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Dallas Cowboys' pass rush 'not good enough'
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Randy Gregory sat at his locker Thursday talking about returning from his high ankle sprain in time for next week's game against the New England Patriots. It might be wishful thinking, but that would help the Dallas Cowboys' pass rush.
Greg Hardy's return from a four-game suspension next week will help the pass rush, but does nothing for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.
The focal point of the Cowboys' offseason was to improve a pass rush that had just 28 sacks in 2014. Through three games, the Cowboys have just three sacks.
“It's not good enough,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “It's not. Not at a championship level that we want. And they know that. So we've just got to keep grinding and keep pushing each and every day and each and every week, try different guys in there, move guys around, maybe different matchups and just work at it. Come out and work at it. It's not good enough.”
On the door of the rushmen's meeting room is a poster that reads, “If you're not rushing, you're stealing.”
The success of the Cowboys' defense is predicated on a pass rush. That affects takeaways. That affects third down success. That affects points. Two of the three quarterbacks the Cowboys face do not allow much pressure and sacks.
Eli Manning was sacked once in the opener. Last week, the Cowboys got to Matt Ryan just once. The Cowboys have 21 quarterback pressures on 109 opponents' pass attempts.
Marinelli does not like to bring extra pass-rushers. He does not want to open the defense up to big plays by blitzing. Sean Lee was able to pick up the first sack of his career with a blitz up the middle to take down Ryan for a 5-yard loss.
Marinelli has more confidence in the Cowboys' secondary, but he does not to expose them too much,
“You've just got to be smart,” Marinelli said. “But we just have to make that part of it work. And we'll do pressure. It's all part of it. I'd like to bring it when we want to, not because we have to. Then I think you're, that's when things get a little shaky for you. People know you're coming now with us, so we just got to keep it better. It's not good enough.”
Against the Falcons the Cowboys were down more than just Gregory, who was hurt against the New York Giants, and Hardy. Jeremy Mincey, who led the Cowboys in sacks last year with six, did not play because of a concussion. They were without defensive tackle Terrell McClain, who was one of their better interior pass-rushers, because of a season-ending toe injury.
Rookie Ryan Russell was active for the first time. Davon Coleman played more snaps but was released on Monday.
The regulars, like Tyrone Crawford and DeMarcus Lawrence, had to play more. With more work, came less rest. With less rest came a slower pass rush.
Mincey will be back this week against the Saints.
“Organization and communication,” Mincey said. “Just got to know who's beside you and know what you're dealing with. [Lawrence] is still young, [Tyrone] Crawford still young. Guys are still learning. Once they get back in the rhythm of things it will start falling in line. It's a matter of time.”
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Randy Gregory sat at his locker Thursday talking about returning from his high ankle sprain in time for next week's game against the New England Patriots. It might be wishful thinking, but that would help the Dallas Cowboys' pass rush.
Greg Hardy's return from a four-game suspension next week will help the pass rush, but does nothing for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.
The focal point of the Cowboys' offseason was to improve a pass rush that had just 28 sacks in 2014. Through three games, the Cowboys have just three sacks.
“It's not good enough,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “It's not. Not at a championship level that we want. And they know that. So we've just got to keep grinding and keep pushing each and every day and each and every week, try different guys in there, move guys around, maybe different matchups and just work at it. Come out and work at it. It's not good enough.”
On the door of the rushmen's meeting room is a poster that reads, “If you're not rushing, you're stealing.”
The success of the Cowboys' defense is predicated on a pass rush. That affects takeaways. That affects third down success. That affects points. Two of the three quarterbacks the Cowboys face do not allow much pressure and sacks.
Eli Manning was sacked once in the opener. Last week, the Cowboys got to Matt Ryan just once. The Cowboys have 21 quarterback pressures on 109 opponents' pass attempts.
Marinelli does not like to bring extra pass-rushers. He does not want to open the defense up to big plays by blitzing. Sean Lee was able to pick up the first sack of his career with a blitz up the middle to take down Ryan for a 5-yard loss.
Marinelli has more confidence in the Cowboys' secondary, but he does not to expose them too much,
“You've just got to be smart,” Marinelli said. “But we just have to make that part of it work. And we'll do pressure. It's all part of it. I'd like to bring it when we want to, not because we have to. Then I think you're, that's when things get a little shaky for you. People know you're coming now with us, so we just got to keep it better. It's not good enough.”
Against the Falcons the Cowboys were down more than just Gregory, who was hurt against the New York Giants, and Hardy. Jeremy Mincey, who led the Cowboys in sacks last year with six, did not play because of a concussion. They were without defensive tackle Terrell McClain, who was one of their better interior pass-rushers, because of a season-ending toe injury.
Rookie Ryan Russell was active for the first time. Davon Coleman played more snaps but was released on Monday.
The regulars, like Tyrone Crawford and DeMarcus Lawrence, had to play more. With more work, came less rest. With less rest came a slower pass rush.
Mincey will be back this week against the Saints.
“Organization and communication,” Mincey said. “Just got to know who's beside you and know what you're dealing with. [Lawrence] is still young, [Tyrone] Crawford still young. Guys are still learning. Once they get back in the rhythm of things it will start falling in line. It's a matter of time.”