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Canty says Cowboys’ offense ‘going to have to be the defense’s best friend’
SIRIUSXM NFL RADIO·FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2016
With suspensions removing a large chunk from the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive front, the pressure that seemingly won’t be applied to opposing quarterbacks this season has been replaced by a new kind of pressure falling squarely on the collective shoulders of the team’s offense.
“The offense -- and that offensive line and that running game with Ezekiel Elliott -- they’re going to have to be the defense’s best friend,” former Cowboys defensive end Chris Canty told Cole Wright and Phil Savage on Late Hits. “They’re going to have to control the time of possession, limit the opportunities for the defense to get exposed by the opposing team’s offense. I think that’s how the Cowboys have to be thinking going into this season.”
Canty, who also played for the New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens the past three seasons, doesn’t see any other choice. He finds it hard to believe the Cowboys can simply pick up the slack left by the four-game suspensions of ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory, and the 10-game suspension of linebacker Rolando McClain.
“It’s going to hurt them, no doubt about it,” Canty said. “DeMarcus Lawrence was a pass-rusher that was starting to come into his own. You started to see the sack production pick up in the second half of the season last year. And he was one of those guys that you pegged coming into 2016 as one of those guys that could really take off and establish himself as a household name for the defensive end position.
“Randy Gregory, another one of those young prospects. Not as far along as DeMarcus Lawrence, but certainly there’s a lot of potential there. He was supposed to be a first-round draft pick coming out of Nebraska, but he had some issues off the field, some drug-abuse problems. Certainly, that’s reared its ugly head again with his suspension for substance abuse.
“Rolando McClain being out 10 games, another tough situation. This is not his first suspension, that’s why it’s a little more lengthy with him.”
SIRIUSXM NFL RADIO·FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2016
With suspensions removing a large chunk from the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive front, the pressure that seemingly won’t be applied to opposing quarterbacks this season has been replaced by a new kind of pressure falling squarely on the collective shoulders of the team’s offense.
“The offense -- and that offensive line and that running game with Ezekiel Elliott -- they’re going to have to be the defense’s best friend,” former Cowboys defensive end Chris Canty told Cole Wright and Phil Savage on Late Hits. “They’re going to have to control the time of possession, limit the opportunities for the defense to get exposed by the opposing team’s offense. I think that’s how the Cowboys have to be thinking going into this season.”
Canty, who also played for the New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens the past three seasons, doesn’t see any other choice. He finds it hard to believe the Cowboys can simply pick up the slack left by the four-game suspensions of ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory, and the 10-game suspension of linebacker Rolando McClain.
“It’s going to hurt them, no doubt about it,” Canty said. “DeMarcus Lawrence was a pass-rusher that was starting to come into his own. You started to see the sack production pick up in the second half of the season last year. And he was one of those guys that you pegged coming into 2016 as one of those guys that could really take off and establish himself as a household name for the defensive end position.
“Randy Gregory, another one of those young prospects. Not as far along as DeMarcus Lawrence, but certainly there’s a lot of potential there. He was supposed to be a first-round draft pick coming out of Nebraska, but he had some issues off the field, some drug-abuse problems. Certainly, that’s reared its ugly head again with his suspension for substance abuse.
“Rolando McClain being out 10 games, another tough situation. This is not his first suspension, that’s why it’s a little more lengthy with him.”
