Through the first four weeks of the season, the Cowboys were at the bottom of just about every defensive metric under first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
Total yards allowed, 32nd. Pass yards allowed, 32nd. Third down conversions allowed, 32nd. Points allowed, 31st. Sacks, 30th.
The list goes on.
But against the New York Jets in week five, the Cowboys defense responded in areas that they had been struggling in to start the year. They allowed a season-low 22 points and got back in the takeaway column with a forced fumble in the redzone.
In all, the entire defense can hang their hats on an improved effort that helped power the team to a blowout win, but it really started with the pass rush.
After notching just four sacks in the first four games of the year, the Cowboys accounted for five sacks in the win over the Jets. The pass rush unit generated 25 pressures on Jets quarterback Justin Fields, a season-high for the group against an opposing quarterback.
“We all came out, hitting hard, playing fast,” defensive tackle Kenny Clark said in the locker room after the game. “No matter what the situation was, I think we did a really good job ... If we can get guys in more dropback situations, you’ll see us rush more and get more opportunities. Today, we got the opportunity and took advantage.”
When talking to Cowboys defensive linemen about the switch flipping for them, they credit the performance to a boost in their communication skills from the backend with the safeties all the way to the trenches where they reside.
“I just feel like we got on one page,” defensive end Sam Williams said. “You could tell with the pass rush with the communication from the backfield to the trenches, we were all on one page and ready to go.”
“Guys were just rushing together,” defensive tackle Solomon Thomas said. “Communication was great. They were just rushing to get home and hit the quarterback. It was a great rush game for us. We just got to keep building on it.”
Throughout the season, Clark has preached that the Cowboys would get home when quarterbacks start dropping back on them. Instead, opponents were running play action and quick routes to get through Dallas’ pass rush. He wasn’t wrong, as the numbers back it up.
The Cowboys are top ten in the NFL in pressures and quarterback pressure rate with veteran Dante Fowler Jr. leading the way with 16 pressures. Eleven of those have come under three seconds which is sixth among all players in the NFL entering week six. Donovan Ezeiruaku is second among all NFL rookies with 10 pressures despite not yet getting home for a sack. James Houston, who leads the team with 3.5 sacks, is 14th in the NFL in sacks and sixth in quarterback pressure rate. Jadeveon Clowney is fifth in the same category.
The numbers tell us that generating pressure hasn’t been an issue for the Cowboys this season. It’s been about getting home.
For a defense that has struggled mightily on third down and allowing big pass plays downfield, getting sacks on opposing quarterbacks had been a small factor in the defense’s lack of success through four weeks. It was arguably its biggest factor toward finally finding success against the Jets.
Heading into a game against a Carolina Panthers offensive line that has allowed just nine sacks on the season, it will be crucial for the Cowboys to continue finding paydirt in their pass rush efforts. If they don’t, it shouldn’t be a surprise if some of the issues prior to the Jets game start rearing back around on Sunday afternoons.