"I'm not saying James Houston is some perfect every-down linebacker, or that he needs to cover tight ends down the field because that isn't what he is. But, a pass-rushing outside linebacker is what he needs to be. The Cowboys moving into more of a 3-4 look should change how we view James Houston. He doesn't need to be stuck with his hand in the dirt every snap. Let him stand up, get wide, and go hunting."
"James Houston's 2025 season will make you stop and take a second look. Because his numbers show someone who could have wreaked havoc. He only played 307 defensive snaps, which came out to 27.73% of the Cowboys' defensive snaps. That isn't starter volume, not even close. Even with the limited workload, James Houston still had 5.5 sacks and 25 total pressures. Those are numbers that don't jump out until you realize he only played a quarter of the snaps."
"If 307 snaps equals 27.73%, then a full Cowboys defensive snap season comes out to roughly 1,107 total defensive snaps. If James Houston played around 45% of the snaps, he would have been close to 498 snaps. At his 2025 production rate, that would have put him near 10 sacks and 41 pressures. After some more calculations, I found that if he have had starter snaps at around 60%, that would have been around 664 snaps. At the same rate, his production would have landed near 13 sacks and 54 pressures."
"I'm not saying you just copy and paste those numbers and guarantee Houston would have had 13 sacks. Football doesn't work that cleanly, because there is more attention, more run-game responsibility, and more chances for offenses to adjust. But even if I water it d"
James Houston needs to be viewed differently as Dallas shifts toward a 3-4 look. He is not expected to cover tight ends downfield every snap, but he can thrive as a pass-rushing outside linebacker. His 2025 production came on limited playing time, with 307 defensive snaps representing 27.73% of Dallas defensive snaps. Despite that workload, he recorded 5.5 sacks and 25 total pressures, showing impact when used. If his snap share rises to starter levels, his sack and pressure totals could increase substantially, though exact outcomes cannot be guaranteed due to game-plan adjustments and added responsibilities.
Read at Inside The Star
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