Behind rookie Micah Parsons, the defensive Cowboys have made a name for themselves – Dallas Cowboys Blog

LANDOVER, Md. – Name on Dallas Cowboys guilty of rolling out his tongue like a man of the NFL.

Dak Prescott. Ezekiel Elliott. Amari Cooper. Tyron Smith. Zack Martin. CeeDee Lamb. Michael Gallup. The first five players were professional archers many times. Lamb is destined to be one, maybe even this year. Gallup has a 1,000-yard season in recognition of its merits.

When the 2021 season began, the names in the Cowboys’ defense did not waver. Defense is over DeMarcus Lawrence, a two-time bowler, is the most recognizable name. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch brought the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2018. Linebacker Micah Parsons, the 12th overall pick in the 2021 draft, promises more than anything else in September.

But a funny thing happened in the last three months and especially on Sunday Win 27-20 against Washington football team.

A “who is it?” defense has changed to “Who’s Next?” defense.

Parsons should have the defensive rookie of the year award under lock and key at this point, and he’s also a viable candidate for defensive player of the year with any of the NFL’s biggest names from Aaron Donald arrive TJ Watt arrive Myles Garrett.

Defender Trevon Diggs leads the NFL in interceptions, and while he didn’t have a pick on Sunday, he held Terry McLaurin not get caught before Washington’s top recipient left the game with a concussion in the second half.

“If our offense goes there and scores 50 that’s great, but if they go out and score zero we have to keep their offense at zero.” Parsons said. “That was the expectation. It doesn’t matter what they do, we have to take into account what we do. If we have to win a game with us, that’s what we have to do. I think we’re all adopting that standard and approach every week and we’re living the ‘we hit, we don’t take’ trend. I think we just need to keep doing it. “

None of this can seem to imagine a season where the Cowboys hit the franchise record in points (473) and spent most of the season giving up big plays and big yards.

Through 13 games a year ago with Mike Nolan in dispatch, the Cowboys allowed 400 points and 48 touchdowns. They have only five interceptions and 24 sacks.

Through 13 games this season with Dan Quinn as coordinator, the Cowboys have scored 287 points and 32 touchdowns. They have 21 interceptions and 31 sacks.

When the year-long transformation was mentioned to Mike McCarthy after Sunday’s win, he sarcastically said thank you for the trip upstream of memory.

“Definitely a great performance today by our defence,” he said. “I think not only are all the changes made, but you can see this building. You can see this building in the spring and see it being built during the training camp. It was a great group. Love, intimacy, full of energy. Now that everyone is back, it’s great to see. “

With the return of defensive tackle Neville Gallimore From the bench injured by a late elbow, the Cowboys had a full complement of defensive players all season for the first time.

Lawrence is playing just his third game of the season after breaking his leg in practice after scoring the opener. He has a scabbard a weapon of the quartet Taylor Heinicke to the end of the third quarter.

Parsons has two more sacks, giving him 12 for the season and is in a position to break the new league record of 14 set by Jevon Kearse in 1999. First sack. His has caused a mess in defence. Dorance Armstrong returned 37 yards for a touchdown and gave the Cowboys an 18-0 lead in the first inning.

Only Julius Peppers (13), Reggie White (13) and Leslie O’Neal (12.5) have more sacks in the first 13 games of their careers than Parsons since sacks became just official number in 1982. He scored a sack in six consecutive games, tied for the third longest record by a rookie.

“It feels great to just get home and the coaches are calling my number more and more with the belief that I will be home,” Parsons said. “We’re feeding each other.”

Defense is over Randy Gregory. Karma. Four plays later, the Cowboys have an encounter.

In the fourth quarter, Gregory averted what would be a horrifying fall by the Cowboys, who led 24-0 at halftime and 27-8 after three quarters, with a quarterback sacking. Kyle Allen for a forced groping restored by Jayron Kearse with 2:24 to play.

The scandalous recovery of Kearse, the grandson of the man the Parsons are chasing for a rookie layoff record, is the Cowboys’ 27th leg of the season. The last time they got that many goals in their first 13 games was in 1999.

The Cowboys defense has scored five touchdowns this season, the most in the NFL. (By the way, their seven non-attack touches are more than three times that of any other team in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Info.)

Prescott is happy to have protection like this. He has the lowest QBR of his career (9.9) with two interceptions and 211 yards passing 22 of 39 with four dropouts. Before Sunday, the Cowboys were 0-9 when Prescott had a QBR under 25.

“It’s just the way they practice, the way they communicate, their brotherhood, yes, this is a tough group,” Prescott said. “I train against them every day. Just knowing what kind of man they are, knowing how proud they are of their work, knowing that they are led by Coach Quinn, they are shutting down. “