Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys defense is playing really well right now.
Previously we broke down the offenses for this week’s upcoming game for the Dallas Cowboys. Now we dive back into the position battleground, this time looking at how the defensive positions and special teams stack up against each other.
Besides to Rico Dowdle breaking out, the next big thing on this Cowboys roster that has really impressed as the season has progressed is the Cowboys defensive line. Osa Odighizuwa has played so well recently he may have priced himself out of Dallas’ price range to return next season. His 51 total pressures ranks third-most among defensive tackles this year and his pass rush win rate of 15.1% ranks ninth.
Micah Parsons, even though missing four games this year, ranks fifth in total pressures among defenders and fourth in sacks. It’s an outstanding performance and it’s been overlooked thanks to talk about him being traded. Chauncey Golston has looked strong these past few weeks and also Marshawn Kneeland picking up the loose ball last week was good to see. The Cowboys in the last three weeks have generated the most sacks and allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards against them, all showing the arrow is firmly pointed up for this defensive line.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line has allowed the 11th-fewest rush yards against them this year but in the last three weeks they allowed only 67 rush yards per game, that’s insane efficiency. In terms of pass rush, Tampa ranks 11th in total sacks this year and have totaled 133 pressures, which is less than Dallas but still ranks the sixth-most. But this defensive line in the last three games has generated the sixth-fewest sacks showing it’s slowing down slightly. Defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey both lead the team with six sacks, that ranks 39th among defenders. Logan Hall is the team’s best edge defender with four sacks.
With more sacks and pressures this Cowboys defensive line wins against the pass. But they falter in terms of defending run (although it’s looking improved lately). These lines are split.
Win: Push
Marist Liufau has become the newest linebacker to make headlines for Dallas. The team lost DeMarvion Overshown (but some good news on his surgery came out this week), but then Liufau stepped up and has really started to breakout. His caused fumble against Bryce Young was great to watch, and the improvement he’s shown at becoming more instinctive at the position has really exploded the last couple of weeks. Eric Kendricks shows he’s still a menace making tackles last week, and even catching a tipped ball for an interception. Kendricks now ranks third among linebackers in total tackles.
K.J. Britt may miss this week so keep watch on his practice report. He’s fourth on the team in tackles but that’s nothing compared to Lavonte David’s total. He leads the team with 104 tackles, but his production doesn’t end there. He also has five sacks,...
