Dallas Cowboys: Is Sean Lee most important defensive player?

By Stephen Forsha | Aug 28, 2015

It has been way too long since Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee has taken a snap during a regular-season, or for that matter, a preseason NFL game.

The veteran linebacker is returning this year following an ACL tear in mini camp last May, and a lot should be expected from him, as the Cowboys will need his presence on the field each week. There is one question to be asked about him: Is he the most important defensive player for the team in 2015?

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My answer to that question is yes, as the Cowboys need a leader on the field with them this season, especially with how they’ve rebuilt part of the defense that struggled with a pass rush in ’14.

Lee is much needed, and when he’s health, he’s not only a leader for the team, but he makes a great impact on games as well, and his stats are proof of that.

The Cowboys linebacker entered the league in ’10, where in ’14 games he had 27 solo and five assisted tackles, along with a forced fumble. His best NFL season to date was ’11 where he had 72 solo and 34 assisted tackles, along with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

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In fact, in 46 career regular-season games Lee has 11 interceptions, also having four in his most recent season of play in ’13. That year, he also had 68 solo and 31 assisted tackles and a touchdown.

Like what was said earlier, when Lee is on the field he’s a difference maker. The problem is injuries have cost him 34 regular-season games, never playing a full 16-game season since being drafted out of Penn State University in the second round as the 55th selection overall in 2010.

Drew Davidson of Star-Telegram.com quoted Lee this week about his upcoming return to game action, which could be as soon as Saturday night when the Cowboys host the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium:

"“I need to get out there and start playing football,” Lee said. “I have come back and done a good job in practice. Taking it to the game is the next step. That is something I need to do.”"

Though it is added risk to having another injury, I agree with Lee and needing some preseason reps in live game-play for the simple fact it has been so long since he’s played in a game, and it would be tough to just go from training camp play to Week 1 of the regular season against the Giants.

I really believe in the 29-year-old Lee, and at weakside linebacker in ’15 it will hopefully keep him on the field more, while prolonging his career, because there is a bit of a dark cloud hovering over the defense of the Cowboys with suspensions and season-ending injures affecting the careers of Greg Hardy, Rolando McClain and Orlando Scandrick (torn ACL this week).

Lee and the Cowboys both need a safe and healthy year, and if he does get that lucky for the first time in a long time, the Cowboys will reap the benefits of that good fortune and most likely will start to turn their defense around.

To answer the initial question about Lee, yes I believe he is the most importnat player of the Cowboys defense in 2015.

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