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The Cowboys have a lot of players to choose from when it comes to their defensive line, but which four players will make the starting lineup?
The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of questions when it comes to the arrangement of their defensive line in 2016. With free agent acquisitions, draft picks, and second-year players hoping to take a step forward, Rod Marinelli will have a lot of players to choose from. It's anyone's guess as to which players will emerge as the guys who start the game in the trenches, but today -€” that anyone is you. Can you name the team's starting front four?
Now there are a couple suspensions happening in the early part of the season with DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory sitting out a few games, so that throws a wrench into this little exercise because neither of those players will be available in week one. To remedy this problem, there is one stipulation to this scenario that you must take into consideration. You must make your selections based on who you believe will be the four starting "Rushmen" when the Cowboys play their first playoff game of the 2016 season. You have the freedom to guess who you think will be healthy. You have the freedom to guess who you think will be suspended. And you have the freedom to guess who you think will be running hot towards the end of the season. Do with it as you please, just know that you have the entire roster to work with when making your decision.
The Locks
Tyrone Crawford
I hear a lot of groaning when it comes to Crawford. I think there are two reasons for that. First, the Cowboys gave him a five-year, $45 million deal, which makes him the fifth-highest player paid on the team, right next to the overpriced Brandon Carr. So, like Carr, the expectations are high. When you get paid that kind of money, you want him to show up in the stat book. And that's the second part -€” his contributions are hidden. Crawford doesn't rack up the sacks, but he's one of those players whose efforts make a real difference on the field. Last year, he played with an injured shoulder so he wasn't able to make as much of an impact on defense. But rest assured, this guy gets it done. He's healthy now and he'll be joining a DT partner that is going to provide more push than he's had over the last two seasons with Nick Hayden.
DeMarcus Lawrence
This guy has me baffled. There are times where I am watching tape and he looks so impressive darting through the blockers. He's bulked up and now has the size and speed to get himself into the backfield on a regular bases. After fracturing his foot in training camp his rookie season, Lawrence only played in seven games in 2014. He did not record a sack in the regular season, but make his presences felt in the playoffs, sacking Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers. He would have a solid sophomore season last year, with eight sacks and 55 tackles, but he had a strong finish as seven of those sacks came in the final eight games. He also tackled Alfred Morris in the end zone for a safety in the season finale. Lawrence was another player that kept changing the direction of the play.
While he's always been so full of promise, he now faces a couple obstacles in his way. First off, there is no Greg Hardy on the other side of him. Say what you want about Hardy, but he was a fierce pass rusher and his power along the line will be missed. Next, Lawrence is coming off of back surgery, so how much will that affect his ability to rush the quarterback this season. The Cowboys will ease him into practice when training camp begins next month, but he's a guy they will be counting on to lead the attack on the edge. And finally, there's the looming suspension. Will it be the full four games? Is Lawrence a guy that could suddenly be unavailable to the team on a whim? These are concerns. The Cowboys hope to have a good structure in place to where some of these young wild-card players can optimize their potential. Maybe, with Hardy not asked back, the team can right the ship with the right kind of atmosphere for their young pass rushers.
The New Guy
***large snip***
Who do you have as the Cowboys starting front four?
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