FRISCO, Texas – Coming off five straight wins, the Dallas Cowboys are firing on all cylinders in impressive fashion. The collective unit is proving to be a verifiable postseason contender but each week, individuals are spurring the team to victory. One such player is defensive end, Randy Gregory.
Following the Week 6 win over the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Gregory registered the highest individual grade of any player. He scored a 94.2 overall grade, the most by any player with at least 25 snaps per Pro Football Focus.
The former Cornhusker had two plays that changed the complexion of the ballgame from both sides of the line. First, a momentum shifting play in the second quarter when he sacked Mac Jones and forced a fumble. The explosive play led to a Cowboys’ field goal, and he notched another sack in the third quarter that forced a three-and-out for the Patriots. His rare speed off the line single-handedly shutdown two drives for New England.
In five games in 2021 – missing the Chargers clash on Reserve/COVID-19 list – Gregory has accumulated 22 pressures, four sacks, five quarterback hits, and 13 hurries for a 19.5%-win rate according to PFF. Sacks are not always an accurate representation of production. The numerical stat does not dictate success and Gregory is proof. His lethal speed to power conversion has consistently collapsed the pocket. Gregory’s relentless pursuit of the quarterback has created a formidable front in Dallas. A testament to his dominance – teams have been forced to employ running back and tight end chips to his side to try and limit his destruction in the trenches. Despite the sack count, Gregory’s rush plan has not wavered. His deliberate approach and ferocity has repeatedly wreaked havoc, regardless if the outcome was a sack.
“I think for me, Randy, kind of the way he comes to work every day, he builds his plan throughout the week, he understands his process now,” defensive line coach Aden Durde described to D210SPORTS. “I think for him, he walks into the game feeling like he can take it over. And he does. He does a great job every week. And I don’t think, you see it, I know he talks to you guys, but he doesn’t change production. He just comes to play. Plays and whatever the outcome is is the outcome. I think that consistent play is visual on tape every week.”
Gregory has thrived in Dan Quinn’s one-gap, attack styled front. His initial burst has harassed quarterbacks from a variety of spots on the line. Quinn has installed more multiple looks up front to keep offenses off guard and whether it is through the A or C gap, Gregory creates pressure from a standup position. Understanding the ‘why’ has materialized to faster play for Gregory.
“We have a lot of unique plays that we run, and one of the big things for me was knowing the plays but not really understanding the why,” Gregory told D210SPORTS. “This year I feel like I understand the why. I still mess up on plays throughout the week, but I feel like I run them pretty well on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So, just my level of attention to just the playbook, knowing where I need to be that I can go out there and play a little bit faster and go out there and make a play.”
Gregory has a large wingspan (34-inch arms) and uses his length to his advantage to fight off blockers. He is a twitchy player with an effective bull rush to counter an opponent’s quickness. However, moving forward, Gregory is adding more pass rush moves to his arsenal in order to become more challenging to defend. A variety of attacks will add to his leverage and make his play not so easily predictable when he steps up to the line.
“Look I have four sacks on the year, and two of those came on bull rushes,” Gregory explained. “I think I throw people off sometimes when I do that. I really feel I need to be better as far as edge rushing. I think I rely too much on my power now, speed and power, I need to be better as far as early on give them power, and then transition to edge rushes throughout the course of the game. Obviously, it was hard because they were chipping almost every play, but we have to work past that.”
An insightful and mature statement coming from the man who is spearheading the team’s pass rush effort week-after-week. Gregory has only scratched the surface and with an expanded rush plan, he will be unstoppable.
