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Liufau's rough debut: A costly Cowboys IR designation?
10 Nov
Summary
- Marist Liufau's Week 9 performance yielded a team-worst defensive grade.
- His presence on the field correlated with a significant defensive EPA/play increase.
- Designating Liufau for return used a critical IR spot, limiting future options.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau's return from injured reserve in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts proved problematic. Despite being drafted as a promising player, Liufau's performance in his season debut was notably poor, resulting in a team-worst 35.9 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus. His participation on the field coincided with a steep decline in defensive efficiency.
When Liufau was on the field, the Cowboys' defense allowed an average of 10.9 yards per play and a +0.426 EPA/play. This is a stark contrast to the defense's performance when he was sidelined. The decision to use one of the Cowboys' limited "designate for return" IR designations on Liufau is now being questioned, given his struggles and lack of a clear positional fit on the current defense. This move may prove regrettable as Dallas navigates future roster decisions.
