Shaking up the D line & Changes at LB

[Zman5]

I thought Carter was playing his best ball his last year with us.

He lost his starting job middle of the year and was replaced by Hitchens his last year with us. He did play well as a nickel LB getting bunch of INTS. His best year was 2012.

 

[chicago JK]

There are no magic bullets with our defense. Our best hope is somehow they can play at an average level. There are a lot of talent shortcomings on that side of the ball. Two of my biggest concerns are Hitchens and Wilcox. I had to miss the game last week so I am just watching now. Washington had two big plays/touchdowns missed biggest Cousins didn't make the throw. One on the first possession to Crowder and one in the second quarter to Desean Jackson. Wilcox appeared badly out of position on both. The first one was a pretty easy through and Crowder should have walked into the endzone. The second one was a tougher throw but Jackson had gotten behind Wilcox. I fear with all the other attractive options teams can attack us, attacking Wilcox is going to be the main target when he is in the game.

Hitchens appears to be a smart guy and a hard worker. He is just very limited. Ideally he is a depth guy you keep around for a few years. He is just going to struggle if he needs to drop into coverage against anyone.

 

[remdak]

He lost his starting job middle of the year and was replaced by Hitchens his last year with us. He did play well as a nickel LB getting bunch of INTS. His best year was 2012.

Yeah he was sort of a "feast or famine" LB, much more famine. He would get some INTS, but then look clueless the rest of the time. It was strange.

 

[InDakWeTrust]

When it comes to the DL, I have yet to remember Mayowa lined up on the RT and Irving vs the LT. Hopefully Wilber is cut when Nacho Chowder returns and hopefully Davis gets some snaps Sunday.

 

[landroverking]

So is the DMN not free anymore online?

Guess I've read them for the last time.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Mayowa sucks that's why he's been on so many teams and practice squads. Thankfully he has been demoted.

Let me see the young guns that everyone was banking on at DE where/ are:

• Ryan Russell - outta football. Not playing for anyone
• Tapper - back injury. His return is questionable for this year. Don't know if he's any good anyways based on his use/ production in college
• Mayowa - this is what the FO sold us. Snake oil, and some bought it! Shame shame shame
• David Irving - snake oil with a shiny label. Oh yeah he flashed his first year with that field goal block and got a couple of pressures he and there, but he's nursing injuries and buried in depth charts
• Wilbur - defensive Swiss Army knife. Jack of all trades, master of none.

That's 5 DEs right there. What a sorry bunch. People are putting too much confidence that the coaching staff can " coach up" bottom roster guys. Don't fall for the spin. " we are going to send WAVES of Dlinemen at them". It doesn't work that way.

You could package those 5 players in a trade and not even get a second round pick for all 5. That's sad. Super sad

 

[AbeBeta]

You go to one of the salary cap sites and take a look at what the Cowboys have committed in salary cap for the 2017 season and it's the most or 2nd most in the NFL.

So yeah that's a sign that things have been "pushed" forward a lot.

And of course that starts the argument of "What's the best way of effectively managing the cap– max it out every year or have a bundle of cap space?" We've had that argument on here more times than I could count and each side makes convincing points.

Quite frankly any team with a star QB and a star WR, past their first contract has some heavy contract commitments. On top of that you have the young'ins on the offensive line who are also getting big money contracts now.

Not really. That reflects how we structure longer term deals. 2017 is the first year in T-Freds new deal - the deal is front loaded with an almost 17 mill cap hit in that first year. The first two years are guaranteed money meaning that we are going to convert guaranteed salary to bonus to spread the cap hits out. Tyron is in a similar situation. Plus there are a number of guys that are pretty much in make or break years - guys whose cap hit is dramatically higher then the dead money they'd generate if cut (or if they retire) - Doug Free and Jason Witten in particular. Tony Romo even.

 

[Sydla]

It is simply beyond mind numbing to realize that this front office actually thought what they built at DE heading into August camp was good enough for a team that they've told people is a legit contender.

I honestly don't think I've ever questioned Jerry's sanity more than this situation. Come out in February and say the pass rush was unacceptable and needs help. And then in August, deliver a defensive end depth chart that includes a two time cast off in Mayowa, a practice squad player in Russell, a 3 Tech masquerading as a DE in Irving, a 4th round pick who apparently has always had a back issue, a high motor but the very definition of a JAG in J. Crawford and only one true, proven DE in Lawrence.

And that 's with also know they had a multiple drug test failure in Gregory who they knew was likely not going to play much this year.

And the kicker? There were actually people out there who defended this and though the Cowboys did a decent job at DE in the offseason. Wut?

 

[conner01]

None of these guys would start for a playoff caliber defense
Mediocre players being replaced by other mediocre players does not improve anything. It is just window dressing to give the impression of 'trying'

We lack talent on the dline, no question but you have what you have and the job of the staff is to get the best out of what you have. Putting players on notice that being a starter can be changed won't fix the lack of talent but may get more out of the talent we have
Certainly can't hurt to try

 

[xwalker]

I read an article that went over teams that had pushed the most money into the future on the salary cap. And it was the Cowboys by a long long margin. Basically saying that they have mismanaged the cap more than any other team by a long shot. To some dagree mortgaging our future.

Most people that write articles don't really understand the salary cap. They think they do but it's rarely true.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Most people that write articles don't really understand the salary cap. They think they do but it's rarely true.

How hard is it to figure how Jones keeps restructuring. And there are plenty of articles written by experts on the subject. But by all means dont believe it. While continues to sign no one becuase he cant.

 

[dallasdave]

Mayowa sucks that's why he's been on so many teams and practice squads. Thankfully he has been demoted.

Let me see the young guns that everyone was banking on at DE where/ are:

• Ryan Russell - outta football. Not playing for anyone
• Tapper - back injury. His return is questionable for this year. Don't know if he's any good anyways based on his use/ production in college
• Mayowa - this is what the FO sold us. Snake oil, and some bought it! Shame shame shame
• David Irving - snake oil with a shiny label. Oh yeah he flashed his first year with that field goal block and got a couple of pressures he and there, but he's nursing injuries and buried in depth charts
• Wilbur - defensive Swiss Army knife. Jack of all trades, master of none.

That's 5 DEs right there. What a sorry bunch. People are putting too much confidence that the coaching staff can " coach up" bottom roster guys. Don't fall for the spin. " we are going to send WAVES of Dlinemen at them". It doesn't work that way.

You could package those 5 players in a trade and not even get a second round pick for all 5. That's sad. Super sad

Well said, stay thirsty my friend !!!

 

[xwalker]

How hard is it to figure how Jones keeps restructuring. And there are plenty of articles written by experts on the subject. But by all means dont believe it. While continues to sign no one becuase he cant.

I've discussed this issue in great detail here in years past.

It's complicated to explain, but an NFL team can push cap hits into the future indefinitely without it ever "catching up" to them.

Every December it will appear that the team is way over the cap for the following year and then in March they will be under the cap.

People think that the bill will eventually come due like it would for a normal person putting more on credit every year; however, it is not true. There is a limit, but it comes out to be around 150%" of the cap as to how much a team can actually spend every year.

 

[texbumthelife]

Did I miss something? Is Thornton hurt or has he been that bad?

 

[conner01]

Most people that write articles don't really understand the salary cap. They think they do but it's rarely true.

They should just come here lol
Some of you guys really understand it but you would think a writer who covers the NFL would learn one of the most important parts of his job

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Mayowa sucks that's why he's been on so many teams and practice squads. Thankfully he has been demoted.

Let me see the young guns that everyone was banking on at DE where/ are:

• Ryan Russell - outta football. Not playing for anyone
• Tapper - back injury. His return is questionable for this year. Don't know if he's any good anyways based on his use/ production in college
• Mayowa - this is what the FO sold us. Snake oil, and some bought it! Shame shame shame
• David Irving - snake oil with a shiny label. Oh yeah he flashed his first year with that field goal block and got a couple of pressures he and there, but he's nursing injuries and buried in depth charts
• Wilbur - defensive Swiss Army knife. Jack of all trades, master of none.

That's 5 DEs right there. What a sorry bunch. People are putting too much confidence that the coaching staff can " coach up" bottom roster guys. Don't fall for the spin. " we are going to send WAVES of Dlinemen at them". It doesn't work that way.

You could package those 5 players in a trade and not even get a second round pick for all 5. That's sad. Super sad

Again I feel your premature evaluation on Mayowa is misplaced. The FO said they thought he was an undeveloped talent... Not a guy that's going to come in here and make anyone forget Ware. The guy has a cap hit smaller than Sanchez, missed most of training camp and hasn't played a lot of 4-3 DE. And he does have 1 sack so far.

Let's see where he's at by the end of the season.

 

[haleyrules]

Two games in its hard to really evaluate any player...especially new guys and rookies.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Two games in its hard to really evaluate any player...especially new guys and rookies.

Exactly right.

And while the defense hasn't been good, it's hasn't been horrible either.

Give the defense their best lineman back, sort out some of these new guys and let's see what happens.

 

[Manster68]

Collins has been a pleasant surprise

We need to remember that he is a rookie coming off a toe injury. Russell Maryland had bad big toes and the Cowboys never fully saw him 100%. Everyone is different though. Hopefully, Collins toes will not be a liability for him.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Again I feel your premature evaluation on Mayowa is misplaced. The FO said they thought he was an undeveloped talent... Not a guy that's going to come in here and make anyone forget Ware. The guy has a cap hit smaller than Sanchez, missed most of training camp and hasn't played a lot of 4-3 DE. And he does have 1 sack so far.

Let's see where he's at by the end of the season.

Very well mr winiki. Patience and we shall see at the end of the year.