Cowboys defense for 2015

[MichaelWinicki]

Getting one legit edge rusher can change the entire defense.

That's what missing right now more than anything.

Getting more consistent corner play would be #2.

 

[CCBoy]

That's what missing right now more than anything.

Getting more consistent corner play would be #2.

Don't look right now, but both sides (defensive ends), were losing run containment throughout this game. This against a good rushing team.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Don't look right now, but both sides (defensive ends), were losing run containment throughout this game. This against a good rushing team.

Ware would do that too... seemed to run in spurts.

 

[CCBoy]

Ware would do that too... seemed to run in spurts.

True, but a team still has to meet the demands of a crucial game, when it comes up...not when it works out.

 

[Bluefin]

I just hope they do not change Romo's base to a signing bonus (yet again).

They have to start planning for a non-Romo future.

The plan all along was to convert a large part of Tony Romo's 2015 base salary into another signing bonus in order to create more cap room.

Whether or not they do it, and how much money they convert, may easily depend on the other roster decisions they will have to make.

If Dez Bryant needs to be tagged, that will take up a big chunk of cap space.

If Doug Free and/or Henry Melton stay on by reworking their deals, that will decrease our available cap space.

On the Romo front, his contract was designed to be restructured last year and this year.

What sometimes gets lost in these discussions is that his contract is meant to be left alone in 2016 and every year thereafter.

Even if we do the restructure next year ($15M) to create $12M in cap space, Romo can be released in 2016 using the June designation and the team would save just under $8M after adding a contract to replace him.

Because Romo's 2016 cap number ($20.635M with my restructure) is meant to be left alone, that means it can be carried until June, when the release would take effect on the cap.

There would be an enormous dead money hit of $19M in 2017 (using my restructure), but that would still be a net savings of about $5M and his contract would be off the cap after that.

I hope it doesn't come to that, I don't believe it will, but it can be done if needed.

 

[xwalker]

Sign
DE Greg Hardy
DE Cliff Avril
DT Pat Williams
CB Charles Tillman

SDE-Hardy-Mincey
1DT-Brent-Pat Williams 1yr -Coleman
3DT-Crawford-Okoye
WDE-Avril-Lawrence

LB's- Lee-McClain(resign)-Hitchens-Durant

CB's-Scandrick-Tillman-Mo-Moore

Safeties- Church-Hamilton-Wilcox

Pat Williams? He has not played since 2010. Are you referring to Kevin Williams? Both of them once played for the Vikings.

They need more than Tillman if Carr is gone. Tilliman would be an interesting guy to have on the roster, but you can't count on him to be a starter. He is 33 and has had to go on IR the past 2 seasons with an arm injury. I wouldn't want to count on Claiborne or Moore as a #2 CB either.

I would be good to see if Brent can play before the end of this season. It would help to have that information when they're making decisions next Spring.

Getting both Avril and Greg Hardy would be huge, but I don't see that happening. I guess that it's possible that Hardy could be reasonably priced due to his off-field problems, but I doubt it. He's a terrific young player that could probably play in any defensive scheme.

 

[xwalker]

That was one of my takeaways from yesterday, if Crawford keeps up this level of play it likely means Melton won't be back. There were moments when you could see Melton's option being exercised but that looks very doubtful now - and if Crawford stays at this level Melton will want to go to a guaranteed starting spot and Dallas won't want to pay a lot for a part time player. I'd like to see Melton come back on a make-good contract identical to the one he signed this year but I can't see that happening now.

For the other moves, I'd love to see a DE like JPP, along with high draft picks at DE and CB.

1 Tech will be better next year with Brent, Bishop and maybe Okoye.

I think Carr restructures his contract down but stays on the team. He has been inconsistent but there aren't a lot of quality CBs in the game and fewer that are available in the offseason.

Getting an aging veteran to play Nickel FS in centerfield will also help this team quite a bit for a reasonable hit on the salary cap.

I think the LBs next year are McClain, Sean Lee and the winner of Durant/Hitchens competing.

The crying need on this team is a pass rush and if you add a FA, a high draft pick and get improvement from DeMarcus Lawrence you will be OK. Just like the DT's this year, moving Mincey. Selvie and maybe Spencer to backup roles will help the team considerably by having OK starters turned into quality backups.

Good post.

 

[xwalker]

I don't see the team picking up Henry Melton's three year option this coming off-season.

Tyrone Crawford moved to UT on the fly this season and is coming an Achilles that cost him the 2013 season. He should do nothing but improve at the position and there is quite a bit of potential depth in the wings.

Davon Coleman, Amobi Okoye, Chris Whaley and Jack Crawford are all possible reserve UT options next year plus any drat picks or undrafted free agents that get added to the mix.

Maybe Melton will agree to taking a pay cut in order to stay, but I think it will be best for everyone to part ways.

I wonder if the team will even give Brandon Carr the option of taking a pay cut or just cut bait using the June tag?

If released with the June designation, Carr would count $4.717M in dead money next season while opening $7.49M in cap room on June 2nd (this number takes into account adding a new salary to replace Carr on the off-season top 51).

Carr would then count $7.434M in dead money in 2015, a cap savings of $5.858M, and be completely off the books in 2016 (saving $12.177M). These savings reflect the net amount, meaning I added a minimum salary to take Carr's roster spot in each season.

The actual cash savings for releasing Carr would be $27.1M ($8M in '15, $9.1M in '16, $10M in '17).

Good post.

Yes, it's good that they have some options at DT with Okoye, Whaley, Coleman and J. Crawford; although, Crawford might be a free agent.

Cutting ties with Carr might be better because then they're more likely to try to get a legit replacement for him.

 

[cowboys1981]

Pat Williams? He has not played since 2010. Are you referring to Kevin Williams? Both of them once played for the Vikings.

They need more than Tillman if Carr is gone. Tilliman would be an interesting guy to have on the roster, but you can't count on him to be a starter. He is 33 and has had to go on IR the past 2 seasons with an arm injury. I wouldn't want to count on Claiborne or Moore as a #2 CB either.

I would be good to see if Brent can play before the end of this season. It would help to have that information when they're making decisions next Spring.

Getting both Avril and Greg Hardy would be huge, but I don't see that happening. I guess that it's possible that Hardy could be reasonably priced due to his off-field problems, but I doubt it. He's a terrific young player that could probably play in any defensive scheme.

My mistake, Kevin Williams who I wanted here in the offseason. He can still anchor the 1 spot.

As far as Hardy goes I believe its possible since his off the field stuff took him away a whole season. I don't see anyone shelling out what they would've last year if he'd been an UFA.

Tillman can provide us quality play and I wouldn't mind a mid round pick on a CB to add to the equation.

 

[CF74]

QB
DE
CB
DT

Give me BPA of those 4 positions in any order early and often in the draft...

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Cutting ties with Carr might be better because then they're more likely to try to get a legit replacement for him.

Agree on Carr. I don't think he would accept a salary commensurate with his performance... which is pretty bad at this point. Prior to the start of the season I thought it was a 50/50 proposition that Carr became a "June 1st" casualty in the offseason. Right now I'm thinking it's more like 75/25 that he's cut in 2015. I think even a $3 mil per season salary is more than what he's worth.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

QB
DE
CB
DT

Give me BPA of those 4 positions in any order early and often in the draft...

If you swop out DT for a safety and I'm on board.

 

[maxdallasfan]

Draft 7 D lineman. Sign 6 more as UDFA.

The rest of the D will take care of itself.

 

[Bluefin]

Agree on Carr. I don't think he would accept a salary commensurate with his performance... which is pretty bad at this point. Prior to the start of the season I thought it was a 50/50 proposition that Carr became a "June 1st" casualty in the offseason. Right now I'm thinking it's more like 75/25 that he's cut in 2015. I think even a $3 mil per season salary is more than what he's worth.

It's a tough thing for any highly paid player to take a massive pay cut and remain with his team.

It can be very awkward for them in the locker room and at any team function, their egos simply can't take it.

It's much easier to refuse the offer, get released and go to a new team for a greatly reduced salary.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It's a tough thing for any highly paid player to take a massive pay cut and remain with his team.

It can be very awkward for them in the locker room and at any team function, their egos simply can't take it.

It's much easier to refuse the offer, get released and go to a new team for a greatly reduced salary.

Agreed.

Again, I think he's gone after this season.

 

[Bluefin]

QB
DE
CB
DT

Give me BPA of those 4 positions in any order early and often in the draft...

Anything can happen, but everything I've read and heard indicates the team has no plan to draft its next quarterback while Tony Romo is still on the roster.

They also weren't planning on carrying three passers this season, and Dustin Vaughan forced them to, so like I said, it's always possible a QB gets drafted early. But having a potential developmental signal caller already on the roster is another strike against drafting a prospect at the position.

I do wonder if Dallas will pursue an upgrade over back-up quarterback Brandon Weeden in free agency.

 

[john van brocklin]

Anything can happen, but everything I've read and heard indicates the team has no plan to draft its next quarterback while Tony Romo is still on the roster.

They also weren't planning on carrying three passers this season, and Dustin Vaughan forced them to, so like I said, it's always possible a QB gets drafted early. But having a potential developmental signal caller already on the roster is another strike against drafting a prospect at the position.

I do wonder if Dallas will pursue an upgrade over back-up quarterback Brandon Weeden in free agency.

I really hope they can secure a better back up QB.
The Eagles did that and it ended up saving their season.

 

[HeavyBarrel]

Need to sign/draft players that fit our scheme.

Not to nitpick but I want the better football player, schemes change ala 3-4 to 4-3

 

[big dog cowboy]

I do wonder if Dallas will pursue an upgrade over back-up quarterback Brandon Weeden in free agency.

For the sake of this board I sure hope so.

 

[Muhast]

Personally, if we break the bank on a player, the guy I'd want in this years defensive class: Justin Houston. 10+ sacks 3 years in a row, and he is 25 years old.