Heavy Pressure on Cowboys Defensive Leaders

DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Sean Lee, Orlando Scandrick, and Byron Jones; the Cowboys top-five defensive players enter 2016 with high expectations.

Granted, you could say this about most top talents on teams across the NFL and on either side of the ball. But these key Cowboys face some extra pressure because of the circumstances surrounding them; roster turnover, suspensions, and question marks throughout the rest of the defense.

What’s more, these defensive leaders also face having to support what many feel will be a league-leading offense. They are up against the criticism of being the team’s biggest weakness and liability, amplified by the fact that Tony Romo and Jason Witten’s window is closing.

Let’s take a look at each player and see what opportunities and concerns they face in 2016. How can they individually impact the collective direction of the defense?

DeMarcus Lawrence

Outside of the quarterback, Lawrence may be under the heaviest scrutiny of any other Cowboy in 2016. Not only is he a third-year player with breakout-season expectations, but Lawrence upped the ante with a four-game suspension for PEDs. That mistake has cost him some goodwill, which only increases the need to perform.

Lawrence set the bar high with how he finished last season; seven sacks in his final eight games. Even with the suspension in 2016, that projects to at least a 10-sack season if he’s producing at the same rate.

Stats aren’t everything, of course, but few positions are more tied to a single number than defensive end. In the 4-3 scheme, DEs are judged by sacks by the mainstream. How you play against the run or how much you pressure the QB is something for the coaches. When it comes to Pro Bowls, All-Pro selections, and other notoriety everyone looks at your sacks.

DeMarcus Lawrence has to deliver. He can make everyone forget about the suspension with strong play in the other 75% of the season, and hopefully in January.

Tyrone Crawford

I wrote back in May about how Crawford needed to finally reward the Cowboys faith. That’s even truer now, given the other issues on the defensive line.

Crawford’s already missed the first week of camp with a minor back issue. He’s expectedto return next week, but it still seems like there’s always something with this guy. The Cowboys can’t afford another year of injury excuses from one of their highest paid players.

While the combination of Terrell McClain and Cedric Thornton did well together in his absence, Crawford is supposed to be a different caliber of defensive tackle. He’s paid like an 8-10 sack guy who should be closer to the Pro Bowl than Injured Reserve.

While the Cowboys are trying to cobble together some defensive ends for Weeks 1-4, they need stability and dynamic play in the middle of the line. McClain and Thornton can be solid but Crawford is the one with game-changing potential. It’s time for potential to become performance.

Sean Lee

Nobody on our defense has earned more confidence than Lee. He is one of the best players in the NFL when his body allows it and easily the top defender in Dallas.

Last year Lee played in 14 games, which felt miraculous after the last three season. Lee missed all of 2014 with a major knee injury and 15 games between 2012-2013. We can only hope that last season was the start of a new trend, rather than the anomaly.

The pressure on Lee has been increased by the absence and seemingly permanent downfall of middle linebacker Rolando McClain. I was excited for having Lee and McClain perhaps finally put in full healthy seasons together, but now it looks like Rolando will never put on a Cowboys jersey again.

Dallas has some good options to replace McClain. Anthony Hitchens is in his third year, has played the position before, and so far has had a strong camp. They also brought back veteran Justin Durant as insurance.

Like with Tyrone Crawford, Lee has to be the bedrock that all these other moves and relief efforts are be built on. The trickle-down effect of one dynamic player can be huge for his position. Sean Lee is certainly that, so long as his health doesn’t get in the way.

Orlando Scandrick

After missing all of 2015, Scandrick returns as the team’s top cornerback and one of its most vocal leaders. We can only hope that his play will live up to it.

Scandrick was 27-years-old the last time he played football. He’s now 29, which can be a big leap for players who rely on their speed and agility. Throw that on top of returning from a severe knee injury and there is some question as to how much his physical tools will be diminished.

I’ve always felt like we’ve overrated Scandrick a little in Dallas. Yes, he’s been our best cornerback for several years. But the bar has been set pretty low for that position for a long time. Combine that with his age and absence and I’m a bit concerned about relying on him so heavily in 2016.

Matters are only worse with the questions marks surrounding Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne.

We’ve heard only good things about Claiborne’s play so far in Oxnard but that’s been the case every year. I won’t put any stock in it until it happens in the regular season. Carr is now 30 and should be relied upon less as time goes, rather than being our only stable corner.

Scandrick is supposed to the guy who makes everyone else better. He’s supposed to draw the tough assignments and be the playmaker. Hopefully he still has the tools to make it happen.

Byron Jones

We’re all making a big assumption that Jones, the second-year player transitioning to full-time safety, will be an improvement over J.J. Wilcox. All signs points to “Yes,” but all we have right now is speculation.

There’s no question that Jones has the athleticism, ball skills, and intelligence to be a dynamic safety. However, even for a first-round pick, it’s a lot to ask of a guy in his second pro season.

Moving to Jones safety is not just about what he can do that Wilcox couldn’t, but also what he might do to help Church. If Jones can be a ballhawking, “center field” safety then it allows Dallas to get Church closer to the line of scrimmage. This is where Church excels and the combine effect could have a dramatic improvement on overall safety play.

It’s been a long time since it felt like Dallas’ safeties were a strength for the defense and not a liability. Turning just 24 this September, Byron Jones has been given a significant responsibility. If he delivers, he might be the Cowboys best defense draft pick since DeMarcus Ware.