Blogging The Boys
In this episode of Between the Lines we flip the attention to the defensive line, where chaos meets strategy. This is where the Cowboys’ games are won and lost so let’s dive in.
(2025 Stats: 532 Total snaps, 35 Total Tackles, 6 TFL, 43 Pressures, 3 Sack)
Grade: 66.6
(2025 Stats: 335 Total snaps, 23 Total Tackles, 2 TFL, 11 Pressures, 0 Sacks, 1 PD)
Grade: 59.9
(2025 Stats: 572 Total snaps, 27 Total Tackles, 5 TFL, 37 Pressures, 3 Sacks)
Grade: 65.2
(2025 Stats: 89 Total snaps, 3 Total Tackle, 0 TFL, 1 Pressure, 0 Sacks)
Grade: 29.9
(2025 Stats [including Jets]: 534 Total snaps, 45 Total Tackles, 9 TFL, 45 Pressures, 2.5 Sacks, 3 FF)
Grade: 85.1
Minnesota sits first in run block win rate at 75%, but a middling 23rd in pass block win rate at 59%. That split tells you exactly where the fight needs to happen for Dallas’ tackles. It’s a game of winning on early down runs. If the Cowboys interior loses the battle it will be a tough night. The tackles are as good as advertised with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, who both grade as top-10 run-block winner among tackles, and the interior has settled with Ryan Kelly at center, rookie Donovan Jackson at left guard, and Will Fries at right guard. It’s a big, coordinated wall that wants to roll downhill.
The good news is Dallas’ interior has the tools to jam the gears. The Cowboys are fifth in run-stop win rate (32%) and 12th in pass-rush win rate (39%). Individually, Osa Odighizuwa shows up on ESPN’s defensive tackle leaderboards with a top-five run-stop win rate (41%), and Quinnen Williams sits first at 46%. The assignment is simple but not easy this week, shut down the run and force J.J. McCarthy from the pocket to cause simple mistakes.
Minnesota’s run game plan under Kevin O’Connell is the usual McVay-tree game plan. Dallas’ interior will see a heavy outside zone plan, with enough inside zone to keep the Cowboys linebackers guessing. If Dallas steals first down, Minnesota’s 23rd-ranked pass-block unit has to hold up longer than it wants, so stop the run first and the rest should fall into place.
McCarthy’s rookie line has been bumpy with 3.6 sacks taken per game, a 31.8% third-down conversion rate for the offense, and bottom-tier passing efficiency. So if Dallas makes them play behind the sticks, the ball stops coming out on quick rhythm throws. On the ground, Jordan Mason has been their steadiest hammer with 630 rush yards and six scores, with Aaron Jones sprinkled in when healthy. That’s a run game that can set the tone. But the good news is this is not a Lamar-style quarterback run threat, so Dallas doesn’t have to spy the QB on every snap, meaning more concentrated effort from the linebackers to help stop the run.
The injury...
