The Dallas Cowboys defense has shown promise in the first two preseason games of the season. Through four quarters this past Friday night, the collective unit of linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs put on quite a showing against the visiting Miami Dolphins at AT&T Cowboys Stadium. Here’s a breakdown of the performance:
Dallas Cowboys Defense: Preseason Game Two Analysis
After a penalty-ridden first offensive possession ended with a Chris Jones punt, the defense took the field. Linebacker Sean Lee and several other defensive starters, including cornerback Orlando Scandrick made their preseason debuts. On second and five, Lee and safety Barry Church dropped running back Jay Ajayi for a short gain, setting up an ideal third and three situation for the Dolphins.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill took the snap from a shotgun formation but outstanding coverage from the secondary and linebackers forced him to hold the ball. Defensive end Jack Crawford and defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford combined to pressure the flustered quarterback, sacking him at the line of scrimmage. The Dolphins were forced to punt. The Cowboys took the lead on their next possession 7-0. The next drive started in spectacular fashion for the Dolphins.
Tannehill bootlegged around left end and found wide receiver Kenny Stills racing past safeties J.J. Wilcox and Byron Jones for 55 yards to the Cowboys 20-yard line. On the next play, Wilcox redeemed himself, combining with cornerback Morris Claiborne to drop running back Arian Foster for a loss of four. Two plays later, linebacker Anthony Hitchens got into a shoving match with a few agitated Dolphins, earning an unsportsmanlike penalty.
Goal Line Stand
Set up at the Cowboys four-yard line after the 15-yard penalty, the Dolphins looked to even the score. The Cowboys defense had other plans. Their best chance of scoring came on first down was when tight end Jordan Cameron dropped what would have been an easy touchdown with Jones draped all over him. Jones blew through the line on a safety blitz the next play, dropping Foster for a loss of two yards to set up third and goal from the six-yard line.
Tannehill challenged Scandrick on the next play but misfired in the direction of receiver Jarvis Landry. Boldly, the Dolphins decided to bypass the chip-shot, field goal attempt and go for it on fourth down. Again, Tannehill took the snap from the shotgun. Boxed in by consistent effort and a disciplined pass rush, Tannehill lofted his pass toward the back of the end zone for Stills. Claiborne broke up the pass and the Dolphins turned the ball over on downs.
Second Quarter
Leading 14-0 to start the second quarter, the Cowboys defensive backups began to get into the act. On first down from the Dolphins twenty, cornerback Josh Thomas came on a corner blitz from the left side of the offense, chopping down Ajayi at the line of scrimmage for no gain. Jones banged into Landry on a comeback route that the left the receiver wondering what had just hit him. Jones rose up waving his index finger as if to say, “Not on my watch!”
Facing a third and eight situation at their own thirty-seven-yard line, Tannehill looked to pass. Defensive end Ryan Russell sped around left end, meeting the quarterback face to face and slamming him to the turf. Tannehill managed to complete the pass to receiver DeVante Parker for the first down but definitely felt Russell’s presence on the play. Russell was flagged for illegal contact. The refs said he led with the crown of his helmet as he struck the helpless signal-caller.
A couple of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties later, the Dolphins found themselves at the Cowboys fourteen-yard line. On second down, Ajayi tried to get around the corner but Thomas disrupted his effort and Crawford wrapped the ball-carrier up for a short gain. The Cowboys gave up their first touchdown of the game on the next play. Still, defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli had to have been pleased by what he had seen from his speedy and confident group of defenders.
Trailing 21-7, the Dolphins had a first and goal at the Cowboys four-yard line. Thomas again hawked the ball, stopping Parker on a quick curl route. Under duress from Jones on second down, Tannehill rolled to his right and lofted a pass toward Landry. This time defensive back Jeremiah McKinnon broke up the pass in the end zone, forcing third and goal. On third down, Tannehill found Stills in tight coverage from McKinnon for his second touchdown of the game.
The next defensive series ended beautifully for the Cowboys. As rookie third-string quarterback Brandon Doughty dropped back to pass, defensive lineman Shaneil Jenkins sliced through and separated him from the ball. Tackle Cedric Thornton scooped up the fumble and rumbled down to the Dolphins six-yard line, setting up the Cowboys with a first and goal situation. The Cowboys took a 27-14 halftime lead.
Second half
With the Cowboys leading 34-14, receiver Vince Mayle blocked a punt. Backup tight end Austin Traylor caught the ball in the air and worked his way down to the Dolphins 15 yard line. The unit produced another goal line stand late in the game. Many of the Cowboys young defenders have laid claim to spots on the 53-man roster.
Defensive linemen like Jenkins and Thornton have taken advantage of their opportunities. Pending suspensions and off the field issues have provided defensive ends Charles Tapper and David Irving a chance to shine in the preseason. Young defensive backs like Dax Swanson and Jeremiah McKinnon could find themselves making the team on special teams.
With the emergence of young linebackers Mark Nzeocha and Derek Akunne, third-year man James Morris could be the odd-man out. The linebacker has made a series of mistakes in the two preseason games. Morris had at least two missed tackles against the Rams and a personal foul penalty for striking a sliding Dolphins quarterback this week. Overall, the team has done a great job bringing in defensive talent the past couple of seasons.
The Cowboys leadership team has clearly made a conscious effort to bring in the kind of defenders that have the ability to perform well in Marinelli’s Cover-2 scheme. Despite not having the big name pass rusher, the Cowboys have a chance to have depth across the defensive front. The speed and durability of the unit make it one to watch as the Cowboys move into their third preseason game and dress rehearsal against the Seattle Seahawks this Thursday night on the road.
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