Doug Farr: Why DTs are more important than ever before

From 1961 to 1988, a period of 28 seasons, the Dallas Cowboys starting DT was a generational Hall of Famer who set the tone for an historical dominant defense.

Here is the mind-blower:

Two players filled the position of RDT during that 28 year span with back-to-back 14 year careers,

Randy White missed two games as the starter during his 14-year career.

Bob Lilly never missed a single game in his 14-year career.

Bob Lilly and Randy White defined the position of DT in the NFL for almost three decades. Both were legendary run-stoppers and relentless pass rushers.

They both led at the position of DT during their eras.

Cowboys football used to be defined by the nature of their defensive leader, that Right Defensive Tackle.

Is Quinnen Williams that guy in today's NFL?
 
haynesworth started it off, then it was the guy from the commanders, then all hell broke loose
 
From 1961 to 1988, a period of 28 seasons, the Dallas Cowboys starting DT was a generational Hall of Famer who set the tone for an historical dominant defense.

Here is the mind-blower:

Two players filled the position of RDT during that 28 year span with back-to-back 14 year careers,

Randy White missed two games as the starter during his 14-year career.

Bob Lilly never missed a single game in his 14-year career.

Bob Lilly and Randy White defined the position of DT in the NFL for almost three decades. Both were legendary run-stoppers and relentless pass rushers.

They both led at the position of DT during their eras.

Cowboys football used to be defined by the nature of their defensive leader, that Right Defensive Tackle.

Is Quinnen Williams that guy in today's NFL?
The Cowboys won 3 of 5 total Super Bowls without a HOF DT.

They had great depth at DT during those nineties Super Bowls but nobody close to being in the HOF discussion.

Some of those years the 5th DT was one of Chad Hennings, Leon Lett or Jimmie Jones.
 
Good read.........



The 3rd IDL in the 3-4 or 5-1-5 alignments is going to be a key factor.

Bullard Clark Williams

or

Clark Ogbonnia Williams

I think they like Bullard at 4i but don't want to wear down Kenny Clark at NT.

The 5-1-5 is basically the Nickel version of a 3-4.
- Maybe Clark plays more NT in that alignment.
 
The 3rd IDL in the 3-4 or 5-1-5 alignments is going to be a key factor.

Bullard Clark Williams

or

Clark Ogbonnia Williams

I think they like Bullard at 4i but don't want to wear down Kenny Clark at NT.

The 5-1-5 is basically the Nickel version of a 3-4.
- Maybe Clark plays more NT in that alignment.
Ogbonnia has been the starting 4i so far. Bullard has been disappointing, but it's early of course.
 
From 1961 to 1988, a period of 28 seasons, the Dallas Cowboys starting DT was a generational Hall of Famer who set the tone for an historical dominant defense.

Here is the mind-blower:

Two players filled the position of RDT during that 28 year span with back-to-back 14 year careers,

Randy White missed two games as the starter during his 14-year career.

Bob Lilly never missed a single game in his 14-year career.

Bob Lilly and Randy White defined the position of DT in the NFL for almost three decades. Both were legendary run-stoppers and relentless pass rushers.

They both led at the position of DT during their eras.

Cowboys football used to be defined by the nature of their defensive leader, that Right Defensive Tackle.

Is Quinnen Williams that guy in today's NFL?
And from there we went to players such as Casillas and Lett, both disruptive and both very good players.

Last time we had a #1 D was w/ Laroi Glover, who was highly disruptive.

We have never played in a super bowl w/ a JAG at the 3 tech. We've had a monster there for every super bowl.
 
The Cowboys won 3 of 5 total Super Bowls without a HOF DT.

They had great depth at DT during those nineties Super Bowls but nobody close to being in the HOF discussion.

Some of those years the 5th DT was one of Chad Hennings, Leon Lett or Jimmie Jones.
HOF? You rate players only on whether they make the HOF? That is very weak, sir. Sorry, but it is.

Lett was a topnotch DT. Jimmie Jones would've started for most NFL teams.

Listen Walkytalky, no one is saying you have to have a HOF player there. I believe that is what you call a strawman. However, you must have quality there.

Did Hennings start for any of our super bowl teams?
 
The Cowboys won 3 of 5 total Super Bowls without a HOF DT.

They had great depth at DT during those nineties Super Bowls but nobody close to being in the HOF discussion.

Some of those years the 5th DT was one of Chad Hennings, Leon Lett or Jimmie Jones.
True, none of the five rotational DTs made the Hall of Fame. However, there were other credentials...

Russell Maryland was a #1 overall draft pick and Pro Bowler

Tony Casillas was a #2 overall draft pick and Pro Bowler

Leon Lett made the Pro Bowl.

The point I was trying to make was that both Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson understood the importance of investing in the DT position.

When was the last time a team won the Super Bowl without a DT that was a 1st round pick and/or Pro Bowler?
 
The Cowboys won 3 of 5 total Super Bowls without a HOF DT.

They had great depth at DT during those nineties Super Bowls but nobody close to being in the HOF discussion.

Some of those years the 5th DT was one of Chad Hennings, Leon Lett or Jimmie Jones.
If your worst DT is Hennings or Lett you have a great group of DTs….
 
Our PB DTs in the 90's were legitimate top players
and we had enough to platoon them which was critical

you cannot have a top Defense and be even Meh at DT nowadays
 

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