed on him in 2021. He has the highest weighted approximate value (per Pro Football Reference's proprietary stat) of anyone in that draft, leading the runner-up Ja'Marr Chase by 56.5 percent.
Parsons is one of the hungriest and most competitive defensive players that continues to bend the rules of how you prep and use a linebacker/edge rusher.
Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning on the unique practice flow for Parsons, where he's drawing triple teams to help prepare him for the likely triples he'll get on game days.
Rapoport said, "[Dallas treats] him like a top wide receiver. Essentially moving him around, trying to make sure that opponents do not know where he is, and [that] they can't get that double team for him."
Rapoport said that Dallas wanting to keep the mystery is the reason Dallas has not moved him to an edge rusher position full-time.
If, however, another player in the Cowboys pass-rushing attack can step up when Parsons is double teamed, it could give the Cowboys more reason to move him to the edge. Parsons opens up the game for other pass rushers. For now, they'd prefer him to have the elusiveness over counting on double teams.
Osa Odighizuwa and Dorance Armstrong Jr. both have multiple sacks. Either could be the candidate to step up while opposing lines are consumed with trying to stop Parsons.
Cowboys have more injury issues for Week 3 matchup
The Dallas Cowboys have a clear issue with their secondary after the Diggs injury this week, but on the offensive side, the Cowboys could be without several members of their offensive line.
Ian Rapoport reported that Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, and Tyler Biadasz are all questionable. Rapoport said that Smith is the most likely to go, with the latter two game-time decisions based on pregame workouts.
Matin has an 84.3, Smith a 78.8, and Biadasz a 54.3 grade per Pro Football Focus. Each have been heavily available through the first two games, so if nothing else, the risk of an unfamiliar or unready player getting an increased role could hurt the performance of the line. Prescott has had the third-lowest pressure rate so far this season and has been hurried, astonishingly, just once.
Simply put, the line has been a huge part of the 60-point differential Dallas has.
While the Cardinals figure to prove an easy win given their poor offense, their pas rush is not to be slept on. Arizona has the third-most sacks (nine) this year so far.
Dallas may need Prescott to make plays under pressure and hurried more this week than previous weeks. That's the best case scenario. Worst case is unforced errors due to penalties from inexperienced Cowboys.
