FRISCO, Texas -- DeMarcus Lawrence played only 17 snaps in the Dallas Cowboys' Week 5 victory over against the Cincinnati Bengals, his first game after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Fifteen defensive players played more. None had Lawrence’s impact.


A Cowboys defense that had just six sacks entering Week 5 without DeMarcus Lawrence erupted for four with him on board against the Bengals. Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports
An inept pass rush that totaled six sacks in the season's first four games collected four against the Bengals.

“I could’ve played more,” he said, “but there was no need with a 28-0 lead.”

Lawrence, the 34th player taken in the 2014 draft, is the Cowboys’ best pass-rusher. He's the only defensive lineman on the Cowboys who can consistently pressure the quarterback.

Lawrence’s return and a 28-0 lead over the Bengals made rushing the passer easy. The Green Bay Packers, whom the Cowboys visit Sunday, pose a much more formidable task.

Aaron Rodgers is usually among the game's toughest quarterbacks to sack because he's mobile and gets rid of the ball quickly.

In the 2014 playoffs, the Cowboys sacked a gimpy Rodgers, hobbled by a calf strain, once in 35 attempts as the Packers won 26-21.

“You can’t just let him run around,” Lawrence said. “We’ve got to contain him, keep him in the pocket and make sure we hit him.

“Any quarterback, you hit them, they’re going to freeze up. So we’ve got to put the pressure on from the start to end.”

Lawrence had one sack in his first 15 NFL games; he had seven in the final nine games of last season.

He also finished 2015 with 9.5 tackles for loss, making him the most disruptive player on the Cowboys' defense.

The difference?

"I had Greg Hardy last year," Lawrence said, laughing. "They paid attention to him, not me. I'll get the attention this year but I'm ready."

He's not a pure speed rusher like DeMarcus Ware, who could dip his shoulder, giving the tackle nothing to block, while going full speed around the tackle.

Lawrence uses three or moves to set up the tackle, then attacks him with the one that's most efficient as the game goes on.

"I try to get in the tackle's head," Lawrence said. "Once you do that, it's over.

"Then he asks the guard for help on the inside move and you set him up to go outside. It's easy once you get in their head."

Lawrence is the only naturally gifted pass-rusher on the team, so defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli uses a variety of stunts to help the pass rush.

He calls it the 4 = 1 system.

“The one thing I like is the energy they bring every day,” Marinelli said of his defensive linemen. “They bring great energy, great desire to get better. Their work habits are off the charts.


“If they keep that going, we’ve got a chance to improve a little bit every week. Just want to keep gradually improving.”

Despite missing the first four games, Lawrence said his timing on the stunts was good against Cincinnati.

"We try to work them at game speed during practice," he said, "and then it's just about doing it in the game."

The Cowboys don't have questions about Lawrence's talent, productivity or work ethic.

They do have trust issues.

When a player gets suspended for four games, it means he has flunked numerous drug tests.

Another failed test and Lawrence will get a 10-game suspension. Lawrence has apologized and says he has learned from his mistakes.

The Cowboys hope that’s true. They’re depending on him. They need him to rush the passer.

http://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowb...boys-pass-rush