JJT: Cowboys' pass rush peaking at right time

Cotton

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Cowboys' pass rush peaking at right time
January, 6, 2015

By Jean-Jacques Taylor | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- In the Cowboys' win over Detroit, we saw why coach Jason Garrett was so patient with defensive end Anthony Spencer's recovery from microfracture knee surgery.

Spencer, who missed the first three games, played a season-high 40 snaps against Detroit and recorded three tackles and a fourth-quarter sack that nearly clinched the win for the Cowboys.

Spencer burst off the edge, zoomed around the right tackle and drilled quarterback Matt Stafford, forcing him to fumble. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence recovered the fumble but lost the ball as he tried to return it.

"He's one of those players who has a unique ability to really, really bring it at the end of a ballgame," Garrett said of Spencer. "He just has a unique way of some how, some way getting to the quarterback late and making a play that impacts the game and really helps us win the game."

Of Spencer's 33 career sacks, 16.5 have come in the fourth quarter and 23.5 have come in the second half.

Spebcer did a solid job against the run, helping to hold Detroit to 31 yards rushing on nine carries in the second half. And he made a key play late on third quarter, when he recognized a third-down screen pass to Reggie Bush, peeled off his pass rush and forced an incompletion.

"He's just a heck of a guy to have on your football team," Garrett said. "He's such a pro. He's so well-respected by his coaches and teammates. He's really showed up and been productive as he's gotten healthier."

But it's Spencer's pass-rush ability the Cowboys need most because defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli doesn't like blitzing. He prefers playing coverage, which limits the opportunity for big plays.

Spencer, the Cowboys' most accomplished pass-rusher, is the only player on the roster who's ever posted double-digit sacks in a season. Add him to Jeremy Mincey, Tyrone Crawford and DeMarcus Lawrence and suddenly the Cowboys have a better pass rush than they've had all season.

The Cowboys sacked Stafford three times, the third time in four games they've had at least three sacks. Green Bay allowed just 30 sacks this season, tying for ninth fewest in the league.

The Cowboys will have to pressure quarterback Aaron Rodgers to have any chance of beating the Packers because if he has time to consistently go through his progression of reads, it's going to be tough for the Cowboys to cover Green Bay's receivers.

"I feel like we've gotten better rushing the passer over the course of the year," Garrett said. "We've gotten better collectively. The fact we've used [a] number of guys keeps them fresh and the way we were able to rush at the end of the game was critical to our success."
 

mcnuttz

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Funny that Spencer and Lawrence are possibly turning on the pass rush right here at the playoffs...just as Jerry knew they would.
 

L.T. Fan

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Funny that Spencer and Lawrence are possibly turning on the pass rush right here at the playoffs...just as Jerry knew they would.
Ole Jer does it again. Hip hip hooray. :tehj
 

mcnuttz

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