OXNARD, Calif. – Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli discussed defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence with the press and his rare ability as a “left-handed” rusher. No.90 is a threat to offenses around the league, and his technique is one that separates him from average edge rushers and puts him in the elite category.
Marinelli remarked on Lawrence “ He really works. You really love when you get a good rusher who can be left handed and strong enough and quick enough to play on the run, which he is. Your matchup is better. If you go back in history, some of the great rushers are left-handed: Reggie White, Strahan, and all those guys. He is going to be as good as he wants to be and he wants to be good.”
Lawrence is right on track to becoming one of the greats. In his breakout year last season he amassed 58 combined tackles, 35 total, and 14.5 sacks. He played a significant role in the week three 28-17 victory against the Cardinals with three sacks. He was elected to the Pro-Bowl in 2017, and was the NFL’s second leader in sacks. In 2018, he was listed as No. 34 in the NFL’s top 100. The passing game struggled last season as receivers failed to connect with quarterback Dak Prescott and Prescott had difficulty with mechanical errors in the pocket. Lawrence had a huge impact on the field by keeping opposing offenses off the field, because the Cowboys could not seem to get in the end zone. Many times when they did, they had to settle for field goals.
He is a hard worker and will do whatever it takes to help his team and to grow as a player. On ESPN Radio, Lawrence was interviewed and asked “ do you think teams will be surprised by the defense this year?” His answer, “ I KNOW they will be.” “The Tank” has looked great in Oxnard in full pads and is the standard of excellence and mentor for whoever wins the competition at defensive end on the opposite side of the line. Lawrence has high expectations for his team and for himself on the gridiron in 2018.
