We don’t know which of the remaining eight NFL teams will host the Vince Lombardi Trophy in February, but we do know one thing as far as Iowa is concerned: No matter who the champion is, Bob Jeter will remain the only Iowa graduate to win two Super Bowl rings.
That’s because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw their playoff run end on Monday night, as they took a 31-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys to end their season. Anthony Nelson and Tristan Wirfs could have won a second ring had the Bucs claimed the title, but Tampa Bay never got started in the contest.
One big reason for the Bucs’ struggles was their running game, and one reason that it never got going was Dallas defensive end, Chauncey Golston. Iowa fans will fondly remember Golston, who started all 21 games of his junior and senior seasons and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2020.
When he left Iowa, the Cowboys selected him with a third-round pick, bolstering their depth on the defensive side of the ball. Some Iowans might be especially happy since the Dallas Cowboys are one of the most popular NFL teams in Iowa.
What Has Golston Done Recently for Dallas?
Golston’s opportunities have been limited in his second NFL season, as Dallas is blessed with several talented defensive linemen. The Cowboys count on Osa Odighizuwa for much of their pressure, and Golston hasn’t gotten a ton of chances to play with his fellow third-rounder getting in the backfield.
But he got his chance in Week 18 against Washington, a game that ultimately meant nothing to the Cowboys.
Dallas lost that game 26-6, but it certainly wasn’t the defense’s fault. Golston turned in a strong performance with four solo tackles and 11 tackles overall, keeping Washington from moving the ball effectively on the ground. The Commanders rushed for 151 yards, but they needed 41 carries to do it against a defense that averaged 129 rushing yards conceded.
Against Tampa Bay, Golston and the Dallas defense were even better against the run. Granted, Tampa Bay had an admittedly weak running game, as the Bucs finished dead last in rushing yards with 76.9 per game.
Still, even bad rushing attacks can get rolling when defenses have an off-day, and with Leonard Fournette in the backfield, the Buccaneers had the potential to get the ground game moving. Golston and the Cowboys didn’t let it happen.
They stuffed Tampa Bay for just 51 rushing yards and forced the Buccaneers to give up on the ground game. Tampa Bay ended up throwing the ball an almost unthinkable 66 times, turning the Buccaneers into a one-dimensional offense. Even for the great Tom Brady, a lack of a running game is an almost insurmountable obstacle.
The Cowboys were able to play whatever defense they wanted, as they could drop into coverage or put pressure on Brady depending on the down and distance. Golston helped make that happen by limiting Fournette to just 11 yards on five carries.
Iowa Football: DE Chauncey Golston Selected 84th Overall by Dallas Cowboys in NFL Draft https://t.co/1AhqEpXbVR
— Black Heart Gold Pain (@BHGP) May 1, 2021
How Does Golston Fit For Dallas in the Next Round?
The Cowboys take on San Francisco in the divisional playoffs, and that means a tough task for the run defense. The 49ers feature a pair of incredibly talented running backs Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel.
McCaffrey is one of the most feared runners in the game, and the 49ers’ offense has gone to another level since acquiring him from Carolina at midseason.
Samuel possesses breakaway speed and can make defenders miss once he gets to the outside, either on screen passes or handoffs. Golston will have to play a larger role than he has for much of the season.
San Francisco ran over Seattle for 181 yards, and the Cowboys can’t allow the 49ers to break loose if they hope to stay in the game. Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn seems to recognize that, as he’s stated that Golston has earned a chance for more playing time by taking advantage of his opportunities against Washington.
Based on his showing against Tampa Bay, he’ll likely be part of the game plan against San Francisco.
Cowboys DT Chauncey Golston recorded 11 tackles in 22 snaps last week, matching the tackle total from his first 215 snaps of season. DC Dan Quinn: “I feel like his arrow is going up" entering playoffs. https://t.co/LJzru5dXtT pic.twitter.com/XqLoXRcnW3
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 15, 2023
How Does Golston Fit Dallas’ Long-Term Plans?
Golston’s in a tough situation in Dallas, as none of the Cowboys’ defensive linemen will be free agents until 2024. That means he’s likely going to battle Neville Gallimore and Dorance Armstrong for playing time, either on the interior or outside positions. Gallimore seems the most likely for Golston to beat out, as he’s underwhelmed in his third full season and will be a free agent in 2024.
Meanwhile, is under contract with Dallas until 2025, so he’s got two full years to lock down a starting spot in Texas.
Even if he doesn’t, a performance like the past few weeks will get teams interested.
Golston’s numbers have looked impressive in important contests, and plenty of teams will want to bring in a young player who has shown he can do the job in spotty appearances. Whether it’s with Dallas or another team, Golston looks like he’s got a promising career ahead of him.
Another example:
Aligned as the 2i, Golston again mirrors the RG's initial movement well while reducing his blocking surface for the center's combo block. From there, Golston is able to use extension to discard the block and make the stop once the RB's path is declared. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/SiMbS8SlbP
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) January 10, 2023
Credits on Featured Image: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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