The Cowboys aren’t blessed with outstanding depth on their defensive line to begin with, and entered last night’s game without a pair of starters.
But as they’ve done so often this year, they got more than you’d reasonably expect from the guys in reserve.
Second-year defensive end David Irving had two sacks in the fourth quarter of last night’s win over the Buccaneers, helping them seal the game late against the Bucs’ big-play offense. But he didn’t think the spotlight was too bright.
“What’s the spotlight?” Irving asked, via Matthew Martinez of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “We’re all here to work, and I’m not perfect. Our standard is set so much higher, that I’ll never be satisfied.”
Playing without DeMarcus Lawrence and Cedric Thornton, the Cowboys were desperate for someone up front to make a play. Irving and friends did, with Maliek Collins getting a strip-sack late in the fourth quarter as well.
It was the second time this year Irving has had a monster game, after he had three forced fumbles and a sack against the Packers.“It was probably confidence,” Irving said. “We play off each other. We motivate each other, and when you get multiple guys on that level, things happen. Even if I’m not getting the sack, I wanted [Winston] to see me.”
“It was probably confidence,” Irving said of their late flourish. “We play off each other. We motivate each other, and when you get multiple guys on that level, things happen. Even if I’m not getting the sack, I wanted [Jameis Winston] to see me.”
Winston and plenty of other people saw Irving last night, and the former undrafted rookie from Iowa State (who came to Dallas via the Chiefs practice squad) made a name for himself.