Linebackers must rebound in Week 9, with Kenneth Murray Jr. and Shemar James facing make-or-break performances against the Cardinals.
The Dallas Cowboys defense continued their Jekyll and Hyde season, following a season best outing against the Washington Commanders in Week 7 with their worst of the year in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos. They’re running out of chances to put it together and give the team a shot at relevance, if they haven’t already, as they prepare for their Week 9 contest against the Arizona Cardinals.
Let’s take a look at a couple of players that will need to step up in this make or break game, as well as a couple on the Arizona defense that warrant special attention.
Kenneth Murray Jr., LB, Dallas
The poster child of the defense’s struggles, even Jerry Jones is losing patience as he said on 105.3 The Fan this week:
We need to basically have better play from the linebackers maintaining the integrity of your gaps, which the linebackers have to fill. The linebackers have to slide.. so we've got to do better.
Ranked No. 80 out of 80 players at his position according to PFF with an overall grade of 39.7, Murray has been especially abhorrent as run defender with a 29.2 grade in that regard. If the team is going to show signs of life on defense, Murray will have to have some professional pride and step up, or risk being benched on the worst defense in the league.
Shemar James, LB, Dallas
Sticking with our linebackers theme, I’m very curious to see how the rookie bounces back from a career-worst performance. After posting a career-best overall grade of 63.8 in Week 7, he had a 28.9 mark in Week 8.
These setbacks will happen for young players, as even the best rookies have bad games. But what sets them apart is how they respond in the following game. James’ answer will be key to Week 9, the rest of the year, and his role with the franchise going forward.
Budda Baker, SAF, Arizona
The biggest name on the Cardinals defense has been perhaps their most disappointing. While his overall grade of 51.9 is bad by itself, his 40.6 coverage grade is No. 82 out of 86 players.
Of course, he’s never been known as a high level coverage man, and his run defense grade 75.8 is in line with his high level of play in that regard. But his coverage has never slipped to this level (his previous low was 57.0 as a rookie in 2017), presenting an opportunity for Dallas to attack a surprising hole in the defense.
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, SAF, Arizona
Conversely, DTD is following up a strong rookie season with an even better sophomore campaign, posting strong grades in run defense (65.7), tackling (75.4), and coverage (68.9). Overall, the inverse of Baker.
However, he’s coming off of his worst game of the year in Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers, posting season lows with his overall grade of 43.3 and coverage with 44.4. Like Baker, this could present an opportunity to attack a struggling spot in the secondary, potential setting Dak up for a big day.