Defensive line restructuring plan

[Galian Beast]

Should have clarified my point to include free agency sorry. Absolutely want to see a trench heavy draft. Hope you know who does also.

Even more so in free agency. Every dollar should be spent on that defensive line in addition to every top draft pick (though one pick should be a o-lineman)

Wilcox and Church should suffice at safety next year, carter, lee, and holloman should suffice at linebacker. 2015, we can make whatever moves that we need to make at those positions.

 

[Fredd]

we need two DL from the draft to "hit" like Fred "hit" this year on the OL...if we get that, coupled with some luck in NOT getting injured on the DL and potentially getting a reasonably priced FA or two and the line could get the major overhaul that it needs...on the surface, it looked like the OL got that overhaul last year, but in reality, all we did was add Fred...Leary was already on the team along with Free's resurgence and the Waters FA signing was a blessing (especially from the teaching aspect)

...on the DL, we draft one or two, we have Crawford/Bass coming back, we get a young FA-type and the DL could and should be much better....if we cut ties with Ware (I am on the fence with that), then we could see even more improvement although it would focus everything on getting someone to rush on the outside sooner rather than later

 

[silver]

Here's my quick fix:

1. Ask Ware to cut his salary in half, if he refuses, cut ties.
2. Re-sign Spencer to a 1 or 2 year deal and pencil him in as a starter; Selvie is the backup plan
3. Tyrone Crawford will be the 1 or 3 tech; Ben Bass and Nick Hayden provides depth
4. Draft your last DL in the 1st or 2nd; stay true to your board

You can't rely on injured players. This was this year's strategy. I wouldn't count on any of those guys you mentioned with the exception of Hayden, who could be a serviceable back up if anything. Can't count on Crawford and certainly not Bass after two seasons on IR. Definitely say no to Spencer who's knees are shot and Ware well let's just say he ain't what he used to be. Not only that but he's not suited for the 4-3. We need at least 4 new faces via draft and Free Agency, let them battle it out in training camp and let the best ones play.

 

[IrishAnto]

IMO Ware will not be released, they will hold onto him one more year to see if this year was an aberration.

I think your right.

The best outcome for the Boys would be for him to take a pay cut a la Doug Free.

Even if he doesn't I'd be shocked if he wasn't wearing the Star on his helmet next year.

 

[morasp]

I think your right.

The best outcome for the Boys would be for him to take a pay cut a la Doug Free.

Even if he doesn't I'd be shocked if he wasn't wearing the Star on his helmet next year.

Jerry listens to Rod so if he says Ware is done something may happen either a trade, pay cut, or cut. We have done that in the past with Greg Ellis and Emmitt.

They should try to bring in mid level FA development players at DL, LB, and safety and let them compete kind of like they did this year. Our scouting department seems to be pretty good at finding them.

They've already said they are going to focus on the front seven so if Rod stays I'm sure he'll be working closely with the scouts and thoroughly evaluating the DL draft prospects.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Do what the Panthers did and go back to back DT in the first two rounds. They got two 310+ lb guys who both rotate at NT. I like Louis Nix in round 1 and someone else in round 2 (maybe Aaron Donald). Selvie and Ware would look much better with two studs in the middle. Also, if Ware takes a pay cut, do what Seattle did and sign some DEs to cheap one year deals.

 

[conner01]

you could sign two high dollar f.a. if you wanted to. the first couple years can be very cheap for them.
i personally would rather sign one star defensive guy. at either de or dt. then fill the other two with the draft. ware has to either take about a 6 mil cut in base salary or i would move on
melton is an ideal choice to me. rod knows him and knows if the charecter issues are a problem. but you can sign him short term for a prove it contract. it gives him tremendous incentive to play well. then you either extend him or move on and fill his spot in the next draft

 

[conner01]

Do what the Panthers did and go back to back DT in the first two rounds. They got two 310+ lb guys who both rotate at NT. I like Louis Nix in round 1 and someone else in round 2 (maybe Aaron Donald). Selvie and Ware would look much better with two studs in the middle. Also, if Ware takes a pay cut, do what Seattle did and sign some DEs to cheap one year deals.

i would love nix and donald. but i don't think you can get either where we pick in each round. nix will go before we pick in one and donald will go early two if he does'nt find his way up to the first

 

[IrishAnto]

Do what the Panthers did and go back to back DT in the first two rounds. They got two 310+ lb guys who both rotate at NT. I like Louis Nix in round 1 and someone else in round 2 (maybe Aaron Donald). Selvie and Ware would look much better with two studs in the middle. Also, if Ware takes a pay cut, do what Seattle did and sign some DEs to cheap one year deals.

I could be wrong but I don’t think Nix is quick twitch enough to play the “three technique” to the required standard and I wouldn’t be too happy spending that high a pick on a “one technique”.

I’ll say it now (and probably quite a number of times before the draft) we shouldn’t reach for DL in the draft even though it’s currently a shambles.

Reaching gets us the likes of Shante Carver or Kavika Pittman

 

[dcstands4]

We play for the how????

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I could be wrong but I don’t think Nix is quick twitch enough to play the “three technique” to the required standard and I wouldn’t be too happy spending that high a pick on a “one technique”.

I’ll say it now (and probably quite a number of times before the draft) we shouldn’t reach for DL in the draft even though it’s currently a shambles.

Reaching gets us the likes of Shante Carver or Kavika Pittman

I don't really like the term reaching. We "reached" for Frederick last year and look how that turned out. I think last year was a great example. We went in wanting interior OL. We had a list of about 7-8 guys that we felt could help us immediately. After the run on OL, Frederick was the last guy on our list still available. Sure, we could have waited and risked losing him, but we wanted a sure thing and not a question mark in the 4th round. That's how I think this year should be. Have a list of DTs you feel could start Day 1. If we risk losing out on all of them, then reach if you have to.

 

[IrishAnto]

I don't really like the term reaching. We "reached" for Frederick last year and look how that turned out. I think last year was a great example. We went in wanting interior OL. We had a list of about 7-8 guys that we felt could help us immediately. After the run on OL, Frederick was the last guy on our list still available. Sure, we could have waited and risked losing him, but we wanted a sure thing and not a question mark in the 4th round. That's how I think this year should be. Have a list of DTs you feel could start Day 1. If we risk losing out on all of them, then reach if you have to.

You say we reached for Frederick but when he declared for the draft (I think it was February) he was considered a possible first round pick.

He had a bad combine and his stock dropped.

Just shows how accurate the combine can be as an indicator of a player's ability to actually play on the field.

However even if you consider he was a reach it turned out OK for us, however you wouldn’t want to try to make a living out of it.

Just take a look at many Dallas drafts in the last 20 years and you’ll see what I mean.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

You say we reached for Frederick but when he declared for the draft (I think it was February) he was considered a possible first round pick.

He had a bad combine and his stock dropped.

Just shows how accurate the combine can be as an indicator of a player's ability to actually play on the field.

However even if you consider he was a reach it turned out OK for us, however you wouldn’t want to try to make a living out of it.

Just take a look at many Dallas drafts in the last 20 years and you’ll see what I mean.

I say "reach" because many people still think we did. I never thought so. Anyway, my point is I don't think it's reaching when you're confident the guy can play even if you can wait a round to take him. I think there's gambling on potential (like Dontari Poe). I think it's a reach to gamble with a high pick. Save the gambling for the mid-rounds. There are sure thing guys who fall to the 2nd round every year because teams get so caught up in the flash. I don't think it's a reach to take those guys in the 1st round.

 

[ghst187]

when you consider the cap situation and the other holes, it's looking like this is going to take 2 years to fix. yes, it's nice to have crawford and bass back but do we really know how they are going to play? guys like hardy are pipe dreams. we need build this thing correctly with the draft. i want 3 linemen this year and 2 more in 2015. ware has to go now. i don't even want a paycut. cut him along with miles and few others. lets fix this cap situation once and for all and build thru the draft.

If we somehow got Hatcher and Spencer back....we'd have Bass and Crawford back and then (per my mock draft below) we strike draft gold by landing Nix in the first and Aaron Donald in the second....our DL would go from weakness to ferocious.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If we somehow got Hatcher and Spencer back....

Counting on either player would be a huge mistake.

 

[IrishAnto]

I say "reach" because many people still think we did. I never thought so. Anyway, my point is I don't think it's reaching when you're confident the guy can play even if you can wait a round to take him. I think there's gambling on potential (like Dontari Poe). I think it's a reach to gamble with a high pick. Save the gambling for the mid-rounds. There are sure thing guys who fall to the 2nd round every year because teams get so caught up in the flash. I don't think it's a reach to take those guys in the 1st round.

If we dropped back in the 1st like we did last year and picked up a pick or two then I wouldn't have much of a problem with doing that, however I'd be less be less happy in picking a guy with a second round grade at 16/17 and getting nothing lese in return.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I dont see them releasing Ware or even asking him to take a pay cut...............most likely scenario is that he restructures and converts salary into signing bonus money which can then be prorated over the remaining years of the contract to provide the team with some cap relief.

 

[rwalters31]

Biggest move the team needs to make is replacing DeMarcus Ware. Greg Hardy is a great option for that.

We also have to replace Hatcher/Ratliff. I believe Henry Melton would be the obvious choice, depending on his health and status.

Those are two high priced free agents, but they'll help remake this team overnight.

In the draft if we add Stephon Tuitt or Trent Murphy I think we'll be sitting pretty. Hopefully we could draft a defensive tackle in the 2nd or 3rd round, if not Bass would get the nod.

Releasing Ware and Austin, having already released Ratliff, and not resigning Spencer, affords us the ability to spend more on the defensive line altogether.

Thoughts are welcome, even dissenting ones. I think the biggest worry would be how healthy Melton is, and if he can come back and produce as he did before. If we keep Marinelli, I think this is a no brainer. Without knowing much behind the scenes, I'd guess that he'd want to come back to Texas where he is from and play for the his old defensive coordinator. He might be on the outs in Chicago because of his legal trouble combined with his injury and expense.

Finally, a thread that really goes after the problem. If we stop buying tickets and merchandise from Jerry he might get the hint.

Thank you

PS
I heard that Jimmy Johnson got rejected by the HOF committee for disagreeing with Jerry. Heck, I think he should have gotten a metal.

 

[Alexander]

Broaddus has been saying recently that this is a worse group of defensive tackles than last year.

I certainly hope not. I do not personally see it, but he does. I get that he is worried about Nix and Easley because of their knees, but I happen to like little things as far as scheme fit from Sutton and Donald. He also hates the two LSU tackles, which is surprising.

 

[black label]

Broaddus has been saying recently that this is a worse group of defensive tackles than last year.

I certainly hope not. I do not personally see it, but he does. I get that he is worried about Nix and Easley because of their knees, but I happen to like little things as far as scheme fit from Sutton and Donald. He also hates the two LSU tackles, which is surprising.

Go back and take a look at what he says year after year, The guy is really bad ay predictions. He fills his hat with a whole bunch of predictions-ideas than picks one every two weeks.