The Cowboys have a DL problem

gongjr · Mar 17, 2020

IMO, DT might be out biggest issue. We were completely unable to stop the run last year which makes playing actual defense very difficult. I really hope we find away to address this(and keep out LBs clean) or we'll be looking at 35+ a game to get wins.

Kingofholland · Mar 17, 2020

Sydla said:
It's kind of strange it's not talked about more but the Cowboys have a real problem at DL right now.

They have one upper echelon player. Lawrence. That's it. DE depth after him is now Armstrong, Gregory, Jelks and Jackson. That's it.

DT isn't much better as Collins is a FA. Woods is OK. Hill? Ehhh?

Of course there is also Crawford, who is serviceable but not great at either DE or DT.

It's going to be interesting to see where this front office goes along the DL. Certainly they could be looking at the draft but there are other needs that they may need to look at in the draft.

They probably need to add one player and the whole dynamic changes.

Lawrence, Woods, Hill, Crawford would be the starting 4 with Gregory, Armstrong, and Jackson as rotational backups. Presuming Gregory is reinstated DE depth will be ok, though it would be nice to add another pass rusher. Interior is a big weakness right now. Plug in a player lime Joseph or Harrison and draft a linemen though the whole situation changes.

On a side note why the heck has Crawford's contract not been adjusted yet?

charron · Mar 17, 2020

There is still time to address this defense. It was never going to be with high priced guys anyway.

Maybe we sign a tier 2 guy but stephen really likes paying tier 3 prices. Another Mayowa, michael bennett, quinn type deal (late pick, 1-2 year trade).

ultron · Mar 17, 2020

Sydla said:
LOL. You impressed with a starting front four of Lawrence, Armstrong, Hill and Woods?

That's arguably worse than Awuzie and Lewis at CB.

There is plenty of DL talent available in FA, not so much when it comes to CB. There’s context to this, which people fail to comprehend.

Cowboysheelsreds053 · Mar 17, 2020

We have been had a DL problem since L. Glover days.

12+88=7 · Mar 17, 2020

Kinlaw at 17

vlad · Mar 17, 2020

Sydla said:
It's kind of strange it's not talked about more but the Cowboys have a real problem at DL right now.

They have one upper echelon player. Lawrence. That's it. DE depth after him is now Armstrong, Gregory, Jelks and Jackson. That's it.

DT isn't much better as Collins is a FA. Woods is OK. Hill? Ehhh?

Of course there is also Crawford, who is serviceable but not great at either DE or DT.

It's going to be interesting to see where this front office goes along the DL. Certainly they could be looking at the draft but there are other needs that they may need to look at in the draft.

Its mind-boggling isn't it? Meanwhile ppl are losing their minds over Amari Cooper. Our D is going to be trash. Letting Jones go was a mistake imho. People overblow interceptions - he had that side of the field for the most part locked down. That's so incredibly valuable.

We will need like a Quinn-like miracle at 4 DT spots (starters and backup), one DE spot, two CBs (Starting/slot or 4th). I'm going to assume between Lee and LVE we'll field LBs.

StarBoyz83 · Mar 17, 2020

Huge dl problem only guy worth anything is dlaw and he underwhelmed last season.

Stash · Mar 17, 2020

StarBoyz83 said:
Huge dl problem only guy worth anything is dlaw and he underwhelmed last season.

Given the disappointment and underachieving overall, maybe it's best that as many of Marinelli's "Hot Boyz" are leaving as possible. Rebuild the whole thing after it was left in shambles.

USArmyVet · Mar 17, 2020

No, Dallas has a culture problem that starts with Jerry Jones and trickles down to the players. This is a losing organization that has screwed up drafts, player free agency, and player re-signing.

Future · Mar 17, 2020

gongjr said:
IMO, DT might be out biggest issue. We were completely unable to stop the run last year which makes playing actual defense very difficult. I really hope we find away to address this(and keep out LBs clean) or we'll be looking at 35+ a game to get wins.

Other than the fact that they finished T-8 in YPA, yea. Totally couldn't stop the run.

Remember when we lost two games and the opposing offense didn't score a touchdown?

Praxit · Mar 17, 2020

BlueNSilver88 said:
cut crawford. bring back gregory and david irving

..I agree, Crawdy is avg at best. Problem is can you trust Greg and Irving? I would sign them to no more than 2 yrs.

SSoup · Mar 17, 2020

CATCH17 said:
I'd call around the league and see if we could trade our 1 for a guy like saaaay... Von Miller maybe?

Oof, trade a 1st rounder for a 31 year old with a base salary of 17.5M?

Honestly, we need to take a break from trading high picks for players who will cost us real money. We not only need to turn our picks into players, but we need them to be guys who will give us 4-5 years making entry level money.

Gameover · Mar 17, 2020

Cowboys have had DL problems since the last days of:

Ware
Ratliff
Spencer
Hatcher
Spears

Cowboys greatly underachieved during the 2005-13 era.

Sydla · Mar 17, 2020

ultron said:
There is plenty of DL talent available in FA, not so much when it comes to CB. There’s context to this, which people fail to comprehend.

THere isn't "plenty" of DL talent available. Numbers don't necessarily mean talent. For example, other than Clowney, there aren't many impact DEs at all in FA.

Rockport · Mar 17, 2020

Sydla said:
It's kind of strange it's not talked about more but the Cowboys have a real problem at DL right now.

They have one upper echelon player. Lawrence. That's it. DE depth after him is now Armstrong, Gregory, Jelks and Jackson. That's it.

DT isn't much better as Collins is a FA. Woods is OK. Hill? Ehhh?

Of course there is also Crawford, who is serviceable but not great at either DE or DT.

It's going to be interesting to see where this front office goes along the DL. Certainly they could be looking at the draft but there are other needs that they may need to look at in the draft.

Key word is right now. Since you're not aware, there's free agency and the draft to get through. Come back opening day.

Sydla · Mar 17, 2020

Rockport said:
Key word is right now. Since you're not aware, there's free agency and the draft to get through. Come back opening day.

Well technically "right now" would be key words, not word.

TheMarathonContinues · Mar 17, 2020

Sydla said:
Chaisson isn't viewed as an elite edge guy. And he's raw. I wouldn't mind him at 17 but he's likely not going to be a guy that hits the ground running. And he's largely viewed as a late teen, 20s guy in the draft, so I am not sure I'd call him a guy that we'd have to take because he "fell" to us. He's likely going to be there.

I’ve seen some mock drafts having going high as 13......

TheMarathonContinues · Mar 17, 2020

stasheroo said:
Not at #17, no way.

Why? Seems like that’s about where he’s projected to go?

Stash · Mar 17, 2020

rocyaice said:
Why? Seems like that’s about where he’s projected to go?

According to who?
:huh:

The Cowboys have a DL problem

gongjr

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Kingofholland

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charron

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ultron

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Cowboysheelsreds053

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12+88=7

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vlad

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StarBoyz83

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USArmyVet

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Future

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Praxit

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SSoup

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Gameover

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Sydla

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Stash