The NFL’s spotlight has been shining bright on “America’s Team” and rightfully so. This year’s ball club has earned the number one seed in the NFC and a first round bye. The arrow is definitely pointing up for the team ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has labeled “an accident waiting to happen.” The accidents are no longer happening. Ironically, a lot of the credit should go to the unsung heroes of the 2016-2017 Dallas Cowboys.
Dallas Cowboys Unsung Heroes from the 2016 Season
The program was in a state of shock as Tony Romo and his backup, Kellen Moore were lost before the season began. Miraculously, rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott led the Cowboys to a team record 11 straight victories. The pair earned Pro Bowl invites along with three of the team’s offensive linemen. Surprisingly, the Star-less defense has held up for most of the season. A healthy Sean Lee has received praise despite narrowly missing the Pro Bowl himself.
As expected, role players like receiver Cole Beasley, guard Ronald Leary and defensive back Brandon Carr have flown under the radar. These three players have been productive throughout the Cowboys resurgence. Most importantly, these three players have been available week-in and week-out. They have simply gone about their business every week, steadily producing for the top team in the NFC.
Cole Beasley
Beasley began the season with promise. He did not have to battle too hard for a roster spot. He is a shifty, little receiver with quality hands and deceptive speed. No one could have imagined that he would be more than a complimentary piece with the grossly, athletic but often nicked up Dez Bryant and speedster Terrance Williams listed ahead of him on the team’s depth chart.
However, Beasley has quietly become Prescott’s go-to guy. In his five years of development, he has mastered the slot receiver position. Beasley has consistently combined his experience on the hilltop at SMU with the difficulties he endured early in his career with the Cowboys. In fact, things were so tough for him back in 2012 that he left the team for a while, considering retirement. The Cowboys are ecstatic that he decided to stick it out. Beasley is, too.
The blonde-haired, former quarterback is leading the team with 72 receptions, trailing only Bryant with 784 yards. He also trails Bryant in receiving touchdowns with five. His performance has apparently impressed the Cowboys opponents, as well. They appear to have grown tired of the player’s “Hot Sauce” touchdown celebration. Beasley has not had a touchdown reception in five weeks.
As a sign of respect for him, teams have begun to concentrate their game plans toward slowing the factor back down. Regardless, Beasley has not had a game with less than two catches the entire season. His availability has enabled Prescott to grow exponentially. The young quarterback looked frazzled at times when his larger target, Bryant, was missing for a stretch due to injury. Beasley did not make the Pro Bowl but he has delivered time and time again.
Ronald Leary
Leary is a young, veteran offensive lineman but the Cowboys seemingly drafted his replacement a year ago in the form of La’el Collins. Leary requested a trade in the off-season but the team denied his request, placing him behind Collins on the depth chart. Ironically, the second-year player Collins suffered a season-ending injury in week three, thrusting Leary back into action. Leary has embraced his opportunity.
His presence has enabled Elliott to explode into the team’s record book. Leary’s ability to grind on his opponents as a run blocker has made the NFL’s best offensive line much stronger. The guard is strong and agile. His footwork is exceptional, along with his explosive first step. Leary has been known to get nasty in the trenches, too. He bullies defensive tackles, creating running lanes and is rarely flagged for holding.
In fact, he has only been penalized for a few false starts, of late. His intelligence and knowledge of the playbook have made him invaluable to the Cowboys offense. Leary has been able to showcase his talents for his future team, while pursuing a chance at a long playoff run, maybe even a Super Bowl. Despite being snubbed for the Pro Bowl, Leary has a bright future with any team, but the Cowboys are glad he is still on their roster.
Brandon Carr
At the end of last season, many of the Cowboys fans wanted the nine-year veteran cornerback run out of town. It seems like none of them realized that Carr has been available for every game of his tenure with the team. Signing as a free agent from the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2008, Carr was known for his ability to play tight man to man coverage on the game’s best receivers. In Dallas, he is known for being in the lineup every week and making the most of his opportunities.
When he arrived in Dallas, the team was using a 3-4 scheme on defense. His responsibilities and the defensive coordinator’s philosophy were much different. Carr was able to adjust and stay on the field with no problems. He was beaten a few times but was never considered a weak link. The scheme changed again in 2014 and there was Carr starting in the secondary, helping the team to a 12-4 record.
Carr failed to grab an interception the last two seasons but he was able to start and finish every game. When his contract ended in 2015, he and his agent attempted to play hard ball with the Cowboys during negotiations but they scoffed at his demands. Instead, they have asked Carr to prove his worth. He has done just that throughout this season.
Carr is now being asked to shadow the opponent’s top receiver. He has matched up against the likes of the New York Giants Odell Beckham Jr., the Washington Redskins Desean Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens Steve Smith Sr. in recent weeks and has come out of each match-up unscathed. He is a crafty veteran with surprising speed and quickness. Undoubtedly, he has been beaten from time to time, but he closes on receivers quickly and tackles very well.
His strength is his ability to maintain good leverage. He also uses his hands well. When he is beaten badly, Carr will willingly commit a pass interference penalty rather than give up the touchdown. He frustrates his opponents with this tactic but it has worked. The Cowboys have given up few long touchdown receptions, allowing them to hold the opposition inside their 20-yard line and forcing them to settle for field goals.
Teams still try to attack Carr, as if they have no respect for what he brings to the table but they have paid dearly. He only has one interception from way back in the first week of the season but he has had his hands on several passes since then. He is tied for the team lead with nine pass deflections and has accumulated 60 tackles. Carr’s value to the Cowboys defense has improved, dramatically.
Beasley, Leary and Carr are truly the unsung heroes of the team. They do not get a ton of attention from the national or local media. They do not have many big endorsement deals, but they are the good guys. Beasley has been involved in a number of charitable causes off the field, participating in Dirk Nowitzki’s charity baseball game the past few years.
Leary has participated in a blanket drive for one of Dallas’s largest non-profit homeless shelters and Carr was seen recently in an episode of the NFL’s reality TV show “Tackle My Ride” where he teamed up with former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lamar Woodley to rebuild and customize the car of a recent cancer survivor.
