The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a bye week and a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Their Week 6 opponents, the Dallas Cowboys, are coming off a tough loss in San Francisco. They meet this Monday on Monday Night Football. In this matchup, the Chargers have plenty of threats to look out for, such as guys like CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard, Micah Parsons, and Zack Martin. However, the Cowboys roster also boasts some reliable depth, and these underrated players could be an issue for the Chargers.
[metabet_core_odds_board query=”535982″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”]
3 Underrated Cowboys That Could Pose Problems For the Chargers
Tight End, Jake Ferguson
The Cowboys selected Jake Ferguson in the fourth round out of Wisconsin in 2022. After a year behind now-Texans tight end Dalton Schultz, Ferguson was ready to take the next step as the starter. This year, the former Wisconsin Badger has recorded career highs in receptions, targets, and yards in only five games.
The Chargers have not played spectacularly this season against tight ends, and that could continue against the underrated Cowboys pass catcher. Through four games, the Chargers have given up 18 catches, 172 yards, and one touchdown against tight ends, which would average out to a statline of: 4.5 catches, 43 yards, and 0.25 touchdowns per game. This is not a great look for a position that is usually not a focal point of an offense. Furthermore, looking into the specific tight ends they played against, it is even worse: Durham Smythe, Chigozeim Okonkwo, T.J. Hockenson, and Austin Hooper.
National media has been focusing on the Cowboys superstars, but the underrated Cowboys tight end deserves recognition after his very solid start to the 2023 season. Ferguson currently has 20 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown. Ranking seventh out of 68 tight ends in offensive PFF grade, Ferguson has been dominant as a blocker. PFF grades of 78.5 as a pass blocker, and 75.9 as a run blocker. The Chargers will need to gameplan complex rushes to ensure the versatile tight end doesn’t maul defenders out of designated gaps.
Left Guard, Tyler Smith
Most analysts do not highlight how important it is to gameplan against dominant linemen. Tyler Smith is just that. The 22-year-old is currently the number one ranked guard according to PFF, and has not been talked about nearly enough. The Cowboys selected Smith in the first round last year, and Smith ended up playing left tackle and did so very respectively. Coming out of Tulsa, Smith was touted for his dominant trench play, moving opposing defenders in any way he wanted too.
This season, the Cowboys moved the 6′-6″ mauler to the inside, and Smith has been unstoppable. The sheer force he brings every week has earned the Tulsa product a 90.2 offensive grade, with an outstanding 91.9 run-blocking grade. In three games, Smith has only let up one pressure and one hurry, so as a pass blocker, he has been a stalwart. This type of leap in production is very Chris Lindstrom-like.
The Chargers cannot let the Cowboys offensive line have their way. A very fun battle between Sebastian Joseph-Day and Smith will take place on primetime, and the Bolts need Joseph-Day to win. The Chargers year in and year out have had a bad rush defense, and it starts with the interior defensive line. The Chargers currently rank 18th in yards per carry and need to step up against Tyler Smith and Tony Pollard.
Defensive Tackle, Osa Odighizuwa
Continuing with positions that rarely see lots of love from the mainstream media, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has been on a tear this season. Odighizuwa was a third-round selection in 2021, and in his third season is showing that he is here to stay. The UCLA product is another underrated Cowboy that deserves the attention some of his teammates get.
Mainly lining up in the B-gap, as a 3 technique, Odighizuwa is currently ranked 13th out of 124 defenders in overall PFF grade. As a run defender, Odighizuwa has had his fair share of impressive snaps. The former Bruin earned eight stops, eight tackles, and a 68.2 grade. Where Odighizuwa truly stands out is as a pass rusher. The now 25-year-old has been very good in his pass-rush snaps, collecting 12 pressures, three sacks, two quarterback hits, seven hurries, and a 79.4 pass-rush grade.
The Chargers need to find a way to keep him in check. Missing Corey Linsley hurts the Chargers ability to defend Odighizuwa, but offensive line coach Brenden Nugent has shown the ability to keep premier rushers from taking over games. Whether it is double-teaming him with Will Clapp, or ensuring Zion Johnson and Jamaree Salyer are ready for the task, especially in 1 on 1 situation.
In summary, even though everyone is focusing on the big-name players from the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Chargers need to pay close attention to some lesser-known talents on the Dallas Cowboys. Jake Ferguson, Tyler Smith, and Osa Odighizuwa might not be getting as much attention in the media, but they all play a crucial role in the Cowboys’ success. To continue the Chargers win streak into Monday Night Football, the Chargers must come up with a strong game plan to deal with these underappreciated players.
Universal Responsible Gambling Disclaimer: Ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Main Photo: Darren Yamashita – USA Today Sports
