Twitter: This is a big year for DLaw

[Rockport]

He’s been one of the best, if not the best, run defender on the team. That’s not necessarily a good thing as you want him to be the best pass rusher on the team. Hoping Quinn will use him more effectively and DLaw goes all in.

 

[Ranching]

He does a great job and plays hard. Not flashy enough for some, but he brings it every game.

 

[Flamma]

He’s been one of the best, if not the best, run defender on the team. That’s not necessarily a good thing as you want him to be the best pass rusher on the team. Hoping Quinn will use him more effectively and DLaw goes all in.

It's going to be a big year for several of our players. I can't blame Tank for last year because the Cowboys D was in 2nd and 3rd and short constantly. You can't really get a pass rush going when it's 2nd and 5, then 3rd and 2.

DLaw, Jaylon Smith, LVE, Gallup, and even Cooper have something to prove to justify their stay in 2022. All for varying reasons. I'm hoping these guys are at their best. Because regardless of what anyone thinks in regards to these players, if they go, someone steps in for them. I don't see this team being better in 2022 if we lose most or all of those players.

 

[CowboyRoy]

He’s been one of the best, if not the best, run defender on the team. That’s not necessarily a good thing as you want him to be the best pass rusher on the team. Hoping Quinn will use him more effectively and DLaw goes all in.

Quinn will use him more effectively?

 

[Rockport]

It's going to be a big year for several of our players. I can't blame Tank for last year because the Cowboys D was in 2nd and 3rd and short constantly. You can't really get a pass rush going when it's 2nd and 5, then 3rd and 2.

DLaw, Jaylon Smith, LVE, Gallup, and even Cooper have something to prove to justify their stay in 2022. All for varying reasons. I'm hoping these guys are at their best. Because regardless of what anyone thinks in regards to these players, if they go, someone steps in for them. I don't see this team being better in 2022 if we lose most or all of those players.

You can’t keep everyone so I expect some of them to be gone. That’s why the draft is so important so that you can replace them if you can’t keep them. I disagree that they can’t compete in 2022 if that happens.

 

[USArmyVet]

Demarcus Lawrence was ranked as the 10th best DE/OLB for pass rush win rate % at 21% (TJ Watt was #1 at 29%) and ranked as the 4th best DE/OLB run stop win rate % at 31% (Sam Hubbard was #1 at 34%). Given Lawrence's cap hit for 2021 is $25M with $44M in dead money, that is not exactly the kind of performance you want from your highest paid pass rusher.

That said, as mentioned already there will be several defenders playing to defend their high paid contracts (Lawrence, J. Smith, etc.) as Dallas will have to start getting serious about booting some of these overpaid, underperforming defenders.

 

[Flamma]

You can’t keep everyone so I expect some of them to be gone. That’s why the draft is so important so that you can replace them if you can’t keep them. I disagree that they can’t compete in 2022 if that happens.

Right now it's speculation. We have to see how well Dallas does and what contribution those players had. If not much, then no loss. But if they do, we have to hope they can be replaced.

 

[Flamma]

Demarcus Lawrence was ranked as the 10th best DE/OLB for pass rush win rate % at 21% (TJ Watt was #1 at 29%) and ranked as the 4th best DE/OLB run stop win rate % at 31% (Sam Hubbard was #1 at 34%). Given Lawrence's cap hit for 2021 is $25M with $44M in dead money, that is not exactly the kind of performance you want from your highest paid pass rusher.

That said, as mentioned already there will be several defenders playing to defend their high paid contracts (Lawrence, J. Smith, etc.) as Dallas will have to start getting serious about booting some of these overpaid, underperforming defenders.

But remember, booting doesn't help on the field, just in cap space. Booting Lawrence because he's not living up to his contract is understandable. But replacing him with someone of lesser talent hurts the team on the field. Similar thing with Cooper. Is he worth every penny of that cap hit? Health check, can he play most of the games? But yet he's not someone you can just replace and expect everything to go smoothly.

 

[Ranched]

Quinn needs to being Dlaw back to earth. Once he does that, no doubt he'll be back to double digit sacks.

 

[Flamma]

Quinn needs to being Dlaw back to earth. Once he does that, no doubt he'll be back to double digit sacks.

I think so too. If the Cowboys D can manage 2nd and 3rd and long situations, DLaw and Gregory should be tough to handle.

 

[charron]

With better DT play you will see the effects of good DE play. Hopefully some if these new faces at DT along with a new DC we will see better play along the DL as a whole.

 

[Teague31]

Overrated. Not worth $20m a year.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Imo Lawrence is one of those players who people gripe about being overpaid, then when he's let go he gets more money somewhere else, or at least close to it, then the player they replace him with isn't as good, and people say they shouldn't have let him go..

Don't be fooled by flash and stats, a player's value is just as much in how he enables other players to do their jobs, though unfortunately too many times (Jaylon do you hear me?) those other players fall down on their job.

 

[USArmyVet]

But remember, booting doesn't help on the field, just in cap space. Booting Lawrence because he's not living up to his contract is understandable. But replacing him with someone of lesser talent hurts the team on the field. Similar thing with Cooper. Is he worth every penny of that cap hit? Health check, can he play most of the games? But yet he's not someone you can just replace and expect everything to go smoothly.

Agree but remember DLaw was paid as a top pass rushed after having 2 seasons wherein he totaled 25 sacks (2017-2018) and since then he has amassed 11.5 sacks in 2 seasons....so while I get the need to have someone equally capable to replace him should he be traded/released after this season you are asking for someone to produce basically 6 sacks/season and be an adequate run defender....something I think can be done for far less than the $25M DLaw is being paid. Hell, Everson Griffin got $6M between Dallas/Detroit and put up 6 sacks in 2020....not that he is at the same level as DLaw now but you see my point.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Agree but remember DLaw was paid as a top pass rushed after having 2 seasons wherein he totaled 25 sacks (2017-2018) and since then he has amassed 11.5 sacks in 2 seasons....so while I get the need to have someone equally capable to replace him should he be traded/released after this season you are asking for someone to produce basically 6 sacks/season and be an adequate run defender....something I think can be done for far less than the $25M DLaw is being paid. Hell, Everson Griffin got $6M between Dallas/Detroit and put up 6 sacks in 2020....not that he is at the same level as DLaw now but you see my point.

His lack of sacks is not due solely to his lack of effort, he's not had d-line play worth much, he's asked to defend the run most of the time and lastly he plays on the quarterback's non-blind side.

I would submit if you put him on the other side of the line and gave him some better dt play he'd be back to the 14.5 sack level. As is often the case, players get blamed for not doing something when anybody else that's put in the same situation wouldn't get 14.5 sacks, either.

Players don't exist in a vacuum...

 

[Redline360]

Great player but not elite. As in typical Jerry fashion we gave him a massive contract over 17-18 season. Still a horrible contract

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Imo Lawrence is one of those players who people gripe about being overpaid, then when he's let go he gets more money somewhere else, or at least close to it, then the player they replace him with isn't as good, and people say they shouldn't have let him go..

Don't be fooled by flash and stats, a player's value is just as much in how he enables other players to do their jobs, though unfortunately too many times (Jaylon do you hear me?) those other players fall down on their job.

He's one of the hardest working players on the team

 

[SlammedZero]

It's funny to me a lot of the same people that argue that the stats with Dak don't matter, and don't tell the whole story, will turn around and say the stats need to matter with a player like DLaw and tells the whole story.

 

[jrumann59]

His lack of sacks is not due solely to his lack of effort, he's not had d-line play worth much, he's asked to defend the run most of the time and lastly he plays on the quarterback's non-blind side.

I would submit if you put him on the other side of the line and gave him some better dt play he'd be back to the 14.5 sack level. As is often the case, players get blamed for not doing something when anybody else that's put in the same situation wouldn't get 14.5 sacks, either.

Players don't exist in a vacuum...

I get what you are trying to say but he is not a RDE. He does not have the tools to be the blind side rusher. You put him over there he would look worse stats wise. The issue last year is they had him coming out of a 2 point stance which defeats his one strength leverage, he is not a LB in a DE body he is a DE in a DE body. He does not have the tools to take advantage of 2 point stance, no bend, no repertoire of moves to set up a OL for moves. He literally was trying do what he normally did from a 3 point stance in a 2 point stance. Also with the trash that were many of DT next to him he got the most attention of all of the DL that stepped foot on the field. No one was scared of Hill, Gallimore, Poe, A. Smith beating them consistently.

 

[Rockport]

Quinn needs to being Dlaw back to earth. Once he does that, no doubt he'll be back to double digit sacks.

When I was in the Marines men weren't allowed to wear an earring at any time. A young Marine was off duty and at a BBQ and a Warrant Officer I knew well walked up to him, grabbed the earring and yanked it out. Someone needs to yank off that HotBoyz neckless from those players.