Cowboys vs. Rams Dallas defense off to historic start as it prepares for matchup against Cooper Kupp
Cowboys vs. Rams Dallas defense off to historic start as it prepares for matchup against Cooper Kupp
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The have yet to allow 20 points in a game this season, making this season-opening stretch the first time since 1973 and sixth time in franchise history that they have held their first four opponents to 19 points or fewer. Dallas has only given up four touchdowns in its first four games of 2022, joining the 1970 and 1972 Cowboys defenses as the only three units in franchise history to give up no more than John Henson Jersey four total touchdowns in the first four games of the season."You want your defense to be the thermostat because the thermostat regulates the game," Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy on Tuesday. "They are clearly the thermostat for us, make no bones about it. They're going to keep us in striking distance because of just the way they're playing. They are definitely our thermostat."Dallas' points allowed total has decreased each week: 19 points allowed in Week 1 against the , 17 in Week 2 against the , 16 in Week 3 at the , and 10 allowed in Week 4 against the ."They're the reason we're winning, plain and simple," , the first Cowboys quarterback in team history to win his first four career starts, after the team's win against the Commanders on Sunday. "Allowing 10 points in the NFL is pretty impre sive. They Washington had really good field position all day, and our defense just kept the ball out of the end zone and kept them off the field. As an offense, knowing they have our back like that, it's huge. They walk the walk." The path the Cowboys defense is walking on was last traveled by the Dallas "Doomsday" Defense that helped lead the team to two championships and five Super Bowl trips in the 1970s. Those units were loaded with talent like Hall of Famers like defensive tackle Bob Lilly and defensive backs Mel Renfro and Herb Adderley plus five-time All-Pro linebacker Chuck Howley, the first defensive player to be named Super Bowl MVP.Today's Cowboys haven't advanced to the NFC Championship Game since the 1995 season, before their 2021 First-Team All-Pro selections linebacker and cornerback were born. However, Dallas does have a defensive mind on its staff who knows what elite, championship defenses are supposed to look like: defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. He served in the same capacity for the 2013 and 2014 , helping lead the "Legion of Boom" defense, headlined by linebackers and , cornerback and safeties and .In 2013, they led the league in fewest points (14.4) and yards allowed (273.6) as well as having most takeaways (39). Those Seahawks won the Super Bowl in dominating fashion, 43-8 against 2013 NFL MVP , who had set the NFL's all-time, single-season pa sing yards (5,477) and pa sing touchdowns (55) records. The following year, they once again were the league leaders in total defense (267.1 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (15.9). They won the NFC Championship again, limiting ' to 22 points despite their own quarterback, , throwing four interceptions. The Seahawks came up just short of a repeat, falling 28-24 against the in the Super Bowl when Wilson threw an interception on the 1 with 26 seconds left to play. Having that championship pedigree at defensive coordinator was something Cowboys owner Jerry Jones valued so highly, he almost fractured his own coaching staff. He insinuated McCarthy was on the hot seat after their Wild Card round playoff lo s against the last season while rumors flew after Jones talked about the idea of Quinn becoming the next Cowboys head coach during the offseason. Long story short, Jones did what he could to keep Quinn around as he interviewed with other teams about head coaching vacancies."I did something about that," Jones said, . "I did something about Dan in the offseason. That is why we got him today. I did something about that. I recognized he was important in the offseason. He is here. He didn't have to stay here. We are glad to have him here. We have done as good a job to have him here as you can do it."When asked if he made Quinn the NFL's highest-paid defensive coordinator, Jones laughed, "I don't know but he got a raise." Quinn noted the importance of being well-rounded when asked what his criteria is for earning the respect that comes with being a strong defense."If you're going to be a good defense, you need to be good at all the spots," he Monday. "That's third down, that's red zone, that's short yardage."The 2022 Cowboys defense checks all of these boxes so far through the first quarter or so of the 17-game regular season, ranking either in the top five or 10 in the NFL in all of the critical metrics Quinn identified and more. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. NFL RankPPG15.53rdOpp Total YPG308.55thOpp Yards/Play4,64thSacks15T-3rdQB Pre sures701stQB Pre sure Pct41.7%1stOpp 3rd Down Pct33.3%T-10thOpp Red Zone TD Pct42.9%T-5thAnother mark of a great defense, Quinn said, is consistent improvement in all areas as well as pa sing the eye tests with moments that make someone say "whoa!""There's usually a moment or two in those first 10 or 12 games that you answer the challenge, you deliver on it, something that makes you say 'whoa'" Quinn said. "You don't know what game it's going to be, but it's a performance that says 'this is what this group is capable of.' Then, you see it stay consistent throughout. The best teams get better."However, Quinn is still waiting on his current defense to have that jaw-dropping play or plays."I've had excellent and tough, but not the 'whoa' moment yet," Quin said. "It hasn't gotten to the space where I think we can get to. What I have seen is the connection and communication with one another. How hard these guys are willing to play for one another, that's when you have the chance to do some really cool things. I'm looking forward to that 'whoa, hell yeah' moment."One example of a "whoa moment" he gave from Michael Beasley Jersey his Seattle days was four-time Pro Bowl safety Kam Chancellor's of ' quarterback to seal a 31-17 win in the 2014 NFC Divisional Round."Kam Chancellor would've been part of it because of the level of hitting that he did, he had an 80- or 90-yard interception in the playoffs against Carolina and took it back all the way," Quinn said. "I remember seeing in that moment, saying 'that's it that's what championship defense looks like.'" The way he finished through the end zone, it was such a remarkable play. There were a lot of consistent performances from that group. Him Chancellor or Earl Thomas would've been part of it, making plays that make you say 'normal people can't do that'. That's what separates them as different and special because they make plays that change the course of a game. They happened to do it on a regular basis."Parsons and Diggs would be the likely players to provide that type of moment for this year's Cowboys, considering Parsons ranks as a top pa s rusher, and Diggs leads the NFL in pa ses defended (9) to go along with interceptions in each of the last two games.NFL RankSacks4.0T-6thPre sures222ndTFL6T-3rdEven though Diggs led the NFL in interceptions last season with 11, three away from the NFL's single-season record of 14, he also allowed the most pa sing yards in coverage last season (1,016) according to Pro Football Focus. The Cowboys have seen noted improvement from their third-year corner, most notably after he knocked away all three pa ses that came his way last week against Washington while nabbing an interception."I think he's playing very well, I thought he was huge in our last game with the two big fourth down stops," McCarthy said. "I think it's like anything in this league, once there's video on you, people know your tendencies. You need to know your tendencies, know what you've put on film and have a higher understanding and expectation of how people are going to attack you. I think he's definitely making that progre s. He's super instinctive and smart. His anticipation skills are top notch, I think he's been outstanding."The Cowboys head west this week to square off against the Super Bowl Champion Rams at SoFi Stadium where they'll be tasked with the tough task of slowing down the defending NFL Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP: Rams wide receiver .Last season, Kupp totaled the second-most receiving yards (1,947) on the second-most catches (145) in a single season in NFL history, while also leading the NFL in touchdown receptions (16) and targets (191). Kupp's 2021 has a great case as the best single-season performance by a wide receiver, as he became one of four to win the receiving triple crown (lead the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in the same season) in the Super Bowl era joining (2005), Sterling Sharpe (1992) and Jerry Rice (1990). This season, Kupp leads the NFL in targets (54), receptions (42), while ranking fifth (402) in receiving yards. His 42 catches are tied with wide receiver ' 42 in 2018 as the most through the first four games of a season in NFL history. Kupp only needs six catches to have the most by a player through the first five games of a season."Ooh man," Quinn sighed when asked how to contain Kupp. "If there was a key, not many people have unlocked that door. It's him, but it's also quarterback Matthew Stafford as well. Getting them into plays, they motion and check we'll have our work cut out for us from a disguise standpoint. They can feel like one thing and then play something different. His Kupp's ability to run option and choice routes where he can break off of leverage or use his quickne s is just remarkable. Their connection, you can feel how tight they are That's one of the things that stands out.One thing the Cowboys could do to slow down Kupp is to limit the time Stafford has to get his go-to guy the football. Stafford was sacked seven times on "Monday Night Football" by the San Francisco 49ers, tied for the second-most sacks he has taken in a game during his 14-year career. Monday's 24-9 lo s also marked the second time this season he was sacked seven times, which also occurred during the Rams' season-opening lo s against the . His 16 sacks taken this season are tied for the third-most in the NFL.As a result, the Rams have the worst pa s-blocking grade in the NFL according to PFF (49.9). Parsons, , and the rest of the Cowboys defense have earned the second-highest pa s-rushing grade in the NFL, per PFF (81.1). Los Angeles has lost three starters from last year's championship offensive line, one due to retirement (left tackle ) and two due to injury (center and left guard ). However, those departures haven't changed Dallas' approach to Sunday's game."The opportunity for us doesn't change, it's about us running our scheme and plays right and getting the job done," Greg Monroe Jersey Lawrence Thursday. "It doesn't matter who we line up against. We feel like the ones who can stop our defense is us. Once we hone in on our details and communicate as a group, we'll be OK."On Sunday, the Cowboys will not be lining up against the Rams' No. 2 or No. 3 wide receivers from last season: . and . Beckham Jr. remains a free agent while working his way back from a torn ACL in the Super Bowl, and Jefferson is on injured reserve, working his way back from offseason knee surgery. Their absence has dramatically altered Stafford's production when throwing to players not named Kupp in his second season as the Rams quarterback.20212022Pa s Yards/Att7.26.5TD-INT25-111-3Pa ser Rating94.675.5Knowing how heavily dependent the Rams pa sing game is on Kupp places an even bigger premium on the Cowboys needing to limit his ability to get open, something they may choose to do by having Diggs shadow him all around the field."Yeah, he Kupp lines up in a bunch of different spots, we're certainly not going to give away the game plan today, you'll have to wait a little bit until then," Quinn said. "At the end of it, he Kupp does deserve the attention. He's that kind of player, makes those kind of plays, and we'll have to do a really good job on our disguises to make sure they don't get all the information before the ball is snapped and some after."After facing off against the NFL's most productive wide receiver, Quinn and his defense will find out exactly how good they can be.
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