Defensive Line review, where's the beef?

[BlindFaith]

There has been discussion about Crawford vs other DTs in the league. But no real substance behind those arguments. So I put together some numbers.

The first set is ranked by Total Tackles. The second set is by Total Sacks. The third set is by weight. I've included all of the "bigs" that I could find that were even somewhat productive. This includes 3-4 NTs and Ends along with 4-3 DTs.

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Below is the combined rating that I came up with to give a comprehensive value. The guys at the top of the list all make sense based on production.

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I like Crawford and he's a team guy that will play wherever the coaches tell him to play. I've lost faith in Marinelli and his personnel decisions. I don't think Crawford should be playing inside.

He is the 60th lightest DL in the league. The average weight of the guys on this list is 312 lbs. Crawford is at 290. And this includes 3-4 defensive ends which are typically much lighter than your normal 4-3 DT.

He will be coming off shoulder surgery as well. I say let him lose 15 lbs, as he will due to the surgery. Let him focus on getting his quickness back and move him to SDE.

Bring in Ian Williams who is way under the radar. Draft a 3T tackle in the first after a trade down if you don't go QB at 4. Move Lawrence back to WDE. You can still move Crawford down inside on passing downs like we did with Hardy.

Compare Crawford's measurables with guys like Hardy, Charles Johnson, Micheal Bennett. Defensive ends that have been very productive in a 4-3.

This gets us bigger up front. Something we sorely need to do.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Draft Bosa and move Crawford to DE you say?

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[Machete]

In Marinelli's system, beef is secondary to speed.

 

[BlindFaith]

Draft Bosa and move Crawford to DE you say?

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I was thinking more of a trade down and then A'Shawn Robinson. Bosa seems to me to be very much in the same mold as Crawford actually. Doesn't seem real quick twitch. Looks like a SDE to me. And if we were to move Crawford outside, we wouldn't need him.

 

[BlindFaith]

In Marinelli's system, beef is secondary to speed.

If his defense wasn't consistently in the bottom quarter in sacks every year, then I may be ok with what he was doing. Small and no pressure is a bad combo and has gotten us to a below average defense. Time for a change. Get big or get out.

 

[FaSho]

I'm willing to give Crawford the benefit of the doubt, with that shoulder injury he played through. We'll see after next season, if he's worth keeping or not.

 

[BlindFaith]

I'm willing to give Crawford the benefit of the doubt, with that shoulder injury he played through. We'll see after next season, if he's worth keeping or not.

He's worth keeping. But I don't think he holds up playing inside. He's probably best suited as a 3-4 DE. Watt lite. But I think he could also be a pretty good SDE.

 

[John813]

Wait, so what happens with Lawrence? Move him back to RDE?

We've seen some guys do well, even if they were undersized. Ratliff, pre-mental issues, was an undersized NT who excelled and was a legit probowl NT for a bit. IMO, Crawford, along with Dez were players who probably should of gone on IR after their respective injuries instead of playing injured. Of course, our depth at DT was terrible, and an one shoulder Crawford was our best option.

 

[Alexander]

Terrell McClain is all the beef we need.

 

[BlindFaith]

Wait, so what happens with Lawrence? Move him back to RDE?

We've seen some guys do well, even if they were undersized. Ratliff, pre-mental issues, was an undersized NT who excelled and was a legit probowl NT for a bit. IMO, Crawford, along with Dez were players who probably should of gone on IR after their respective injuries instead of playing injured. Of course, our depth at DT was terrible, and an one shoulder Crawford was our best option.

Yes, move Lawrence back to WDE. He really came on the second half of the year. And you'd still have Gregory that you could rotate in there. I still have high hopes for him as well.

Ratliff was a little bigger, not as tall. Different body. And he was banged up often as well.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Terrell McClain is all the beef we need.

Chopped beef.

 

[BlindFaith]

Terrell McClain is all the beef we need.

Who is this Terrell McClain that you speak of? Another great signing.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

The key to this defensive line, from my understanding, is speed and penetration. Combined with a wave of rotational players (to prevent fatigue), it is designed to create plays behind the LOS, pressure the QB and create turnovers. IMO, it is still a work in progress but with key additions could be very good.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Gregory for the first few years of his career will be used like B Irvin and we need to accept that. Keep crawford and Lawrence where they are and get replacements for Hayden and Hardy. No more musical chairs.

 

[jterrell]

I appreciate the work you put into this but ....

Tyrone Crawford was seriously injured most of the year. His production from 2014 would be far higher on these lists except the fatty list.
If you have a fat fetish, Marinelli, is not your guy.
We can agree there.
But TC is definitely a 3T. He was tried along the line and 3T is where he made plays.
He won that job, he wasn't handed it.
He just wasn't right physically this year.

 

[Stash]

The key to this defensive line, from my understanding, is speed and penetration. Combined with a wave of rotational players (to prevent fatigue), it is designed to create plays behind the LOS, pressure the QB and create turnovers. IMO, it is still a work in progress but with key additions could be very good.

I'm not seeing it. All of this talk about "Rushmen" and sacrificing size for speed and all I see is a group that still fails to get pressure while also getting moved off the ball.

Marinelli got the benefit of the doubt in the past due to injuries and a lack of personnel. But even after getting just about everything he wanted, his vision has still not come to fruition. I see little reason to make excuses for a lack of production any longer.

 

[Risen Star]

I appreciate the work you put into it but you do realize you're judging Crawford off a year where he was playing with one arm, right? I'm not normally one to make excuses for players but unless you believe that injury is BS it's certainly significant and play altering.

Who didn't know Marinelli ~head bowed~ liked lighter quick twitch interior linemen?

 

[Alexander]

I appreciate the work you put into this but ....

Tyrone Crawford was seriously injured most of the year. His production from 2014 would be far higher on these lists except the fatty list.
If you have a fat fetish, Marinelli, is not your guy.
We can agree there.
But TC is definitely a 3T. He was tried along the line and 3T is where he made plays.
He won that job, he wasn't handed it.
He just wasn't right physically this year.

I don't have any problem with Crawford continuing as the 3-T. That's what Marinelli thinks he needs, fine.

I will not condone this continued idiocy that keeps repeating itself with the nose tackle position.

The "rushmen" concept is all fine and dandy, but we saw first hand how a lack of run stopping girth hurt us in several games this year. And it could have been worse if teams felt the need to run more.

The entire middle of the defense is soft and slow. From the tackles to the middle LB to the safeties.

 

[DoctorChicken]

According to the great Mike Fisher, the Cowboys are "changing their thoughts" about the 1-Tech position, and they will "no longer put JAGs there".

Take that for what it's worth.

 

[robjay04]

I appreciate the work you put into it but you do realize you're judging Crawford off a year where he was playing with one arm, right? I'm not normally one to make excuses for players but unless you believe that injury is BS it's certainly significant and play altering.

Who didn't know Marinelli ~head bowed~ liked lighter quick twitch interior linemen?

Not to mention, statistically...Crawford was still solid. Not elite, not worth the contract (yet) but still solid for an interior linemen.