Newsletter

For Jerry Jones, Dallas’ current defensive line is similar to that of

In recent weeks, the Cowboys defense has become the best of their units. This is due, in large part, to his defensive line. The Cowboy team currently has a very talented group of tackles and pass rushers. It could even be compared to other imposing defensive lines that Dallas has had in its history. Or at least that’s how Jerry Jones sees it.

During a radio interview a few days ago, the owner and general manager of the Cowboys compared the current defensive line with others that have stood out in the history of the team. In this way, Jones put DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, Micah Parsons and company at the level of other illustrious of the franchise.

“We had (Jason) Hatcher, (DeMarcus) Ware, (Jay) Ratliff, we had those guys here (a decade ago”)Jones said at 105.3 The Fan. “You could say that that was a combination of some of the best players we’ve had on the inside. “.

However, Jones went further and compared the current defensive line to that of Dallas teams that won the Super Bowl three times during the 1990s.

“Beyond that, I’d have to go back to the 90s when we had a rotation on the defensive line, and we really had cool guys all the time.”added the Cowboys owner. “This group, without exaggeration, has the potential to have that kind of talent. And those numbers too “.

In the early 1990s, the Cowboys had very good players on their defensive line: Charles Haley, Tony Casillas, Jim Jeffcoat, Russell Maryland and Tony Tolbert, among others. Between the 1992 and 1993 seasons, this unit achieved a total of 78 sacks. For this reason, then-coach Jimmy Johnson considered that defensive line the backbone of Dallas.

And is not for less. That performance from the defensive line fueled great performances from an offense spearheaded by Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, among others. Having such decisive players on both sides of the ball allowed the Cowboys to win the Super Bowl three times in four years.

Now, in 2021, the Cowboys have on paper a team with the caliber to win a Super Bowl and end the long drought of titles. However, and against all odds, the Cowboys defense has emerged as one of the team’s strengths this year. And this, in large part, is due to the work of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Likewise, the greatest power of the Dallas defense is in its defensive line. In recent weeks, the cowboy team was finally able to put together its three best pass rushers on the field: Randy Gregory, DeMarcus Lawrence and rookie Micah Parsons. Between the three they accumulate 19 sacks, a figure that will most likely grow in the next games.

But that is not all. Inside their defensive line, the Cowboys also have some very talented tackles who have left a great performance: Neville Gallimore, rookie Osa Odighizuwa, Trysten Hill, Carlos Watkins … They have all done a good job, both in the pressures to the quarterback as in the ground defense.

In addition, Dallas also has other defensive linemen who have contributed to a greater or lesser extent during the season: Tarell Basham, Dorance Armstrong, Chauncey Golston, Quinton Bohanna, Brent Urban (currently injured), Justin Hamilton, among others. All of them have been able to have some participation this season, and some have managed to make their mark in certain games.

Although Dallas’ defense is still rebuilding, this year has left a good taste in the mouth. If he maintains this level and the offense comes out of its current slump, there is no doubt that the Cowboys will be strong contenders to reach Super Bowl LVI.

The Cowboys are officially qualified for the playoffs

To reach the NFL grand finale, the Cowboys still have a long way to go. However, those led by Mike McCarthy have already taken the first step: to ensure their presence in the postseason. And this without having yet capitalized on his divisional title.

On Thursday night, Dallas was officially qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2018. This was due to the 49ers’ loss to the Titans that day. With this result, Dallas has a better conference than San Francisco. In addition, he has won the tiebreaker against the teams that occupy the third wild card position at the moment (New Orleans, Minnesota and Philadelphia).

With this, the Cowboys are officially in the postseason. The next step is to secure the divisional title, for which a victory against Washington would suffice. Or, an Eagles loss to the Giants this Sunday.

However, there are still things to decide heading into the playoffs. At 10-4, Dallas currently ranks second in the National Conference behind Green Bay (11-3). This has Dallas with a shot at the coveted first place. Since, remember, it allows you to play at home the entire postseason and have a break in the first week. Likewise, the rest of the playoffs are yet to be defined.

It remains to be seen if the Cowboys’ defensive line can become the backbone of the team, as it did in the 1990s. If so, Dallas has the potential to go far in the postseason on defense. If the offense returns to its best level, there is no doubt that the cowboy team could be a tough contender heading into the championship.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending