Anyone else worried about our lack of depth at RDE?

[Everson24]

Now that Randy Gregory has been suspended and DeMarcus Lawrence is struggling with a back injury, does anyone have visions of the 2014 playoff loss to Green Bay with Rodgers just standing back there with no edge pressure at all? Remember we also lost Ryan Davis and Zak Moore when they were placed on waivers. I just hate having to use Jack Crawford and Kyle Wilber at RDE in a big game.

 

[WeaponX]

Now that Randy Gregory has been suspended and DeMarcus Lawrence is struggling with a back injury, does anyone have visions of the 2014 playoff loss to Green Bay with Rodgers just standing back there with no edge pressure at all? Remember we also lost Ryan Davis and Zak Moore when they were placed on waivers. I just hate having to use Jack Crawford and Kyle Wilber at RDE in a big game.

Absolutely concerned, but we went 13-3 with who we have and for better or worse that's who we're rolling with in the playoffs. I think there are a few key differences this time around, one being that the pass rushers that are on the team are heating up at the right time (Mayowa, Irving) and we have a lot more juice on the inside than 2014, as well. Finally, call it optimism, but I think Tank will play an important role for us at some point in these playoffs. I like the idea of a 3 man edge rotation of Lawrence, Irving, and Mayowa, with Crawford, Collins and McClain on the inside in down and distance and 3rd down situations. Also, if Tank does come up big, we could kick Irving inside and have Mayowa and Lawrence bring the heat on the edge.

So yes, I am a little concerned, but my optimism and gut feeling about this team outweighs that.

 

[Everson24]

For most of the middle of the season we had a healthy Lawrence and Ryan Davis. We don't have either right now. And Irving doesn't play RDE.

 

[WeaponX]

For most of the middle of the season we had a healthy Lawrence and Ryan Davis. We don't have either right now. And Irving doesn't play RDE.

That furthers my point. Our pass rush is better this year than 2014 and that's with Lawrence not really being relevant so far. As I said previously, my hope for him in the playoffs is rooted in optimism, but I do think he contributes. Finally, Mayowa at his current level of play > Ryan Davis during the middle of the season.

Edit - Lawrence has been relevant, just not as much on the stat sheet (he had a few weeks where it looked like he was getting good pressure, just not closing the deal). I personally think he needs to drop back into the 260's and rotate on either side.

 

[Nova]

I'm concerned, but we're not going to get much better than Mayowa/Lawrence at this point. (also Jack Crawford?).


Fortunately there are no elite LTs in the playoffs except for our guy, and frankly there are some pretty bad ones like Ereck Flowers.


Just gotta keep our fingers crossed.

 

[sideon]

Now that Randy Gregory has been suspended and DeMarcus Lawrence is struggling with a back injury, does anyone have visions of the 2014 playoff loss to Green Bay with Rodgers just standing back there with no edge pressure at all? Remember we also lost Ryan Davis and Zak Moore when they were placed on waivers. I just hate having to use Jack Crawford and Kyle Wilber at RDE in a big game.

Did you forget about Mayowa? The pass rush actually got better after D-Law went down so i'll just pray our Orphans continue to ball out.

 

[xwalker]

Now that Randy Gregory has been suspended and DeMarcus Lawrence is struggling with a back injury, does anyone have visions of the 2014 playoff loss to Green Bay with Rodgers just standing back there with no edge pressure at all? Remember we also lost Ryan Davis and Zak Moore when they were placed on waivers. I just hate having to use Jack Crawford and Kyle Wilber at RDE in a big game.

Yes.

Mayowa probably gets most of the snaps and he has been playing fairly well recently.

Lawrence likely rotates with Mayowa.

Jack Crawford will likely get snaps at RDE when it is likely to be a run. He'll obviously get way more if Lawrence can't play.

FYI - Davis is on IR. He was not waived.

If T. Crawford is OK, then Irving might get some snaps at RDE if Lawrence is out or ineffective. He has taken a few snaps there in the past.

Marinelli has been blitzing more this season than he did back when the played GB in the playoffs.

Marinelli's 3-2 defense was terrific against the Lions. I expect to see more of it if they play GB or Atlanta in the playoffs.

 

[xwalker]

I'm concerned, but we're not going to get much better than Mayowa/Lawrence at this point. (also Jack Crawford?).


Fortunately there are no elite LTs in the playoffs except for our guy, and frankly there are some pretty bad ones like Ereck Flowers.


Just gotta keep our fingers crossed.

GB's LT is inconsistent. I've seen him have good games and terrible games.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Cowboy fans may be worried about the DL against Rodgers if the Pack beats NYG. I can assure you Green Bay fans are even more worried about their secondary. GB is pulling DBs from their practice squad and has umpteen injuries in the secondary.

Oakland fans are trembling at Cook starting at QB. Texan fans are worried about Brock Osweiler at QB, the 6'8" sitting duck QB who now can't even throw. Miami fans are worried about Matt Moore starting in Pgh. Seahawks are worried about their OL and having only one WR in Baldwin. Lions are worried about their secondary.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Absolutely concerned but at this point in the season, there's not much you can do about it.

This is the personnel that the team decided was sufficient to make a Super Bowl run with ( although I don't think the club knew they where gonna be this good...they would addressed DE differently).

Go Cowboys !

 

[big dog cowboy]

Was concerned in preseason. Nothing has happened since then to change it.

 

[lukin2006]

We didn't have Gregory all year, Lawrence appeared invisable most of the year, it appears our pass rush got better when Mayowa returned from his 3 game benching...no point panicking now, the defence we have now will either rise to the occassion or fail us, and if it fails us, trhats on the FO for wasting draft picks on guys like Gregory...

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

Was concerned in preseason. Nothing has happened since then to change it.

This is my thought as well. I never expected Gregory to play another down for the boys so two games is a bonus.

I have never thought that DLaw was a weak side end. I think he can be a good player but really only on the strong side. I've never seen the quickness to let him bend the edge on a consistent basis. Guy is a SDE.

 

[gimmesix]

Now that Randy Gregory has been suspended and DeMarcus Lawrence is struggling with a back injury, does anyone have visions of the 2014 playoff loss to Green Bay with Rodgers just standing back there with no edge pressure at all? Remember we also lost Ryan Davis and Zak Moore when they were placed on waivers. I just hate having to use Jack Crawford and Kyle Wilber at RDE in a big game.

Mayowa has been playing the best for us at that position of late, so if he'll play well and Lawrence is able to go, we should be better off there than I thought we'd be at the beginning of the year. I agree that I really don't want to see Jack Crawford and Wilber at the position.

The emergence of David Irving helps because it cements the left side with him and Tyrone Crawford able to switch back and forth from left end to 3-tech.

Our depth could be Lawrence, Collins, McClain, T. Crawford, Mayowa, J. Crawford, Thornton, Irving ... I don't feel too bad about that now.

 

[Everson24]

Did you forget about Mayowa? The pass rush actually got better after D-Law went down so i'll just pray our Orphans continue to ball out.

No, I didn't forget about him but he needs to be rotated in and out to be effective. If Lawrence can't go who spells Mayowa?

 

[Everson24]

Absolutely concerned but at this point in the season, there's not much you can do about it.

This is the personnel that the team decided was sufficient to make a Super Bowl run with ( although I don't think the club knew they where gonna be this good...they would addressed DE differently).

Go Cowboys !

I bet Jerry regrets not going after JPP or Olivier Vernon last year in free agency. I know they would have been expensive but it might be the difference in a Super Bowl win or one and done.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

I don't think there are any regrets about not going after ol' three finger.

 

[okstateCowboy]

I'm concerned, but we're not going to get much better than Mayowa/Lawrence at this point. (also Jack Crawford?).


Fortunately there are no elite LTs in the playoffs except for our guy, and frankly there are some pretty bad ones like Ereck Flowers.


Just gotta keep our fingers crossed.

Mayowa will look all-pro against flowers

 

[Supercowboy1986]

Never worried. Never afraid.

 

[Idgit]

The nice thing about not having a lot of impact players on the DL is that when you lose a few, you just replace them with some other non-impact players and soldier on. With Crawford, Crawford, Irving, Mayowa, and Lawrence, we're going to get steady, unspectacular DE play through the playoffs. Unless of course Irving continues his trajectory, in which case we'll get a little boost.