Defensive Line Thoughts

[IrishAnto]

I'm still trying to figure out why anybody thinks a pick at 16 on the Dline is guaranteed to come in and start.

Now he might start, but only because we have nobody else. To find help in the draft is going to take a lot of luck, much like getting Rat in the 7th.

Let's see if there's any DL worth taking at 16/17 before we worry whether he's a first day starter or not.

Many feel its automatic we pick one, but at that point in the draft who knows and we've plenty of other spots to fill.

 

[ftghb]

The problem is we have to replace Hatcher AND add that one additional spark. So, we basically have to hit on at least two additions to mirror what happened with the oline. Plus hope that Ware can get back to form, assuming he too isn't cut.

I'm also not of the belief that dlinemen help each other, or rather depend upon one another, as much as olinemen. So the impact of a single player on his colleagues seems less relative to the oline.

that doesn't ring true to me. Go watch Justin Smith or Greg Hardy eat up a double team so that aldon smith/charles johnson can get to the qb. And I feel like I've said this before, but an offensive line is only as strong as its weakest link. You can't hide bad o-lineman; even the best ones can only block one guy at a time.

 

[chicago JK]

one of the issues with the Cowboys is they sometimes wait until a position is at crisis level before they address it. Second, they aren't good making solid free agent signings(not the big splash big money signings) or uncovering gems later in the draft that help at these positions (there are exceptions but Dallas is not one of the better teams at doing this).

But I would be fine not taking a DT in the first two rounds if I came out with difference makers like Dez and Sean Lee....regardless of position. Lets say those two players were a RT and a FS. If you can add two potential all pro difference makers, sign me up. In such a parity league now, the more difference makers you have the better. Unfortunately, Dallas does not properly allocate their resources or is unable to find good solid football players. That is why we have seen the issue with the offensive lines, Safety and now the Dline. A lot of teams can field solid groups without using a first round pick to address.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I have the opposite feelings about that draft selection. If you pick DL at 16 and he's not ready to start its a problem with the draft selection.

Agreed.

If a team is picking at 16 or 17, the odds a very good that the player they select will have an impact right away providing the talent evaluation process was conducted thoroughly.

 

[sbark]

Agreed.

If a team is picking at 16 or 17, the odds a very good that the player they select will have an impact right away providing the talent evaluation process was conducted thoroughly.

I would sure hope so with any kind of input from Marinneli to draw from...........

 

[big dog cowboy]

I think we need to go heavy on the defensive line this draft, but......if a blue-chip OT/OG stud falls to us, then I would not complain about the pick if he is clearly the BPA. If that were to happen, then the DL would need to be addressed in the 2nd/3rd and FA's.

Absolutely agree with this. I suspect FA will impact the decision as always.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I would sure hope so with any kind of input from Marinneli to draw from...........

Marinelli could and should have a big say in d-line prospects if they intent to make d-line a priority in the draft. There will be several impact-type d-linemen available throughout the 1st round; the Cowboys just need to make sure they select the guy they believe can be successful, scheme or no scheme.

 

[sbark]

The push up the middle is what made the Giants DLine effective for years (2 superbowls).....notice the diff when Hatcher was effective, Remember when our interior OLine was weak and team after team was able to get push right into Romo's lap. Start in the middle of the trench.....and work outward. Have to do something to stop the 3 step drop and set, our DBacks gotta know someone will get there and start sitting on the short drop routes.....right now they don't dare attack them like Seattle or San Fran does......

 

[SacramentoKing]

Some say this is a bad draft for DT

 

[TheFinisher]

The only position I feel comfortable with going into the off-season is SDE, but that's only if Crawford comes back healthy. The whole thing is gonna need to be overhauled and it'll probably take a few offseasons to do it. It's almost a mirror situation with the OL after 2010, they all just got old/declined at the same time with no young talent in the pipeline.

 

[Boys122]

You take the best player available regardless of need. Ealy though has a good chance of being there at 16 or 17. We need to draft the trenches hard this year.

 

[rags747]

Have no issues taking the best DE in this upcoming draft rnd 1. They are saying that even though the very top of the draft is thin rnd 1, rnds 2-4 is way deeper than usual which plays right into our needs. DE, DT, WR, DT, LB sounds good to me.

 

[xwalker]

You take the best player available regardless of need. Ealy though has a good chance of being there at 16 or 17. We need to draft the trenches hard this year.

Or trade around to match BPA with need.

Also, they can't go pure BPA in every round; otherwise, they could end up with 7 WRs. BPA is really best tier available. They rank players by tiers. If there is only 1 player on the tier, then he is BPA, but if there are multiple players on a tier, then they use need to pick the best from the top tier.

The tiers don't show up on the leaded draft board, but the scouts refer to a numbering system with two numbers. I think 1 number is the round and the other number is the tier within the round. At #16/17 they probably have R1-T2 or R1-T3 players available. They would either take a T2 player or trade down. If they have 10 T2 players, then they can trade down 10 spots and still get 1 or them.

 

[Boys122]

Or trade around to match BPA with need.

Also, they can't go pure BPA in every round; otherwise, they could end up with 7 WRs. BPA is really best tier available. They rank players by tiers. If there is only 1 player on the tier, then he is BPA, but if there are multiple players on a tier, then they use need to pick the best from the top tier.

The tiers don't show up on the leaded draft board, but the scouts refer to a numbering system with two numbers. I think 1 number is the round and the other number is the tier within the round. At #16/17 they probably have R1-T2 or R1-T3 players available. They would either take a T2 player or trade down. If they have 10 T2 players, then they can trade down 10 spots and still get 1 or them.

I agree with that.

 

[Ken]

I believe you will see hatcher franchised and ware renegotiated. Then 2 of our top 5 draft pick will be DL.

 

[TheSport78]

1. Sign Henry Melton- check
2. Tyrone Crawford becomes a starter- check
3. Ware takes a pay cut- check
4. Draft the other starter in the 1st or 2nd round (Kony Ealy or Trent Murphy)- check

 

[DBOY3141]

I believe you will see hatcher franchised and ware renegotiated. Then 2 of our top 5 draft pick will be DL.

I think that would be a mistake. Both over 30 and Ware is breaking down big time. I think the DL is going to take 2 drafts to really fix. I think you cut your losses and move on from both those guys, take the money and sign a cheap FA and take 2 DL within the 1st 3rounds this year. Go into next year with Crawford, FA, 2 draft picks, Bass, Hayden. Finish up the DL in 2015, which could be a top 10 pick after looking at next years schedule.

 

[Verdict]

I think you have about 4 guys who can CONTRIBUTE and/or start next year. Crawford, Selvie, Hayden and Bass all have enough talent to stay on the roster and play (even if they are not all capable of starting) Plus we have young guys who have been signed who might contribute. One guy can probably make an impact to this DL, but may or may not (in conjunction with the guys we have under contract already) make it dominant. If you add the next Warren Sapp, Geno Adkins or D. Ware to this lineup they would have some impact. That is assuming we let Ware, Spencer and Hatcher all walk.

 

[Verdict]

I would love to see the BPA line up with us as defensive linemen, but I would still take BPA unless MAYBE it is a QB in the first.