Mailbag: A defensive lineman in the first round to push the pocket would really help

[CCBoy]

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/mailbag.cfm?id=D89E183A-DC3E-E3E7-8C8C711946B76872





ROGELIO GALLEGOS MEXICO CITY: You can draft the best cornerback, but if the pass rush doesn't improve, things won't get better. A defensive lineman in the first round to push the pocket would really help DeMarcus Ware. What do you think?

Nick:I couldn't agree more. I used to think it was a chicken-and-egg theory when it comes to pass rush and the secondary. I don't think so anymore. It's pass rush first in my opinion. Basically what we're saying here is, if you're sitting with the 14th pick and the two highest guys on the board are, a stud CB and a stud pass-rusher, I think I'd go with the rusher.

Rob: Agree with you on the pass rushing D-lineman. The Cowboys haven't shown a willingness to draft one that high since moving to a 3-4 scheme, though. Marcus Spears was the first and only in 2005. If Anthony Spencer leaves, a pass rushing outside linebacker also becomes a huge priority, maybe this team's biggest priority, unless they think Victor Butler can be a three-down player....

[JoeCorrado]

:hammer: :bow:

[Hostile]

So reach in the 1st? Bad idea.

[ZeroClub]

For whatever it is worth:

In the 2011 season, the Cowboys D had 42 sacks ... tied for 7th best in the NFL. The Cowboys D had more sacks than did the D's of the Patriots (40), Steelers (35), Saints (33), and Packers (29).

[Mash]

I don't know about how strong the draft is for DL or a pass rusher LB.....but I wouldn't mind trying to get a stud NT .....so we can move the rat to DE ....we do need to improve the interio DL pass rush.

Our issues are that if we don't generate instant pass pressure our CB's are toast.

We do need some interio OL help and a CB and of course LB ......but I hope we do address our interio DL

[Eddie]

For whatever it is worth:

In the 2011 season, the Cowboys D had 42 sacks ... tied for 7th best in the NFL. The Cowboys D had more sacks than did the D's of the Patriots (40), Steelers (35), Saints (33), and Packers (29).

Just goes to show that O is the key to winning.

We can get by with an average D.

But we can win it all with a dominant OL and an explosive O.

Fix the OL, and things will turn around immediately.

[sbark]

For whatever it is worth:

In the 2011 season, the Cowboys D had 42 sacks ... tied for 7th best in the NFL. The Cowboys D had more sacks than did the D's of the Patriots (40), Steelers (35), Saints (33), and Packers (29).

What percent of those came early in the season? Just seems like by Dec opposition had our pass rush schemes down and numbers fell off hard.

I suppose 2nd question should be how many of the sacks are from non-DLine?
vrs. other teams. Sending Blitz paks late in the season opened up TNew like a can of tuna

[newlander]

I think Jerel Worthy of MIchigan State could fit the bill and the kid out of LSU is pretty studly too.....but then we have the CB and Oline issues.....multiple holes to fill as usual.........thanks jerrah:bang2:

[Deep_Freeze]

What percent of those came early in the season? Just seems like by Dec opposition had our pass rush schemes down and numbers fell off hard.

I suppose 2nd question should be how many of the sacks are from non-DLine?
vrs. other teams. Sending Blitz paks late in the season opened up TNew like a can of tuna

Well, we got them so it doesn't matter as much when. Problem is a very high percentage of ours came from one player. Can't imagine if Ware went down like Mario did, our season would be over.....meanwhile they still made the playoffs.

There was an article about sacks from elsewhere other than Ware, it wasn't pretty at all, no matter how much we wanna slant the stats.

As for who the pass rusher would be, I figure we would need to wait for workouts and see if someone earns the pick. Worked with Ware, and he turned out pretty good.

[burmafrd]

Brockers of LSU would be a possibility in the first. At DE he just might be our Seymour

[burmafrd]

What percent of those came early in the season? Just seems like by Dec opposition had our pass rush schemes down and numbers fell off hard.

I suppose 2nd question should be how many of the sacks are from non-DLine?
vrs. other teams. Sending Blitz paks late in the season opened up TNew like a can of tuna

Saints Packers NE D were not exactly good this year

And even Squeeler fans were disapointed in the play of their D line this year; it did not get much pressure just like ours.

Fact is that DeWare having another great year pretty much underlined how little help he got.

He gets 19.5

Spencer is second at 6. When almost 50% of your sacks come from one player, and no others are even close to double digits, then the O knows it only has to worry about ONE guy. Makes things a lot easier for them

[RS12]

So reach in the 1st? Bad idea.

If DeCastro, Martin and Kirkpatrick are gone, I'm thinking Brockers, scouts like him alot. Can never have enough difference making D Linemen.

[sbark]

Saints Packers NE D were not exactly good this year

And even Squeeler fans were disapointed in the play of their D line this year; it did not get much pressure just like ours.

Fact is that DeWare having another great year pretty much underlined how little help he got.

He gets 19.5

Spencer is second at 6. When almost 50% of your sacks come from one player, and no others are even close to double digits, then the O knows it only has to worry about ONE guy. Makes things a lot easier for them

My main point being driven at is they were front weighted in the 1st 3/4 of the Sched.........pressure on opposing QB's seemed to tail off in the last 1/3 of the season.....which really exposed TNEw

Ryans pressure schemes were adapted to and neutered by game 13.

[ykc]

If DeCastro, Martin and Kirkpatrick are gone, I'm thinking Brockers, scouts like him alot. Can never have enough difference making D Linemen.

Exactly, especially when what he have are avg DL (DT, NT) and not pro bowlers

[Doomsday]

For whatever it is worth:

In the 2011 season, the Cowboys D had 42 sacks ... tied for 7th best in the NFL. The Cowboys D had more sacks than did the D's of the Patriots (40), Steelers (35), Saints (33), and Packers (29).

I think we get decent pressure from the front 7 but it is all for not when WRs are running wide open in the secondary. The first Giants game was a prime example of this, they were in Eli's face most of the game but it didnt matter cause he had guys running free the whole game.

You cant fix everything in one off season, I think they need to focus on the offensive line and secondary first and foremost.

[Doomsday]

My main point being driven at is they were front weighted in the 1st 3/4 of the Sched.........pressure on opposing QB's seemed to tail off in the last 1/3 of the season.....which really exposed TNEw

Ryans pressure schemes were adapted to and neutered by game 13.

That is true but at the same time teams figured out that Newman was done the 2nd half of the season as well. It is a double edge sword pressure is useless if you cant provide any coverage behind it.

Newman basically became Alan Ball out there, once teams figured out he was the weak link they kept exploiting it over and over. We saw the same thing in the first half of the San Fran game, they got them in the 3rd and 8 quite a bit but the Niners just kept attacking Alan Ball over and over for easy pitch and catch first downs. The same thing every team did to Newman from the 2nd Washington game on.

[batman36]

Should the Cowboys land a DL that can pressure the QB, whether thru free agency or the draft, what about backing that up with a pass rushing LB? Vinny Curry of Marshall, Bruce Irvin of West Virginia, Courtney Upshaw of Alabama or Shea McClellan of Boise St., all come to mind. If you have pressure people on multiple levels of the defense, it just gives you an opportunity to be better. Finally, I'd even suggest that if a corner is added, then he would be able to get QB pressure in certain packages.

Constant pressure from numerous players, aids a defense much more than one guy accumulating sacks.

[CCBoy]

Should the Cowboys land a DL that can pressure the QB, whether thru free agency or the draft, what about backing that up with a pass rushing LB? Vinny Curry of Marshall, Bruce Irvin of West Virginia, Courtney Upshaw of Alabama or Shea McClellan of Boise St., all come to mind. If you have pressure people on multiple levels of the defense, it just gives you an opportunity to be better. Finally, I'd even suggest that if a corner is added, then he would be able to get QB pressure in certain packages.

Constant pressure from numerous players, aids a defense much more than one guy accumulating sacks.

My preference is to take away the cookie trail from GrandMother's house at secondary, via free agency. And signing a very strong free safety and cornerback.

I then would knock off ingredients for G and C, and DE and OLB via the draft...and at it's top for all four. The question now goes to the draft board. But your querry as to directions up that board at DL and LB is a great one. We need much more imput here, to gain perspectives as to change once it hits draft time. Good show here...

[jblaze2004]

For whatever it is worth:

In the 2011 season, the Cowboys D had 42 sacks ... tied for 7th best in the NFL. The Cowboys D had more sacks than did the D's of the Patriots (40), Steelers (35), Saints (33), and Packers (29).

yeah but almost half of thoughs where by demarcus ware (most-likely a hall of famer).

Were did our d-line rank in terms of rushing the passer vs other 3-4 teams. Our DE's and DT's.

Imagine how much better we will be with consistant passrush. The only passrushing lineman we have is basically hatcher and maybe ratliff(only 2 sacks but gets double teamed alot leaving our DE's and spencer single blocked), proven.