Comparing D-lines between Bears & Boys

[BAT]

I was reading Ditka's comments and started looking at the differences too. A big difference I see is the quality of depth. Dallas loses less w/ their rotation, Chicago likely has to leave starters out there for more snaps

Listed starters (per ESPN.com): CHI vs DAL
LDE: Willie Young -vs- George Selvie
LDT: Jay Ratliff -vs- Nick Hayden
RDT: Stephen Paea -vs- Tyrone Crawford
RDE: Jared Allen -vs- Jeremy Mincy

But looking at the depth:
LDE: ? -vs- Anthony Spencer
LDT: Will Sutton -vs- Terrell McClain/Josh Brent
RDT: Ego Ferguson -vs- Henry Melton
RDE: Trevor Scott -vs- Demarcus Lawrence.

Still amazes me how DT was such a horrible position last year w/ guys coming in off the street almost weekly... and this year, it is probably Dallas' deepest position behind RB.

Imagine what Marinelli could do with their DL. The difference is in the coaching/scheme.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Dallas-
Mincey 9.3
Crawford 15.1
Hayden -12.9
Selvie 0.2
Melton 12.3
Spencer 4.3
McClain 0.8

At some point, you have to give Nick Hayden major kudos. He's a horrible player by virtually every measure. Yet, he's been a starter for going on two years. He must be one smooth talker.

 

[TonyRomo17]

At some point, you have to give Nick Hayden major kudos. He's a horrible player by virtually every measure. Yet, he's been a starter for going on two years. He must be one smooth talker.

I think Marinelli just loves his effort

 

[RamziD]

i agree i believe our backend has been saving our front 4's butts all year. if we can upgrade both DE spots and 1 corner we are going to be golden. Question is are there any upgrades available in the draft and FA this year at those positions.

Jerry Hughes, LDE, Buffalo Bills

 

[CCBoy]

Here's how Pro Football Focus compares the top 7 d-linemen for each team:

Chicago-
Allen -4.2
Houston 0.9
Peca 0.9
Young 2.4
Sutton -4.6
Ratliff 9.8
Ferguson 0.4

Dallas-
Mincey 9.3
Crawford 15.1
Hayden -12.9
Selvie 0.2
Melton 12.3
Spencer 4.3
McClain 0.8

Wait, a downgrade from Ratliff to Melton and Melton is winning the recognition war? Must have been something wrong with the original premise...

 

[CCBoy]

At some point, you have to give Nick Hayden major kudos. He's a horrible player by virtually every measure. Yet, he's been a starter for going on two years. He must be one smooth talker.

He's not dating Hulk Hogan's daughter is he?

 

[ElGatoGrande]

and Chicago is dead last in points allowed 30 per game. This game is not about yards per play it is points. no one ever got points on score board based on some yardage.

Cowboys are 9th in the NFL in points allowed.

Just to point out some pertinent data, the Bears have also faced highly functioning offenses of Green Bay twice and the Patriots, each meeting chalked up 38, 51 and 55 points against their defense, so it hasn't been an apples to apples comparison.

 

[BlindFaith]

Thanks for the research and comparison on the DLs. But, there is no way I would trade straight up our DL (starters and backups) for the Bears DL (starters and backups). No way! Don't care what the numbers show.

I'd easily replace Selvie for Young.
I'd easily replace Hayden for Paea

Allen is a much better player than Mincey, but he was pretty pricey this offseason. But talent wise he's still much better.

Crawford, Melton and Lawrence are the only three guys I'd keep over theirs.

 

[Seven]

There have been calls for d-coordinator's job, too.

But what's really the issue in Chicago is their stalled offense. Marshall's ankle sprain shouldn't be the reason why the offense has pretty much come to a screeching halt.

That said, I don't know that it's fair comparing just d-lines. Overall, they should have the better defense, but something just isn't clicking for them.

Jay Cutler.......................JMO, of course.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'd easily replace Selvie for Young.
I'd easily replace Hayden for Paea

Allen is a much better player than Mincey, but he was pretty pricey this offseason. But talent wise he's still much better.

Crawford, Melton and Lawrence are the only three guys I'd keep over theirs.

No. Allen is not much better than Mincey. Right now (and probably for the last two seasons) Mincey has been the better player overall.

He doesn't get the amount of sacks that Allen does, but it's not all about sacks. Allen will run himself out of containment on a regular basis... And against the run? There's no comparison between the two.

I'm glad the Cowboys got Mincey and not Allen.

 

[ccb04]

The two I'd take off the Bears DL is Young at LDE & Paea at 1-tech.

 

[casmith07]

Last offseason, there were several folks that applauded the speed of the Chicago Bears at rebuilding their defensive line. While the Cowboys signed Mincey and McClain (and were mocked for it) the Bears were signing Willie Young, Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen– and many kudos there thrown the Bears' way. It was more than strongly suggested the Bears knew what they were doing and the Cowboys didn't.

Today Ditka called this Bear's defense the worst he had ever seen. It's also the first defense to allow 50+ points in back to back games since 1923.

LOL.

 

[AsthmaField]

I'd easily replace Selvie for Young.
I'd easily replace Hayden for Paea

Allen is a much better player than Mincey, but he was pretty pricey this offseason. But talent wise he's still much better.

Crawford, Melton and Lawrence are the only three guys I'd keep over theirs.

Agree on Selvie/Young and Hayden/Paea - but even if Allen is currently better than Mincey (and I'm not sure he is) - the cost difference skews the equation firmly in Mincey's favor. That is really no contest. It is Mincey in a TKO to this point.

 

[AsthmaField]

Last offseason, there were several folks that applauded the speed of the Chicago Bears at rebuilding their defensive line. While the Cowboys signed Mincey and McClain (and were mocked for it) the Bears were signing Willie Young, Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen– and many kudos there thrown the Bears' way. It was more than strongly suggested the Bears knew what they were doing and the Cowboys didn't.

Today Ditka called this Bear's defense the worst he had ever seen. It's also the first defense to allow 50+ points in back to back games since 1923.

You know, in most instances, it is simply a better deal to go with a few hard working, role players than one (or more) expensive FA's from somewhere else. Particularly in a case of widespread need like Dallas had on the DL - or even the whole defense.

Getting lucky as hell on Rolando McClain really helped too, along with some excellent drafting on Lawrence and Hitchens.

Signing your own expensive free agents not included in that, BTW.

 

[AsthmaField]

Last offseason, there were several folks that applauded the speed of the Chicago Bears at rebuilding their defensive line. While the Cowboys signed Mincey and McClain (and were mocked for it) the Bears were signing Willie Young, Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen– and many kudos there thrown the Bears' way. It was more than strongly suggested the Bears knew what they were doing and the Cowboys didn't.

Today Ditka called this Bear's defense the worst he had ever seen. It's also the first defense to allow 50+ points in back to back games since 1923.

Sorry, duplicate post.

 

[Dale]

Our defense is overachieving, in part because there's a lot of try-hard on that side of the ball, particularly along the line. The statistical numbers aren't necessarily that great (sacks, for example), but collectively they're able to generate a winnable effort.

For example, I think our run defense is somewhat better than what the numbers indicate. It just feels like our run defense holds solid for the majority of games outside of giving up one big run.

Robinson's carry-by-carry breakdown last week: 2, 2, 4, 32, -1, 4, 1, -1, 2, -1, 4, 4, 2, 5, 1. In 15 carries, we allowed Robinson to reel off more than 5 yards one time, and held him to fewer than 4 yards nine times.

 

[AsthmaField]

Our defense is overachieving, in part because there's a lot of try-hard on that side of the ball, particularly along the line. The statistical numbers aren't necessarily that great (sacks, for example), but collectively they're able to generate a winnable effort.

For example, I think our run defense is somewhat better than what the numbers indicate. It just feels like our run defense holds solid for the majority of games outside of giving up one big run.

Robinson's carry-by-carry breakdown last week: 2, 2, 4, 32, -1, 4, 1, -1, 2, -1, 4, 4, 2, 5, 1. In 15 carries, we allowed Robinson to reel off more than 5 yards one time, and held him to fewer than 4 yards nine times.

Good to see you posting, man.

 

[cowboys1981]

Our defense is overachieving, in part because there's a lot of try-hard on that side of the ball, particularly along the line. The statistical numbers aren't necessarily that great (sacks, for example), but collectively they're able to generate a winnable effort.

For example, I think our run defense is somewhat better than what the numbers indicate. It just feels like our run defense holds solid for the majority of games outside of giving up one big run.

Robinson's carry-by-carry breakdown last week: 2, 2, 4, 32, -1, 4, 1, -1, 2, -1, 4, 4, 2, 5, 1. In 15 carries, we allowed Robinson to reel off more than 5 yards one time, and held him to fewer than 4 yards nine times.

Good observation. Our defense has inproved and I'm seeing guys out there playing as if they have something to prove. I love to see that vs complacency.