DMN: Tracking the Cowboys defensive line: Who is in contention to make the roster?

[jobberone]

Tracking the Cowboys defensive line: Who is in contention to make the roster?
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Rainer Sabin Follow @RainerSabinDMN Email rsabin@***BANNED-URL***
Published: July 7, 2015 4:56 pm
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Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence participated in drills during the team’s final minicamp practice at AT&T Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2015, in Arlington. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

The Dallas Cowboys carried 10 defensive linemen on the active roster at end of the 2014 regular season. Here are the players in 2015 who are good bets to make the roster, are in contention to make the roster and are longshots to make the roster:

Core Players

DE: DeMarcus Lawrence
DE: Greg Hardy
DE: Jeremy Mincey
DE: Randy Gregory
DT: Tyrone Crawford
DT: Nick Hayden
DT: Terrell McClain

Players in contention
DE: Jack Crawford
DE: Ben Gardner
DE: Ryan Russell
DT: Ken Bishop
DT: Davon Coleman
DT: Chris Whaley

Long shots
DE: Kenneth Boatright
DE: Lavar Edwards
DE: Efe Obada

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...who-is-in-contention-to-make-the-roster.html/

 

[jobberone]

Not much beef here but maybe it'll stir some debate. Hope we can find a gem in the making in Obada and keep him on the PS. Great back story.

 

[dogunwo]

Looking at that list, I think the cowboys might go 11 deep on the d line, especially if they can make it up by going short at safety.

 

[Alexander]

Looking at that list, I think the cowboys might go 11 deep on the d line, especially if they can make it up by going short at safety.

That is the best route. They need to keep extra mainly because the interior depth is so suspect. End actually looks relatively decent. The only other way they go lighter is that they expect players like Russell to play inside more.

 

[darthseinfeld]

That is the best route. They need to keep extra mainly because the interior depth is so suspect. End actually looks relatively decent. The only other way they go lighter is that they expect players like Russell to play inside more.

My guess is the plan on moving Crawford to the " 1 Tech" spot and playing a DE at the 3 Tech spot on passing downs

 

[Hailmary]

Of the contenders and longshots, which players are NOT PS elligible?

 

[Hailmary]

Looking at that list, I think the cowboys might go 11 deep on the d line, especially if they can make it up by going short at safety.

I think they may start with 10 and decide if they go with 11 or cut someone once Hardy comes back.

 

[dogunwo]

That is the best route. They need to keep extra mainly because the interior depth is so suspect. End actually looks relatively decent. The only other way they go lighter is that they expect players like Russell to play inside more.

Yeah, I looked at it as all of those core players plus Jack Crawford, Russell, Whaley, and Gardner. Or maybe Coleman instead of Whaley.

 

[xwalker]

My guess is the plan on moving Crawford to the " 1 Tech" spot and playing a DE at the 3 Tech spot on passing downs

In situations where they would move a DE inside, they often play both DTs as 3techs with a wide gap in the middle of the line.

 

[xwalker]

Tracking the Cowboys defensive line: Who is in contention to make the roster?
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Rainer Sabin Follow @RainerSabinDMN Email rsabin@***BANNED-URL***
Published: July 7, 2015 4:56 pm

Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence participated in drills during the team’s final minicamp practice at AT&T Stadium on Thursday, June 18, 2015, in Arlington. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

The Dallas Cowboys carried 10 defensive linemen on the active roster at end of the 2014 regular season. Here are the players in 2015 who are good bets to make the roster, are in contention to make the roster and are longshots to make the roster:

Core Players

DE: DeMarcus Lawrence
DE: Greg Hardy
DE: Jeremy Mincey
DE: Randy Gregory
DT: Tyrone Crawford
DT: Nick Hayden
DT: Terrell McClain

Players in contention
DE: Jack Crawford
DE: Ben Gardner
DE: Ryan Russell
DT: Ken Bishop
DT: Davon Coleman
DT: Chris Whaley

Long shots
DE: Kenneth Boatright
DE: Lavar Edwards
DE: Efe Obada

They need the players in the core group to stay healthy. It will be interesting to see T. McClain 100% healthy this preseason. He flashed last season but was never completely healthy.

I would like to see 2 players from the 2nd/3rd tier step up and really wow us in the preseason. I think Ken Bishop will be really good. Whaley was terrific in college.

I think any of the players in the 2nd/3rd tier could play some snaps and be at least OK NFL backups with the exception of Obada. I just can't imagine how he could be ready to play real NFL games even if he is the greatest physical specimen ever.

 

[dwreck27]

Im actually quite pleased with the dline with our numbers....

Well maybe after last years cluster f@#$ anything looks great

 

[big dog cowboy]

Core Players

DT: Nick Hayden

 

[jobberone]

You're not changing anything except now you have a headache.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I see us carrying a lot of DE because I think we'll be in the Nickel 60% of the time with a DE and Crawford on the inside. Though, that's what we've been saying for the past 2 years and Hayden was still in on the majority of Nickel snaps.

The definite DEs to make it are 1) Hardy, 2) Gregory, 3) Lawrence, 4) Mincey. Then you have the definite DT: 5) Crawford. I also see Russell almost certainly making it unless he bombs in training camp. And I see Gardner making it as a SDE/DT combo. I definitely see McClain making it because he shows that versatility that Melton showed last year and is capable of playing 1-tech and 3-tech. That's 8. Unfortunately, I see Hayden making it too just because they like to have at least one 1-tech. I think the last one or two spots are up for grabs. J. Crawford has that DE/DT versatility. Coleman shows flashes as a backup 3-tech. Maybe Bishop could even unseat Hayden and take over as the true 1-tech on the roster.

 

[ShiningStar]

that line and defense were not to be as good as last year, and look what Rod did, oh yes, lots to be happy about with new faces coming in not just the rooks but Gardner as well, i heard good things about him. Real exciting time for this team defensivly in a while, we have had some good or ok defenses, but lets be honest, some are just getting the fans excited thsi year.

 

[waving monkey]

We'll have a better rush then last year
I dont see us carrying over 10 DL players
There will be more then one break out player on the DL
not including Crawford
we will beat our sack numbers by 10
we will have more hurries [duh]

The results will be more interceptions
and defensed passes