Dallas Cowboys: The current state of America’s Team
Dallas Cowboys Defense
New defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has helped this defense perform a complete 180 from last season. The defense is currently allowing 23.4 points per game (14th), 79.4 rushing yards per game (5th), and 390.4 yards per game (25th).
But where the defense is really standing out is creating turnovers. The Cowboys currently lead the NFL in interceptions with 10 and are second in the league in takeaways with 12. That type of turnover production is something we have not seen in Dallas for years.
Here are some of the top statistical leaders for the Cowboys defense through five weeks.
Trevon Diggs: Leads the NFL in passes defended (10) and interceptions (6). Diggs has already won defensive player of the month for September and with the way he is going should be the favorite for defensive player of the year.
Micah Parsons: 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 3 tackles for loss. He has been extremely impactful getting after the quarterback,
Cowboys Micah Parsons (16 pressures) and Osa Odighizuwa (13) rank 2nd & 4th in QB pressures among rookies through Week 5.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 12, 2021
📸: Top 5 Rookie Pressure Leaders@MicahhParsons11 leads all rookies in pressure rate (17.4%) among 35 players with at least 10 pass rushes.#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/X7tHBLpvj6
As you can see from that graphic rookie Osa Odighizuwa is also having a great start to his first season with 13 pressures already recorded. Osa is the only player on that list that was not a first-round pick as the Cowboys stole him in the third round.
Jayron Kearse: Leads the team in tackles (34) also he has played more than 97% of the defensive snaps every week since Week 2. Finally addressing the safety position has been great for the Cowboys. Along with Kearse, Damontae Kazee, and Malik Hooker are also playing well for the team.
Randy Gregory: Gregory has been disruptive all year for the Cowboys, especially against the Giants in Week 5. He had 9 pressures in the game which was his highest of the season. In his contract year, he is playing like a man that wants a hefty long-term deal. Hopefully, that deal will be with the Cowboys.
The state of the defense is that they are playing very well and giving the Cowboys’ offense many opportunities due to their takeaways.
This defense should only continue to get better as they get DeMarcus Lawrence back from injury later in the season and Neville Gallimore/Kelvin Joseph returning soon. As long as they continue to play at worst as a league-average defense. The Cowboys will continue to win many games.