An optimistic view of the Defensive Line

[StarBoyz83]

The Cowboys are past that point on both. They are counting on each to be at full strength when training camp opens. FA and draft plans will be made with that in mind.

It's not smart but I bet this is how they're approaching it.

 

[waldoputty]

The Cowboys are past that point on both. They are counting on each to be at full strength when training camp opens. FA and draft plans will be made with that in mind.

Jaylon's knee is sound.
However they have no way of knowing how much his recovery will continue.

Tapper's back issue sounds like something that can be unpredictable...

 

[ShiningStar]

I think everyone agrees that one of the areas that needs upgrading is the defensive line but I would like to offer an optimistic view of what to expect in 2017.

Mayowa - led the team in sacks. Is still young and could continue to get better. Maybe he could get 8 sacks this year on a part time basis. That would be pretty good.

Demarcus Lawrence - has been suspended, injured and partially ineffective but this could be the year he shows something. It is a contract year after all and he could go from an afterthought to a guy that earns a big pay check in one year. I expect to see the best DLAW we have seen so far.

David Irving - flashed a couple of times and was downright dominant in a couple of games. He may be just scratching the surface and could take another leap forward this year. He also could be in line for a big pay day if he does continue to improve.

Randy Gregory - He will miss most of the season but if he can avoid trouble he will be added to the roster when we need him the most. Late in the year for playoff push and play offs. He needs to stay motivated and in shape and obviously avoid trouble but he could be a late season addition right when we need a boost the most.

Jack Crawford - I don't know if he will be re-signed but if he is this could be the year he starts to put it all together. He has the traits and has shown ability in limited capacity. Now is the time for him to step it up.

Tyrone Crawford - Injured and moved around quite a bit. He did apply a decent amount of pressure though even if his sack total was disappointing. If we can keep him at DT and he can stay healthy, this might be the year where he earns his bloated contract. Otherwise he could end up a June 1st cut next offseason.

Collins - had a decent rookie year and could make strides this year as well. He looks like a nice player and maybe he can become more than that.

Thornton - a little disappointing this year but has had a full year in his new surroundings and could take a leap forward.

Terrell Mcclain - If he is re-signed could continue to improve. He had by far his best year since being here and stayed healthy most of the year for the first time.

This is without considering contributions made by new additions. I think it is highly doubtful we don't see a couple of new pieces added. Even if it's not a first rd pick or a major FA acquisition there will be some talent added to the roster for the DL.

With a couple of breaks the D line could go from a weakness to a strength very easily.

This is the epitome of fighting your hardest for "Meh"

Its thinking like this that keeps the fans confused and our coaches saying "another great season guys"

You are fighting to hard for guys who just cant break being "average" You might appreciate it, i dont care for it. 20 plus years of being "mediocre" has done it for me .

 

[Verdict]

I think if we need to resign Jack Crawford the offseason has most likely been a failure defensively. I could see people make a case for all the others and some degree of optimism but if Jack Crawford turns into anything other than JAG I would be shocked.

Tapper will be a factor and if so we will be better than last year on the line even if we don't sign anyone else or draft anyone else.

 

[waving monkey]

coaches and SJones see this players and talk to the trainers and doctors they know
what they got. The counter to my statement could be : you can't know till game tape.
True but Tapper had pretty rookie training camp till his back issue.
JSmith is JSmith ,his been a winner since elementary school .Stars shine.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea; going after a top FA
it's not the company plan

 

[waving monkey]

Jaylon's knee is sound.
However they have no way of knowing how much his recovery will continue.

Tapper's back issue sounds like something that can be unpredictable...

Tapper [reportedly] is full recovery

 

[stilltheguru88]

I think if we need to resign Jack Crawford the offseason has most likely been a failure defensively. I could see people make a case for all the others and some degree of optimism but if Jack Crawford turns into anything other than JAG I would be shocked.

Tapper will be a factor and if so we will be better than last year on the line even if we don't sign anyone else or draft anyone else.

Crawford and McClain are prob getting resigned. We'll draft two new dline guys to get a solid ten man rotation. Last year we only really had a 9 man rotation.

 

[tm1119]

We need a true RDE and that's it...

If we get that RDE Lawrence, Irving, Crawford, and Tapper is actually a very good rotation at LDE. Collins, Irving, and Crawford is good at 3 tech and Thornton/McClain (assuming he's resigned) is probably the biggest investment we'll ever put into 1 tech under Rod. We just need that 1 consistent force off of the right side that draws double teams and attention on almost every play. It will open up space and opportunity for everyone else.

 

[stilltheguru88]

I forgot about Thornton

 

[cowboyblue22]

T Crawford is what he is over paid JAG

 

[Yakuza Rich]

What we need is depth. That one player isn't likely to be the key. Defensive players have historically been more than twice as likely to get injured as offensive players. So, if you want a good defense, you need to improve the depth so if a key player does get injured, he can be replaced by another quality player. Unlike the offense where the QB is the linchpin for their performance, you really don't have that on defense.

Where we got into trouble on defense over the years is lack of depth due to trading up and losing picks (i.e. Claiborne and Lawrence) and then the suspensions to Gregory and Lawrence. Then Lawrence gets injured and Hardy doesn't work out. So we basically played most of the season without our starting DE's (Gregory and Lawrence) and that forced us to play players out of position.

The worst thing we can do is panic and overpay for a Free Agent or trade up to get a DE and give away picks.





YR

 

[waldoputty]

What we need is depth. That one player isn't likely to be the key. Defensive players have historically been more than twice as likely to get injured as offensive players. So, if you want a good defense, you need to improve the depth so if a key player does get injured, he can be replaced by another quality player. Unlike the offense where the QB is the linchpin for their performance, you really don't have that on defense.

Where we got into trouble on defense over the years is lack of depth due to trading up and losing picks (i.e. Claiborne and Lawrence) and then the suspensions to Gregory and Lawrence. Then Lawrence gets injured and Hardy doesn't work out. So we basically played most of the season without our starting DE's (Gregory and Lawrence) and that forced us to play players out of position.

The worst thing we can do is panic and overpay for a Free Agent or trade up to get a DE and give away picks.





YR

yes, what we need is depth - in players that consistently demand double teams.
we have 0.
we have a bunch of JAGs.
Collins and Irving have some potential but not what you gamble a year of your championship window with.
tcrawford - does anyone think he will get better - how many years has it been?
it was a calculated gamble that did not work out for us - it happens, you cannot win them all - problem is his cap structure.
if we spent $5M more per yr per player when we signed tcrawford and thornton, we could have gotten 2 players that would consistently demand double-team.
now, we have mostly rotational guys.

gregory is not likely to ever play again unless the weed policy changes.
does anyone think he can stay clean for 1 year???
dlaw had a back problem the entire year - does anyone think that is going to get better?

that is why rodgers had a lawn party at our expense

for the millionth time, there is plenty of cap space.
demand better from the FO
DONT SETTLE FOR EXCUSES BECAUSE THERE IS PLENTY OF CAP SPACE

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

I think everyone agrees that one of the areas that needs upgrading is the defensive line but I would like to offer an optimistic view of what to expect in 2017.

Mayowa - led the team in sacks. Is still young and could continue to get better. Maybe he could get 8 sacks this year on a part time basis. That would be pretty good.

Demarcus Lawrence - has been suspended, injured and partially ineffective but this could be the year he shows something. It is a contract year after all and he could go from an afterthought to a guy that earns a big pay check in one year. I expect to see the best DLAW we have seen so far.

David Irving - flashed a couple of times and was downright dominant in a couple of games. He may be just scratching the surface and could take another leap forward this year. He also could be in line for a big pay day if he does continue to improve.

Randy Gregory - He will miss most of the season but if he can avoid trouble he will be added to the roster when we need him the most. Late in the year for playoff push and play offs. He needs to stay motivated and in shape and obviously avoid trouble but he could be a late season addition right when we need a boost the most.

Jack Crawford - I don't know if he will be re-signed but if he is this could be the year he starts to put it all together. He has the traits and has shown ability in limited capacity. Now is the time for him to step it up.

Tyrone Crawford - Injured and moved around quite a bit. He did apply a decent amount of pressure though even if his sack total was disappointing. If we can keep him at DT and he can stay healthy, this might be the year where he earns his bloated contract. Otherwise he could end up a June 1st cut next offseason.

Collins - had a decent rookie year and could make strides this year as well. He looks like a nice player and maybe he can become more than that.

Thornton - a little disappointing this year but has had a full year in his new surroundings and could take a leap forward.

Terrell Mcclain - If he is re-signed could continue to improve. He had by far his best year since being here and stayed healthy most of the year for the first time.

This is without considering contributions made by new additions. I think it is highly doubtful we don't see a couple of new pieces added. Even if it's not a first rd pick or a major FA acquisition there will be some talent added to the roster for the DL.

With a couple of breaks the D line could go from a weakness to a strength very easily.

I think that there are a bunch of solid pieces on the DLine but the problem is none are anything special and many are playing at or near their potential. There isn't much of a ceiling to most of them. That's why we need upgrades in talent.

 

[stilltheguru88]

yes, what we need is depth - in players that consistently demand double teams.
we have 0.
we have a bunch of JAGs.
Collins and Irving have some potential but not what you gamble a year of your championship window with.
tcrawford - does anyone think he will get better - how many years has it been?
it was a calculated gambled that did not work out for us - problem is his cap structure.
if we spent $5M more per yr per player when we signed tcrawford and thornton, we could have gotten 2 players that would consistently demand double-team.
now, we have mostly rotational guys.

gregory is not likely to ever play again unless the weed policy changes.
does anyone think he can stay clean for 1 year???
dlaw had a back problem the entire year - does anyone think that is going to get better?

that is why rodgers had a lawn party at our expense

for the millionth time, there is plenty of cap space.
demand better from the FO
DONT SETTLE FOR EXCUSES BECAUSE THERE IS PLENTY OF CAP SPACE

Don't want any of the free agent d ends. Nope

 

[Doomsday101]

I think that there are a bunch of solid pieces on the DLine but the problem is none are anything special and many are playing at or near their potential. There isn't much of a ceiling to most of them. That's why we need upgrades in talent.

I agree however I think 1 true playmaker on the DL can make this DL look a lot better. There are no big game changers much like it was in the 90's before Haley went to Dallas. That one move made a big impact on the entire defense and help boost the play of others around him.

 

[waldoputty]

Don't want any of the free agent d ends. Nope

lol there is only the superbowl every year.
everyone else are losers

 

[Doomsday101]

Don't want any of the free agent d ends. Nope

Looking at the list of FA DE I can't say I disagree with you. There are no game changers in the FA market. There are some OLB who could possibly move to DE like a Nick Perry that could help fill that need

 

[stilltheguru88]

lol there is only the superbowl every year.
everyone else are losers

Yeah JPP will bring us a super bowl lol. Or Mario Addison

 

[waldoputty]

Yeah JPP will bring us a super bowl lol. Or Mario Addison

why stop at JPP, get 2 more. we have the $ for it.

 

[StarBoyz83]

lol there is only the superbowl every year.
everyone else are losers

Unfortunately dallas is still a few years away. They've missed on too many defensive picks over the last 5 years. Going to take another 2 or 3 years to build through the draft.