Dallas Cowboys: Sean Lee is better than ever

The play of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee has been the best thing about the 2015 season for the Cowboys. There have been many injuries to “America’s Team” through the first three weeks this season, but watching Lee return from his injury has been something to watch.

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Even this past week in the 39-28 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Lee achieved something he’s never done in the NFL, that being gaining an sack, when he took down Matt Ryan in the first quarter on a third down play.

Before that play, FOX announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman even spoke about how great of a season that the 29-year old Lee was having after the first two games and just how good he can be this season.

In fact, Lee’s most recent sack before Sunday was on Sept. 19, 2009 during his final season with Penn State, when the Nittany Lions defeated the Temple Owls, 31-6.

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Lee doesn’t get the chance to tackle the quarterback, but this one kind of sneaked up on him as he went through the defensive line and made the sack, all the while trying to rip the ball from Ryan’s hands.

That’s what is so great about Lee: he has the presence to not only take down Ryan on an important third down play, but he also tried to rip the football away and attempt to force a turnover.

In ’15, after three games, Lee has totaled 33 tackles (23 solo) with one sack, one interception (Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles in the end zone), and he’s broken up two passes.

Lee is second in the NFL in tackles after three games, trailing only fellow former Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny, who has 34 on the year with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

When healthy, there is no other linebacker in the league I would rather have leading a defense. I think thus far, the Cowboys have over-performed at times on defense with all the setbacks they’ve had since training camp, and the reason they achieved as much as they’ve had is because of Lee’s presence on the field this year, something they desperately lacked in ’14 when he was out with a torn ACL.

Sep 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Sean Lee (50) celebrates his interception in the end zone intended for Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Even with the Cowboys at 2-1 overall, Lee (who is a weakside linebacker this season) and his defense must play much better than they did against the Falcons to make his return to the field this season be more than his individual output of success.

Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPN.com quoted Lee about the loss to the Falcons, and he was correct in his assessment of his defense:

"“Coming into the game, we knew we had to stop Julio, Matt Ryan and the running game. We didn’t stop any of them. That can’t happen. We have to play better.”"

The Cowboys have allowed 20 or more points in each of their first three games, and what is lacking is the lack of a consistent pass rush due to injuries and suspensions on the defensive line.

I really believe once Lee has his counterparts on the field with him once their suspensions are completed or their injuries are healed, the Sean Lee-led defense of the Cowboys will be very tough to handle.

We all know Lee will do all he can to keep the Cowboys defense in games, but the improvement as a group overall needs to be there, so the numbers Lee is producing this season have an even greater impact than they’ve already had.

Next: 5 takeaways from Dallas Cowboys loss

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