Defensive Tackle: Position of strength?

[CATCH17]

At least in numbers I think it is. I feel like we have about 4 or 5 solid D Tackles at the very least.

If we can get McClain to the football field and Maliek Collins shows some talent then we may have something with this group.

 

[jazzcat22]

Best it has been for a very long time.
It got immediately better when it was obvious Hayden wasn't returning, then went up from there. I didn't dislike Hayden as much, but we needed an upgrade tremendously. It just took too long.
Now we need to see this group play, but no one can't say it's any worse.

To me the one of the keys is McClain finally staying healthy, and keep up decent rotation. Adding Thornton is a huge plus as well as a healthy T. Crawford.
Then we have a few players that can play some inside also, like J. Crawford, therefore Rod can do more stunts.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

As long as Hayden's replacements are considered better, it is a position of strength. I think the talent is better but they (McClain and Collins,specifically) have to be healthy.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Thorton looked great in the first half of the Rams game. He was inches away multiple times from making huge plays. He did spin moves, bull rush and was the quickest of the line most times.

He will be a huge upgrade in the middle

 

[Dalmations202]

Until guys prove they basically demand a double team like the Cowboys have had in Randy White, Jethro Pugh, Tony Cassillas, Leon Lett, Chad Hennings, and Russell Maryland................I still can't consider this group to be a strength.

 

[Teague31]

And it needs to be to make up for perhaps the worst group of ends in the league. It's going to be brutal for the first month. Just brutal.

 

[CATCH17]

Until guys prove they basically demand a double team like the Cowboys have had in Randy White, Jethro Pugh, Tony Cassillas, Leon Lett, Chad Hennings, and Russell Maryland................I still can't consider this group to be a strength.

I don't think any of them are superstar type of players but if you look around the league there isn't many real elite players at that position.

I like having 4 or 5 really solid DTs.

 

[UTmodisette]

Best it has been in Dallas in a long time. This will really help our run defense, guys like McClain and Thornton are huge upgrades from Nick Hayden. Just watch McClain's game against Philly last year, he dominated the line of scrimmage.

 

[CATCH17]

And it needs to be to make up for perhaps the worst group of ends in the league. It's going to be brutal for the first month. Just brutal.

I don't know what Mayowa or Tapper is yet.

We know Lawrence is a good football player and Irving could be something too.. We'll see..

First month our schedule is soft.

 

[erod]

Hope so, and the truth is, it's more important to be strong up the middle than around the edge. Quarterbacks hate pressure up the middle, and it's hard to bounce a run outside in the NFL.

 

[Stash]

At least in numbers I think it is. I feel like we have about 4 or 5 solid D Tackles at the very least.

If we can get McClain to the football field and Maliek Collins shows some talent then we may have something with this group.

We have to see it on the field. To this point, nobody's been out there with any sort of consistency.

I agree that I think it looks much improved on paper, but we need to see these guys play.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

We have to see it on the field. To this point, nobody's been out there with any sort of consistency.

I agree that I think it looks much improved on paper, but we need to see these guys play.

...see these guys play and stay healthy. The Cowboys have been waiting for T. Crawford to break out for a few years but injuries keep hindering his progress.

McClain has died hard the last few seasons after showing promise and Collins just needs to get on the field. Hopefully Thornton can stay healthy as well; he has proven he can play well at DT.

 

[Future]

Thorton looked great in the first half of the Rams game. He was inches away multiple times from making huge plays. He did spin moves, bull rush and was the quickest of the line most times.
He will be a huge upgrade in the middle

Thornton is probably the most underrated signing in the entire league. It will make everyone better.

And it needs to be to make up for perhaps the worst group of ends in the league. It's going to be brutal for the first month. Just brutal.

The interior is going to be quite good though, and interior pressure is A) more impactful and B) makes DEs job easier.

 

[CATCH17]

We have to see it on the field. To this point, nobody's been out there with any sort of consistency.

I agree that I think it looks much improved on paper, but we need to see these guys play.

We've seen most of these guys play and they have been pretty solid.

McClain and Thornton are solid at worst but this scheme plays to their strengths and let's them pin their ears back.

 

[Stash]

We've seen most of these guys play and they have been pretty solid.

McClain and Thornton are solid at worst but this scheme plays to their strengths and let's them pin their ears back.

Oh, I definitely agree. But they need to be on the field, and on it consistantly. I think that is our biggest concern right now. But if they stay healthy, I'm with you in that I see the potential for vast improvement at the position.

 

[Kolemmitt]

Until guys prove they basically demand a double team like the Cowboys have had in Randy White, Jethro Pugh, Tony Cassillas, Leon Lett, Chad Hennings, and Russell Maryland................I still can't consider this group to be a strength.

No offense meant at all, but I think we tend to overvalue some of our historical players. While Randy White, Bob Lilly, and Pugh were very dominating players, I would not put Cassillas, Hennings, Maryland in that category. Don't get me wrong they were very solid and part of a great rotation, but they were no where near White or Lilly. I think our current tackles actual measure up pretty well with the Cassillas, Hennings, Maryland group.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I feel like we have about 4 or 5 solid D Tackles at the very least.

No question. Give them a few weeks and they will be even better. Nice solid rotation set up now. Just gotta stay healthy.

 

[jazzcat22]

No offense meant at all, but I think we tend to overvalue some of our historical players. While Randy White, Bob Lilly, and Pugh were very dominating players, I would not put Cassillas, Hennings, Maryland in that category. Don't get me wrong they were very solid and part of a great rotation, but they were no where near White or Lilly. I think our current tackles actual measure up pretty well with the Cassillas, Hennings, Maryland group.

Agree, as those defenses were very good. But that 90's had a very good rotation, as where Lilly. Pugh and White were out there on about every down.
When a team wins SB's some players are put up on a pedestal more than current players as a comparison, though in reality they are about the same player.

Maryland was a solid player, but I never thought he should have been the #1 overall. They could have traded down and still got him.
That is something Jimmy is considered a genius for, but if Jason did it, holy hate on Jerry and Jason for it.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Oh, I definitely agree. But they need to be on the field, and on it consistantly. I think that is our biggest concern right now. But if they stay healthy, I'm with you in that I see the potential for vast improvement at the position.

Its the strength of the Dline because the rest is so weak. But a strength of the team? I would call it solid. And the depth is unproven or injury prone. Crawford a disappointment thus far. I dont see any pro bowl types there. They can prove me wrong if Crawford stays healthy and breaks out and if Thornton is a stud.

 

[CowboyRoy]

No question. Give them a few weeks and they will be even better. Nice solid rotation set up now. Just gotta stay healthy.

Solid? Solid is only good if you have studs on the outside.