DeMarcus Lawrence: We have to play against opponents + refs

[Cmac]

DLaw failed to mention playing against self also......bad penalties and poor execution........and questionable effort at times.

 

[BoyzBlaster]

Culture of whining and excuse making. That's become the Cowboy way unfortunately.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I dont like commenting on others posts but are you watching the games. I am not a huge fan of Lawrence personality but he might be our best all around Def player. The guy is a macine out there. Might be one of the most underrated players in the league.

You're not wrong. He's been one of the better pass rushers, and he made a great play where he delivered the initial hit to Hill on the end around. If he doesn't see it and deliver the initial hit, Hill probably scores.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Speak'n truth.

Some fülls here will say it's whining or making excuses. Nope. It's concrete fact and it makes winning it all flat impossible.

I agree. Nothing has changed over these years of playing the role of not blaming the refs but maybe now the games will get called better with a spotlight on them.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Maybe if Lawrence actually made a big play once in a while the refs BS wouldn’t matter. Biggest talker, least producer I can remember.

Yeah no way you watched even the last game to say that lol....you didn't see how dominant he was on Sunday?

 

[Bobhaze]

Fans can complain about the refs. That’s part of being a “fanatic“. But when the players complain publicly, it’s excuse making. If they get mad and say that to themselves in the locker room, that’s fine. But when they complain about it in public, it’s soft.

Overcoming adversity is part of being a great team. Bad calls? Yep we’ve had our share. The real question is what are we going to do about it? Complain? Let the GM and HC do that to the league office. Players need to stop whining and get focused on fixing the boatload of mistakes they’re making.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Very little production at position where stars produce. I have quoted the stats before. Compare his production to the star players at DE. He is not in the same league. Few sacks. Few TFL. With Parsons he gets more one on ones. Still can’t make big plays. I hear about how good he is vs the run. The Dallas D is routinely exposed by good running teams.

It may not always show up on the stat sheet, but DLaw has been consistently harassing opposing QBs, and his play on Hill saved a TD.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Fans can complain about the refs. That’s part of being a “fanatic“. But when the players complain publicly, it’s excuse making. If they get mad and say that to themselves in the locker room, that’s fine. But when they complain about it in public, it’s soft.

Overcoming adversity is part of being a great team. Bad calls? Yep we’ve had our share. The real question is what are we going to do about it? Complain? Let the GM and HC do that to the league office. Players need to stop whining and get focused on fixing the boatload of mistakes they’re making.

Typically I'd agree. I hate when the refs are being brought up. But what's happening to Micah is unreal. I've never seen anything like it. This is not even the Cowboy fan in me. I'm not saying it doesn't happen to other teams I'm just saying I've never seen an elite pass rusher get held and it not get called for weeks.

This team has tried the approach of not mentioning the officiating and it hasn't worked. The poor calls have continued. So I'm for them calling it out even if it sounds like excuse making. Because the alternative hasn't worked. I guarantee on Saturday when the whole world is watching and at home the officiating will be completely different. It typically is.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Typically I'd agree. I hate when the refs are being brought up. But what's happening to Micah is unreal. I've never seen anything like it. This is not even the Cowboy fan in me. I'm not saying it doesn't happen to other teams I'm just saying I've never seen an elite pass rusher get held and it not get called for weeks.

This team has tried the approach of not mentioning the officiating and it hasn't worked. The poor calls have continued. So I'm for them calling it out even if it sounds like excuse making. Because the alternative hasn't worked. I guarantee on Saturday when the whole world is watching and at home the officiating will be completely different. It typically is.

Exactly, and he's not had a holding call in his favour since the Eagles game.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Very little production at position where stars produce. I have quoted the stats before. Compare his production to the star players at DE. He is not in the same league. Few sacks. Few TFL. With Parsons he gets more one on ones. Still can’t make big plays. I hear about how good he is vs the run. The Dallas D is routinely exposed by good running teams.

You're watching stats but are you watching film? They are not even running on Law's side lol. Notice that those big runs typically happen away from Lawrence.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Exactly, and he's not had a holding call in his favour since the Eagles game.

That's insane. People want me to believe that teams are this good to stop him? A guy that statistically leads the league in pressures lol?

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

That's insane. People want me to believe that teams are this good to stop him? A guy that statistically leads the league in pressures lol?

Its ridiculous, but unfortunately, there are about 29 other fan bases that like to see us lose, so there's that (the Bears and Browns fanbases don't seem to have an issue with us).

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Its ridiculous, but unfortunately, there are about 29 other fan bases that like to see us lose, so there's that (the Bears and Browns fanbases don't seem to have an issue with us).

Very true.

 

[Praxit]

Dlaw should know, fumbling at GL is definitely not playing better.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Very true.

Plus there's a lot of fans that stat watch as opposed to game or tape watch to see what's actually going on.

 

[Kingofholland]

The state of offciating in the NFL continues to be suspect. Lots of teams and fans have gripes so I don't believe not calling fouls or calling ticky tack stuff is exclusively a Cowboys problem because the NFL "hates just us".

With that said I don't know how the Cowboys are addressing these concerns with the NFL but lets start by looking at what constitutes a hold.

1. grabbing or tackling an opponent;

2. hooking, jerking, twisting, or turning him; or

3. pulling him to the ground.

Number 2 probably occurs on many plays, but likely if it occurs quickly for a second or two it likely doesn't get called or is just missed. This is probably what I see happen most frequently, but there are definitely times the offensive player doesn't instantly let go that should absolutely draw a flag but doesn't always.

However, when looking at the breakdown of NFL penalties, it seems the average is 1 holding call per team per game. I'm not 100% sure how reliable this source is, but looking at the detailed view it seems they're pretty thorough in capturing a penalty so believe we're getting good data. The Cowboys have been flagged 7 more times for offensive holding vs the average and have been beneficaries 3 less times.

https://www.nflpenalties.com/penalty/offensive-holding?year=2023&view=team

In summary, I don't think a difference of 3 less opposing offensive calls to the average is that significant of a number with others being declined. However, getting 10 more holding calls against you vs the opponent is and could make the difference between a few points over a game.

Do with this info what you would like, but if you're the Cowboys and upset about getting 3 less holding calls maybe act a little more, throw your hands up while being held, more dramatically fall to the ground. Do whatever you can to draw the attention to the refs. One things for certain, complaining about officiating on social media isn't likely to get you a different outcome.

 

[Blast From The Past]

I feel like the other 31 teams, and their fanbases, would also claim they have to play against the refs as well. I promise you if you listen to the fanbases of the other 31 teams every single one of them thinks this way. I do not understand the love of having a victim complex but they all have it.

Well when you are a victim what else can you help but do?

 

[Rayman70]

I know its taboo, but He is right. The refs are undoubtedly against Dallas. Now, its not every week, but it does seem to be many road games where they are flag happy. Or they just don't make the calls at all. The crew that called the Ravens game last night was great btw. Kudos to that crew. It was textbook, what you want from an officiating crew. It was called fairly all game. Unfortunately, its not the norm.

 

[Blast From The Past]

We have all seen a ref looking right at a blatant penalty before his eyes and not call it. Explain those? We all saw Cee Dee 's pants about yanked off him last game in the end zone but nope not a single ref saw it. Those are the maddening no calls.

 

[DogFace]

Loser mentality. Complain about things you can’t control and use them as an excuse instead of concentrating on what you can control. If it wasn’t for the refs and hostile environments they would be Super Bowl champs.

Ok. So let’s say the law treated you completely differently than other people. How would you handle it?
Or at your job?
Or what if a king was making you pay taxes without representing you? Would you be a crybaby and throw tea in the water or stay loyal to the authority not being fair?