Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys are winning football games. It’s a great feeling. Their three-game winning streak has some wondering just how good this football team is, as they have now put themselves in a position to make a run at the playoffs. One of the big reasons for their recent success is the improved play on defense. In the past three games, they have:
These defensive spurts have allowed the Cowboys to climb back into games after slow starts against the Eagles and Chiefs, as well as forcing the Raiders to play from behind most of the game. The improved play has come following the move to acquire former New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, which has everyone raving about the trade, but it’s not just that. The team has benefited immensely from the addition of several new players. The changes are rather significant, so we thought we would break down each position group to fully understand why this Cowboys’ defense is playing so much better.
Before: Kenny Clark, Osa Odighizuwa, Solomon Thomas, and Jay Toia
After: Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Osa Odighizuwa, and Solomon Thomas
It goes without saying that this is the group with the most impactful change. Anytime you add one of the best interior defensive linemen in the game to your roster, it’s going to make a big difference. And the Williams trade is the gift that keeps on giving because it has created a trickle-down effect. The Cowboys essentially replaced their worst DT, a seventh-round rookie, with a veteran All-Pro, while everyone else moved down a spot on the depth chart.
Williams plays roughly 70% of the snaps. Clark and Odighizuwa play essentially the same amount as before, with a slight downtick from 65% to 60% because Matt Eberflus loves to use five-man fronts at times. Thomas, who has now been reduced to DT4, has seen his snaps drop slightly, going from 40% to 30%.
Collectively, this foursome has drastically improved the defense’s interior. They have shut down running lanes and are constantly getting pressure up the middle, forcing quarterbacks to either get rid of the ball or break the pocket and bounce outside. The Cowboys’ defense has improved significantly since the beginning of the season, and most of it all starts here.
Before: Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, Dante Fowler, and Donovan Ezeiruaku
After: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, and James Houston
It was expected that this unit would undergo an experimental period after the Cowboys traded away their All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons right before the start of the new season. The team had several intriguing options on the edge, but wasn’t sure which ones would stand out the most. The team also suffered a...
