CeeDee Lamb once again Cowboys’ top-slot option in 2023
2023 will be a season of change for the Cowboys offense. The offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, running back coach and play-caller all changed over the offseason. With those key changes, the blocking scheme, personnel and overall philosophy also stand to change.
By adding Brandin Cooks at WR and parting with TE Dalton Schultz, Dallas could see an uptick in 11 personnel (3WR packages) in 2023. And the running game will certainly look different with Ezekiel Elliott now gone and Tony Pollard alone at the helm.
One area that doesn’t figure to change is CeeDee Lamb’s status as the top slot receiver in Dallas.
Not long ago, “slot receiver” was considered a derogatory term. Receivers who played inside were often seen as ones who couldn’t hack it outside. That’s no longer the case.
Smart teams in today’s NFL frequently deploy their very best weapons from the slot position. It provides the best opportunities for the best players and allows offenses better means to attack the middle of the field.
Players like Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, Cooper Kupp, Tyreek Hill and Amon-Ra St. Brown have helped take the stigma out of the slot label.
In 2022 Lamb worked the slot position to perfection, collecting 867 of his 1,359 receiving yards from inside and posting a 2.43 yards per slot route run. His play made him the most productive slot weapon in the NFL (based on pure yardage) and all but assures a return to the inside in 2023.
As a receiver, Lamb didn’t get much help in 2022. Amari Cooper was gone, Michael Gallup was noticeably hampered as he recovered from a February ACL surgery, and for large stretches Noah Brown was asked to serve as the WR2.
Defenses didn’t have much to fear outside of Lamb, yet they still struggled to stop him. With a 28.7 percent overall target share, Lamb ranked as a top-10 WR in the NFL. And his 84.8 expected points added over the season, ranked top-5.
CeeDee Lamb produced more slot yards than any other WR in ‘22. With – 45.5% slot rate, he collected 63 balls & 867 yards inside. His total EPA in 2022 ranked 4th among WRs. It’s safe to say taking snaps inside maximized his effectiveness pic.twitter.com/Wjv8885l8O
— Reid D Hanson (@ReidDHanson) May 10, 2023
It was clear, the Cowboys found the formula to maximize Lamb.
Adding the veteran Brandin Cooks to the WR room changes the dynamic considerably. The 29-year-old burner easily slides into the No. 2 role in Dallas. Like Lamb, he’s also spent time inside and one of his most successful seasons (2021) came when he took 187 snaps from the slot.
Ideally, Dallas will see this position versatility from lamb and Cooks as an advantage to their attack. They can move both players in and out of the slot to exploit match-ups and create opportunities.
It changes the way the Cowboys strategize their attack in 2023 but is unlikely to change Lamb’s overall status as Dallas’ primary weapon inside.
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