It’s especially appropriate to use a baseball analogy to explain a football scenario because it’s mid-October. The “WAR” (Wins Above Replacement) statistic in baseball is self-evident. It’s a statistical metric that measures the impact of an individual starter and measures it against the next man up. In football, there’s no such metric. Only film can tell the truth about who is performing, or not performing, in a certain position play after play. Unfortunately, the Dallas Cowboys have had enough of injuries to sort through this season and have required numerous players to step up in their stead.
Due to their respective roles, each player who has missed time for the Cowboys is missed in a different way. However, let’s examine the five players whose current ailment categorization causes them to miss the most responsibilities.
1) The knee of Tyler GuytonDue to their importance, a couple injured Cowboys may have grabbed this fifth slot. Caelen Carson, Marshawn Kneeland, and Brandin Cooks are all notable losses in their own right. However, Tyler Guyton is the solution in this case for a number of reasons. First of all, the entire offensive line is impacted. T.J. Bass must step in since Tyler Smith is playing out of position, and Cooper Beebe has a new partner.
2) Eric Kendricks (Calf/Shoulder) – Speaking of cascading effects, Mike Zimmer’s defense really showed how inexperienced and youthful the Cowboys’ linebacker room is, so losing a veteran voice like Kendricks, who also wears the “green dot” to call defensive coverages, completely alters the second level’s outlook. The extent of Kendrick’s injury is unknown because it appeared late in Week 6, but Dallas needs him back on defense as soon as possible.
3) Demarcus Lawrence (Foot): Demarcus Lawrence, like Kendricks, contributes a leadership quality to the defense. Prior to Lawrence’s injury, this defense wasn’t flawless. And it won’t be when he gets back. However, his return to the edge creates a solid basis for the run defense’s development, enabling the other players to stay in the scheme and not overplay. When Lawrence isn’t playing, it’s even more obvious that he is the defensive line’s greatest run defender.
4) DaRon Bland (Foot): It hurts whenever an All-Pro is left off the starting lineup. not just from a production perspective, but also from a scheme perspective. Teams don’t hesitate to try throwing at Trevon Diggs and Jourdan Lewis as starters or to test Bland’s substitutes on the boundary. However, the trio once more poses a threat to any offensive coordinator who depends on the passing attack for some degree of success. Although it was regrettable that he was unable to play against Detroit in Week 6, he is now prepared for San Francisco.
5) Micah Parsons (Ankle): Do you have any concerns? For a few weeks, one of football’s top two or three edge rushers has been absent from the defensive line. He will undoubtedly be missed. Before the injury, Parsons struggled to get used to a new defensive coordinator and a new scheme. His influence is still undeniable, though. As of Week 5, he and Demarcus Lawrence were responsible for 47% of the Cowboys’ pressure. Additionally, since Parsons was selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, the team’s pressure rate is almost six percentage points greater when he plays than when he doesn’t. Without Parsons, teams don’t fear the present pass rush, but they will once he’s back.
