“Y’all know me, still the same O.G. but I been low-key” — Dr. Dre
To steal a lyric that plays in my head just about every time I see DeMarcus Lawrence doing what he does since his return, I suspect some of you have forgotten about Tank.
Lawrence is back and he is wrecking things. There was a play early in this game in New Jersey on Sunday that demonstrates what this all means. You see, Lawrence is one of the most productive defensive edges in the NFL in the past five years even though his own fan base often questions his quality. This, of course, is all the more remarkable when you consider that he has never really had much help with him.
Who is the best defensive player that Lawrence has ever really played with for any extended period of time?
David Irving? Robert Quinn?
Chances are pretty good that no player has been penalized more by the multi-year absences of Randy Gregory than Lawrence.
And yet, all he has ever done is produce for this place.
Maybe not massive sack totals, although his sack totals were still enough to average 9+ per year since 2017. But, sack totals are why so many Cowboys fans miss the boat on his greatness. He isn’t a pass rusher in the truest sense of the word. He is more of a completely balanced, do-everything, never-take-a-snap-off force of nature.