Dallas Cowboys defense without DeMarcus Lawrence a death sentence

It’s a possibility the Dallas Cowboys could be without DeMarcus Lawrence in 2020.

With NFL training camps scheduled to begin next week, many players took to Twitter with the hashtag #WeWantToPlay to voice their concerns about the league’s COVID-19 protocols … or lack thereof.

And unless those issues are addressed, the Dallas Cowboys might have an uphill battle on defense before the season even begins. And they aren’t alone.

An ESPN article was released Sunday afternoon which detailed the possibility of star defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence awaiting details about a potential opt-out of the 2020 NFL season due to his wife being due to give birth during the season.

Lawrence expressed the following to ESPN.

"“Shoot, I love to ride with my brothers and play the game of football. When I have to take that away from myself, it’s hard and I don’t want to make a decision like that. But I also have to make sure I’m taking care of my family. Family is No. 1. After the game of football is done, that’s the only thing I have to depend on, so I’ve got to take care of them.”"

It is hard to make a gut feeling of which direction Lawrence will decide about his 2020 season from that statement, but let’s assume the hypothetical situation of not seeing No. 90 play at all this already unorthodox campaign. It is the beginning of the end for a defense that has a razor-thin margin of error.

Put a fork in them, the Dallas Cowboys defense can’t afford to lose Lawrence

2019 was a dip in production for the star defensive end, who was coming off two consecutive pro-bowl appearances. Still, he was able to be a presence on the field who is feared and as always uniquely effective of exposing the traditionally weaker right tackle position on opposing teams. Only five sacks to his name last season but still 30.0 sacks his past 48 games, a massive stat line.

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A model of success in the NFL is the traditional two defensive players who can get after the quarterback. Something that the Cowboys might need to do some wishing for if Lawrence does end up backing out. Just take a look at the defensive lineman on the roster and their 2019 sack numbers.

Dorance Armstrong – 2 sacks
Tyrone Crawford – 1 sack
Dontari Poe – 4 sacks
Gerald McCoy – 5 sacks
Randy Gregory, Aldon Smith – Did Not Play

There is a whole lot of question marks surrounding America’s Team ability to get after the opposing team’s signal-caller without Lawrence requiring double-teams in most pass-rush situations. This would be a death sentence due to it exposing the team’s greatest weakness, their secondary. Still reeling from the loss of cornerback Byron Jones this offseason.

2020 is not a normal year, it will include more peaks and valleys throughout the NFL season than any season has probably seen before. With that said the loss of their two-time Pro Bowl defensive end would be a death sentence for a Dallas Cowboys defense that was shaping up to be just good enough. It will be very interesting to see how the following weeks play out and what decision Lawrence comes to.