This season, the Dallas Cowboys’ run defense has been among the worst in the NFL, and things do not seem good for them. They are playing a vengeful Detroit Lions club, and their defense is missing three key players.
This script is not new to us. With Aaron Donald gone, the Los Angeles Rams had a huge hole in their defensive line, and the Lions (even though overtime had already begun) rammed the ball down their throats. Using the same playbook, the Lions took an early lead and never looked back, even though the Seahawks were missing four starters from their front seven. Right now,
The three previous All-Pro players on the Dallas team that the Lions will be facing up against are EDGE Micah Parsons, EDGE DeMarcus Lawrence, and LB Eric Kendricks.
For the Lions, things are starting to get better. Graham Glasgow moved to center to cover for Frank Ragnow in Week 4, but Kayode Awosika did a fantastic job filling in at guard. Now, only three weeks after suffering a partial tear to his pectoral muscle, Ragnow is expected to start again.
The game plan will not be precisely the same as what we saw against the Rams and Seahawks, in my opinion. Even though those clubs had a larger deficit in interior defenders,On the edge, the Cowboys are without both of their starters. Thus, Jahmyr Gibbs will be subjected to constant pressure from the Lions until a substitute defender fails to establish the edge, allowing Gibbs to reach to the second level. That is where the magic happens, and it will be a big plus not to have to confront Eric Kendricks. On Sunday, I absolutely anticipate numerous 15-20 yard outside runs from Gibbs.
Week’s audacious forecast: Sam LaPorta will have six or more receptions versus the Cowboys
By now, you are undoubtedly asking how Sam LaPorta fits into all of this. The Cowboys may need to overcompensate in order to thwart the Lions’ run game because they are missing multiple players on defense. Sometimes being a backup player is more of a mental slump than a physical one. They should bite back hard at play-action and fakes, in my opinion. Without Eric Kendricks, the linebackers might read and react a bit more slowly, which would be detrimental to Jared Goff’s offensive success.
Ben Johnson’s strategy should not put the Cowboys’ secondary to the test too much because they are healthy and disciplined. Rather, it will depend on what the defense provides them with underneath, which will entail a lot of passes to running backs and tight ends. The play action game will be operating like a well-oiled machine if the Lions can establish the run early and make the defense respect it.
LaPorta’s year has started quite quietly for her. Although he surpassed that total 12 times the previous season, he has not had more than four receptions in a game. In a same vein, no single tight end for the Lions has had more than six receptions in a game.
Against the Cowboys, I have LaPorta matching that on his own. With the Cowboys losing one of the finest coverage linebackers in the league, it is a beneficial matchup both schematically and against talent.
In the end, everything hinges on the Lions starting the run early in order to set up the play action pass. Ben Johnson should be able to maintain Jared Goff’s hot streak this week by increasing the involvement of the short passing game rather than forcing anything too deep. Good news for Sam LaPorta, who may now resume his career and become the menace we know he is capable of becoming.
