Cowboys Defense Deserves Credit
By Dink Kearney
The Cowboys dominant performance against the Cincinnati Bengals is excellent proof of how much their defense has improved.
In the first four games of the season, the Dallas Cowboys defense played averaged at best, but it made stops when it mattered the most.
The Cowboys pass rush
The Cowboys defense lacked a dominant pass rusher and turned average quarterbacks into Pro Bowl signal callers. Eli Manning, Kirk Cousins, Brian Hoyer, and Blaine Gabbert completed passes at will against Dallas’ weak pass rush, and appeared as if they were all first ballot Hall of Famers.
If not for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli making second half adjustments, and the Cowboys defense making key stops, America’s Team could very well be 1-4 instead of 4-1. That’s how well the Dallas defense played in the second half of their previous wins.
On Sunday afternoon against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cowboys defense played its best of the season. The front four recorded four sacks, pressured the Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton all afternoon, and constantly hit him.
The return of Demarcus Lawrence from his four-game suspension is one of the reasons the defensive line got four sacks. The impact of Lawrence allowed defensive linemen Cedric Thornton, Jack Crawford, Terrell McClain, and Benson Mayowa to record sacks and wreak havoc.
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Other linemen, like Ryan Davis, played a part in either pressuring Dalton or hitting him. The presence of Lawrence was significant because he constantly beat his man and allowed his teammates to feast on Dalton.
Watching Dalton run for his life and over throw receivers was surreal because Dallas was supposed to lose this game. Up to that point, the Bengals’ game would be a true test for the young, vulnerable, and lackluster pass rush .
The Cowboys front four completely man-handled the Bengals’ offensive line. The Bengals center and left guard were exposed as they had a long day containing Dallas’s defensive line.
On one particular play, Maliek Collins was able to pressure both Bengals offensive linemen Clint Boling and Russell Bodine. As a result, McClain had a clear path to sack Dalton. After watching that play, it was clear the Bengals were in trouble.
Lawrence didn’t look sloppy, out of shape or struggle at all. The talented edge rusher was active with his hands, feet, and technique. To push around the offensive linemen like they were rag dolls, says a lot about his ability and high motor.
The Cowboys secondary
The Cowboys secondary deserves credit for its outstanding play, too. Defensive back Morris Claiborne is finally playing like the first-round pick out of LSU. Claiborne played Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green very well.
Surprisingly, for most of the game, Claiborne played Green with not much help over the top. Claiborne impressed even more when he knocked away a sure touchdown pass thrown to Green at the last second.
There is no doubt that the mixed pass coverages allowed the secondary to flourish against one of the better offenses in the NFL. Green, one of the best wide outs in the league, had just 50 receiving yards on four catches.
Wide receiver Brandon LaFell scored the Bengals’ only two touchdowns.
One of the best plays of the game happened when free safety Byron Jones ran with Green on a post play. Jones jumped up and knocked away the ball. It was a spectacular play because Jones was all by himself and had to play the ball right not to get a pass interference call.
If Jones fails, Green scores a touchdown! Overall, it was another magnificent play by a player in the Cowboys secondary.
Next: Dallas Cowboys: Defense Better Than Advertised
If the Cowboys front four and secondary can continue to play at this level, it will be the perfect match for Dallas’s high-powered offense. Because of that, this defense deserves some well-earned credit. Instead of the defense being a major concern, the Cowboys’ remaining issue will be a brewing quarterback controversy.