Dallas 'Primed to Detonate' With Pair of 2nd-Year Breakout Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams and linebacker Damone Clark are both breakout candidates heading into their second season

Every year, players across the NFL break out to become key contributors for their teams. Trying to predict which players will break out in a given season is tricky, but it's always nice to see previously-overlooked players emerged. 

The Dallas Cowboys have several breakout candidates on both sides of the ball, and their emergence could be key to postseason success.

Two of the most prominent breakout candidates both lie on the defensive side of the ball, though. According to the Cowboys' official site, defensive end Sam Williams and linebacker Damone Clark are poised for breakout seasons as both enter their second year in the league.

Writers were split on which player is due for a bigger year, though. Kurt Daniels went with Williams, believing the defensive end could more than double his sack total as a rookie.

"But Sam Williams seems poised to really break out," Daniels wrote. "After four sacks in his rookie campaign, he's shooting for 10 this year, which, in truth, might just be setting the bar low."

Meanwhile, Mickey Spagnola picked Clark to have the bigger season. The former LSU Tigers linebacker missed the offseason and the beginning of the regular season with injury, but had an impressive showing once he returned.

"And without any offseason work or training camp, Clark in 10 gam"es started five and finished with 50 tackles and two forced fumbles," Spagnola wrote. He's been working in the offseason with the first team defense alongside Leighton Vander Esch at linebacker and watch out for the second-year guy to make a huge splash."

Then a third writer, Patrik Walker, was splitting hairs to choose between the two players. He ultimately chose Clark, but believes both players are due for stardom.

"I know, I know, you want me to choose one so I'll go 51/49 toward Clark and here's why: I believe Williams has a breakout season that might touch 10 sacks, but I don't know yet how his rep count will look," Walker wrote. "I know Clark is going to start beside LVE, and he's coming off of a full offseason of work with Dan Quinn (he was rehabbing in Year 1 and still made waves on a short year). Clark is primed to detonate."

Micah Parsons and others are in place in coordinator Dan Quinn's D. With the regular season getting closer and closer, Cowboys fans won't have to wait long to see how Williams, Clark and others live up to the hype. 

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You can find Jonathan Alfano on Twitter @JonAlfano_News

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