“The Sack Numbers Will Be Back Up” – Dallas Cowboys Defensive End DeMarcus Lawrence Vows to Improve

Dallas Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence may not have had the best season in 2019, but he still has a lot left in him. However, with just 5 sacks in a year, even his biggest fans have slight doubts about Lawrence in their minds.

DeMarcus Lawrence’s career with Dallas Cowboys so far

DeMarcus, or Tank as he is known, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2014 NFL Draft. As a defensive end, Lawrence has had a lot of success in the NFL. Tank’s 14.5 sacks in 2017 earned him his first call to Pro Bowl and an All-Pro. He is among the highest-paid players of the league today.

However, 2019 wasn’t really his season. He knows that he didn’t do his best and vows to fix it this year. “You don’t have to worry about nothing,” Lawrence told FS1 recently. “Trust me, the sack numbers will be back up.”

However, something did go wrong last year for Lawrence and the Cowboys, even if it wasn’t truly acknowledged. When asked by FS1 what it was, the Pro Bowler said, “Nothing happened to me last year… We had so many obstacles come our way and it kind of divided us as a team.”

The Cowboys finished 8-8 with no distractions like contract disputes, etc. Of course, there were some issues with the coaching staff, but those didn’t seem so bad. So what was it that affected the Cowboys’ game so much? “We were worried about other things around us instead of sticking to our jobs and the coach,” Lawrence said. “We didn’t capitalize on the opportunities we had to win.”

However, the number of sacks isn’t all that DeMarcus is judged on. “I know I ended the season with five sacks, but I also helped other players boost their numbers back up to double digits. It’s not a one-man game and I know how to play the game the right way. I know how to make plays when plays come my way. And I also know how to make sure my teammates are making their plays.”

Tank’s 2019 offseason shoulder surgery and contract negotiations might have slightly affected his game too. But with his grit and commitment, he seems to be working very hard to be the best once again.

With his age at his side and a change in the Cowboys’ defensive coordinators, Lawrence’s numbers should (hopefully) improve this year.

Beyond Football

Other than just training harder, DeMarcus Lawrence has been out helping battle the COVID-19 crisis. He supported frontline works in Denton recently by procuring masks and meals for them and is also raising money to help feed children who have been unable to receive meals at schools due to the pandemic.

The DE hasn’t kept himself from speaking out on racism and the ongoing protests in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, either.

It’s great to see him work not just on his football skills but other things that matter as well.