Cowboys Rookie Sack Artist Announces New Nickname
FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku has a couple of announcements to make.
Yes, his 16.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss for Boston College last season counts as an announcement of sorts.
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But this is the NFL. Different-level stuff.
This NFL Draft's second-round pick talks the talk as he paints the picture of a defender who takes quarterbacks' souls for fun.
But first he needs an identity here ...
And on Friday at Cowboys rookie minicamp, he did something about that, telling us he'd like to go by the nickname, "Easy.''
"Too many 'Donovan's' around here,' he joked.
Of course, there is the other reason, too. But we're working on that.
Ezz-AH-rah-koo.
And now the other thing, the football thing ...
We saw last season when Dallas couldn't stop the run, the likes of Micah Parsons and others couldn't get after the quarterback. But stop the run and the flood gates could open.
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And for Ezeiruaku, while his pass rushing talents are well-known, he knows everything starts and stops with what has been Dallas' biggest Achilles heel for years.
"I take a whole lot of pride in it," Ezeiruaku said via dallascowboys.com. "That's something that I understand that you cannot get the pass rush going until you stop to run on first or second down. I played for a tough D-line coach at B.C., who also took a lot of great care of that run [defense] because he was also our run defense coordinator.
"We need to stop the run. We've gotta put our nose in there and take on blocks and strike blockers, just to get to that ball on first and second down."
Last season, the Cowboys' defense under Mike Zimmer allowed 137.1 rushing yards per game (fourth-worst), and that was with Dallas also having 52 sacks (third-best).
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So they don't necessarily go hand-in-hand, but Ezeiruaku knows that if the defense can stop the run, he, Micah, Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams and company can then get after the quarterback.
Yes, the sack numbers are good on paper, but the real work begins in the trenches, and it's clear which one Ezeiruaku is prioritizing in his rookie year.
Stop the run to set up sacks. It's a good plan - and a bit of a surprising promise. ... So, now go execute it - "Easy!''
Related: Cowboys Sign 'Immediate Starter' Booker with $13 Million Bonus
Related: Cowboys' Micah 'Hurt' Then Hyped Over 'Not Love Football' Draft Pick
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