3 Reasons Quinnen Williams’ Addition Is Not Enough For Cowboys to Reach Playoffs

Jerry Jones swung big, both literally and figuratively, as he landed 303 lb Quinnen Williams in a trade with the New York Jets just hours before the deadline.

For weeks, the owner-cum-GM was under increasing pressure to bring reinforcements for the Dallas Cowboys’ defense. He tried to find the right deal and first landed linebacker Logan Wilson, before snagging the defensive tackle.

On paper, the assets that went to the Jets might seem as if the franchise fleeced Jones. However, when one sums up all the parts of Micah Parsons‘ trade, it looks as if the 83-year-old ended up winning the trade deadline.

Quinnen Williams brings help both in pass rush and run-stopping scenarios. However, some have expressed concerns after he had a lackluster season so far. However, the presence of defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, who previously helped the big d-tackle earn his 3 Pro Bowl selections, could help spark a resurgence in form.

Alongside Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa, the Cowboys have a defensive line that could cause a lot of problems. That, though, might not be enough for the franchise to reach the playoffs.

Quinnen Williams cannot change the Cowboys’ defensive woes alone

With Kenny Clark manning the middle, Quinnen Williams may play on one side of the front 3, with Osa Odighizuwa playing opposite him. This way, the Cowboys can swap in pass rushers at will, or even change their linebacker formations.

Those combinations could wreak havoc on the opposing team’s offensive line. That should be the way they could be approaching games. However, that is easier said than done. Teams will be aware that most of the pressure will come from the Cowboys’ front 7. Even then, their edge rushers do not instill fear the way Parsons or DeMarcus Lawrence could.

That could see opponents designing schemes to ensure the middle part of the D-line is handled, while using outside leverage to attack the weak secondary.

The Cowboys’ secondary is their weakest link

When Micah Parsons was traded away to the Green Bay Packers, he claimed that he was going to help his new team’s secondary earn a fat pay rise, just as he did for his former Cowboys teammates.

That claim made some sense as his pass-rushing abilities would usually force the opposing quarterback to let go of the ball earlier than usual, allowing the secondary to act quicker than the receivers.

In the case of Quinnen Williams, it is expected that he would have a similar, if not better, impact on the opposing team. That might be what the Cowboys are thinking, but teams know the secondary is struggling.

There is a reason why they have given up the 2nd most yards and points so far, and opposing teams could alter their schemes to handle Williams’ pressure, while still targeting the secondary. Since Jerry Jones did not make any changes there, and that star corner Trevon Diggs will be out for at least the next 4 weeks, the situation is not changing.

Jury is still out on Matt Eberflus’ ability to lead the defense

Let us say that Quinnen Williams impacts the Dallas Cowboys’ front line enough to be capable of affecting opponents. Still, there is one other quotient that has not helped the team.

Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus came in with bucketloads of experience and a past reputation of being good at managing a defense. However, he has not helped them so far, and calls mounted for Jerry Jones to replace him.

The stubborn owner-cum-GM was not interested and believed Eberflus would make adjustments that would help the unit improve. So far, there has been no sign of an improvement, and this could become their Achilles heel.

Quinnen Williams is an impactful player, and the top brass are intrigued by what he can do. However, there are other aspects that could undermine the Cowboys’ chances of reaching the playoffs.

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