3 adjustments Dan Quinn must make to fix Cowboys’ defensive woes
By Jerry Trotta
It wasn’t long ago the Dallas Cowboys’ defense was mentioned in the same breath as San Francisco’s, Baltimore’s and Denver’s. After allowing 500 yards of offense to the Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ middling group of receivers, Dan Quinn’s unit is no longer considered one of the league’s elite, and rightly so.
Over the last two weeks, the Cowboys have allowed 63 points. The 49ers have conceded that same total in their last six games combined. Dallas’ normally-stingy pass defense allowed a season-high 318 passing yards on Sunday, and were still abused on the ground to the tune of 192 rushing yards.
Long story short, this trend isn’t sustainable if the Cowboys are to make a deep playoff run, and achieve their ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl.
With that in mind, here are some potential adjustments Quinn should consider to get the defensive ship back on course.
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3. Less snaps for Anthony Barr/Activate Jabril Cox
It might be difficult for Dan Quinn to justify less snaps for Barr following Leighton Vander Esch’s shoulder injury, but Barr’s performance isn’t indicative of a player that deserves to keep logging over 70 percent of the defensive snaps.
Vander Esch’s injury puts Quinn in a bind, but why not activate Jabril Cox, a healthy scratch for the last several games, and see what he can do? Cox hasn’t logged a defensive snap since the Thanksgiving win against the Giants, and has played 11 total snaps all season. He’s not even active for special teams purposes, which underlines just how far he’s fallen on the depth chart.
Still, it wasn’t that long ago Cowboys fans were excited about Cox’s potential. Ironically, Cox’s former LSU teammate Damone Clark has leapfrogged Cox in the LB pecking order, largely due to Clark’s ability to defend the run and double as a pass-rusher. Cox, on the other hand, is better suited in coverage and Dallas typically tasks Jayron Kearse with covering opposing running backs and tight ends.
All that said, it might be time to give Cox a look with Barr struggling. A four-time Pro Bowler with the Vikings, Barr’s been caught in no-man’s land on far too many occasions. Whether it’s a matter of a lack of effort, understanding of the playbook, or not wanting to get his nose dirty against the run, Quinn has to convert him to a part-time player.
Give Micah Parsons more snaps at linebacker. Anything to get Barr off the field.