The domino effect of the DL absences

[CouchCoach]

Losing Irving, not a surprise, and Gregory, not a surprise to many, and the cornered position of management with Lawrence's contract has caused all of the dominoes to fall in Earl Thomas' direction.

Don't know where their heads were before this latest grenade thrown into the DL but fixing this DL is not going to happen this season unless Charleton and Strong are the real deals and they can address the interior with starters. DT's that can send what they have now to the bench as rotational players.

So, what do you do if you can't muster a pass rush with 4 or maybe even 5? You do the next best thing, address the back end and bring enough to get the QB to get rid of the ball.

Think Richard is going to call more or less blitzes this season? He's not like Marinelli, willing to play that BNBD until it breaks. Think he feels more comfortable with a S like Thomas back there playing center field instead of Heath? With an improved DL and pass rush, he could have gotten by but with how this is shaping up, they need some serious help on the back end.

I do think the value of Thomas to the team and Richard has risen dramatically in the last 24 hours and where I would have been surprised with his signing, that has now reversed. I think he is Priority 1.

 

[glimmerman]

Not a huge deal. Irving did nothing all year and Gregory didn’t come along till the end. Hoping Taco takes a step forward and now the other DE that had talent will get a chance. We need fresh rotation players.

 

[uvaballa]

They need Woods to keep improving. They were fine without Irving so not a big deal losing him. They’ll likely have to bring in another FA DL and draft one or two guys.

 

[G2]

Neither Gregory or Irving were starters and even though Gregory made a handful of plays, he can be replaced. He also had a bunch of idiotic penalties so to me they're both a non-factor and I'll be happy if we move on from both.

 

[snapper]

Without another threat on the outside, the Cowboys are forced to find a DT who can generate pressure up the middle and get sacks.

Crawford, Taco and Armstrong will also have to play bigger roles.

 

[OmerV]

Losing Irving, not a surprise, and Gregory, not a surprise to many, and the cornered position of management with Lawrence's contract has caused all of the dominoes to fall in Earl Thomas' direction.

Don't know where their heads were before this latest grenade thrown into the DL but fixing this DL is not going to happen this season unless Charleton and Strong are the real deals and they can address the interior with starters. DT's that can send what they have now to the bench as rotational players.

So, what do you do if you can't muster a pass rush with 4 or maybe even 5? You do the next best thing, address the back end and bring enough to get the QB to get rid of the ball.

Think Richard is going to call more or less blitzes this season? He's not like Marinelli, willing to play that BNBD until it breaks. Think he feels more comfortable with a S like Thomas back there playing center field instead of Heath? With an improved DL and pass rush, he could have gotten by but with how this is shaping up, they need some serious help on the back end.

I do think the value of Thomas to the team and Richard has risen dramatically in the last 24 hours and where I would have been surprised with his signing, that has now reversed. I think he is Priority 1.

Or, maybe it increases the odds of going after someone like Gerald McCoy or Za'Darius Smith to help the D-Line get pressure. Maybe even a one year contract for Terrell Suggs as a situational pass rusher.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Losing Irving, not a surprise, and Gregory, not a surprise to many, and the cornered position of management with Lawrence's contract has caused all of the dominoes to fall in Earl Thomas' direction.

....

It could have exactly the opposite effect.

How much money do you want to invest in a guy who's broken the same leg twice in the past two years and will be 30 when the season starts? Especially now that you've got holes on the defensive line and need pass-rushing help. Add in the fact that you're not picking until late in the second, so the odds are pretty low of being able to pick a defensive lineman who can step right in and put pressure on the quarterback.

Its possible they offer Thomas a contract .... its also entirely possible that the offer isn't very high.

 

[kskboys]

Without another threat on the outside, the Cowboys are forced to find a DT who can generate pressure up the middle and get sacks.

Crawford, Taco and Armstrong will also have to play bigger roles.

You need pressure up the middle even w/ another outside threat.

Can you get that memo to Jerry?

 

[kskboys]

Or, maybe it increases the odds of going after someone like Gerald McCoy or Za'Darius Smith to help the D-Line get pressure. Maybe even a one year contract for Terrell Suggs as a situational pass rusher.

I'd open the pocketbook for McCoy.

 

[CouchCoach]

I'd open the pocketbook for McCoy.

But you value the middle, they do not. All about the edges to them and it's been that way as long as Booger's been making the calls. "War Daddy's" can't be DT's, can they? Don't tell LAR that or MIN when they had Randle or CIN with Atkins in his prime or Sapp at TB.

Before FA opens up, the management of this team should all sit in silence and just watch film of the Rams and Colts offenses and how easy they made that look.

 

[charron]

When you take big chances sometimes you miss. We've hit on DLaw and Jaylon but missed on Randy to a degree. I will not count irving as taking a big chance on a player since we signed him from KC's practice squad.

 

[Mr_437]

Grady Jarrett anyone?

 

[kskboys]

But you value the middle, they do not. All about the edges to them and it's been that way as long as Booger's been making the calls. "War Daddy's" can't be DT's, can they? Don't tell LAR that or MIN when they had Randle or CIN with Atkins in his prime or Sapp at TB.

Before FA opens up, the management of this team should all sit in silence and just watch film of the Rams and Colts offenses and how easy they made that look.

And then go watch super bowl tapes and see what those two behemoths for NE did against the Rams. The Rams were NOT running up the middle. That means more players can be focused elsewhere, as well as helping your LB's not to take such a beating.

 

[kskboys]

Grady Jarrett anyone?

Me likie

 

[OmerV]

But you value the middle, they do not. All about the edges to them and it's been that way as long as Booger's been making the calls. "War Daddy's" can't be DT's, can they? Don't tell LAR that or MIN when they had Randle or CIN with Atkins in his prime or Sapp at TB.

Before FA opens up, the management of this team should all sit in silence and just watch film of the Rams and Colts offenses and how easy they made that look.

I don’t know if that don’t vale the middle as much as the don’t value the massive DT that is more plugger than penetrator.

 

[Hawkeye19]

I think we were signing ET anyway. Eifert makes sense as a vet rotational guy and his addition would prevent us going TE early in the draft. Then #58 can be best DL available-- and maybe our 3rd or 4th rounder as well. The good news is that this is deep DL draft. Taco and Armstrong's development (or lack thereof) loom large. Signing D Law longterm now is a higher priority than ever-- and we can't afford the luxury of cutting a guy with great position flex in Crawford.

Gregory's suspension is a kick to the nuts for sure. He was a starting RDE. Filling that absence is a big problem.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Not that we know if the team would have moved on from Tyrone Crawford or rightfully asked him to take a pay cut, but all this means is that he will be back at his current contract.

 

[unionjack8]

Bash gregory for his stupidity all you want
His play on the field was a huge bonus.

Back half if the year he was our best pass rusher.

He is going to be missed on game day and he has caused this team another huge headache. It's so infuriating, 1 step forward 2 steps back with this team and roster building.

 

[CouchCoach]

I think we were signing ET anyway. Eifert makes sense as a vet rotational guy and his addition would prevent us going TE early in the draft. Then #58 can be best DL available-- and maybe our 3rd or 4th rounder as well. The good news is that this is deep DL draft. Taco and Armstrong's development (or lack thereof) loom large. Signing D Law longterm now is a higher priority than ever-- and we can't afford the luxury of cutting a guy with great position flex in Crawford.

Gregory's suspension is a kick to the nuts for sure. He was a starting RDE. Filling that absence is a big problem.

Yep and Gregory was just starting to come on and at least gave them an option if they could only tag Lawrence. I feel they are going to be forced to overpay Lawrence because of this and also think their draft board might have changed to DE at the top and quite possibly affected their thinking on trading up into the 1st or at least much higher than 58.

 

[CouchCoach]

Bash gregory for his stupidity all you want
His play on the field was a huge bonus.

Back half if the year he was our best pass rusher.

He is going to be missed on game day and he has caused this team another huge headache. It's so infuriating, 1 step forward 2 steps back with this team and roster building.

However, they chose to build part of that foundation on sand and just kept shoveling more sand under it.