Sam Williams, Damone Clark. these dudes are about to be stars

[xwalker]

Yeah the biggest plus from Clark being at least serviceable at LB is that it frees Parsons up to hunt the QB. Or to just terrorize the opponents in the backfield from anywhere along the line. The fact that Clark is just as fast as Parsons almost seems unfair.. Put Clark, Parsons and Williams on the field and the same time and this is probably the fastest defense in the league and probably by a pretty good margin. The 90's defenses were always predicated on speed speed speed. They can't block you if they can't catch you. Having a deep rotation means they stay fresh (and fast) for four quarters. Color me happy about that.

Amazing that Clark is playing this season.

Even more amazing that he has stepped right into a starter type role within 3 games played.

I understood the logic of their plan vs Green Bay but still didn't agree with it.

They wanted Parsons speed at LB to play sideline to sideline vs Aaron Jones. It also puts a bigger player than Parsons at DE.

They often played LVE next to a DE which is where Parsons normally plays when he is LB. They did that because Parsons in the middle could reach either sideline. It sometimes worked in that he caught Jones near the sideline on plays that LVE or Barr would not have been able to reach.

The problem was that without Parsons on the edge either as a DE or LB, they had to stunt even more than normal to generate a pass rush.

Stunting turned out to be the biggest problem vs the run.

In the Vikings game they could pass rush with Parsons at DE but avoid stunting on 1st/2nd downs; although they did limit his snaps on run downs.

Clark's speed allowed him to play the sideline to sideline role.

As long as LVE and Clark are healthy, I expect Parsons to primarily play DE for the remainder of the season.

The downside is that Parsons snaps will be limited if he is DE only.
- DE only: Probably 70% or less.
- Primarily LB: 95%

 

[xwalker]

How has Dean been this year ? i've tried to watch Eagles games but i don't think i've noticed Dean this year ?

Dean is a stud...on special teams.

He only has 4 total snaps on defense all season but is near the top in ST snaps for the Eagles.

 

[stilltheguru]

Williams is definitely a beast. One of our rare 2nd rounders that showed immediate impact. idk about Clark yet. Kept seeing people give him a bunch of praise before he even got on the field and I haven't really noticed him stand out yet, but time will tell. I'm a lot more patient with rookies than other folks around here lol

Yea I don't get the Clark crowning either. I gotta see more. And since teams want to run on us he'll have every opportunity to show if he deserves the immediate hype

 

[stuckindc]

Sam Williams has some Charles Haley nasty to him.. That dude is finna be a top 10 DE in the league in a minute. I have not rewatched the game to evaluate Clark yet but the fact that I didn't see Dalvin Cook setting sail on a any long runs tells me he held his own. Cook had a decent outing but a lot of it was garbage time.. I mean we were up 34 points by the middle of the 3rd quarter and they were still running.. so his numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt.

I can't say enough about how excited I am about Williams.. He just LOOKS like a badass defensive end. He seems like he's about to become everything we HOPED Randy Gregory would.. minus the affinity for bong hits.

If we can add in some DT help and LB(s). This defense has a chance to be on a very special level. Damone looked good in there and Williams is young and hungry.

 

[RonnieT24]

Yea I don't get the Clark crowning either. I gotta see more. And since teams want to run on us he'll have every opportunity to show if he deserves the immediate hype

Indeed he will. Thing is, once Barr is healthy Clark is probably going to go back to just a 15-20% of the snaps rotational piece. Which is fine I guess.. Having a veteran out there to corral Barkley and Taylor might not be the worst thing in the world.

 

[stuckindc]

I’m as hopeful as anyone else in his potential but folks need to slow their roll on Demone Clark. I have yet to really see him make a real impact the way Sam Williams has flashed. That may come but it hasn’t happened yet.

Good post. The good thing is, we haven’t seen him get toasted or beaten. He had a couple nice plays yesterday. Slowly. This young man is coming off a serious injury. He’s just getting his feet wet. I like it. If we can add another starting LB next year, we may have something special brewing

 

[guag]

Williams has been electric as a situational player so far this year. Looks promising.

I posted in another thread, but I just want to see a little more against the run of him getting off OTs and making plays instead of just chasing runs down from the backside. Run play was his knock on his scouting report coming out so hoping he continues to develop and prove that wrong.

He made a nice play behind the line on a run close to Minny's end zone.

 

[Jarv]

I tell ya something else.. we will probably only have him for one year.. but Dante Fowler has been a really good add. Imagine having a former top 5 pick and and former double digit sack man as your 4th or 5th best pass rusher. I kind of chuckle every time I see him in with the "2nd" or "3rd" unit. Those poor offensive tackles have zero chance. And when we stunt inside.. Goodness gracious.. That one where he used Dalvin Cook as a speed bump on the way to Cousins was a stark reminder why people need to seriously appreciate Zeke more. At least I think that was him.. might have been Williams.. but whoever it was just abused poor Cook.. and then Cousins.. LOL!

I think I remember that play...I think it was Williams who ran through the tackle and over the RB. Devastating!

 

[quickccc]

I don't understand why people are so impressed with Cox, especially given how undersized he is.

i could deal with ' undersized " if he were a guy that plays much stronger and physical than his frame work suggests.

I know Cowboys have a top notch strength program but maybe Cox is the type that it’s real tough for him to bulk and keep weight mass. Some metabolism may be like that.
His draft profile had him at 232 pounds.
I assume that the Cowboys envisioned and hoped Cox would turn out to be another version of Lavonte David- small but very quick and instinctive.

It’s just back trail but pundits have suggested that the maybe Cowboys haven’t like his progress and assignments with taking on blocks and being in position he needs to be.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I tell ya something else.. we will probably only have him for one year.. but Dante Fowler has been a really good add. Imagine having a former top 5 pick and and former double digit sack man as your 4th or 5th best pass rusher. I kind of chuckle every time I see him in with the "2nd" or "3rd" unit. Those poor offensive tackles have zero chance. And when we stunt inside.. Goodness gracious.. That one where he used Dalvin Cook as a speed bump on the way to Cousins was a stark reminder why people need to seriously appreciate Zeke more. At least I think that was him.. might have been Williams.. but whoever it was just abused poor Cook.. and then Cousins.. LOL!

Fowler has been good as a pass rusher but has made several untimely penalties

 

[john van brocklin]

Sam Williams has some Charles Haley nasty to him.. That dude is finna be a top 10 DE in the league in a minute. I have not rewatched the game to evaluate Clark yet but the fact that I didn't see Dalvin Cook setting sail on a any long runs tells me he held his own. Cook had a decent outing but a lot of it was garbage time.. I mean we were up 34 points by the middle of the 3rd quarter and they were still running.. so his numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt.



I can't say enough about how excited I am about Williams.. He just LOOKS like a badass defensive end. He seems like he's about to become everything we HOPED Randy Gregory would.. minus the affinity for bong hits.

Real deals

 

[Runwildboys]

Sam might be our strongest DE. The dude is throwing OT’s around like nothing. He needs more snaps now Quinn!

Strong, yes.

 

[Runwildboys]

I'll ask him the next time I talk to him....

No wonder nobody likes you.

 

[cnuball21]

He made a nice play behind the line on a run close to Minny's end zone.

Agree, he made 1 play where he got off the OTs (backup) block and made a play. It’s the only 1 like that I’ve seen all year.

I just want to see more of that before I say he’s good against the run and has earned the starting spot.

 

[Runwildboys]

Seriously?? Tell him I said hi, and am a big fan of his!!!

And that you're not the guy in the avatar!

 

[Runwildboys]

I just wish he was a little better blocker.. Every time we tried the WR screen with him as the primary block the DB ran right by him and blew up the play. I could be wrong but I kinda feel like he was better at that before his injury. Which wouldn't take much because he's been terrible at it this year.

Those screens have never been a good play for us. The receiver just stands out there on the end, with no blockers and at least one or two defensive players right there. How could we possibly expect anything good to happen?

 

[Szczepanik]

Clark played the most snaps on defense of any LB or DLineman.

I said after reviewing the Packers game that they should give Clark more snaps.
Bears 51%
Packers 11%
Vikings 75%

Parsons played primarily off-ball LB vs the Packers.
- He played almost all snaps at DE vs the Vikings.

Night and day difference on the DL with that change.

 

[Runwildboys]

I just looked it up and ironically the Cowboys list Tank at 265 and Armstrong at 255. I would never have guess that Tank was the bigger of the two. I guess Armstrong being a couple inches taller he just looks a lot bigger. But I guess that's just the pads playing tricks on you.

And I can tell you why people are impressed with Cox.. He's a linebacker who can cover. I mean really cover.. like a strong safety.. actually better than most strong safeties. That is extremely rare..

Ya don't get a name like "Tank" for nuthin'!

 

[GRCowboy]

I had short term memory loss and forgot Clark’s number. He came flying in on some play in the second quarter and I was like “Who the heck is that?! That Safety is massive!”

LOL I assumed it was a d back because he was so fast. Dudes gonna be soooooo special

Well also because they stupified the number rules during the 2020 pandemic so that almost any position can wear almost any number, it's stupid.

30s are typically numbers worn by DBs, HBs, FBs and sometimes WRs but not LBs. IMO Parsons would look better in say 51 instead of 11 but that's just me.

 

[DCCowboys11]

Williams is a stud! When he figures it out…….watch out!