Revisit DE...opinions changed?

[SDogo]

So........for the last several years I have pegged a DE for the Cowboys in Round 1 at some point or another. Last year I wanted JJ Watt.........got blasted for it. Wanted Ryan Kerrigan.........got blasted for it.

2010 I called for Jared Ordick.........got blasted

It appeared the Cowboys also were interested but it never seemed to work out.

The reasoning? I have been told the position is simply not important. 3-4 DE's dont rush the passer.....I think someone forgot to tell JJ Watt and Ryan Kerrigan.

While the lack of pass rush, pressure and QB sacks by our unit other then Ware is fresh on everyone's mind and given what Watt and Kerrigan have shown this year and how a DE can indeed bring that aspect to a 3-4 defense has anyone's mind changed yet?

[InmanRoshi]

People are basically still stuck on an elementary school vanilla understanding of what the 3-4 is. They believe for a 3-4 defense to work you have to have 2 immobile stiffs at DE and then one really, really fat immobile guy in the middle. Never mind the fact that Ryan has his DL playing as much 3 tech as 0 or 5 tech, especially in sub packages.

[SDogo]

Originally Posted by InmanRoshi

People are basically still stuck on an elementary school vanilla understanding of what the 3-4 is. They believe for a 3-4 defense to work you have to have 2 immobile stiffs at DE and then one really, really fat immobile guy in the middle. Never mind the fact that Ryan has his DL playing as much 3 tech as 0 or 5 tech, especially in sub packages.

You nailed that one!

[casmith07]

I'm not sure who told you it wasn't important, but I still felt DE was a liability outside of Spears being more of a gap plugging guy.

I love your Jared Crick selection. I would also be happy with somehow signing Mario Williams to play End here. He has the size and shouldn't be moved to OLB.

[SDogo]

Originally Posted by casmith07

I'm not sure who told you it wasn't important, but I still felt DE was a liability outside of Spears being more of a gap plugging guy.

I love your Jared Crick selection. I would also be happy with somehow signing Mario Williams to play End here. He has the size and shouldn't be moved to OLB.

oh geeze, just pull up any JJ Watt thread from last year or Ordick thread before that.

I spent more time arguing this subject then any other on this board.

[BrAinPaiNt]

I admit to being one who was not wanting a 34 de. Although I still think I like our last two first round picks. Also not sure if there is a great 34 de in this draft that we would take in the first. Yes I know I am bull headed but would rather have a great interior olineman, DB or even 34 OLB.

[SDogo]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

I admit to being one who was not wanting a 34 de. Although I still think I like our last two first round picks. Also not sure if there is a great 34 de in this draft that we would take in the first. Yes I know I am bull headed but would rather have a great interior olineman, DB or even 34 OLB.

My favorite is Boise St DE Billy Winn but he could be had in the 2nd round.

Devon Still is probably the top option in the 1st round but even as a PSU fan I'm not sold.

Clemson DT Brandon Thompson is a name to keep an eye on. A lot of 3-4 teams like him at DE and his stock is rising.

Mississippi St DT Fletcher Cox is quickly becoming one of my favorites as well. Another DT 3-4 teams love at DE and may become one of the top DL off the board.

Jared Crick despite a stock drop is still on my want list.

But your right, there is no JJ Watt in this years class.

[UncFelix28]

no players with the hype of Watt, there are going to be plenty of good finds

[junk]

Originally Posted by SDogo

The reasoning? I have been told the position is simply not important. 3-4 DE's dont rush the passer.....I think someone forgot to tell JJ Watt and Ryan Kerrigan.

I think someone forgot Ryan Kerrigan doesn't play 3-4 end.

[SDogo]

Originally Posted by junk

I think someone forgot Ryan Kerrigan doesn't play 3-4 end.

I think you need to watch more Redskins games. Despite his listing as a LB on the depth chart he played over 70% of his snaps with his hand on the ground at DE. Trust me, I had to ask the right questions to the right people before I included him because I wondered myself.

5 of his 7.5 sacks came from the DE position.

[junk]

Originally Posted by SDogo

I think you need to watch more Redskins games. Despite his listing as a LB on the depth chart he played over 70% of his snaps with his hand on the ground at DE. Trust me, I had to ask the right questions to the right people before I included him because I wondered myself.

5 of his 7.5 sacks came from the DE position.

How many has Ware had over the years with his hand on the ground? How many times does Ware walk up on the line in a 3-4? If he drops his hand on the ground, is he playing a 3-4 end?

In Nickel and Dime fronts, it's pretty common to go to 4 man fronts or have your OLBs put their hand on the ground.

Just because he puts his hand on the ground occasionally that doesn't mean he is playing a 3-4 end position. Not going to be very effective at 267 pounds.

[SDogo]

Originally Posted by junk

How many has Ware had over the years with his hand on the ground? How many times does Ware walk up on the line in a 3-4? If he drops his hand on the ground, is he playing a 3-4 end?

In Nickel and Dime fronts, it's pretty common to go to 4 man fronts or have your OLBs put their hand on the ground.

Just because he puts his hand on the ground occasionally that doesn't mean he is playing a 3-4 end position. Not going to be very effective at 267 pounds.

I'm not sure what your leading to.....if you lineup at DE with your hand on the ground or not in any given formation your playing DE in that instance.

It's part of the beauty of a 3-4, even NT in today's schemes is not really just a NT. Look at all the different formations Rob uses, heck sometimes I'm not even sure you can directly label the positions in regards to a traditional set in stone 3-4 alignment.

[junk]

Originally Posted by SDogo

I'm not sure what your leading to.....if you lineup at DE with your hand on the ground or not in any given formation your playing DE in that instance.

It's part of the beauty of a 3-4, even NT in today's schemes is not really just a NT. Look at all the different formations Rob uses, heck sometimes I'm not even sure you can directly label the positions in regards to a traditional set in stone 3-4 alignment.

You might be better served to say you want more pass rushers. You might not "get blasted" as much if you phrased it that way.

This all goes back to the basic tenets of the 3-4 and what the roles and responsibilities are in that base defense.

In that base defense, a 3-4 end is primarily tasked with controlling the LOS while a 3-4 linebacker is your pass rusher. Can you have 3, 4 or 5 man fronts in a 3-4? Sure. Can you have a variety of looks? Sure. Can the players in that defense have different gap responsibilities and roles depending upon the formation and play call? Sure. Rob Ryan does a lot of that.....not very successfully....but he does do a lot of that.

But if Ware walks up on the line and puts his hand on the ground, it doesn't suddenly turn into a 4-3 and he doesn't suddenly become a DE. In that case, would Spears or Hatcher be a 3-4 DT since they have their hand on the ground and are covered up?

I'm sure everyone would like to have great pass rushing 3-4 ends. However, they are difficult to find. Partially because it is hard to find someone that can provide strong run support at the LOS and rush the passer consistently and partially because they often aren't tasked with rushing the passer.

Bottom line: Ryan Kerrigan and J.J. Watt are completely different players and skill sets. If Kerrigan was in Dallas, he'd play Spencer's spot, not Hatcher or Spears. I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone call him a 3-4 end.

Does Dallas need more pass rush? Yes. Can it come from the 3-4 end position? Sure, if the defense is set up that way and you find the right guy. However, if I had my choice between a 3-4 end and an upgrade to Spencer's spot, I'd take the upgrade at Spencer's spot first.

[Manwiththeplan]

Originally Posted by SDogo

I think you need to watch more Redskins games. Despite his listing as a LB on the depth chart he played over 70% of his snaps with his hand on the ground at DE. Trust me, I had to ask the right questions to the right people before I included him because I wondered myself.

5 of his 7.5 sacks came from the DE position.

that doesn't mean he can hold at the point of attack in a 3-4 base. lots of 3-4 olbs play de on passing downs, but would get killed on rushing downs, and kerrigan would too.

But overall, I agree that a 3-4 DE would be a good selection. I'm torn between Devon Still in round 1 and David DeCastro. Hopefully we fill one of those needs in free agency.

[SDogo]

Originally Posted by Manwiththeplan

that doesn't mean he can hold at the point of attack in a 3-4 base. lots of 3-4 olbs play de on passing downs, but would get killed on rushing downs, and kerrigan would too.

But overall, I agree that a 3-4 DE would be a good selection. I'm torn between Devon Still in round 1 and David DeCastro. Hopefully we fill one of those needs in free agency.

I'm a Penn St fan, graduate and homer and I don't even know if I would take Still. Todays game was a prime example why. He should of dominated that game and you would be hard pressed to know he was even in uniform. He is way too hot and cold for me.