IRVING, Texas - "A lot of the weight" from DeMarcus Ware's 10-month contract negotiation lifted off his injured foot when he agreed to a staggering six-year, $78 million extension before Sunday's 37-21 win over Atlanta.
The entire defense played with Ware's steely focus after the Falcons' opening touchdown drive. Over the next three-and-a-half quarters, Atlanta managed only 14 points and 218 total yards.
"Our aggressiveness and our physicality showed up," head coach Wade Phillips said.
And over the last four games, the defense appears to be meshing into a very productive unit.
The Cowboys still rank only 22nd overall - a product of allowing 887 yards in the first two games. Since then, though, the defense's recent four-game averages measure in the league's top half. Its scoring defense (16.3) would rank sixth, its total defense (302.5) 11th, its run defense (96.3) 11th and its pass defense (206.3) 12th.
Sacks and takeaways are up. None in the first two games; four sacks and three takeaways (two interceptions, one fumble recovery) alone against the Falcons.
More are still needed, as well as a better ability to stop teams in the fourth quarter. But Phillips is seeing progress from a group that underwent a subtle off-season makeover.
Five of 11 starting positions changed, as well as the nickel linebacker spot vacated by Kevin Burnett (Chargers). Overall the replacements are making a difference.
Keith Brooking, inside linebacker (for Zach Thomas):
Brooking trails only Bradie James in total tackles (63) and has a team-high 32 solo stops. Maybe just as important, he brings another respected voice to the locker room. The 33-year-old ex-Falcon, who turns 34 on Friday, took Sunday's game personally, saying an Atlanta coach told him "it's a young man's game" upon his off-season departure.
Phillips has joked that Brooking and James, a defensive captain and four-year tackle leader, would have a friendly statistics competition all season. James calls it a "give-give" relationship between the two inside linebackers.
"I hope he goes out and makes plays because it makes me next week step my game up and makes him step his game up," James said. "If he's playing lights out, that means I'm playing lights out. We both feed off one another."
Igor Olshansky, defensive end (for Chris Canty):
The Cowboys let Canty (six years, $42 million) bolt for division rival New York and signed Olshansky to a more modest four-year, $18 million deal. Olshansky isn't a third-down pass rusher like Canty, but his strength and technique make him an effective run stopper who can also push the pocket on passing downs.
Canty was in the same draft class as defensive line starters Jay Ratliff and Marcus Spears. Phillips said Olshansky has been accepted by his peers.
"It's hard when a group's been together like those guys," Phillips said. "Canty was here for a while and they were all good buddies. Sometimes it's harder to get in the group but he's fit in real well, and I think that's helped with the cohesion of the group."
Gerald Sensabaugh, strong safety (for Roy Williams):
The Cowboys' third off-season acquisition replaced a five-time Pro Bowler in Williams, and he's made the secondary faster and more versatile.
Sensabaugh has covered slot receivers in his career, and he helped shadow Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez in his return from a fractured thumb.
"In the NFL you can't hold anything back," said Sensabaugh, who wore a large protective cast. "When you hold back, that's when the other team's scoring points. As long as I can play full speed, I'll be out there."
Mike Jenkins, cornerback (for Anthony Henry):
Jenkins won a close competition with Orlando Scandrick for the right corner job, and he's seemingly played better each week. He made a couple of nice open-field tackles Sunday and now leads the team with two interceptions after picking off Matt Ryan.
Phillips said Jenkins is playing more decisive and physical, and he has improved his ball-catching skills in practice.
"This year he's pulling trigger and he's going," Phillips said. "When he makes up his mind what's happening, he'll go get it. And that's what you need to play at corner, that's what you need to do at corner. He's still young and he still makes some mistakes, but it's less and less and it's better technique."
Anthony Spencer, outside linebacker (for Greg Ellis):
Big plays had narrowly eluded Spencer in the first five games, but his fumble recovery in the second quarter set up Tony Romo's 59-yard touchdown to Miles Austin.
Spencer does not have a sack yet, but Phillips said he has played the run well and is confident more will come playing opposite of Ware.
Bobby Carpenter, nickel linebacker (for Kevin Burnett):
Carpenter has received the most playing time of his career since arriving as a first-round pick in 2006. Burnett's athleticism made him a valuable player in coverage, and Carpenter also is best in space.
He was effective one-on-one against Gonzalez on Sunday. The veteran tight end had only four catches for 37 yards.
"He didn't catch a pass when Bobby covered him," Phillips said. "In fact he didn't hardly get off the line very well."
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