Tag: Osa Odighizuwa

Cowboys lack of capital spent at DT continues to rear ugly head

A thin defensive tackle room with very little salary cap hits makes this group a candidate to be remade with proper investments. | From @ArmyChiefW3

While the Cowboys’ defensive end group takes up a large portion of salary cap space, the opposite can be said of the big boys inside. With a new defensive coordinator, the importance of having guys who can anchor and occupy both players and space is invaluable.

Dallas ranked 27th in the league in ESPN’s run-stop-win-rate, which takes several things into account such as disrupting the running lane, pushing blockers backwards, or recording a tackle within three yards of the line of scrimmage. The nuances of the game make it hard to calculate no matter how much we compartmentalize. A large collection of data is a good indicator that a player is executing his instructions but without knowing the called assignment, an interpretation can be tough. No matter how the team gauges prospects, bodies are needed at the position.

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.

 

4 key matchups for Panthers vs. Cowboys in Week 11

Donte Jackson has been playing some of the best ball of his career lately. The Panthers will need more of it on Sunday against the Cowboys.

Let’s just be straight up—the Carolina Panthers will need a lot of factors to fall in their favor to pull off an upset on Sunday. Heck, we’ll even give you four as we head into kickoff later this afternoon.

Here are the key matchups for the Week 11 clash with the Dallas Cowboys:

3 Cowboys keys to victory: Interior pressure, coverage and Cooks

The Cowboys look to come out of their bye week with a win, but to beat the Rams, they’ll need to win these three key matchups. | From @ReidDHanson

Coming off the bye week, the Cowboys have their work cut out for them. Their Week 8 opponent is in desperation mode at the moment. The Rams stand 3-4 and need to notch a win to stay in the NFC West playoff race.

Dallas also has that pesky Eagles game on the horizon which threatens to take focus from Los Angeles and open the Cowboys up to a dreaded “trap game” on Sunday.

The last time Dallas faced a trap game such as this was in Week 3 in Arizona. No one needs reminding how that turned out.

The Cowboys can’t roll into AT&T Stadium expecting to win the game just by showing up. They need to win a few key battles in order to escape victorious.

Here are the top-three keys to the game in Week 8.

Here’s how the Cowboys avoid a Rams’ upset in Week 8

The Cowboys and Rams both have paths to victory, sorting out which will be more dominant is the game. | From @cdpiglet

The last few weeks have shown everyone the NFL is a not-for-long league. The season seemed over for the Dallas Cowboys after a 42-10 beatdown by the San Francisco 49ers put them two games back in their division and with the fourth-best record in the NFC. Two weeks later, the Philadelphia Eagles lost a game, the Detroit Lions got blown out, and the 49ers lost two straight. The Cowboys are coming off a bye week at 4-2, and the NFC seems wide open.

Dallas is back home playing one of the nemeses of the Dak Prescott era, the Los Angeles Rams. This isn’t the Super Bowl contender Rams from a few years back. However, they still have an elite play-caller in Sean McVay, the best defensive player of this generation, Aaron Donald, one of the best receivers in the game in Cooper Kupp, and quarterback Matt Stafford.

The Cowboys might be more talented overall, but this matchup is no walk in the park. Los Angeles will scheme a great game plan for Dallas, and the top players on the Rams will show up big time with the spotlight of the Cowboys shining on the game. Here is a look at some of what Dallas needs to do and stop Los Angeles from doing to get a victory in Week 8.

This Cowboys’ 4-man combo is tops among 86 NFL pass-rush groups

The Cowboys have a handful of winning combinations rushing the passer in 2023, but one foursome stands out from the rest in the NFL, finds @ReidDHanson.

When it comes to pass rushers, the Cowboys have an embarrassment of riches on their hands. Not only does Dallas field one of the best rushers in the game in Micah Parsons, but they also have Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence, Dante Fowler, Dorance Armstrong and Sam Williams.

And that’s just outside players.

Inside, the Cowboys have Osa Odighizuwa, Neville Gallimore and Chauncey Golston applying pressure. The last two may not be well-regarded pass rushers, but Odighizuwa is currently second in the NFL in DT pass rush win rate, despite being double-teamed 66 percent of the time this season.

With so many talented pass rushers across the defensive line, it’s difficult to tell which is the best combination in Dallas. When the passing situation is obvious and the Cowboys are pinning their ears back and hunting for quarterbacks, who makes up the best NASCAR package?

Arjun Menon, formerly of PFF, ran the numbers across the league and found out. Not only did he determine who the Cowboys’ top four-man passing rushing combination is, but also how that group stacks up across the NFL.

Filtering for plays in which there were only four pass-rushers with a minimum of 10 snaps together, it was determined Fowler, Lawrence, Armstrong and Parsons are the best foursome in Dallas.

In a field of 86 qualified groups, the Cowboys’ top grouping finished tops in the league. Their 90.91% pressure rate isn’t just astonishingly high, but it’s over 20 percent higher than the second most efficient foursome.

It’s immediately apparent to anyone looking at these four players, the Cowboys top foursome is comprised solely of EDGE players.

By reducing Lawrence and Armstrong inside, the Cowboys can load up on speed and explosiveness. Since this package is reserved for obvious passing situations, there is a greatly reduced fear of the run so stoutness can safely be sacrificed for speed.

Since Dan Quinn is a defensive coordinator who’s naturally adverse to blitzing, the Cowboys also stunt at a high rate. By twisting his ends and tackles he can create confusion with blocking assignments. It changes angles and can expose inexperienced offensive linemen.

Obviously in base or even standard nickel personnel, the Cowboys would have one or two DTs inside who can hold up against the run. But even that has elite pass rush potential. As alluded to earlier, Odighizuwa is amongst the best in the league in creating pressure. Double-teams don’t even stop him.

But even Golston has some potential bubbling beneath the surface. His one sack this season isn’t going to get his picture on a Wheaties box, but according to PFF, Golston’s 21.2 win percentage ranks him fifth amongst DTs, slotting him right between Aaron Donald and Chris Jones this season.

At the end of the day, the Cowboys have a handful of good players capable of rushing the passer with high-end efficiency. But on obvious passing downs, the top combination is clear because they’re not just the best on the team, they’re the best in the NFL.

DT Osa Odighizuwa wins PFF Player of the Week in Cowboys win

The Cowboys top interior defensive linemen is getting the credit he deserves, winning PFF’s defensive player of the week. | From @ReidDHanson

At face value, a 17-point yield on defense isn’t much to get excited about. The Cowboys defense held their first two opponents in 2023 to 10 total points. And after getting embarrassed on national television against the 49ers in Week 5, they needed a dominate effort to repair their tarnished image.

A closer look showed it truly was the dominant performance the Cowboys were searching for. While the constant penalties made things needlessly difficult, some of that can be attributed to a flag-happy officiating crew and some overzealous individuals. When it counted, players came up huge and one of those players who posted an absolutely ernormous day was third-year DT, Osa Odighizuwa.

Odighizuwa has been the Cowboys top DT all season, but in Week 6, he posted arguably his best game of the year. He clocked a hit and five hurries in 33 pass rush snaps, earning him Pro Football Focus’s top grade of the game and Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Odighizuwa now ranks No. 6 amongst DTs. He’s in the NFL’s top tier in pass rush wins from the interior defensive line and a big reason opposing offenses can’t devote all resources to stopping Dallas’ onslaught of EDGE rushers.

Odighizuwa was popular choice as a breakout player to watch in 2023. While a case could be made the UCLA product had already broken out, he’d yet to be nationally recognized.

This could be a big step in his bid for Pro Bowl honors in 2023.

Playing on his rookie deal through the 2024 season, Odighizuwa represents one of the biggest bargains on the Cowboys roster. He’s established himself as one of the best young DTs in the NFL and shows an appreciation for both phases of the game.

Odighizuwa is Dallas’ top pressure player from the interior. He can penetrate inside gaps in a flash and stunt outside with defensive ends with ease. He’s also shown the ability to play inside and outside in odd-man fronts making him a versatile tool in Dan Quinn’s defensive arsenal.

Despite seeing double-teams 66 percent of the time in 2023, He’s ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s pass-rush win-rate.

Odighizuwa has shown improvement every season he’s played and he’s yet to plateau in his development. The sky is the limit for this 25-year-old linemen and he’s already become a cornerstone player on the Cowboys defense.

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Ferguson vs Odighizuwa: Which young talent’s ceiling would best serve Cowboys?

If only one of these players could jump to the top of league rankings, would Dallas be better off with Jake Ferguson as a top TE, or Osa Odighizuwa as a top DT? | From @cdpiglet

The Dallas Cowboys have lacked game changing impact players at two positions that have been very important to getting to and winning Super Bowls recently, tight end and defensive tackle. Over the last five Super Bowl matchups the tight ends have included Travis Kelce twice, Rob Gronkowski three times, Dallas Goedert, and Zach Ertz. In the same timeframe defensive tackles in the big game included Chris Jones, Aaron Donald, and Fletcher Cox two times, plus Vita Vea, and Javon Hargrave. These two positions mean a lot for contending teams.

The Cowboys seems to know they need improved play in those spots as well, using their top two picks in the draft on Michigan players at those positions. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith in round one and tight end Luke Schoonmaker their next selection.

Dallas doesn’t need to rely on rookies though to become the necessary impact players at each position, Jake Ferguson was a fourth-round selection that showed promise in his rookie season and should get a ton of opportunities with Dalton Schultz leaving in free agency. At DT, Osa Odighizuwa is entering year three, and won’t have to worry about holding up at the one technique position with Smith, Jonathan Hankins, and Quinton Bohanna on the team.

If only one player could breakout to become one of the top players at their position which would be better for the Cowboys overall success, TE Ferguson or DT Odighizuwa?

Cowboys with no players on PFF’s top-32 interior defender rankings

The Cowboys didn’t have a single player on PFF’s recent top-32 interior defender list but that may soon chance with recent upgrades. | From @ReidDHanson

When the Cowboys used their top pick in the 2023 draft on defensive tackle Mazi Smith, they acted completely out of character.  It was the first time they picked a DT in the first round in over three decades (Russell Maryland and Kelvin Pritchett in 1991).

Dallas had a well-earned reputation for neglecting the interior defensive line, so it should be of no surprise they were absent from Pro Football Focus’ recent top-32 list. All of the Cowboys’ NFC East division rivals had players make the cut (Washington with two players); perhaps a reason why Dallas found Smith to be such an important pick to make in this year’s draft.

The Cowboys aren’t devoid of interior talent on their line. Earlier in the offseason PFF named Osa Odighizuwa Dallas’ most improved player. But there’s a difference between being “improved” and being so good they rank in the top-32. He’s on the ascent, but he’s not there yet.

Many feel the Cowboys overworked Odighizuwa in 2022, as well. They tried to cycle Chauncey Golston inside and hoped Neville Gallimore would be a viable option, but they repeatedly came back to Odighizuwa to carry the load at the 3-tech.

While Smith, a 1-tech, plays a different interior position than Odighizuwa, both players should complement and possibly even elevate each other.  With any luck, one or both will make the top-32 list in 2024.

Previously, the Cowboys front office had been focused on defending the pass. As discussed prior to the draft, Dallas uses more top-100 picks on defensive end and cornerback than any other position.

But times may be changing and with the selection of Smith, and signing of DT Johnathan Hankins, Dallas is showing a commitment to the middle.

The Cowboys are giving the defensive interior added attention and it’s only a matter of time before the results follow.

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Eagles-Saints injury report: Miles Sanders among 4 to not practice, A.J. Brown listed as limited

The Philadelphia Eagles held a Wednesday walkthrough with Miles Sanders and Jalen Hurts among four players to not practice, while A.J. Brown and Jordan Davis were limited

The Eagles released their initial injury report for Sunday’s matchup against the Saints, and Miles Sanders was among four players to sit out practice.

Philadelphia participated in a walkthrough, so the injury report was an estimation, while A.J. Brown and Jordan Davis were limited participants.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts is pushing to play, but was a non-participant in Wednesday’s session, while the team awaits word on C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The star safety didn’t have his 21-day practice window activated, meaning he’ll miss another week.

Lane Johnson is delaying surgery on his injured abdominal in will rehab before returning for the playoffs.