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Cowboys' Off-Season: Where Are The Needs On Defense?
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016/2/14/10989862/cowboys-off-season-where-are-the-needs-on-defense
When we fast-forward to the current state, we see quite a bit of flux, and a great number of question marks.
PositionStarterBackupThird
RDE??? Randy Gregory
UT Tyrone Crawford David Irving
NT??? Terrell McClain
LDE Demarcus Lawrence Jeremy Russell
MIKE??? Andrew Gachkar
WILL Sean Lee Damien Wilson Mark Nzeocha
SAM Anthony Hitchens
RCB Orlando Scandrick Deji Olatoye
SS Barry Church Jeff Heath
FS Byron Jones JJ Wilcox
LCB Brandon Carr
NICKEL??? Terrance Mitchell
The first place that stands out on this list is the defensive line, as half the starters among that group are set to become free agents. The right defensive end position is the premier pass rushing position in the Cowboys defense, and also presents the largest question mark perhaps on the entire roster. In 2015 the Cowboys signed controversial free agent Greg Hardy to man that position, but Hardy's season was less productive than anticipated, and presented quite a unique set of off-field challenges for the organization, leaving major uncertainty as to his future (or lack thereof) with the team. In addition to signing Hardy, the Cowboys drafted promising young pass rusher Randy Gregory with their second-round pick to help the pass rush. Unfortunately, a high ankle injury suffered in Week 1 rendered Gregory ineffective in the regular season after he showed encouraging signs in training camp and early in the first game. The importance of a great pass rush on a championship level defense is largely un-debated, and it is likely the Cowboys will pursue some help here.
History says that a vast majority of rookie pass rushers suffer fates similar to Gregory's and Demarcus Lawrence's before him, as each of the Cowboys young rushers failed to produce even a single sack in their respective rookie seasons. In fact, the average rookie defensive lineman will generate fewer than three sacks in their first year, and fewer than four in their second. With this knowledge, the Cowboys should be looking to address the pass rush through free agency, and must be willing to spend premium money to attract a bona fide rusher to do so.
Nick Hayden has been a starter who has provided consistently admirable effort at the nose tackle position, but is one who could and should be upgraded in the off-season. Luckily for the Cowboys, players at that position rarely draw premium contracts as free agents, and this draft class happens to feature a plethora of talent at the defensive tackle position that would fit what the Cowboys want at the nose.
The linebacker position also faces questions as the enigmatic Rolando McClain is set to be a free agent for the second consecutive off-season. Anthony Hitchens has proven to be capable of filling in at Mike, but lacks the ideal size and physical playing style to play there full time. The Cowboys have spent multiple picks on linebackers over the last few years, and could look to do so again as the draft also happens to be deep at the linebacker position.
The secondary could become an even greater numbers problem as the off-season continues. Morris Claiborne is set to be a free agent, and Brandon Carr will have a massive $13.8 million cap number in 2016 and has not played anywhere close to the standard set by that cap cost. This could mean the Cowboys could be without both of their week one starters from 2015 by the time camp rolls around in 2016. Orlando Scandrick will be back, but with the team seeming to want Byron Jones to focus on playing safety, the Cowboys will likely go into free agency with only one true NFL starting quality corner on the roster. This position will likely require attention through multiple avenues, as it's unlikely they could acquire two corners in the draft who are both ready to play significant snaps. It is plausible that the Cowboys could spend what may be considered premium money at corner, and go on to spend the fourth overall pick on a defensive back as well.
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016/2/14/10989862/cowboys-off-season-where-are-the-needs-on-defense
When we fast-forward to the current state, we see quite a bit of flux, and a great number of question marks.
PositionStarterBackupThird
RDE??? Randy Gregory
UT Tyrone Crawford David Irving
NT??? Terrell McClain
LDE Demarcus Lawrence Jeremy Russell
MIKE??? Andrew Gachkar
WILL Sean Lee Damien Wilson Mark Nzeocha
SAM Anthony Hitchens
RCB Orlando Scandrick Deji Olatoye
SS Barry Church Jeff Heath
FS Byron Jones JJ Wilcox
LCB Brandon Carr
NICKEL??? Terrance Mitchell
The first place that stands out on this list is the defensive line, as half the starters among that group are set to become free agents. The right defensive end position is the premier pass rushing position in the Cowboys defense, and also presents the largest question mark perhaps on the entire roster. In 2015 the Cowboys signed controversial free agent Greg Hardy to man that position, but Hardy's season was less productive than anticipated, and presented quite a unique set of off-field challenges for the organization, leaving major uncertainty as to his future (or lack thereof) with the team. In addition to signing Hardy, the Cowboys drafted promising young pass rusher Randy Gregory with their second-round pick to help the pass rush. Unfortunately, a high ankle injury suffered in Week 1 rendered Gregory ineffective in the regular season after he showed encouraging signs in training camp and early in the first game. The importance of a great pass rush on a championship level defense is largely un-debated, and it is likely the Cowboys will pursue some help here.
History says that a vast majority of rookie pass rushers suffer fates similar to Gregory's and Demarcus Lawrence's before him, as each of the Cowboys young rushers failed to produce even a single sack in their respective rookie seasons. In fact, the average rookie defensive lineman will generate fewer than three sacks in their first year, and fewer than four in their second. With this knowledge, the Cowboys should be looking to address the pass rush through free agency, and must be willing to spend premium money to attract a bona fide rusher to do so.
Nick Hayden has been a starter who has provided consistently admirable effort at the nose tackle position, but is one who could and should be upgraded in the off-season. Luckily for the Cowboys, players at that position rarely draw premium contracts as free agents, and this draft class happens to feature a plethora of talent at the defensive tackle position that would fit what the Cowboys want at the nose.
The linebacker position also faces questions as the enigmatic Rolando McClain is set to be a free agent for the second consecutive off-season. Anthony Hitchens has proven to be capable of filling in at Mike, but lacks the ideal size and physical playing style to play there full time. The Cowboys have spent multiple picks on linebackers over the last few years, and could look to do so again as the draft also happens to be deep at the linebacker position.
The secondary could become an even greater numbers problem as the off-season continues. Morris Claiborne is set to be a free agent, and Brandon Carr will have a massive $13.8 million cap number in 2016 and has not played anywhere close to the standard set by that cap cost. This could mean the Cowboys could be without both of their week one starters from 2015 by the time camp rolls around in 2016. Orlando Scandrick will be back, but with the team seeming to want Byron Jones to focus on playing safety, the Cowboys will likely go into free agency with only one true NFL starting quality corner on the roster. This position will likely require attention through multiple avenues, as it's unlikely they could acquire two corners in the draft who are both ready to play significant snaps. It is plausible that the Cowboys could spend what may be considered premium money at corner, and go on to spend the fourth overall pick on a defensive back as well.
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