Archer: Demarcus Ware on Cowboys' DeMarcus Lawrence - 'I thought I saw a flash of myself

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,713
Demarcus Ware on Cowboys' DeMarcus Lawrence: 'I thought I saw a flash of myself
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer

FRISCO, Texas -- As happy as he was with Monday's win over the Arizona Cardinals and his three sacks, DeMarcus Lawrence was more pleased that he would keep what has become his prized possession: a championship boxing belt.

"It's mine," the Dallas Cowboys defensive end said. "Undisputed."

After each win, the Cowboys' coaches determine the most outstanding player of the game and hand over a green championship belt that was a gift from World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman, a big Cowboys fan.

Lawrence earned the belt after recording 1.5 sacks in the season opener against the New York Giants. There was no doubt he was keeping it after becoming the first Cowboys defender to record three sacks in a game since DeMarcus Ware on Oct, 30, 2011.

He leads the NFL with 6.5 sacks. Benson Mayowa led the Cowboys in sacks a year ago ... with six.

"I thought I saw a flash of myself," Ware said after the Cowboys' win over the Giants. "He played well. He's coming along and you can see how much he has matured. He's maturing to the point where he's not a DeMarcus Ware lookalike, it's DeMarcus Lawrence. He's becoming his own man."

The Cowboys drafted Lawrence to replace the production of Ware, their all-time sacks leader. Lawrence's rookie year was interrupted early by an ankle injury, but after not recording a sack in the regular season he had a sack in both playoff games. In 2015, he led the Cowboys in sacks with eight.

Last season he had just one sack in nine games partially because of a four-game suspension but mostly because of a back injury that required a second surgery in as many offseasons.

He could not take his stance during practice without feeling his back twinge. He could have shut it down but played through the pain.

"Imagine having double back surgeries, I mean, you can't put a person in much more pain than that when you're trying to play D-line," defensive end Tyrone Crawford said. "He just tried to fight through it and get through it and didn't make excuses."

A couple-inch scar down his back is a reminder of the surgeries, but through three games Lawrence has done something only two other players have done since 1982: record more than one sack in each of the first three games of the season.

Hall of Famer Kevin Greene had more than one sack in each of the first four games in 1998 with the Carolina Panthers.

"The key is my back is feeling good," Lawrence said. "And I'm paying more attention to details. It's slowing the game down a lot for me. Plus, my coaches and my players are helping me get in the right position to make plays."

Neither Cardinals tackle had an answer for Lawrence. Now healthy, he can use his power off the edge, while also dipping to bend the corner. In addition to the three sacks, he had six quarterback pressures and four tackles. He was bothered by dropping an interception, but he had his thumb wrapped because he jammed it in practice last week.

"I mean, I was an all-state tight end in high school," Lawrence said, shaking his head.

Because of his start to the season, opponents will start paying more attention to him. The Cardinals attempted to block him one-on-one with tight end Jermaine Gresham. He might not see that the rest of the season.

Yet Lawrence does not seem worried about seeing more blockers because of Maliek Collins, who is second on the defense with 2.5 sacks.

"The attention can only go so far when you've got a dominant 3-technique, and I feel like Maliek is that guy," Lawrence said. "He's going to be able to take a lot of pressure off of me."

Lawrence is picking the right time to have his best season. He is set to be a free agent next March. He is just 25 and pass-rushers earn a premium on the open market, but the Cowboys might not let him get to the market.

Lawrence doesn't seem to be eager to leave and is somewhat offended at those who believe the production is a result of it being a contract year.

"It's a contract year, so what?" Lawrence said. "I want to be here forever. This year don't define me as a player. Y'all might say it's because it's a contract year, but the first year I was balling. My second year I was balling. My third year I had trouble with my back, so it didn't seem like I was there. This year doesn't define me."

But the WBC belt might.
 

mcnuttz

Senior Junior Mod
Staff member
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
15,667
A part of me still selfishly wants D-Ware to sign on and play this year, just so I can call the DL the 'Line of DeMarcation.'
 

data

Forbes #1
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
50,293
DWare. Your career is over. Get over it. Take your green balloon and stop interjecting yourself for relevancy.
 

DLK150

DCC 4Life
Joined
May 16, 2014
Messages
8,789
What ex-NFL player turned media personality doesn't do this?
This is true and it did come off as kind of a self pat on the back. It's not a big deal to me though and at least it's a compliment because DWare was a good player.
 

Cowboysrock55

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
52,464
This is true and it did come off as kind of a self pat on the back. It's not a big deal to me though and at least it's a compliment because DWare was a good player.
Does Ware realize he never had a 3 game stretch this dominant?...
 

DLK150

DCC 4Life
Joined
May 16, 2014
Messages
8,789
Does Ware realize he never had a 3 game stretch this dominant?...
Yeah, Ware could be streaky. He would light it up for a game or two then disappear at times. I like that Lawrence has been doing it against some decent opponents.
 

midswat

... soon
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Messages
4,241
Does Ware realize he never had a 3 game stretch this dominant?...
Maybe. But he was someone you had to gameplan against for 10 years.

Lets let this other Demarcus do it for more than 3 games before we start slighting Ware.
 

L.T. Fan

I'm Easy If You Are
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
21,689
I don’t think I got an answer when Gregory will be back or even if he will
 

Rev

Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
19,333
I don’t think I got an answer when Gregory will be back or even if he will
He gets out of jail at the end of November...
 
Top Bottom