3 key players the Cowboys should get back for the playoffs

Since getting drafted in 2018’s first round, Vander Esch has had a roller-coaster career on the Cowboys. As a rookie he dropped jaws, won Pro Bowl honors, and drew comparisons to the great Brian Urlacher.

After a handful of injuries, he crashed back to earth, playing just nine games in 2019 and 10 games in 2020. Suddenly, the Dallas star linebacker was looking more Brian Bosworth than Brian Urlacher. This eventually led to a declined fifth-year option from the Dallas front office and a potential rebuild at the linebacker position.

But after a bounce-back 2021 season, the Cowboys brought back their former first rounder for a more team-friendly fifth year in 2022. And Vander Esch has rewarded them immensely, becoming a key part of the Dallas run-defense and a respected on-the-field leader for defensive unit as a whole.

Therefore, it wasn’t overly surprising that losing Vander Esch in Week 15 produced near-disastrous results.

The Cowboys have played 194 def. snaps this season without LVE. And while on/off field splits can have some noise. The dropoff in success rate is *steep*:

Def. Rush success (w/ rank)
On: 65.3% 2nd
Off: 47.3% 32nd

Def. success
On: 61.5% 4th
Off: 55.8% 26th

(via @TruMediaSports) https://t.co/hjlzqHzsog

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) December 20, 2022

Since Vander Esch left the lineup, the defense has regressed. Over the last three weeks the Dallas defense has given up and average of 421 yards and 29 points, ranking the unit deep into the bottom half of the league.

Getting a smart player like Vander Esch back for the playoffs wouldn’t just elevate the linebacker position itself, but the defense as a whole.