Cedric Thornton

[xwalker]

Which is exactly why a younger player with more upside and durability might make sense at this point.

They don't have that player. They need a backup 1tech as the 4th DT on game day. Neal is 3tech. Ash is not a good player, especially against zone runs where the DT has to flow down the line while fighting off blocks.

In 2015 with the Eagles Thorton played about as well as anybody against Zack Martin on Zone running plays. Thornton was a zone run killer.

We have not seen him yet and camp reports are often biased and misleading.

Last year it looked like he lost too much weight. Also he was learning a new scheme.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

They don't have that player. They need a backup 1tech as the 4th DT on game day. Neal is 3tech. Ash is not a good player, especially against zone runs where the DT has to flow down the line while fighting off blocks.

In 2015 with the Eagles Thorton played about as well as anybody against Zack Martin on Zone running plays. Thornton was a zone run killer.

We have not seen him yet and camp reports are often biased and misleading.

Last year it looked like he lost too much weight. Also he was learning a new scheme.

Yep.

I thought Thorton's play improved later on in the season while McClain's began to wane.

This season I'm expecting Thornton to do a decent job splitting snaps with Paea.

 

[MissAnn]

I like Paea and he seems to be motivated in the here and now. He is one of the very strongest in the NFL.

For a rotational value, Thornton is likely fine. He seems to play a touch soft.

 

[xwalker]

Yep.

I thought Thorton's play improved later on in the season while McClain's began to wane.

This season I'm expecting Thornton to do a decent job splitting snaps with Paea.

Agree. McClain definitely declined later in the season.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

If I'm not mistaken he is a starter on the depth chart that was just released

 

[xwalker]

If I'm not mistaken he is a starter on the depth chart that was just released

Those are literally meaningless.

 

[Screw The Hall]

I'm not wild about Thornton but he really is needed as depth at the 1Tech at this point. He's a stopgap that they will try to improve upon next offseason I would imagine.

 

[LittleD]

Thornton & Paea will platoon at the 1 tech just like Thornton & McClain did last season.

Paea was out of position and his scheme fit for two years and it shown. Thornton has been out of his ideal scheme fit for two years and it continues to show.
The Cowboys front office made a mistake on Thornton and we have to live with it for another year. Paea should take over 1st team DT and flourish this year.
Mistakes happen in FA which is why it never pays to overpay.

 

[gimmesix]

Torn on this guy... Sounded like he was having a decent offseason, but has been hampered with (another) injury.

Is he on the bubble? There are younger, cheaper guys that are playing well (Neal, Ivie) and Maliek and Paea look great. With Irving being able to play inside as well-- is Thornton a possible surprise cut or trade?

I think he's better than he's being given credit for. He did not adjust quickly to Dallas' scheme last year, but showed that he was figuring it out as the year progressed. This offseason, I haven't heard any bad reports on him. The only negative is the injury issue. He's a good, rotational run-down defender who can hold his own in there against double teams and still make plays. That's why we got him. Paea isn't on his level as a run defender, but is a better pass rusher ... which is why the pass rush drills favor him. Neal shows the ability to get penetration when he gets singled up (and even hold his ground some against doubles) and Ivie has been hit and miss against the run.

I think Collins and Thornton are going to give us a stout interior combination against the run. Some fans seem to be prematurely dismissing him, but it seems like that happens a lot when players are sidelined by injury.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Those are literally meaningless.

Ya the starter on the depth chart means nothing. Not even sure why they even have depth charts, dumb thing to have.

That being said i believe Paea takes the starting job over Thornton. Doesn't matter to me if he stays on the team or not but it's not my decision it's the front office decision

 

[The Natural]

i wish he'd just return to being the top run defender he was in philly.

Unfortunately he was probably a product of getting to play next to Fletcher Cox

 

[sbark]

Yep.

I thought Thorton's play improved later on in the season while McClain's began to wane.

This season I'm expecting Thornton to do a decent job splitting snaps with Paea.

McClain was used to being hurt and out for the rest of the season by that time of year

 

[speedkilz88]

Paea was out of position and his scheme fit for two years and it shown. Thornton has been out of his ideal scheme fit for two years and it continues to show.
The Cowboys front office made a mistake on Thornton and we have to live with it for another year. Paea should take over 1st team DT and flourish this year.
Mistakes happen in FA which is why it never pays to overpay.

Thornton has only been in this scheme one year and he was better as the season went along.

 

[Aven8]

He actually came on at the end of the year last year and became really disruptive.