Eagles, Cowboys' New-look Pass Rush Sparks Debate: Legit or One-Week Wonder?
The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have undergone significant personnel changes on defense since their Thursday night season opener at the Linc. The Eagles, who were plagued by questions about their edge rush, have bolstered their pass rush with the trade for EDGE Jaelan Phillips, the return of LB Nakobe Dean, and the re-emergence of EDGE Brandon Graham from retirement.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, have made a concerted effort to improve their defense after being rocked by injuries for most of the season. They've signed veteran pass rusher Jadaveon Clowney, traded for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, and welcomed back impact linebacker DeMarvion Overshown.
While it's tempting to view the Cowboys as a one-week wonder, their recent performance against the Raiders suggests that they may be more than just a flash in the pan. Williams, in particular, is undeniably one of the NFL's better interior pass rushers, with 12 sacks in 2022 and three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.
Clowney, a journeyman for the past seven years, remains a powerful situational pass rusher whose impact is amplified when surrounded by equal or better talent. He had 9.5 sacks for the Ravens two years ago and 9 in 2021 while playing opposite Myles Garrett for the Browns.
The Cowboys' defense has been able to generate consistent pressure, particularly through their interior trio of Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, and Kenny Clark. The edge group, which includes Clowney, James Houston, and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku, has worked well on stunts and various alignments that cleared their paths to the quarterback.
One notable example is a four-man rush against the Raiders' offensive line, where Williams and Clark created interior pressure while Clowney met Smith at the top of the pocket to hit him and cause a fumble. This kind of look usually signals a stunt, but the Cowboys executed it effectively, with all three pass rushers meeting at Smith to secure a sack.
However, the Eagles are not without their own challenges. They'll be without franchise right tackle Lane Johnson, who is sidelined indefinitely from a Lisfranc foot sprain, and Cam Jurgens is coming off a concussion. The Pro Bowl center has struggled this year after back surgery.
The Cowboys' defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, has shown an ability to adapt his blitz scheme to exploit weaknesses in the opponent's offense. He blitzed at close to 30% against the Raiders and was able to collapse the pocket, forcing errant throws.
Ultimately, the answer to whether the Cowboys are a legitimate improvement or just a one-week wonder remains to be seen. Their performance against the Raiders suggests that they may be more than just a flash in the pan, but it's too early to make any concrete conclusions.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have undergone significant personnel changes on defense since their Thursday night season opener at the Linc. The Eagles, who were plagued by questions about their edge rush, have bolstered their pass rush with the trade for EDGE Jaelan Phillips, the return of LB Nakobe Dean, and the re-emergence of EDGE Brandon Graham from retirement.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, have made a concerted effort to improve their defense after being rocked by injuries for most of the season. They've signed veteran pass rusher Jadaveon Clowney, traded for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, and welcomed back impact linebacker DeMarvion Overshown.
While it's tempting to view the Cowboys as a one-week wonder, their recent performance against the Raiders suggests that they may be more than just a flash in the pan. Williams, in particular, is undeniably one of the NFL's better interior pass rushers, with 12 sacks in 2022 and three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.
Clowney, a journeyman for the past seven years, remains a powerful situational pass rusher whose impact is amplified when surrounded by equal or better talent. He had 9.5 sacks for the Ravens two years ago and 9 in 2021 while playing opposite Myles Garrett for the Browns.
The Cowboys' defense has been able to generate consistent pressure, particularly through their interior trio of Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, and Kenny Clark. The edge group, which includes Clowney, James Houston, and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku, has worked well on stunts and various alignments that cleared their paths to the quarterback.
One notable example is a four-man rush against the Raiders' offensive line, where Williams and Clark created interior pressure while Clowney met Smith at the top of the pocket to hit him and cause a fumble. This kind of look usually signals a stunt, but the Cowboys executed it effectively, with all three pass rushers meeting at Smith to secure a sack.
However, the Eagles are not without their own challenges. They'll be without franchise right tackle Lane Johnson, who is sidelined indefinitely from a Lisfranc foot sprain, and Cam Jurgens is coming off a concussion. The Pro Bowl center has struggled this year after back surgery.
The Cowboys' defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, has shown an ability to adapt his blitz scheme to exploit weaknesses in the opponent's offense. He blitzed at close to 30% against the Raiders and was able to collapse the pocket, forcing errant throws.
Ultimately, the answer to whether the Cowboys are a legitimate improvement or just a one-week wonder remains to be seen. Their performance against the Raiders suggests that they may be more than just a flash in the pan, but it's too early to make any concrete conclusions.
. They added quinnen williams who is like one of the best interior pass rushers and also got clowney back which was a huge loss for their defense. And it looks like they've built something good with matt eberflus' blitz scheme. But you never know, one week wonder can turn into 3 weeks wonder or more lol 
. Eagles are gonna have to step up without lane johnson tho 
. They got a new pass rusher, yeah big deal, its not like jagaevon clowney hasnt been with multiple teams and never gotten more than 10 sacks in one season lol. Philly on the other hand is looking good, i mean who wouldn't want jaelan phillips and nakobe dean on their side? 
especially w/ williams and clowney on the same team its def a scary sight for opposing QBs... but we need to see how they hold up against the likes of josh allen or pat mahomes, those guys are the real deal 
. On one hand, the addition of Jaelan Phillips and Brandon Graham could be game-changers 
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With Quinnen Williams and Jadaveon Clowney leading the charge, they're definitely a force to be reckoned with 
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. But I do know that their recent performance against the Raiders was impressive 
. We'll have to wait and see how they stack up against other teams in the league 
. Both teams have made some big moves to boost their pass rush, and it's gonna be interesting to see how these new guys fit in. Williams for the Cowboys is definitely a player to watch - 12 sacks last year is no joke! 
. Maybe we'll get some more clarity on this in a few weeks?
. In 2022, he had 12 sacks in just 16 games, which averages out to like, 0.75 sacks per game 
. That's insane for an interior pass rusher! And let's not forget Clowney's resume - 9.5 sacks in 2021 while playing opposite Myles Garrett? The dude's got juice 
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so lets not jump to conclusions yet 
. The Eagles, on the other hand, lost Lane Johnson and now Cam Jurgens is dealing with a concussion? Guess you could say their offense is having some identity issues 
They're only one game into it and already getting some love 
One-week wonder or not, we need more than just a single impressive performance to believe they've turned things around. And don't even get me started on Quinnen Williams' stats from last year – yeah sure, he had 12 sacks in 2022, but that's gonna be tough to repeat this year 
. They're like a well-oiled machine out there, and Jaelan Phillips is totally bringing that heat 
. But, let's be real, it's gonna take more than just one game to convince me they're not just a flash in the pan 
. I mean, 12 sacks from Quinnen Williams last year? That's some next-level stuff 
