How Mike Zimmer and the Cowboys plan to compensate for the absence of Dallas' defensive 'engine'

FRISCO — DeMarcus Lawrence had his leg propped up on a scooter and took off for the training room just as reporters entered the locker room.

Micah Parsons wasn’t as fast. He was sitting at his locker, putting on a protective boot for his high ankle sprain, when he was surrounded.

“Yeah, it’s time to get back up,” Parsons said. “Without fail.

“I have a lot of confidence in these guys.”

Next man up is a phrase uttered in every NFL locker room once a player goes down. Losing players to injury during a season is inevitable.

But compensating for the absences of Parsons and Lawrence is a big ask for this Dallas defense.

Parsons is one of the elite passers in the league. His injury usually lasts two to four weeks. Mike McCarthy said the Cowboys are preparing to face Pittsburgh this weekend without their best defensive player.

Lawrence will be out even longer. The veteran defensive end suffered a Lisfranc injury in his foot. It won’t require surgery, but several people with knowledge of Lawrence’s condition estimate the timetable for his return to be four to eight weeks, with the lower end of that range being the most likely target.

Dallas will place Lawrence on injured reserve in the coming days, meaning he will miss at least four games, a person with knowledge of the club’s thinking said. The Dallas Morning News. Discussions are ongoing, but the plan for now is to keep defensive end Carl Lawson off the practice squad for Sunday’s game and bring in several players for practice.

None come close to what Parsons and Lawrence bring to this defense.

“They’re two dynamic guys,” defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said. “Good leaders, good team members.

“We’ll have to make some adjustments and see how it goes.”

Parsons is a focal point for every opponent. Figuring out where he lines up and how to neutralize him is the starting point of the offensive game plan.

The Steelers won’t have this problem. The Cowboys cannot play any player in his hybrid role. Zimmer said he’ll just have to figure out how he intends to use other players and come up with a plan that plays to their strengths.

It will be a collective effort and not an individual one.

“That’s it,” McCarthy said. “It’s not like you take a player and put him on the line and give him the exact same responsibility in terms of reps as Micah or D-Law. It will be a combination of things.

“You let the game plan bring that to light. »

Injuries open the door for rookie Marshawn Kneeland and veteran Chauncey Golston to enter the starting lineup.

The Cowboys took Kneeland in the second round to become Lawrence’s heir apparent. Turns out his time is sooner rather than later.

Western Michigan’s defensive lineman is off to a hot start. But he’ll get even more shots now.

“He’s a tough guy who likes to be physical,” Zimmer said. “He’s very coachable and absorbs a lot of the coaching.

“He’s a really good guy. I’m glad we got it.

Parsons spoke to Kneeland on Friday and told the rookie he was going to have to step up until he could return. Kneeland took it badly, thinking that Parsons was questioning whether or not he was ready to take on the added responsibility.

“You don’t understand,” Parsons replied. “When I say step up, I don’t just mean playing.

“As if you should lead now.” You lost your two veterans. You have to lead, you have to carry these guys. You have to communicate, talk to them, like bring these other guys with you.

“You must be the guy we need.”

Golston bounced around from the inside to the outside during his four years with the Cowboys. According to McCarthy, the defensive lineman has worn many hats.

He’s a defensive end now. Golston played the run well from that spot, but his pass rush was limited.

“He’s going to get more playing time and have more opportunities in the passing game,” Zimmer said.

Golston only has 4.5 sacks for his career. One of them came this season. Parsons said his teammate reminded him of former NFL defensive end Cameron Wake in terms of build and wingspan.

“With his length and his ability and the way he can pass the run, being able to use it, I think he can be very, very, very good,” Parsons said.

“Those long arms, the things he’s able to do with them, he’s going to be very good. I can’t wait to see how he performs.

“He always talks about waiting for his opportunity. He has one. I’m waiting to see it.

Lawson will be part of the rotation on the outside with Tyrus Wheat. Since Lawson will no longer be elevated after Sunday’s game, he will need to be placed on the active roster moving forward. That leaves a spot on the practice squad to bring in another player.

But replacing Parsons and Lawrence? This won’t happen.

“These guys are the engine,” cornerback Jourdan Lewis said. “They’re moving this thing forward. Especially when we have guys who make players like that. The way they play is contagious.

“It’s really difficult and we’re going to have to find ways to supplement that because there’s no way to replace it. So you gotta go out there and find ways to attack the offenses you know, without those guys.

Catch David Moore and Robert Wilonsky as they co-host Intentional Grounding on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. during the Super Bowl.

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