xwalker
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The 2016 defense just had too many talent limitations. Any of the 2016 starters could be OK when looking at them individually if they were surround by more talent.
I'm convinced that if they could add 2 elite players to the defense, then all the surrounding 2016 players would have been good enough to have an elite overall defense. The preferred spots would be RDE and CB, but adding an elite player at any position would make the surrounding players better.
We saw in 2015 that having Greg Hardy at RDE made DLaw a quality LDE because he was not facing double-teams.
If Jaylon Smith can play, then he projects to be an elite coverage LB and an elite blitzer. That helps cover for players like Church with limited range. Obviously adding an elite RDE would move Mayowa from starting to backup RDE with DLaw moving back to LDE. and TCrawford or Irving moving back to full time DT. Upgrading from Carr at CB would make it easier to scheme around the limited range of players like Church or vice-versa.
Church - He has very limited range but could be OK if the CBs were near-elite and/or if the LBs were near-elite in coverage or if they had a great pass rush.
Carr - Reliable but limited CB. If both Safeties have great range and the LBs are really good in coverage, then he would be fine.
Hitchens - Steady in run defense but limited range in coverage. Again, if surrounded by near-elite coverage players or a great pass rush, then he's good enough.
Durant - Often replaced Hitchens on passing downs. Good enough in coverage if surrounding coverage players are better and/or pass rush is better.
Brown - Played really well for a rookie, but didn't always get the help that you would normally give to a rookie CB because the FS also had to try to cover up limitations of Carr, Church, Hitchens, etc..
Claiborne - Played really well before injury but appeared rusty and limited in the playoff game.
Jones - Tried to cover up for limitations of other players. The scheme had to account for him moving down to cover TEs. If they had a Strong Safety or LB that could occasionally cover TEs, it would make the scheme much easier to implement and would put less strain on Jones (Jaylon Smith would likely be good in coverage against TEs).
DL- Adding 1 elite player would make all others better. Elite RDE would be preferred, but an elite 3-tech DT next to Collins on passing downs could also make everybody else better.
Mayowa - By the end of the season he was a good 2nd string RDE but instead was starting.
DLaw - Better as a LDE but had to play RDE.
TCrawford - Better at 3-tech DT but played LDE. Might be good enough at LDE if RDE is elite pass rusher.
Irving - Good young player. Faced too many double teams at LDE due to lack of elite RDE.
Collins - Good young DT. Played both 3-tech and 1-tech but mostly 3-tech. Could play 1-tech in the future if the Cowboy had an elite 3-tech DT.
T.McClain - Really good early but slowed late in the season due to playing through minor injuries.
Thorton - Disappointing early but decent 1-tech with some pass rush ability by the end of the season.
JCrawford - Limited, try-hard player.
The other possibility on upgrading the pass rush is to draft a hybrid LB/DE type. Marinelli did try to use Wilber this way and to a small extent used Wilson as a blitzer late in the season. There are a couple of guys in this upcoming draft that look like elite pass rushers but are too small to play DE full time. If those players could be used the way Seattle used Bruce Irvin in the past, then that could be an option for upgrading the pass rush if they can't find a legit difference making RDE. Even if they can get the RDE, if there is an elite pass rushing hybrid player around the 3rd round, then that would just add to the overall pass rush options.
I'm convinced that if they could add 2 elite players to the defense, then all the surrounding 2016 players would have been good enough to have an elite overall defense. The preferred spots would be RDE and CB, but adding an elite player at any position would make the surrounding players better.
We saw in 2015 that having Greg Hardy at RDE made DLaw a quality LDE because he was not facing double-teams.
If Jaylon Smith can play, then he projects to be an elite coverage LB and an elite blitzer. That helps cover for players like Church with limited range. Obviously adding an elite RDE would move Mayowa from starting to backup RDE with DLaw moving back to LDE. and TCrawford or Irving moving back to full time DT. Upgrading from Carr at CB would make it easier to scheme around the limited range of players like Church or vice-versa.
Church - He has very limited range but could be OK if the CBs were near-elite and/or if the LBs were near-elite in coverage or if they had a great pass rush.
Carr - Reliable but limited CB. If both Safeties have great range and the LBs are really good in coverage, then he would be fine.
Hitchens - Steady in run defense but limited range in coverage. Again, if surrounded by near-elite coverage players or a great pass rush, then he's good enough.
Durant - Often replaced Hitchens on passing downs. Good enough in coverage if surrounding coverage players are better and/or pass rush is better.
Brown - Played really well for a rookie, but didn't always get the help that you would normally give to a rookie CB because the FS also had to try to cover up limitations of Carr, Church, Hitchens, etc..
Claiborne - Played really well before injury but appeared rusty and limited in the playoff game.
Jones - Tried to cover up for limitations of other players. The scheme had to account for him moving down to cover TEs. If they had a Strong Safety or LB that could occasionally cover TEs, it would make the scheme much easier to implement and would put less strain on Jones (Jaylon Smith would likely be good in coverage against TEs).
DL- Adding 1 elite player would make all others better. Elite RDE would be preferred, but an elite 3-tech DT next to Collins on passing downs could also make everybody else better.
Mayowa - By the end of the season he was a good 2nd string RDE but instead was starting.
DLaw - Better as a LDE but had to play RDE.
TCrawford - Better at 3-tech DT but played LDE. Might be good enough at LDE if RDE is elite pass rusher.
Irving - Good young player. Faced too many double teams at LDE due to lack of elite RDE.
Collins - Good young DT. Played both 3-tech and 1-tech but mostly 3-tech. Could play 1-tech in the future if the Cowboy had an elite 3-tech DT.
T.McClain - Really good early but slowed late in the season due to playing through minor injuries.
Thorton - Disappointing early but decent 1-tech with some pass rush ability by the end of the season.
JCrawford - Limited, try-hard player.
The other possibility on upgrading the pass rush is to draft a hybrid LB/DE type. Marinelli did try to use Wilber this way and to a small extent used Wilson as a blitzer late in the season. There are a couple of guys in this upcoming draft that look like elite pass rushers but are too small to play DE full time. If those players could be used the way Seattle used Bruce Irvin in the past, then that could be an option for upgrading the pass rush if they can't find a legit difference making RDE. Even if they can get the RDE, if there is an elite pass rushing hybrid player around the 3rd round, then that would just add to the overall pass rush options.
