‘Not Good Enough At All’: Kenny Clark, Shemar James Own Dallas Cowboys’ Last-Ranked Run Defense
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys allow 152.8 rushing yards per game, the most in the NFL, and defensive tackle Kenny Clark said Wednesday that the run defense has not been good enough at all through eight games.
Dallas has given up 1,222 rushing yards this season. Arizona ran for 202 of them in Sunday’s 33-30 overtime win, and Tyler Allgeier finished with 147 yards on 11 carries. Two of those carries went for 63 and 52 yards, and both came after Gardner Minshew II entered late in the third quarter.
Clark watched the tape and saw two runs, not a whole game.
“I think they had two big explosive runs. If I’m being honest with you, I think we kicked their ass the whole game. And they had two explosive runs and that’s what it was,” Clark said. “Overall, the first eight weeks, I just think the run defense has been, overall, not good enough. I think we’re at the bottom of the league, so not good enough at all.”
“And really, it’s just understanding where we’re supposed to be. If it is the explosive run, make sure we tackle them, get them down, and just building up a wall, getting off blocks and building up a wall,” Clark continued.
Shemar James Says His Hands Turned 15 Yards Into 60-Plus
Linebacker Shemar James pinned the 63-yard touchdown on himself. Alignment, hand placement, and eyes are the small details he pointed to, and his hands were the miss.
“I would say that that kind of just comes down to us, like just self-inflicted stuff. Coming down to me, not using my hands. If I would have used my hands, we could have knocked that down for 15 yards. But I didn’t, and it kept running for 60-plus,” James said. “So just small things like that. Like you need all 11 guys to be functioning on the same thing.”
James led Dallas with 9 tackles Sunday and had an interception. The 63-yard run came on Minshew’s second snap and cut the Dallas lead to 17-10.
Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams took his share too, saying he is “the reason why we haven’t been stopping the run as well.”
Kenny Clark Says It Starts With Stopping The Run
Next up is Jonathan Taylor, who has 610 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 148 carries for the Indianapolis Colts. The short-term goal for Clark is simple to state.
“Really, it all starts with stopping the run. We got to do a good job at that,” Clark explained. “I think we got to set edges, knock things back in the run game, get off blocks, and then just be where we’re supposed to be. We got to tackle well. And everything that we talk about on defense, running to the ball, running and hitting. That got to be on full display.”
Dallas is without rookie outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence, who is expected to miss a few weeks with an ankle injury. Linebacker Dee Winters returned to individual work Wednesday.
Kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium is set for noon CT Sunday on FOX.
