Dallas Cowboys have 2 of the top-rated pass-rushers in the NFL

The Dallas Cowboys boast two of the highest graded pass-rushers in the NFL and to the surprise of many, DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence isn’t one of them.

With DeMarcus Lawrence, the Dallas Cowboys boast one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL. As the most accomplished pass rusher between 2017-18, Dallas awarded him with a massive contract extension this past offseason.

Lawrence, or “Tank”, is far and away the Dallas Cowboys’ best defensive lineman. Why then, are two other Dallas linemen rated as better pass-rushing performers six games into the 2019 season? We look into this surprising turn of events today…

Pro Football Focus, a site dedicated to grading every snap based on performance rather than result, is one of the most valuable websites for player evaluation. They look beyond the stat sheet and apply context and analytics to their ratings. So when they come out with mid-season progress reports and player rankings, we make sure we take a look.

Did you ever notice, the people who disparage Pro Football Focus the most are usually the ones who understand their methodology the least? @PFF_Cowboys
— Reid D Hanson (@ReidDHanson) October 17, 2019

Just this week PFF dropped their top-25 pass-rushers of the 2019 season. Given DeMarcus Lawrence’s struggles this season, it’s not overly surprising to see him absent from the list. Even taking the double and triple teams into account (he’s one of the most double-teamed players in the NFL), it’s hard to apply an elite pass-rushing score when sacks, hits, and hurries are all down.

What is surprising is who on the Dallas Cowboys DID make the list. Clocking in at No. 17 is Robert Quinn. The one year rental has made the most of his opportunity opposite Tank and his single-team match-ups have produced five sacks and 11 hurries in just 109 snaps. Those are some highly efficient results.

Joining Quinn on PFF’s list is Maliek Collins. While Collins has struggled mightily against the run, his pass-rushing has never been better. He already has 20 total pressures (one more than Tank) on the season and is paced to mark a career best in pass-rushing productivity.

Is this saying Quinn and Collins are better pass-rushers than Tank?

Of course not.

It’s just saying they are making the most of their opportunities. And that’s exactly what we wanted from them this season. Not surprisingly, opponents are focusing solely on Tank every week. That’s giving everyone else man-to-man situations to attack the passer. As opponents take notice of their success, they’ll be more likely to divert attention to stopping Quinn and Collins. That will either move resources off Tank, or require extra blockers (and less down-the-field targets).

Either way, this is a very good thing for both DeMarcus Lawrence AND the Dallas Cowboys.