After a dismantling performance from the New Orleans Saints rushing attack on Sunday that caused a plethora of problems for the Dallas Cowboys interior defensive line, the self-evaluation process for the Cowboys has been a sobering moment in the days after as they look to regroup in time for week three’s challenge against the Baltimore Ravens.
The defensive tackle group consisting of Mazi Smith, Osa Odighizuwa, Jordan Phillips and Linval Joseph graded out in the bottom third of the performance scale, according to Pro Football Focus, in the game against the Saints. It was felt both in the moment and in the film evaluation.
“It was definitely rough,” Odighizuwa said. “The pride that I have in my job and what I do well then looking at the tape and not seeing what I do well, it was hard to watch.”
“It was probably the worst game of my career, to be honest. It just wasn’t up to my standard.”
While the group is figuring out how to bounce back against Baltimore on Sunday, the progress has been slowed with a back injury to Mazi Smith that forced him to leave practice early on Wednesday. Smith’s injury came after Jordan Phillips was controversially placed on the injured reserve with a wrist issue.
As a result, the Cowboys added Carlos Watkins to the active roster after poaching his services from the Washington Commanders practice squad earlier in the week. For Watkins, who returns to the locker room after playing in Dallas from 2021 to 2022, it’s an opportunity to help a struggling group.
“I’m here, so I have to make it happen,” Watkins said. “One thing I take pride in my job is helping the guys around me be better…It’s the d-line’s job to stop the run and get to the quarterback. I take pride in stopping the run, though.”
The team’s film session on Monday was described as “tough” but it did offer some teaching points to apply as early as week three.
“We have to play blocks better,” Odighizuwa said. “That’s a major thing for an interior d-lineman, playing blocks and stopping the run. We didn’t do a good job of that last week, but it’s early in the season and we still have time to get it right. Not to say that we’re not going to be urgent about getting it right this week, we have a good opportunity to do that.”
That mentality has radiated throughout the defense including with star defender Micah Parsons who sees a different mentality going into the Ravens game.
“I think the mentality is to bounce back, stop this run and show people that you can stop the run,” Parsons said. “I think it’s definitely a ‘prove-it [game]’ when you have a game like this back-to-back.”
Led by two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and two-time rushing champ Derrick Henry, the Ravens come into town with a strong rushing identity that will challenge the Cowboys in the same ways they failed against the Saints.
“It’s a good challenge,” Odighizuwa said. “It’s why we play the game, we’re all competitors. We’re going against good teams…You don’t have time to dwell on it.”
