This episode of Between the Lines we flip the attention to the defensive line, where chaos meets strategy. This is where the Cowboys’ games are won and lost so let’s dive in. (Grades given are the overall defensive grade given by PFF.com)
Interior Defensive Line
Osa Odighizuwa
(2025 Stats: 41 Total snaps, 3 Total Tackles, 0 TFL, 4 Pressures, 0 Sacks)
Grade: 72.1
Solomon Thomas
(2025 Stats: 25 Total snaps, 5 Total Tackles, 1 TFL, 2 Pressures, 0 Sacks)
Grade: 47.1
Kenny Clark (2025 Stats: 40 Total snaps, 5 Total Tackles, 0 TFL,
1 Pressure, 0 Sack) Grade: 60.7
Mazi Smith
(2025 Stats: N/A)
Grade: N/A
Jay Toia
(2025 Stats: 20 Total snaps, 1 Total Tackle, 0 TFL, 0 Pressures, 0 Sack)
Grade: 29.3
If Dallas is going to squeeze the Giants’ offense, it’ll start right up the gut and depend very heavily on the defensive tackles this week. The Cowboys’ interior defensive line needs to bring real pocket-collapse firepower against a Giants’ interior offensive line that is still trying to find its footing.
Osa Odighizuwa was 12th among DTs in pass-rush win rate (11%) for 2024, that’s sustained, down-to-down interior disruption that if Odighizuwa can bring this Sunday will help collapse the Giants offensive line. In 2024 team win rates, the Giants ranked 26th in offensive tackle pass-block win rate and 27th in inside-offensive line pass-block win rate. Both are troubling statistics that shows this week should see plenty of pressure that Odighizuwa can capitalize on. That means watch for slants, sticks, speed outs, and “now” screens to Nabers and company to make the Cowboys interior defense rush through air.
The good news in terms of run defense is Dallas can win without blitzing, meaning Dallas’ linebackers can flow freely to the ball carrier and keep seven in coverage to squeeze New York’s quick throws to Malik Nabers & Co.
The biggest issue this interior will face is the same problem they had last week, a mobile quarterback. Jalen Hurts rushed for 62 yards last week, the third-most among quarterbacks, and managed to rumble for two rushing touchdowns. This week they face a similar scrambling quarterback in Russell Wilson who went for 44 yards on the ground against Washington, putting him seventh among quarterbacks in rushing yards.
The final point on the defensive tackle position this week – will Mazi Smith remain inactive and if so, does that indicate he has no real future in Dallas?
Defensive End
Marshawn Kneeland
(2025 Stats: 29 Total snaps, 3 Total Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Pressure, 1 Sack)
Grade: 73.0
Sam Williams
(2025 Stats: 39 Total snaps, 5 Total Tackles, 1 TFL, 5 Pressure, 0 Sack)
Grade: 52.0
Dante Fowler Jr.
(2025 Stats: 27 Total snaps, 0 Total Tackles, 0 TFL, 3 Pressure, 0 Sack)
Grade: 55.8
Donovan Ezeiruaku
(2025 Stats: 22 Total snaps, 1 Total tackles, 0 TFL, 1 Pressure, 0 Sack)
Grade: 67.5
James Houston
(2025 Stats: 9 Total snaps, 2 Total tackles, 1 TFL, 0 Pressure, 0 Sack)
Grade: 58.9
The Cowboys leaned on Dante Fowler Jr. and Sam Williams along with their young depth pieces behind them to get results against the Eagles but only got one sack. It was always going to be tough to get a sack against such an elusive quarterback and this week they’ll be put to the test again. The Giants tackle group is also hoping that conditioning and health isn’t going to be an issue as Andrew Thomas is still possible for a Week 2 start. The problem for New York is readiness, and if Thomas is out then slide protections and interior help become even more predictable, and attackable for the Cowboys edge rushers.
The Giants produced 30 total rushing yards in the loss to Washington, keeping them behind the chains and exposing the tackles to true pass sets. Dallas will look to do the same by taking an early lead and pinning the Giants offense into a corner.
Dante Fowler can be let free to use his burst and rip/dip against Jermaine Eluemunor, who would seriously struggle to keep Fowler at bay. And Sam Williams can be free to go wild against a suspect Thomas or his replacement, James Hudson, who allowed six pressures last week.
Watch for the Giants to try and counter the edges with half-rolls and keepers, plus sprint-outs. Wilson’s mobility is still good enough to flatten the rush angle and stress pursuit angles. The Giants will also look to go fast tempo to help the run game and RPO concepts to deter wide-9 heat and thin out pass rushes. That also helps the Giants avoid static, late-developing five-step concepts that gave Washington time to go after Wilson.
If New York protects with structure, tempo, movement and targeted chips, they can keep the game on schedule. If not, Dallas’ speed rush on the outside will recreate the muddy pockets that gave the Giants issues in Week 1.
Injury Update
Perrion Winfrey has been moved to injured reserve, meaning we won’t see him for most of September and October, if he is able to return. Other than that the defensive line currently looks healthy pending any further practice updates before the game.
