Dallas Cowboys
Breaking Down the Dallas Cowboys Defense Player-by-Player
Dallas Cowboys

Breaking Down the Dallas Cowboys Defense Player-by-Player

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:47 p.m. ET

Looking back at the good, bad, and indifferent for the Dallas Cowboys defense in the first six games of the 2016 NFL season.

Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Benson Mayowa (93) celebrates after the Cowboys recovered a fumble by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (not pictured) in the third quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

With the Dallas Cowboys (5-1) enjoying a much needed bye week, it seems like the perfect time to take a look back at the first six games and break down the strengths and weaknesses of the defense.

This 2016 Cowboys defense looks much closer to the 2014 version than it does to the 2015 Cowboys defense.

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While allowing 358.3 yards per game (16th in the NFL), the defense has been the definition of bend-but-don’t-break.

Despite being middle of the pack in yardage allowances, the Cowboys have only allowed 17.8 points per game (7th in the league), which is a major improvement compared to 2015 where they allowed 23.4 points per game.

The defense has also forced nine turnovers in six games (1.5 per game), only two less than the 11 turnovers they forced all of last season (0.7 per game).

If you look at the difference in passing and rushing yardage allowed per game, it is apparent that opposing offenses are playing this defense differently- likely due in large part to the offensive success that the Cowboys are having.

Dallas is allowing 92.2 rushing yards per game (10th in the NFL), but are allowing 4.4 yards per carry which is 23rd in the NFL. In 2015 they allowed 120.9 rushing yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry.

The Cowboys have only allowed two rushing touchdowns in six games so far this season which is quite impressive.

The defense is giving up 266 pass yards per game (21st in the league), which is nearly 40 more passing yards than the defense allowed last year.

A lot of the credit for the increased turnovers as well as the reduced scoring allowance has to be given to the Cowboys secondary. Analytic site Pro Football Focus has Dallas rated as the fourth best secondary in the NFL this season, a major jump from their ranking of 30th in 2015.

In fact, you could say that the secondary is performing at an elite level in spite of an inconsistent at best pass rush in front of them.

The Cowboys have registered 11 sacks (ranked 22nd), which is on pace to be very similar to the number of sacks the defense accumulated last year. However, they are only registering a sack on 4.58 percent of pass plays (23rd in the NFL), down from 5.77 percent in 2015.

A good majority of those sacks can be directly attributed to the secondary as well, meaning that they are mostly what are called “coverage sacks”- where the quarterback simply had to hold the ball for too long with no receivers getting open.

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    The Cowboys have been quite stingy when the opposition gets into the red zone which is a crucial metric for success. Dallas is allowing a touchdown on 52.58 percent of opposing red zone possessions (13th best in the NFL).

    Luckily, the Cowboys have been good in the red zone and have also been good at forcing turnovers- because they have been among the worst in the league in allowing third down conversions.

    Dallas has allowed opposing offenses to convert third downs 45.07 percent of the time, ranking 29th in the NFL in that key stat.

    Despite the lack of a consistent pass rush and a need for making more third down stops, this defense is far from being the laughing stock of the league that we have come to expect from Dallas defenses in past seasons.

    If the Cowboys want to go from making noise early in the year to being legitimate Super Bowl contenders, a pass rush is going to have to come from somewhere.

    That being said, there are plenty of bright spots to appreciate through the first six games and you have to give defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli a lot of credit for how well this defense is playing as a whole.

    Sep 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne (24) and defensive tackle Terrell McClain (97) and teammates celebrate recovering a fumble in the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

    Morris Claiborne, Cornerback

    Pro Football Focus Grade – 82.3
    22 tackles, 2 for loss
    1 interception, 5 passes defensed
    1 recovered fumble

    It would be hard to argue against the fact that Mo Claiborne has been the Cowboys defensive MVP through the first six games.

    Lining up as the left corner, a switch back to his more natural side after playing most of his pro career on the right side, Claiborne has been as consistent as any cornerback in the league at defending elite receivers.

    He has clearly found the confidence that seemed to have been missing in his first several seasons in the league after being snake bitten with injuries.

    Speaking of injuries, Claiborne suffered a concussion in the Week 6 game against the Green Bay Packers but he should be good to go in the Week 8 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles following the bye.

    Sep 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys free safety Byron Jones (31) reacts to breaking up a pass in the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

    Byron Jones, Safety

    Pro Football Focus grade– 83.0
    17 tackles
    4 passes defensed
    1 forced fumble

    Byron Jones, the Cowboys first round pick in 2015, has been extremely solid so far this season while making the permanent switch to safety after being needed as a corner in his rookie year.

    He has seldom allowed a receiver to get behind him, which has kept big passing plays at bay for the opposition.

    Byron is also very good in coverage against tight ends which comes in useful in clear passing situations.

    The sky is the limit for this athletic freak playing centerfield for this defense.

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    Sean Lee, Linebacker

    Pro Football Focus grade – 82.8
    58 tackles, 2 for loss
    1 pass defend

    Sean Lee has been exactly what the Cowboys expect him to be, a Pro Bowl caliber head hunting linebacker that is constantly flying to the football.

    Lee has also been fortunate to stay healthy to this point in the season, something that he has struggled with throughout his career.

    If there is one negative about Sean’s season to this point, it would be the fact that he has yet to record a sack or force a turnover. We are still waiting for a major splash play but without a doubt they will come and likely come in bunches.

    Sep 18, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr (39) celebrates after the Cowboys

    Brandon Carr, Cornerback

    Pro Football Focus grade – 77.3
    23 tackles
    1 interception, 4 passes defensed

    Carr, much like Claiborne, has been tremendously better this season than in years past. Carr can also credit that in part to moving back to the right side, where he played in his early years for the Kansas City Chiefs.

    Carr has been solid against both the pass and in run support.

    While everyone has written him off as a likely cap casualty in the upcoming offseason, I get the feeling that the Cowboys staff will do everything they can to keep him around if he continues playing at the level he has displayed thus far in 2016.

    Terrell McClain, Defensive Tackle

    Pro Football Focus grade – 72.6
    21 tackles, 2 for loss
    1.5 sacks

    Terrell McClain, nicknamed “Smite” by his teammates, has been the most consistent defensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys through the first six weeks.

    He has been a standout when it comes to fighting off blocks and finding the football, both in run defense and while rushing the passer.

    The Cowboys are extremely thankful that he is finally at full health and he has been a major upgrade inside.

    Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving (95) reacts after recovering a fumble by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (not pictured) in the third quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

    David Irving, Defensive Lineman

    Pro Football Focus grade – 77.6
    12 tackles, 2 for loss
    2.0 sacks
    3 forced fumbles, 1 recovered fumble

    It is hard not to include the Week 6 NFC defensive player of the week on this list of standouts.

    While Irving has been a rotational player at both defensive tackle and defensive end, Irving has made profound use of his opportunities.

    In Week 6 alone, he registered four tackles, a sack, and forced three fumbles- all in 19 defensive snaps.

    Irving has clearly been playing well enough to demand more playing time, whether inside or outside along the defensive line.

    What is impressive with David Irving, is the fact that he is only beginning to scratch the surface of what he can become for a team in desperate need of a dominant pass rusher.

    Barry Church, Safety

    Pro Football Focus grade – 81.2
    42 tackles, 2 for loss
    2 interceptions, 3 passes defensed
    1 forced fumble

    Barry Church has been one of the elite players on the Cowboys defense, and has been much improved in pass coverage.

    Church had always been a consistent tackler as an in-the-box strong safety, but he has learned how to use angles to drop into coverage and read the quarterback’s eyes while making plays with the ball in the air.

    If Barry keeps producing at his current rate, he could be due for a Pro Bowl bid this year.

    October 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Trent Brown (77) blocks Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford (98) during the first quarter at Levi

    Tyrone Crawford, Defensive Lineman

    Pro Football Focus grade– 43.1
    12 tackles, 2 for loss
    2.0 sacks
    1 recovered fumble

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      Crawford has been a major disappointment for the Cowboys in the past two seasons after signing a giant contract extension in the fall of 2015.

      After being dominated inside at what his supposed to be his starting defensive tackle position, he has been moved out to the left defensive end spot and has been slightly better there.

      One positive is that he has registered two sacks this year.

      But those numbers are a far cry from the production the staff is expecting from him.

      The Cowboys need to see the relentless motor and power that he displayed back in 2014.

      Crawford’s play from that season had everyone excited about how dominant he could be in the future and earned him a hefty contract extension.

      Well, the future is here.

      We need you to show up, Tyrone.

      Sep 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens (59) runs on the field with his helmet off in the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

      Anthony Hitchens, Linebacker

      Pro Football Focus grade – 45.3
      25 tackles

      Hitchens has had a few bright spots where he has helped make key stops in short yardage situations.

      But all in all, Hitchens has not developed into the consistent ball hawk middle linebacker that the coaching staff hoped he could become.

      Hitchens has been a liability in pass coverage and needs to get back to being the player that had fans excited when he was given fewer snaps as a reserve player that seemed to always be at the bottom of the pile.

      DeMarcus Lawrence, Defensive End

      Pro Football Focus grade – 45.8

      Lawrence has only played 46 defensive snaps in the past two games after returning from his four game suspension.

      However, in those 46 snaps, he has yet to register a tackle.

      DeMarcus is supposed to be the dominant weak side defensive end that gets close to double digit sacks.

      If the Cowboys are going to go deep into the playoffs, and potentially to a Super Bowl, Lawrence needs to shake this rust off and start making impact plays as a pass rusher.

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