FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line has been hit by the injury bug in recent weeks. Tyrone Crawford (hip) and Antwaun Woods (knee) were limited in practice on Wednesday in preparation for the Jets. Woods missed three games on the inactive list (Packers, Saints, Dolphins) and Crawford missed two (Saints, Dolphins).
DeMarcus Lawrence has been dealing with a nagging shoulder issue, heel issue, and a knee injury. D-Law has not missed games, but his number of snaps has decreased to keep him fresh. During his time on the sideline in week six vs. the Packers, Dorance Armstrong stepped in at left defensive end and made an explosive play. He sacked Aaron Rodgers for -12 yards. That play helped shift the momentum in favor of Dallas.
Armstrong walked me through the play, “We called this play twice in a row, so I was almost there at the Saints game but I just had a lot of movement to the A gap and passed it off right and I came free, able to make the play.”
No. 92 took advantage of the opportunity he was given, in every sense of the phrase. He stepped onto the field from the sideline and wreaked havoc. Not only did he do that but on one of the NFL’s most elite QB’s. Rodgers is a threat when he breaks the pocket extending plays and keeping his eyes down the field, but he was no match for Armstrong on that play. What is even more notable, Armstrong also covers returns on special teams and quickly transitioned from that role to a power edge rusher.
“ The guys that will come in with really high football character and really concentrate, you will play good fast, “ defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli told me. “ It takes time and he [Armstrong] has paid the dues along the way and what is impressive, he covers kickoffs and kickoff returns, and punt, and then goes down and rushes the passer. I respect the heck out of that. “
He has continued to progress since his arrival. The Cowboys selected Armstrong in the fourth round (116th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He recorded his first sack that year against the Tennessee Titans, a sack he split with Caraun Reid. During his rookie season, he tallied 13 total tackles and a half sack. In 2019, he has amassed five total tackles, a sack, and five quarterback pressures.
“ Overall as a player, my game has pretty much risen. I have learned a lot of things in the pass rush game and the run defense game, so everything is pretty much coming together as one.”
That knowledge is translating into action on the gridiron. He came into the game and quickly embodied the persona of an animal portrayed in ‘Marinelli Madness.’ Coach Marinelli shows animal videos to his defensive players the night before a game to fuel them. An unusual teaching point by the defensive wizard, but the theology and visual picture of prey/predators in the wild, has evidently worked.
I discussed the topic with Armstrong and he laughed, “It get us all ready. We just all be into it just like he is. It sets the mood for the night before. We go from there.”
The madness certainly provided Armstrong with juice and has been motivating past pupils of Marinelli for nearly 30 years.
“ It was way back in college football, 28 or 29 years ago, “ Marinelli giggled. “ I went to Arizona State, we were brand new and I was running them to death. They said ‘eh they’re treating us like horses.’ I said ‘well I gave em all horses day.’ The guy that was griping the most, I called him ‘Mr. Red, The Talking Horse.’ I started the video from that thing and kept going.”
There is a method to his madness and it works! Armstrong, like many other defensive lineman, is proof.
