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\u2019s challenge against the Baltimore Ravens.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely rough,\u201d Odighizuwa said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was probably the worst game of my career, to be honest. It just wasn\u2019t up to my standard.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s injury came after Jordan Phillips was controversially placed on the injured reserve with a wrist issue.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s an opportunity to help a struggling group.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here, so I have to make it happen,\u201d Watkins said. \u201cOne thing I take pride in my job is helping the guys around me be better\u2026It\u2019s the d-line\u2019s job to stop the run and get to the quarterback. I take pride in stopping the run, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s film session on Monday was described as \u201ctough\u201d but it did offer some teaching points to apply as early as week three.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to play blocks better,\u201d Odighizuwa said. \u201cThat\u2019s a major thing for an interior d-lineman, playing blocks and stopping the run. We didn\u2019t do a good job of that last week, but it\u2019s early in the season and we still have time to get it right. Not to say that we\u2019re not going to be urgent about getting it right this week, we have a good opportunity to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
That mentality has radiated throughout the defense including with star defender Micah Parsons who sees a different mentality going into the Ravens game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the mentality is to bounce back, stop this run and show people that you can stop the run,\u201d Parsons said. \u201cI think it\u2019s definitely a \u2018prove-it [game]\u2019 when you have a game like this back-to-back.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a good challenge,\u201d Odighizuwa said. \u201cIt\u2019s why we play the game, we\u2019re all competitors. We\u2019re going against good teams\u2026You don\u2019t have time to dwell on it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n