BIG PLAYS IN DNA OF COWBOYS DE

DeMarcus Lawrence Helps Shut Down Another Comeback

Over the last 10 years, no matter the state of the Dallas Cowboys, one thing has been a constant – the play of defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

A man of few words, D-Law makes his statements on the field, where he has racked up 417 total tackles, 10th all time in franchise history, in 132 games played.

This season has been no different, as he continues to make big plays in key situations.

The win over Seattle in his last outing just the most recent example.

With the Cowboys trailing 35-30 in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks, he came through with a stop of running back Zach Charbonnnet for no gain on fourth and one from the Dallas 46.

The Cowboys offense took over, marched seven plays for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:37 to play in the game.

On the next Seattle drive, he got pressure on quarterback Geno Smith to cause an errant throw on fourth and four from the Seahawks 49. The Cowboys offense took over and would tack on a field goal to make it 41-35 with 1:47 to play.

Finally, on the Seahawks final offensive series of the game, Lawrence came through for a third straight drive when he and linebacker Micah Parsons quickly put Smith under duress on fourth and two from the 50, causing another incompletion and a turnover on downs.

It’s exactly what has come to be expected from Lawrence when the stakes are at their highest.

“When those big plays have to happen, and quite honestly some of them are in the smaller windows and he’s got such good instincts to jump outside, move inside (knowing) where the ball is gonna go,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. “He just about always comes through on those, and it’s one of the things I really admire about him. Those kind of toughness plays – it’s fourth and two, fourth and one, he’s got such good quickness that he can hit a gap. And, when those moments happen, he is tough to stop. Part of it goes to just his instincts and experience of playing – this is that time, this is the play we talked about, this is the look that we talked about. He knows when to recall those and when to take a shot, and when not too. It would be irresponsible to go outside just because I felt something, but for him he usually has a pretty good sense of where it’s been. I’ve seen it on the goal line, I’ve seen it backed up, I’ve seen it on these third and fourth down moments. Those are those times that it’s D-Law time, for sure.”

Lawrence has played 399 snaps through 12 games this season, 313 of those came from outside the offensive tackles, 54 from over an offensive tackle, 26 at a true defensive tackle position and six times at nose tackle.

“I’ve been most impressed by him in his ability to move spots,” Quinn said. “He really played one spot for the majority of his career, which was left end, and he was excellent at it. So, coming here and asking him to do multiple things in different ways to go about it. I’ve certainly been impressed by that. The part of his game that I didn’t know was so strong was this awareness that he has to create and make these big plays that take place on these critical moments in games. … That moment is never too big for him. He wants it all the time and that’s what I love about him.”

While not having the statistical season he has enjoyed in the past, Lawrence is still producing and has been healthy all season.

“It’s always tough when you lose somebody, and so for this year with Tre (Trevon Diggs) and Leighton (Vander Esch) early, so having the ability to stand on Law – we count on him for a lot,” Quinn said. “He is one of the tone setters, in terms of the toughness that we play with. He’s always on point with that. And, I think, when he’s not out there you miss some of that.”

As one of the most feared defensive ends in the game, he has 31 tackles this season, with four sacks, seven tackles for loss, three passes knocked down and one quarterback hit.

While he ranks as the 16th best overall defender this season by Pro Football Focus, Lawrence ranks 10th out of all NFL defensive players in run defense, and 72nd in pass rush. He is outside the top 200 in tackling, where he has missed tackle rate of nearly 14-percent, which is good enough for just 144th best in the league among defensive lineman that have played at least 170 snaps this season.

But regardless of numbers, a healthy Lawrence continues to be the leader of a Cowboys defense that is ranked fourth overall and second in pass rush, using his uncanny knack for making the big play when it’s needed most.

“He has such remarkable toughness to him that he’s just hard to play against,” Quinn said. “Especially on those small, short yardage runs that would go to his side. He just has a knack for making the plays.”