Dallas Cowboys Defensive Gets Defensive

The Cowboys solid performance on defense helped put away the Cardinals, but Head Coach Bill Parcells doesn't expect his defensive to become a dominant unit anytime

“Some of the ones that can eventually be that way, aren’t mature enough to be that way,” says Parcells.

That list includes a number of players, like rookie Linebacker Demarcus Ware, whose pressure on the quarterback helped Anthony Henry get a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown.

At the midway point of the season, Dallas has 8-games down, and 8-regular season games to go and sport a 5-and-3 record.

“To me it just feels like I got done with my college season,” says Rookie Linebacker DeMarcus Ware. “Now its starting the season all back over again. I think the bye week was good since it was in the middle, so it gives the Rookies time to rest, and the veterans time to rest, and we can get ready for the second half.”

During the last four games, the Cowboys have played their best defense of the season, allowing just 39-points. Even more important, on Sunday, there was no defensive let down.

“Right now we just found a way to finish, the last game,” says Linebacker Bradie James. “That's where we've been lacking, we hadn't finished the last, what three of the four games, so this game we were able to finish, and look at the outcome.”

Says Safety Keith Davis, “Overall, I think its a pretty good first half, ah, some things to build on, some things we really need to work on, but we're looking forward to this second half man, just trying to carry the momentum from this victory into the next half.”

Rookie Defensive End Chris Canty is another one of the Rookies getting ready for the second half. “The team, you know we're 5-and-3, we're in a dog fight for the NFC East Division,” says Canty. “We're about to hit the thick of things, we have a lot of work to do, and this week and the following week, in getting ready for that Monday night game against Philly.”

The Cowboys had the number one defense in the league just two years ago. They’re number-five now, and appear to be on their way again.