Most realize this but it seems like a few posters don't. The 1Tech, also called the Shade, lines up on the outside "shade" of the center so by the very nature of this position is going to get the center and guard blocking him. You line up the DT in a "1 Tech" to pressure or stress the center, who has the obvious disadvantage of having to snap the ball and then fire off to his block. The position is going to take its toll on anyone who plays it. The Cowboys have been trying to get away with the quick, one-gap penetrating (basically a 3-Tech), type player. Which can be super advantageous against the pass but puts you at a disadvantage against the run.
Maliek can play 1Tech but 3Tech better suits him. Then on pass downs, you can play a two 3-Tech type front.
Another advantage of the big, bodied 1Tech is that helps keep O-Linemen but from getting 2nd level and engulfing LB's. This would be good for us for two reasons IMO. One, it keeps the valuable but oft-injured Sean Lee from taking on guys that outweigh him by 60 lbs. Two, Jaylon Smith is dynamite when he sees the play. He had some struggles diagnosing it right away and allowed the blocking to get to him early. When Baltimore won it's first Super Bowl, they used two huge DT's (Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa) to clog up the middle and freed up Ray Lewis to control and/or penetrate gaps.
They also had an amazing centerfielder at Free Safety in Ed Reed, another position that the Cowboys persist on going against the grain on.