Tag: Demarcus Lawrence

‘Young Cam Jordan,’ Parsons heaps lofty expectations on new teammate

Micah Parsons offered up a brand-new player comp for Cowboys edge Marshawn Kneeland and it’s totally accurate. | From @ReidDHanson

Comps are inevitable when trying to describe a prospect’s NFL trajectory. Scouting reports offer strengths and weaknesses but it’s the player comparisons that offer real life examples. Some comps are spot-on while others are laughably absurd.

Marshawn Kneeland, the Cowboys second-round pick from the 2024 NFL draft, has drawn his share of comps since getting drafted. Wearing the star it’s understandable most of those comps point to 10-year veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. They play the same position, have comparable traits and project into similar roles.

But recent comps made by Micah Parsons ventured outside the box. Instead of likening the rookie to Lawrence, Parsons compared him to a different All-Pro edge player.

“I think he’s going to be a great player,” Parsons said of Kneeland. “I’m giving him comps, I think he’s a young Cam Jordan. I think he has the talent and ability. He’s just so hungry every day, willing to learn and he has that dog in him. He has unteachable characteristics.”

Cam Jordan, a player with a career 444 tackles, six double-digit sack seasons, eight Pro Bowl bids, one All-Pro and 117.5 career sacks, is no modest comp to make. For over a decade he has been one of the best, most consistent and most well-rounded, edge players in the NFL. If that’s a realistic trajectory for Kneeland, the Cowboys would be over the moon. But is it a fair comp?

Looking back at scouting reports, the comparisons might just hold up.

In 2011 NFL Mocks said Jordan “has excellent short area quickness and athleticism,” even doubling down by calling his quickness “outstanding” and “among the best of defensive linemen his size.” Dane Brugler from the Athletic made similar statements about Kneeland, saying he’s “explosive in his movements” and “displays twitch throughout his frame.”

At 6-foot-4, 287-pounds with 35-inch arms, Jordan broke the mold at the DE position. Comparatively Kneeland measures in at 6-foot-3, 267-pounds with 34.5-inch arms. Kneeland is smaller but he’s proportionally similar and since he plays primarily out of an even man front (Jordan came from an odd man front), the comp holds up well.

NFL Mocks said Jordan has “ideal on-field intensity” and points out that he “works hard.” Brugler repeatedly cited Kneeland’s effort and personal drive in his scouting report as well, saying his “effort doesn’t quit.” As anyone who’s seen Kneeland work this summer in Oxnard can attest, his effort is every bit as advertised.

Walter Football said Jordan was “not an elite pass rusher” but “he will stop the run and disrupt the passing game,” finally decreeing him as a “very well-rounded player.” Pro Football Focus graded Kneeland as the epitome of a well-rounded player, earning an 84.7 pass rush grade and an 83.4 run stopping grade.

Both prospects are power rushers who have undeveloped pass rushing skills that make it seem as if their best football was/is ahead of them in the NFL. Both use their long arms and relentless motors to be strong at the point of attack and dominant against the run.

Based on player profiles entering the draft, both players are very similar and perfectly reasonable comps to one another. Keep in mind, Lawrence as a prospect wasn’t the well-rounded technically sound edge guru he is today. He was a bendy right edge player who adapted and became the base end he is now. Parsons’ comp of Kneeland to Jordan isn’t just acceptable, it’s probably better than the traditional comp of Lawrence.

While Jordan’s Hall-of-Fame worthy career certainly marks a ceiling for Kneeland, it’s a fair comparison to make when broken down to their respective scouting reports. Expecting a dominant rookie season from Kneeland may be far-fetched but it’s perfectly reasonable to expect a stellar career following the path of Jordan. For Parsons, it was a fair comp to make.

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‘Even better than me’: Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence sees bright future for rookie protege

From @ToddBrock24f7: Lawrence says he has high hopes for rookie DE Marshawn Kneeland and previews the new Dallas defense under coordinator Mike Zimmer.

Entering his 11th NFL season, Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is now one of the team’s elder statesmen. But that doesn’t mean the 32-year-old father of four has turned into the de facto team dad when it comes to motivating his younger defensive coworkers.

“Early in my career, I had a lot of rah-rah with me,” Lawrence said this week at Cowboys training camp in Oxnard. “I do that at home with the kids, so I’m not trying to come up here and holler at grown men. It’s really more a calming role: try to lead by teaching, going through the steps with the guys instead of trying to push them.”

A calming role? From someone with 58.5 sacks and over 400 career tackles?!?

The four-time Pro Bowler knows he has a responsibility to mentor those behind him on the depth chart to the same kind of on-the-field impact. That facet of his job will take on even more importance now that third-year breakout candidate Sam Williams has been lost to a season-ending injury.

Second-round draft pick Marshawn Kneeland will be expected to step up in a big way. And Lawrence already likes what he sees from the just-turned 23-year-old.

“He has a lot of ambition, grit with his game,” Lawrence admired. “His fundamentals are pretty clean, especially for a rookie. It’s a high ceiling for him. I’m going to keep working with him as much as I can. I definitely think he’s going to evolve into something even better than me.”

That’s a very high bar for Kneeland to aim for. The similarities between Lawrence and Kneeland are obvious, though. Both are listed at 6-foot 3. Both came from schools that aren’t exactly blue-blood powerhouse programs. Both were drafted by Dallas in the second round, almost 10 years apart to the day.

But the “DeMarcus Lawrence 2.0” moniker that some have already adopted for Kneeland? The beta version isn’t buying it.

“Not as much as y’all say,” Lawrence laughed. “Me is me. God didn’t make too many DeMarcus Lawrences, you know? At least that I know of. But Marshawn definitely has some instinctive play to his style. He’s down, dirty, gritty. He’s 275; I never played at 275, so it’s definitely a little difference, but I like the grit about him.”

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That grit should endear Kneeland to both Cowboys fans and his new defensive coordinator. Early reviews on what Mike Zimmer has brought to the unit already hint at what should be a noticeable change from Dan Quinn’s Dallas defenses of the past three years.

Lawrence confirmed it.

“With DQ, it was more about speed, using our speed to set up linemen. This year with Coach Z, it’s really details, working on our details, our fundamentals, staying in our gap, controlling our space, and we work our speed through that.”

And while Quinn was fiercely loved by his Cowboys players, Zimmer brings an uncompromising demand for excellence that made Lawrence practically light up when talking about him.

“He really cares about ball. It’s actually dope to have a coach that is not going to settle for nothing else but the best out of you.”

Sounds like a father figure, something about which Lawrence knows plenty.

Kneeland may be speaking about his own defensive mentor- Lawrence- in the same kind of revered tone very soon.

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Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence in store for another great season

DeMarcus Lawrence is a polarizing figure because of his sack numbers but he’s one of the Cowboys greats. | From @ReidDHanson

DeMarcus Lawrence has been a polarizing figure in Cowboys Nation for years. The four-time Pro Bowler is now entering his 11th NFL season, and his durability has allowed him to play in at least 16 games in seven of those. He’s been a team leader and consummate professional throughout his time in Dallas and has been well compensated every step of the way.

He’s one of the most complete defensive ends in the league today, yet many in the fanbase look at him with some level of disdain. To them, low sack numbers are too hard to ignore. Lawrence has yet to log a double-digit sack season since he signed that five-year, $105,000,000 contract in the offseason of 2019. Despite making the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons, Lawrence has logged a grand total of just 10 sacks over the last 34 regular season games.

Despite the paltry sack numbers, Lawrence has been named an all-star for a reason. He’s a great player.

Pro Football Focus, a site sometimes dedicated to upsetting Cowboys fans, grades game film rather than the stat sheet. Instead of focusing solely on sacks which account for less than one percent of the snaps, they grade the whole slate. There he graded out as the No. 8 edge defender in the entire NFL. In fact, over the past four seasons, Lawrence has three top-10 finishes, two of which are top-five.

To anyone who’s spent time breaking down the All-22, it’s hard to argue with the assessment. More sacks may be expected of the man commanding the Cowboys second-highest cap number for 2024, but he wins nearly every play. Sacks are sparse, but he wins battles and creates pressure. That’s important because pressures are a far more stable stat than sacks and therefore a better indicator of continued success. Last season he logged 48 and the season before it was 59. That comes out to over three pressures a game.

It’s also worth pointing out Lawrence is among the best in the NFL against the run. Many pass rushers are just stat sheet stuffers who just want to pin their ears back and go after quarterbacks. They pay little attention to their run fits or potential screen passes. Lawrence is not that type of edge. If anything, the Cowboys, who are notoriously undisciplined against the run, could use more Lawrences on their roster. Defending the run may not be as pivotal as defending the pass, but it’s a critical part of the game and much needed on a team like the Cowboys.

Averaging 4.33 sacks per season over the last three years will understandably cause some to think it’s near the end for Lawrence. At age 32 and on the last year of his deal, this is a fair assumption to make. But there’s reason to believe his controversial sack numbers are due for a rebound and Lawrence is on the verge of something of a late-career resurgence in 2024.

For one, Micah Parsons lines up opposite Lawrence. Parsons’ gravity is well documented as he frequently commands double and triple teams. It frees up one-on-one opportunities for players like Lawrence.

Why Lawrence hasn’t been able to capitalize on this over the previous three seasons is admittedly a bit of a headscratcher. But the Cowboys depth at DE has recently taken a hit, meaning Lawrence no longer has to share snaps with his more one-dimensional brethren.

Unless Sam Williams simultaneously breaks out and endears himself to coach Mike Zimmer, Lawrence will see the bulk of the snaps with Parsons. Playing in more obvious passing situations is a great way for the veteran to boost his numbers.

Another reason for a resurgence is the Cowboys’ secondary. With Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland starting at cornerback the Cowboys boast two All-Pros. Diggs and Bland are elite ballhawks who have been known to bite on double moves. It’s this very weakness that may provide the perfect opportunity for the pass rush. QBs will be more inclined to hold onto the ball, hoping to get this salivating duo to bite on route fakes, subsequently giving non-explosive pass rushers like Lawrence just enough time to get home.

Lawrence probably isn’t going to suddenly post a 10-sack season for the first time in six years, but he could very realistically fall in the 7-to-8 range. Based on this there’s no reason to think Parsons, Williams and Lawrence couldn’t combine for 30 sacks in 2024.

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‘Parsons Effect’ is something Cowboys must capitalize on in 2024

The Cowboys have to get more from their other pass rushers with Micah Parsons demanding so much attention from offenses. | From @ReidDHanson

Micah Parsons demands attention. Posting 13 or more sacks in each of his first three seasons in Dallas, Parsons is on a historic pace. Only 14 players have posted more 13-plus sack seasons than him in a career, and just three of them have eclipsed five.

Very few players, if any, bring the level of gravity Parsons brings to the field. Offenses scheme for him on nearly every play. They identify and often roll protection into his direction, chip blocking him, double teaming him and sometimes even triple teaming him into neutralization. They seemingly do it all and it still doesn’t stop the Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher.

According to ESPN’s pass rush win rate (PRWR) Parsons was the No. 1 edge in the NFL in 2023, a full five percent higher than second place Myles Garrett. He was also double-teamed at the highest rate, a full six percent more often than second place Garrett.

His mere presence on the field opens up near countless opportunities for his teammates, yet no returning teammate managed to post more than four sacks alongside Parsons in 2023. It’s tragedy that must be fixed in 2024.

The Cowboys aren’t exactly devoid of talent alongside Parsons. DeMarcus Lawrence and Osa Odighizuwa are both well regarded defensive linemen in Dallas, with the former coming off his fourth Pro Bowl season. Given the number of opportunities Parsons is creating, it’s difficult to explain how the two only combined for seven sacks.

The interior specifically is somewhere where Parsons opens opportunities. Playing wide on the EDGE, Parsons will often take wide angles as he rounds the pocket and reaches for the passer. The quarterback’s only way of survival in instances such as this is to step up in the pocket. It’s these situations where someone from the defensive interior has to step up and make a play.

There’s a reason teams like the Ravens repeatedly rank near the top of the league in sacks – it’s because there’s seemingly always a second rusher in position to clean up after the initial pressure player flushes the pocket.

Mike Zimmer, the Cowboys new defensive coordinator, might pay off enormously in this facet of the game. Zimmer doesn’t shy away from the blitz and is fairly well known for his blitzes up the middle. Using formations like a BEAR front and using second level players as pass rushers, Zimmer likes to send static into the heart of the pocket.

Since many opportunities are created after Parsons applies primary pressure, it isn’t necessary for these other pass rushers to win with their first moves. Try-hard players who pass rush with a plan can win with secondary and tertiary moves. Considering this, it’s easy to see why Dallas drafted players who were cited to have a “relentless motor” or “high effort.” They deliver the clean-up sacks Parsons creates.

Keeping Parsons on the move will help keep teams from so easily scheming against him. A deeper pass rush arsenal with fewer rip moves, that never produce holding calls, is also a great way to get more from the All-Pro Parsons. But at some point, others have to step up.

Defensive linemen across the NFL would love to have someone like Parsons on their team. His gravity pulls the attention of the offense and opens opportunities for everyone else on defense.

Can players like DeMarcus Lawrence take advantage of it? Can players like Sam Williams and Odighizuwa take the next step in their development and feast on it? Can Zimmer scheme pressure up the middle to take full advantage of it?

These are all questions that need to be answered in 2024 and with any luck, the answer to all is a firm “yes.”

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PFF: Cowboys have 2 of NFL’s top positional tandems

From @ToddBrock24f7: Tyler Smith and Zack Martin were named the top guard duo in the NFL; Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence beat out stiff competition at EDGE.

Batman and Robin. Peanut butter and jelly. Jack Black and… the other guy in Tenacious D.

A truly formidable duo is more than just the sum of two impressive parts. And that maxim is perhaps even more true on the football field than anywhere else. Sure, a superstar player- at any position- can cause the opponent to dramatically alter its gameplan to try to contain the threat, but when there’s an equally lethal weapon at the same position also on the field, it can leave even the best team in a mad scramble.

More than just a big roundhouse punch, a dangerous duo provides a two-fisted attack that offers no break, no respite, no easy way out.

PFF has named its top tandems at several key positions heading into the 2024 regular season, and the Cowboys have a premier pairing on both sides of the ball.

Tyler Smith and Zack Martin were selected as the league’s top offensive guard combo. Martin’s nine Pro Bowls and seven first-team All-Pro nods make him an obvious nominee, but Smith’s inclusion here is made even more impressive by the fact that he was drafted to be the Cowboys’ left tackle of the future and played there for his first pro season (earning PFWA All-Rookie honors) before finally switching to guard in 2023 (and making the second-team All-Pro in the process).

In fact, Smith has been so good at guard that Dallas abandoned their Tyler-Smith-for-Tyron-Smith succession plan and just drafted someone else to play outside instead.

As PFF’s Gordon McGuinness notes of the Cowboys’ twin guards:

“Martin over the past two seasons hasn’t been at his previous level of earning 90.0-plus PFF grades, but he has still been one of the top pass-blockers at the position. His 75.1 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2023 ranked 10th after he allowed just 24 quarterback pressures from 655 pass-blocking snaps.

“Left guard Tyler Smith is ascending, coming off a season in which he ranked eighth among guards in PFF run-blocking grade (80.7).”

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Defensively, the Cowboys’ twosome of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence was named the best edge rushing partnership in the league, beating out the Browns’ Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith and the Steelers’ T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

Per McGuinness:

“Parsons earned a 93.7 PFF pass-rushing grade in 2023, racking up 106 quarterback pressures from 532 pass-blocking snaps. Opposite him, Lawrence posted a 79.3 PFF pass-rushing grade and was a phenomenal run defender, trailing only Maxx Crosby in PFF run-defense grade (92.2).”

Parsons has been an absolute wrecking ball since entering the league in 2021, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year accolades that season and being a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year in every season so far. But since he was moved full-time (more or less) from linebacker to edge rusher, he’s breathed new life into DeMarcus Lawrence’s career, too.

Lawrence was already an eight-year veteran when Parsons took his first snap as a Cowboy. Though he ended up missing most of Parsons’s rookie year with a foot injury, he found when he returned that opposing offenses were having to double-team Parsons, giving him new opportunities to hunt. In his first full campaign as No. 11’s bookend, Lawrence notched a career high in solo tackles and enjoyed his first career scoop-and-score, thanks in large part to the extra attention that Parsons demands on every play. And it’s perhaps no coincidence that Lawrence has made just as many Pro Bowls since Parsons’s arrival as he had prior.

Whether it’s Smith and Martin on offense or Parsons and Lawrence on defense, the Cowboys are blessed to have a pair of dynamic duos that do what any terrific tandem should.

Two great players that play great together.

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Marshawn Kneeland adds the right kind of chaos to the Cowboys’ defensive line

The Cowboys got a second-round steal in Marshawn Kneeland, who will make Dallas’ defensive line a real problem for opposing quarterbacks.

Last season under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, the Cowboys ran some kind of stunt or game on their defensive line on 292 of their 1,159 defensive snaps. That 25.2% rate was one of the league’s highest, and while it’s unlikely that new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer (who also ran Dallas’ defense from 2000 through 2006) will be that volatile with his fronts, the 2021 Vikings did run 158 stunts in Zimmer’s last season as head coach there. And in an NFL where gap versatility is the order of the day, every defense should aspire to have as many multi-position “jokers” as possible.

The Cowboys already have one of the best in Micah Parsons, who can beat opposing blockers everywhere from head-over nose to wide-9 end, and can also beat offenses off-ball. Now, with the addition of Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland with the 56th overall pick in the second round, they have two.

Last season for the Broncos, Kneeland totaled six sacks, 37 total pressures, 38 solo tackles, and 35 stops, and he did it all over the line, with all kinds of attacking techniques.

“The number one thing about him is the high effort and motor that he plays with,” Cowboys Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay said of Kneeland. “Then to be talented, physically talented enough to play at this level. We noticed him early on. [Brett] Maxie is the area scout who brought him to our attention early, and the more you watch him, the more you see NFL traits and the traits that we are looking for on the defensive side; playing hard all the time and having the ability to rush the passer outside and inside. We’ve talked about it before, as hard as DLaw [DeMarcus Lawrence] played at Boise State, there are some similarities there. That is what we thought about him.”

What does Cowboys announcer think of Commanders’ Dan Quinn?

More praise for Quinn from Dallas as a coach and person.

With new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn leaving Dallas for Washington, what does Dallas think of Quinn?

Brad Sham has been calling Cowboys football games as their play-by-play announcer for 45 seasons. He was a guest on the “Al Galdi Podcast” on Friday.

Quinn the Dallas defensive coordinator for the previous three seasons, was named the Commanders head coach and promptly hired Joe Whitt Jr. as his defensive coordinator and Sharrif Floyd as assistant defensive line coach, both away from the Cowboys staff.

Then he signed four Cowboys on his Dallas teams when Tyler Biadasz (center), Dorance Armstrong (defensive end), Dante Fowler (defensive end) and Noah Igbinoghene (cornerback) each agreed to make the Commanders their new team.

Sham had high praise for Quinn not only as a coach but as a person.

“He’s a genuine people person,” Sham said. “He does have that kind of magnetic enthusiasm. And it is not just his players who love him. Most people around him enjoy being around him. He treats everyone with such respect that it is impossible not to return that.”

Seeing how Quinn had previous head coaching experience and improved the Cowboys defense, Sham was confident Quinn would soon be moving from Dallas.

“So, I think it was inevitable that he was going to get another opportunity as a head coach. I think it is a very positive move for the Commanders.”

Sham believes Quinn will be a better head coach the second time around.

“My guess is he is a better coach than the one who left Seattle several years ago,” Sham continued. “The experience in Atlanta made him a better coach. His last three years here (Dallas) made him a better coach. I think he is not just a defensive coach, though he is very much that. He is interested in the whole team, and it’s a very positive move for the Commanders.”

Though Whitt has not garnered much publicity, Sham believes in Whitt taking on this responsibility for the Commanders. “Joe Whitt is a guy who is kind of under the radar. He is quiet but a phenomenal football coach who has really great football intelligence.”

Sham told Galdi of how the Dallas defense was horrible in the 2020 season, and the hiring of Dan Quinn saw the Cowboys defense improve tremendously during Quinn’s three seasons as the Cowboys defensive coordinator.

“He will come in and look at the personnel following the free agency and the draft. He will then decide the best way for those players to play. He finds a way to maximize the players he has.”

Sham told of how Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence injured a foot during practice week of the second game of the 2021 season. Quinn went to Micah Parsons and asked him what he thought of moving around more on defense, being on the line in pass-rushing downs. And that is why we see how the Cowboys have used Parsons in multiple positions. It came about because Quinn saw an opportunity when one of his better linemen was injured.

Sham summed it up, saying about Quinn, “He’s pretty creative, inventive, and sees the big picture.”

 

Cowboys already spending 13% of cap on depleted edge rusher group

The defense end group makes up a big portion of the teams salary cap and will only get pricier. | From @ArmyChiefW3

The defensive side of the ball for the Dallas Cowboys doesn’t boast the type of contract numbers dedicated to the offense. The large cap hits defensive ends command rings true, but the available options behind them are slim. A sneaky need for this team is that a counterpart opposite of star pass rusher Micah Parsons must be found.

But Dallas has been known to be frugal and overspending on a single position group doesn’t fit their approach to team building.

Dallas was built to put pressure on the quarterback to allow their ballhawk-type secondary to cash in on the disruption. No matter the changes this defense will undergo with Mike Zimmer taking the baton from Dan Quinn, applying pressure on the opposing quarterback is something all teams want to accomplish. The remaining pass-rush production behind Parsons needs attention, but at what cost?

9 Cowboys who could follow Dan Quinn to Washington in next 2 years

It’s common practice for players to follow a coach to a new venue. Which defenders could trail Quinn to the east coast? | From @KDDrummondNFL

One would imagine that a ton of Cowboys defenders enjoyed their time under Dan Quinn’s leadership. His ability to motivate and lead is often cited as his best quality, and that’s for a defensive coordinator who has had three straight top-five defenses in Dallas on top of back-to-back No. 1 defenses in Seattle. In between was a stint as head coach of Atlanta that included a trip to the Super Bowl without having a top defense.

So it stands to reason, with a new franchise QB incoming and a ton of cap space, Washington is going to be an intriguing destination for Quinn’s disciples. Some will be able to join him this year, others will have to wait a year until their contracts expire. Here’s a look at two years worth of Cowboys free agents who could end up following Quinn to the nation’s capital.

 

Studs and duds in Cowboys’ NFC East clinching 38-10 Week 18 win

The studs on offense led the way for the Dallas Cowboys in their 38-10 NFC East clinching win over the Washington Commanders in Week 18. | From @BenGrimaldi

The Dallas Cowboys had one mission in Week 18, to leave Washington D.C. with a win and the NFC East title. Mission accomplished as the Cowboys routed the Washington Commanders in a 38-10 win that secured the team’s second division title in the last three years.

They took a little bit of time to get going, but a barrage that started late in the second quarter saw the Cowboys assert their dominance and blow out the Commanders behind a complete team effort. In a rivalry matchup, Mike McCarthy had to know his team would get everything the Commanders had in what was likely Ron Rivera’s last game with the team, and Dallas withstood the aggressive approach to pull away for the victory.

It was another great performance for the offense, while the defense got three more turnovers to guide the Cowboys. Here are the studs and duds from an NFC East clinching win for the Cowboys in Week 18.