AS: Freak Alert As Cowboys Edge Rusher Hits Saquon-Level Speed After Knee Surgery

[jazzcat22]

I am not concerned over how physical he will be. He flashed to be very good. Getting to the QB, around the ball.

I am more concerned about the mental part, and concentration. Eliminate the off sides and such.
I think Eberflus can get that corrected. Get him more disciplined on plays.

 

[JayFord]

If this defense could just stay healthy they could be great

We have the depth on that side of the ball but the injuries just suck so much

 

[805BoysInBlue]

They've also mentioned Kaiir Elam beign the fastest day in and day out.

 

[fivetwos]

Oh I'm sure he was doing nothing but NY Times Crosswords, brushing up on String Theory, and solving world hunger while he was rehabbing.

Seriously though, the mistakes he's made were probably more about being overzealous and nervous, than being slow witted. Hopefully the time off has given him time to reflect on ways to avoid the boneheaded errors.

Ha nice one.

Hopefully yeah, but my experience with pro athletes in general (not specifically Cowboys or NFL only) is that many of them have difficulty comprehending risk vs reward in game situations. Selfish stat chasing is a whole other discussion, but related.

Examples which I’ve seen Williams pull…going full force at the punter on 4th and 13 when you have a lead. They should be mindful of the LOS at all times, but especially on 3rd and 4 when you very much need the ball back and to get your gassed defensive teammates off the field.

 

[fivetwos]

I’d say there’s a better than average shot that Ezeiruaku ends up keeping Williams’ snap counts to a minimum before all that long.

Fowler is back as well, along with the best outside rusher in the league. If they want to run the Spagnualo Giants’ NASCAR package on obvious passing downs, they certainly have that personnel.

They invested heavily in the DLine and won two SBs with teams that weren’t all that great otherwise.

 

[rambo2]

I’m not really looking forward to how stupid this guy is going to be while playing for a contract.

Can’t jump offside or line up in the neutral zone on 3rd and 4, and sick of holding my breath every time he is after the punter on ST.

Another Jerry second round special.

They are loaded at edge no matter what you say.

 

[gimmesix]

They are loaded at edge no matter what you say.

Lots of potential there, which is good. I don't know if we can say loaded yet. Parsons is proven. Fowler is proven somewhat (ranging when healthy from 3 sacks to 11.5). Sam Williams' best so far is 4.5 sacks, and that was before his injury. Ezeiruaku is all promise at this point. Neither Kneeland nor Turner has shown much as a pass rusher.

It isn't like we've got Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett out there. It's Parsons and several players who should be able to contribute to some extent. I do hold out a lot of hope for Eze to develop into the type of pass rusher that makes it harder to double and triple Micah.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I’d say there’s a better than average shot that Ezeiruaku ends up keeping Williams’ snap counts to a minimum before all that long.

Fowler is back as well, along with the best outside rusher in the league. If they want to run the Spagnualo Giants’ NASCAR package on obvious passing downs, they certainly have that personnel.

They invested heavily in the DLine and won two SBs with teams that weren’t all that great otherwise.

Agreed. Now I don't want to completely discredit Sam Williams, the pure pass rush talent is certainly there, but I think its premature to even assume he makes the team. If Parsons/Fowler/Ezeiruaku are all healthy he is looking at rotational snaps at best. The Cowboys may opt to keep a bigger body like Payton Turner on the roster over him if Williams doesnt look 100% in his contract year. Granted injuries have a way of working this stuff out, but the roster math may not end up being Williams best friend this camp, especially for a Cowboy team that has the depth where they could keep an extra player at a number of positions this year.

 

[gimmesix]

Agreed. Now I don't want to completely discredit Sam Williams, the pure pass rush talent is certainly there, but I think its premature to even assume he makes the team. If Parsons/Fowler/Ezeiruaku are all healthy he is looking at rotational snaps at best. The Cowboys may opt to keep a bigger body like Payton Turner on the roster over him if Williams doesnt look 100% in his contract year. Granted injuries have a way of working this stuff out, but the roster math may not end up being Williams best friend this camp, especially for a Cowboy team that has the depth where they could keep an extra player at a number of positions this year.

Yeah, I've got Williams on the bubble. Many of our players coming off an ACL tear just haven't been the same the first year, and he wasn't all that before the injury. I think it could come down to run defense because we need some players we can stick in there at DE who can get that job done (like we had to do with Golston last year).

If Turner can do that, then he might have more value to us than Williams since we do have other pass rushers (Parsons, Fowler, Eze) who may be better than Williams. I think Kneeland definitely stays as a run-defending end since he's only in his second season and was a second-round pick.

If Turner wins a spot, do we keep six ends? Parsons, Fowler, Eze, Kneeland, Turner, Williams. That's a lot.

I do think it's a good sign for Williams at least that he's showing explosiveness coming off the tear.

 

[rambo2]

Lots of potential there, which is good. I don't know if we can say loaded yet. Parsons is proven. Fowler is proven somewhat (ranging when healthy from 3 sacks to 11.5). Sam Williams' best so far is 4.5 sacks, and that was before his injury. Ezeiruaku is all promise at this point. Neither Kneeland nor Turner has shown much as a pass rusher.

It isn't like we've got Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett out there. It's Parsons and several players who should be able to contribute to some extent. I do hold out a lot of hope for Eze to develop into the type of pass rusher that makes it harder to double and triple Micah.

Loaded is a good description. Very good group.

 

[gimmesix]

Loaded is a good description. Very good group.

Oh, I know you can say loaded, but you are the eternal optimist. Some of us like to have a least a little objectivity and recognize that things may not turn out like we hope they will.

For what it's worth, I like the group. I think it has the potential to be one of the strengths of the team. But all it is is potential for now. Parsons and Fowler are the only proven players, and Fowler's career has fluctuated.

 

[Cowboyny]

Don’t care how fast, how athletic he is, time to make an impact or he will be off the roster next season

 

[fivetwos]

Agreed. Now I don't want to completely discredit Sam Williams, the pure pass rush talent is certainly there, but I think it’s premature to even assume he makes the team. If Parsons/Fowler/Ezeiruaku are all healthy he is looking at rotational snaps at best. The Cowboys may opt to keep a bigger body like Payton Turner on the roster over him if Williams doesnt look 100% in his contract year. Granted injuries have a way of working this stuff out, but the roster math may not end up being Williams best friend this camp, especially for a Cowboy team that has the depth where they could keep an extra player at a number of positions this year.

Unfortunately, exactly right with the injuries. Forgot about Turner actually.

Just wish they would value stopping the run the way they do getting after the passer.

The passer doesn’t have to pass as much when you can’t stop the run, rendering your strength and obsession with corner collection as moot.

I know DTs play on rotation and don’t sell jerseys but is this FO ever going to learn? It’s as if they are incapable of learning from mistakes. Giving Osa a big contract doesn’t make him a better player….but that’s how Jerry thinks….”because I pay him to be.”

We’ve all seen the movie much more than once.

 

[phildadon86]

I am expecting Sam Williams to have a breakout year - if he remains healthy. It is his contract year and I am certain he wants to get paid, but it will not be in Dallas. 2025 is his audition year for the rest of the league.

Yup.

Doubt he gives Jerry a discount because he took a chance on him.

 

[ShortRound]

That time of year I guess.

Best shape of his life season

 

[Rayman70]

Best shape of his life season

Yip.

 

[Rayman70]

Sam Williams is in the best shape of his life time of year.

Which just happens to be a contract year. What are the odds of that...lol

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

All of this and patience.

Oh....INDEED!

I think Parsons could use a dose of that. He over runs and over pursues way too much.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

That time of year I guess.

Most of the time, you’re right, especially when it’s “so-and-so is in the best shape of his life.” But this is actually notable, especially after ACL surgery.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Brother, I agree with your physical assessment on Sam Williams, but if he shows up this season and executes well, why wouldn't the Cowboys try to keep him for more years? He is young, talented and exactly the type of productive DE that our defense needs. It would not be smart to groom him and let him go perform for someone else.

On a reasonable contract sure. But that's not how Jerry works.