Dallas Cowboys Need The Real Sean Lee To Stand Up
By Dink Kearney
The Dallas Cowboys have a few play makers on the defensive side of the ball like Rolando McClain, Demarcus Lawrence and Sean Lee.
McClain made several plays last year to showcase his play making abilities. One of McClain’s best highlights happened when he intercepted Russell Wilson’s pass to seal the victory against the Seattle Seahawks last season. Another time he made an acrobatic interception against the Tennessee Titans. Not to mention all of the hard hits and timely tackles he made.
McClain played so good the Cowboys made sure re-signing him was a priority.
Lawrence came of age when he had a sack and fumble recovery in the playoff game against the Detroit Lions last season. Definitely his signature play of his rookie season as sealed the victory for the Cowboys.
When it comes to the defensive captain of America’s Team, no Cowboys’ player has made more plays than Sean Lee. Whether its a timely interception he returns for a touchdown, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, a tackle for a loss or covering a RB like a blanket, Lee always makes an outstanding play. Lee plays football like the Madden football video version of himself. He’s all over the place.
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We first witnessed Lee’s play making ability in his rookie season when he intercepted Peyton Manning twice in a 2010 game and took one to the house. A victory no less without the outstanding play of Lee. From that point on, Lee regularly made outstanding plays. Lee would exhibit his play making skills against the San Diego Chargers in 2013 when he took another interception to pay dirt.
Interceptions are part of Lee’s repertoire. He has 11 interceptions since he entered the league.
One of Lee’s best traits is being the defensive signal caller. When Lee is on the field, he orchestrates the defense like a maestro, hitting on all notes. When he’s not, the defense looks like lost sheep wandering through the wilderness. At least that’s the way it looked prior to last season.
But with all of Lee’s play making ability and being one hell of a defensive captain, his primary weakness is being injury prone. As good as Lee is, he’s never played a full season. The closest he came to playing a full season was in 2011 when he started 15 games. Since Lee has been in the league, he’s missed 34 games.
That’s two full seasons.
But being injured is nothing new to the former second rounder out of Penn State.
At Penn State, Lee tore his right ACL and partially tore his left ACL. Last spring he fully tore his left ACL. Lee admitted his left knee was never at full strength in his first four years in the league. That seems to be the case with his whole body.
A neck injury sidelined him for the final five games in 2013.
Imagine what the Cowboys can be if he stays healthy. He’s clearly one of the best linebackers in the game when he’s healthy. And definitely a Pro Bowler if he can stay healthy.
More than anything else, Lee brings true leadership to the Cowboys, something that’s equally important as making tackles and returning interceptions for td’s. Rookies like Randy Gregory, Byron Jones, Damien Wilson and Ryan Russell would certainly benefit from Lee’s leadership.
But Lee can’t show that leadership skill set from the sidelines as an injury prone defensive captain.
Like an Officer fighting in a battle, Lee can only do it on the field.
With his fellow soldiers.
So will the real Sean Lee Please Stand Up.
Because your fellow comrades need you too!