Dallas Cowboys Week 4 Grades: They Avoid the NFL Trap Game
By John Herndon
Dallas Cowboys Run Defense Grades
This defense has been stout against the run the last two weeks. It was alarming how many big runs they gave up — 18, 23 and 33. Dallas allowed 142 yards and a 5.3 average. Not good.
The Cowboys have to ask themselves how long can they continue to sit Jabril Cox while playing a pair of old school thumpers at linebacker in Anthony Barr and Leighton Vander Esch.
Barr and Vander Esch lack the desired sideline-to-sideline speed that is demanded from the modern-day NFL linebacker.
I believe it is time for Jabril Cox. I would have serious conversations about adding Devin Harper to the mix, too. Both are young and speedy. When Parsons is used as a pass rusher, the linebacker unit is slower.
Honorable mention: Donovan Wilson is a heat-seeking missile. He posted nine tackles today.
GRADE: C
Dallas Cowboys Pass Defense
There was no sack party but Dallas provided good pressure, sacking Carson Wentz twice, limiting him to 170 passing yards, and forcing two interceptions. Washington’s best receiver, Terry McLaurin, was controlled to two catches and 15 yards on six targets. This off-season, Trevon Diggs deleted his twitter account and the 3rd year corner back has been fantastic.
Per PFF: Trevon Diggs in Week 4: 1 catch allowed, 2 forced incompletions, 1 INT, and 0.0 passer rating. He displayed the complete game. He was the best player on the field today. They can stop the narrative of him being a feast or famine cornerback.
Per Next Gen Stats: Since entering the NFL in 2020, Diggs leads the league in ball hawk rate (22.8%), min. 100 targets.
“My mindset was this is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for.”” – DaRon Bland
Honor mention: DaRon Bland, a fifth-round pick, number was called before kickoff because Jourdan Lewis suffered a groin injury during the pre-game warm-up.
Making the most of his first NFL start as the 3rd cornerback, posting 3 solo tackles, 1 pass defended and a fourth-quarter interception–the first of his career.
The ROOK has entered the cornerback room.
GRADE: B