New schemes, disguises and alpha dogs should result in improved Dallas Cowboys defense
There was a time when defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence was the biggest baddest dog on the Dallas Cowboys defense.
Too many times last season, he was the only dog on defense in terms of physical aggression and intimidation with his mouth as well as with his play.
It was up to Lawrence to set the tone and he couldn’t do it all by himself.
Now, he finds himself trying to be the voice of reason in a crowded defensive line room suddenly bursting at the seams with alpha dogs thanks to the veteran free agent additions Aldon Smith, Everson Griffen, Dontari Poe and the return of Tyrone Crawford from injury.
“I mean, I had to switch up my leadership style this year, especially dealing with all the aggression and different types of alphas in the room that want to lead,” Lawrence said with a chuckle. “It was really all about just maintaining the calmness in the room. D-Law likes to talk his stuff sometimes, so I get people riled up and then Aldon, Everson, Tyrone, Poe — it’s just so many big names in the locker room, it’s all about just keeping everybody calm and finding different ways to work with each other.”
Is Lawrence still the biggest dog?
“Ain’t nothing gonna change, now,” said Lawrence, who is happy to have some help from some proven veterans, opening up more one-on-one pass rush opportunities for him to get back to double-digit sacks after a down season in 2019 while also changing the fortunes of defense whose bend-but-don’t-break formula in past years was really more bend-but-don’t-take.
Add in a new multiple scheme by new coordinator Mike Nolan, who will alternate between 4-3 and 3-4 looks, and more disguises in coverages and the Cowboys believe the unit has a chance to be aggressive, disruptive and do what it couldn’t do last year — give the ball back to the offense.
The Cowboys defense was ranked a respectable ninth overall last season, giving up 327 yards per game. But they had only 17 turnovers, a paltry seven interceptions and 10 forced fumbles to rank 19th in the NFL.
Having more looks, coverages and doing more pre-snap disguises should help, but it will ultimately come down to the players making plays.
“Last year, we had opportunities,” strong safety Xavier Woods said. “It’s not the scheme. It’s the players and how we play, man. I mean, when you look at it, the defense last year was good, we just didn’t play well. The defense this year is only going to be as good as we play.”
The Cowboys say they will be good because they have a lot more dogs up front and that’s where it all starts and ends for this unit.
The Cowboys know the offense will score a lot of points so they purposely hoarded pass rushers who could get to the quarterback.
Lawrence, a two-time Pro Bowl player, having just five sacks last year can be attributed to being slowed following offseason shoulder surgery. He is healthy and ready to disrupt again as part-time end and part-time outside linebacker in the 3-4 where he will play opposite Griffen, a four-time Pro Bowl player who had eight sacks last season for the Minnesota Vikings, and the rejuvenated Smith, who is showing no rust from a five-year hiatus due to an NFL suspension. Smith had 47.5 sacks in his first five years in the league.
They also expect to recently reinstated defensive end Randy Gregory back on Oct. 19 giving them a plethora of pass rush combos to choose from for a late-season push.
The 342-pound Poe, the largest defensive lineman in club history, gives them more size up front at nose tackle and Trysten Hill and Tyrone Crawford will play end in the 3-4 and alternate at under tackle in the 4-3.
“Y’all going to have to wait for some of these questions to be answered when you see me play. You feel me?,” said Lawrence, who laughed at the possibilities. “You’ll get a little glimpse of my hand in the dirt, me standing up, or shoot, probably even over the center, you never know. Just trying to get back out there, keep my feet underneath me and get after it.”
The Cowboys upgraded at linebacker because Leighton Vander Esch, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2019, is back after missing seven games last season with a neck injury. He swapped positions with Jaylon Smith, who led the team in tackles last season and made the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement.
Vander Esch will play in the middle and call plays. Smith will play weak side linebacker in Nolan’s scheme. It allows Smith to play to his strength and use his elite athleticism to run downhill and attack the line of scrimmage. Vander Esch is better at handling coverage responsibilities at middle linebacker because of his instincts and ability to change direction.
Again, Lawrence, Smith and Griffen will have some linebacker responsibility and the Cowboys have capable backup inside linebackers in Sean Lee, Joe Thomas, Justin March and Luke Gifford.
The Cowboys are hoping the disruption up front will allow a questionable secondary to grow and mature. Woods is the only returning starter from 2019. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was supposed to be a help as an important free agent addition at free safety. But he was surpassed by Darian Thompson in training camp and subsequently cut. The Cowboys signed veteran Brandon Carr to the practice squad as insurance at safety.
Anthony Brown and rookie second-round pick Trevon Diggs will start at cornerback with veteran free-agent signee Daryl Worley at the slot in place of the injured Jourdan Lewis. Diggs is hopefully a star in the making after replacing Chido Awuzie in the starting lineup but there will be growing pains for him and the rest of the unit.
Punter Chris Jones is healthy again and ready to have a bounce back season after career lows in 2019 with a 41.6-yard average and a 37.0 net.
So expect a much more physical, in-your-face defense in 2020, which could wind up being the real difference in the Cowboys this season.
