The Cowboys added more firepower off the edge this offseason, and that has put James Houston in a tricky spot heading into the preseason finale.
Dallas is suddenly deep at defensive end/outside linebacker, especially after signing Von Miller and seeing Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence emerge. That kind of depth is great news for the Cowboys, but it leaves Houston fighting for a role that may not fit his game. He’s a sack specialist first and foremost, not someone who stands out as a special teams piece, and if his defensive snaps dry up, his value gets harder to justify.
Houston flashed in the preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks. In 18 snaps, he finished with two sacks, though one was wiped out by a penalty, along with a pressure, two tackles and three run stops.
He also dropped into coverage twice and wasn’t targeted. After that game, Schottenheimer praised what Houston brings.
"The guy's just got a knack [for sacks]," Schottenheimer told the media. "He's a[n] awesome rusher, and he's been doing it in this league for a long time. I really just appreciate the way he works, and it's a special trait that he has."
But Houston didn’t back that up against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. Again playing 18 snaps, he didn’t show up on the stat sheet except for a missed tackle and a 14-yard reception allowed. His pass-rush win rate went from 11.1% the week before to 0.0% against Arizona.
That’s a rough look at exactly the wrong time. If a player’s main selling point is getting after the quarterback, and he can’t separate against a backup Cardinals offensive lineman over 10 pass-rush snaps, that’s a problem.
Houston did have a nagging issue earlier in the week at practice, so it’s possible he wasn’t at full strength. Still, Dallas needs more from him on defense. Otherwise, players who can help more on special teams, like Marist Liufau, Sam Williams or Tyrus Wheat, could make a stronger case for his spot.
There’s still a path for Houston if the Cowboys choose to keep six edge defenders. He showed last season that he can produce in limited work, piling up 5.5 sacks on just a 28% snap share. But if he keeps trending the wrong way, Dallas could start looking at him as a piece it can live without.
He has one more chance to change that against the Saints.
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