Dallas Cowboys Free Agency Focus 2015: Stephen Paea Could Be Perfect Fit In Big D

[waving monkey]

Despite the emergence of Tyrone Crawford and building block of DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys will open this offseason looking for any type of upgrade they can bring to the defensive line.

Free agency is a mere eleven days away, but that doesn't stop us from bringing up the names that could be beneficial if the Cowboys were to look for some veterans. Being a second-round selection from Rod Marinelli's former Bears' defense, Stephen Paea may be on the radar. The Chicago Bears could be in for a makeover on defense now that John Fox will be bringing in his regime.

Paea grew up on the island of Tonga but moved to the states when he was 16. He attended Timpview High School in Provo, Utah. At 240 pounds playing defensive line, he didn't receive much attention from Division I schools and decided to enroll at Snow College in nearby Ephraim. Paea would redshirt his first year at Snow while gaining over 20 pounds and found himself in the eyes of some major programs.


link/http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2015...ncy-stephen-paea-chicago-bears-defensive-line

 

[waving monkey]

Paea has been discussed I know

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Could be a very solid addition. Much better than Dockett at this point in time.

 

[Stash]

Not a fan of this move.

 

[unionjack8]

Meh, underwhelming to say the least

 

[Oh_Canada]

If it's a reasonable contract I would sign him in a heartbeat.

 

[Echo9]

While I tend to think that this move is more likely than others, I can't help that I'd rather have more of a game changer. Unlike last year when we thought we were rebuilding, we are very close now. I hope we do everything we can (like a Haley move) to get us over the top. Paea is a good player, but is he that much more dynamic than Crawford? Would Paea and Crawford play well side by side? I don't know.

 

[LatinMind]

Despite the emergence of Tyrone Crawford and building block of DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys will open this offseason looking for any type of upgrade they can bring to the defensive line.

Free agency is a mere eleven days away, but that doesn't stop us from bringing up the names that could be beneficial if the Cowboys were to look for some veterans. Being a second-round selection from Rod Marinelli's former Bears' defense, Stephen Paea may be on the radar. The Chicago Bears could be in for a makeover on defense now that John Fox will be bringing in his regime.

Paea grew up on the island of Tonga but moved to the states when he was 16. He attended Timpview High School in Provo, Utah. At 240 pounds playing defensive line, he didn't receive much attention from Division I schools and decided to enroll at Snow College in nearby Ephraim. Paea would redshirt his first year at Snow while gaining over 20 pounds and found himself in the eyes of some major programs.


link/http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2015...ncy-stephen-paea-chicago-bears-defensive-line

Paea is bad against the run. When marinelli was in Chicago he would remove Paea late in games and keep Okoye in.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

While I tend to think that this move is more likely than others, I can't help that I'd rather have more of a game changer. Unlike last year when we thought we were rebuilding, we are very close now. I hope we do everything we can (like a Haley move) to get us over the top. Paea is a good player, but is he that much more dynamic than Crawford? Would Paea and Crawford play well side by side? I don't know.

Paea wouldn't be the #1 DT. He'd split snaps with Crawford, a-la Melton. The two could play side by side in passing downs.

 

[jazzcat22]

Unless he is an impact player, I prefer to stay away from all FA's. We have enough mid level guys and rookies to compete already. Sign an impact DL or draft one that could be.
Not saying a mid level type guy couldn't come in and produce if he fits. But don't go after a name just to get a name...which JJ & Jason have not been doing, they got a system in place that seems to be working.

 

[Hardline]

Last time I seen Paea play he was getting totally manhandled by that Cowboys offensive line.if he was any good the Bears would resign him.

 

[jobberone]

Other than edge rusher just how interested are we in DL? My guess is unless they are game changers and playmakers then we aren't looking to spend much in FA on DL.

There are a lot of guys coming back.

Lawrence
Gardner
Edwards
Melton**
Bishop
Boatright
Mincey
Spencer*
Selvie*
Brent
Hayden*
T McClain
Crawford
D Coleman****
Whaley***
Okoye***

* UFA
** probably released cap casualty
*** NFI
**** PS

Some of these will end up contributing and starting. Spencer should be signed which I don't think will be hard.

Likely high snap count:

Crawford
Lawrence
Spencer
Brent
Mincey
T McClain

That only leaves 2-3 spots open.

Melton will be offered a cut because if he's on the roster the 1st league day of 2015, a 3 year $24M extension with $9M guaranteed vests. He'll either have to accept this early on or test the market and hope to be resigned later. This is unlikely.

I think Okoye will be high on the list to play DT. He hasn't played in awhile but he has the athleticism for it if he hasn't lost it.

Because of the above I think they will look for an edge rusher in FA. The window is right and it often takes a full year +/- for a rookie edge rusher to work out. The con is the price and availability. My guess is one they really like won't be there and they will take the BPA out of T, unexpected player falling, LB, or DB likely CB. They could trade down and roll the dice on a tweener or an OLB to convert to DE. That may be just as likely as any of the above.

Of course it's all speculation.

 

[MagicMan]

Although Paea might fit right in, he would only complement the other 3 on the line......would not be the game changer the Dline needs to get over the top. If we are going FA, we need to go big on the Dline and get someone who can dominate at times. We got enough complimentary guys on there. The window for this team with Romo is more like a bathroom window rather than a picture window.

But I think we still need to go DL at #27 regardless of picking up a FA (aka Hardy). There will be a talented guy sitting there for the 'Boys to pickup. Malcolm Brown would be my preference.

 

[Echo9]

Paea wouldn't be the #1 DT. He'd split snaps with Crawford, a-la Melton. The two could play side by side in passing downs.

So that sounds like a sensible move at the right price. It may not be smart, but I'd prefer a dumber move for Hardy.

Other than edge rusher just how interested are we in DL? My guess is unless they are game changers and playmakers then we aren't looking to spend much in FA on DL.

There are a lot of guys coming back.

Lawrence
Gardner
Edwards
Melton**
Bishop
Boatright
Mincey
Spencer*
Selvie*
Brent
Hayden*
T McClain
Crawford
D Coleman****
Whaley***
Okoye***

* UFA
** probably released cap casualty
*** NFI
**** PS

Some of these will end up contributing and starting. Spencer should be signed which I don't think will be hard.

Likely high snap count:

Crawford
Lawrence
Spencer
Brent
Mincey
T McClain

That only leaves 2-3 spots open.

Melton will be offered a cut because if he's on the roster the 1st league day of 2015, a 3 year $24M extension with $9M guaranteed vests. He'll either have to accept this early on or test the market and hope to be resigned later. This is unlikely.

I think Okoye will be high on the list to play DT. He hasn't played in awhile but he has the athleticism for it if he hasn't lost it.

Because of the above I think they will look for an edge rusher in FA. The window is right and it often takes a full year +/- for a rookie edge rusher to work out. The con is the price and availability. My guess is one they really like won't be there and they will take the BPA out of T, unexpected player falling, LB, or DB likely CB. They could trade down and roll the dice on a tweener or an OLB to convert to DE. That may be just as likely as any of the above.

Of course it's all speculation.

But pretty reasonable speculation at that. The team has been very selective about offering big money to top tier FAs as of late and history kind shows that it's a bad move more often than not. However, I do think that this offseason is the one that we should make that splash if we can. All things being equal, I want Hardy.

Of course I am of the belief that his incident was more about a money grab than it was actual abuse. That's just what the morsels of facts that have come out seem to tell me. Am I biased because that's what I WANT the truth to be, so he can be a Cowboy? That is entirely possible. But I have done what reading I could on the situation and the evidence points to a shakedown to me.

In any case, I think Hardy would our Haley.

 

[jobberone]

So that sounds like a sensible move at the right price. It may not be smart, but I'd prefer a dumber move for Hardy.

But pretty reasonable speculation at that. The team has been very selective about offering big money to top tier FAs as of late and history kind shows that it's a bad move more often than not. However, I do think that this offseason is the one that we should make that splash if we can. All things being equal, I want Hardy.

Of course I am of the belief that his incident was more about a money grab than it was actual abuse. That's just what the morsels of facts that have come out seem to tell me. Am I biased because that's what I WANT the truth to be, so he can be a Cowboy? That is entirely possible. But I have done what reading I could on the situation and the evidence points to a shakedown to me.

In any case, I think Hardy would our Haley.

I'm fine with that move at the right price. You can believe that Jerry is looking at that window as is Romo and Garrett. Hard to keep those windows open although some teams do it.

 

[Titleist]

Is he better than Hayden?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Is he better than Hayden?

While I would feel confident that he could replace Hayden and give a superior performance, Paea would be miscast as a #1 DT. As others have pointed out he's not good vs. the run.

 

[xwalker]

Last time I seen Paea play he was getting totally manhandled by that Cowboys offensive line.if he was any good the Bears would resign him.

Yes, I almost felt sorry for him in that game. The Cowboys OL were easily pushing him around.

 

[xwalker]

Paea has been discussed I know

I've reviewed him in several games from last season.

He was not good against the Cowboys.

He has some pass rush ability but is not good against the run. He is weight room strong but that does not show up on the field in terms of anchor strength.

He had 6 sacks which seems good for a guy that was primarily a 1tech DT; however, I reviewed all of those sacks and only 1 or 2 were really about him just beating the OL. Two of the sacks were just a QB running out of bounds and Paea was the closest defender at the time.

On the flip side, he is definitely better than Nick Hayden.

On the Cowboys team I think he would be more of 3tech type DT. He would play as a backup 3tech and as the 1tech in the Nickel with somebody else (Brent, Bishop) played as the 1tech in the base.

If he was available for a low cost, then he is an upgrade from Hayden, but I don't see him being worth even 2M per year.

 

[tm1119]

If not Pea then Peters or Langford. I don't think any will break bank and are all the 1tech/3tech we need in my opinion.