ESPN: Cowboys approach to defensive line needs closer look

[Vintage]

What was that guys name from Oklahoma state we wanted and "settled" for Jaylon? I think the Browns got him..I should know this, I wanted him too..

Ogbah.

 

[negativecreep]

Ogbah.

That's the guy, anyone know how he did this year? I have a habit of working a few jobs at once and I only pay attention to Cowboys games.

 

[Vintage]

That's the guy, anyone know how he did this year? I have a habit of working a few jobs at once and I only pay attention to Cowboys games.

5.5 sacks per nfl.com

I had to look it up. No idea on how well/poorly he played last year.

 

[negativecreep]

5.5 sacks per nfl.com

I had to look it up. No idea on how well/poorly he played last year.

Appreciate it.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think the team will head into the season with Lawrence, Mayowa, Tapper, Crawford, Collins, Thornton, McClain, Irving, and a draft pick as the DL. Maybe McClain is gone and another free agent of similar statue is brought in. But I think the wholesale changes people are expecting aren't going to happen. I think the team will instead rely on Lawrence and Tapper returning to health; development of Collins and Irving, and a draft pick to form more of a rotation or waves of "rushers" as opposed to some sort of complete makeover.

I think a makeover does happen. But I think its going to be in the secondary.


This is just my prediction; not saying I want to see it.

Nor do I foresee wholesale changes. I think they'll consider the likelihood of Lawrence & Tapper being able to play next season without injury issues and will go from there. I think you'll see a middling free agent DE brought on and of course a drafted DE (within the first couple rounds).

 

[kiheikiwi]

Nor do I foresee wholesale changes. I think they'll consider the likelihood of Lawrence & Tapper being able to play next season without injury issues and will go from there. I think you'll see a middling free agent DE brought on and of course a drafted DE (within the first couple rounds).

Just saw that both Lawrence and Thornton are having surgeries. Don't think any of us expect wholesale changes, just additions. Troubling that Lawrence has played 3 years and now will have 2 back surgeries. Thornton's is on his ankle.
Do not feel that JPP is an option, more likely to be another Mayowa and first or second round pick for DE.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Just saw that both Lawrence and Thornton are having surgeries. Don't think any of us expect wholesale changes, just additions. Troubling that Lawrence has played 3 years and now will have 2 back surgeries. Thornton's is on his ankle.
Do not feel that JPP is an option, more likely to be another Mayowa and first or second round pick for DE.

I believe Thornton already had his shoulder surgery.

I agree that JPP is not an option and that someone like Sheard/Addison will be signed.

 

[RandyOh]

Sign

DT1- Brandon Williams
DT1- John Jenkins
SDE- Chandler Jones

Draft DE McKinley

Dline
DTs-Jenkins, Williams, Thornton, Crawford and Collins

SDEs- Jones, Irving
WDEs- Tapper, McKinley

Arizona will Franchise jones over letting him go in free agency.

 

[kiheikiwi]

I believe Thornton already had his shoulder surgery.

I agree that JPP is not an option and that someone like Sheard/Addison will be signed.

Isn't it Crawford - shoulder, Thornton - Ankle ?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Isn't it Crawford - shoulder, Thornton - Ankle ?

The article I read was Thornton shoulder... But who knows if they're reporting it correctly.

Crawford is a maybe surgery from what I've read.

 

[kiheikiwi]

The article I read was Thornton shoulder... But who knows if they're reporting it correctly.

Crawford is a maybe surgery from what I've read.

Thanks mate.

 

[Bohuntr97]

McClain is a player for sure and I hope he is back. We need to spend money however on a DE. We can't keep getting these cheap guys if we want results.

Agreed. However we are already projected to be nearly 9 million over the cap. We simply don't Have the money to go after a JPP type player and re-sign some of our current free agents like McClain

 

[waving monkey]

I am one who would be for upgrading the 1-tech. Not saying its our top priority by any means, but just like we found our future 3-tech in Collins in the 3rd round. Would be all for attempting the same with a big boy next to him. DE and CB are most definitely our top needs, not up for debate. But, like all positions upgrading the skill level is never a bad idea. Our inside push was not great, and has not been for a long time. Thornton was not able to make the switch from 3/4 to 4/3 very smoothly, he will get another shot this year - we will see how it goes. McClain while he had his best season with us I feel can be upgraded. If I could get only one free Agent this year, I would look at a big stout 1-tech. (Cough cough Sheldon Richardson)...Thus not having to use a draft pick on that position. If not (Probably not), would have no qualms about drafting a 1-tech in 3rd or 4th.

The D1 spot is one of our strongest position but if you can upgrade a position great. I know DE is a greater need but if the valued DE's are gone and a stout quick twitch D1 is there BPA take him.
Just get to the QB

 

[RandyOh]

The D1 spot is one of our strongest position but if you can upgrade a position great. I know DE is a greater need but if the valued DE's are gone and a stout quick twitch D1 is there BPA take him.
Just get to the QB

Very true. Just as long as we are upgrading the defensive line and pass rush.

 

[BAT]

If Demarcus Lawrence comes back healthy, and Tapper is healthy and Myowa can continue to improve and Irving is more consistent and we add one more to the rotation then it begins to look much better. I would resign Mcclain. I think we are set at DT.

That's a lot of ifs.

 

[BAT]

I'd love to get a Sapp-quality 3-tech even though we have some good players in Crawford and Irving at the position. We need consistent pressure from the 3-tech and RDE spots. Of couse, a Sapp-quality 3-tech is hard to find.

Trade Romo to Jets for Mo Wilkerson and draft EDGE rusher Tak McKinley. Or to Texans for Clowney and draft Demarcus Walker to play 3 tech.

Sign either Poe or Berry.

 

[percyhoward]

"Cowboys Need to Rethink Their Approach to Defensive Line" you say? No ****. You know how you fix it? Spend resources on it. Not a 2nd round flier on a guy who dropped because he's got a clear addiction problem. I don't care how good Randy Gregory looks in practice. Not on a guy you love at #34 overall but who may never play again and who may not return to form if he does every play again. Just spend the picks on the defensive side of the ball like you did on offense. Draft guys who will be in the lineup and draft them early. Do it at the expense of the running backs or the 2nd round experiments..

Since 2000, the Super Bowl has featured 8 teams with top 7 RB (rushing yards) and 17 teams with top 7 defenses (points per drive).

9 top 7 defenses have reached the Super Bowl without a top 7 RB.

0 top 7 RB have reached the Super Bowl without a top 7 defense.

Dallas' defense ranked 13th in points per drive this season.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

That's a lot of ifs.

Most of the "Ifs" are at DE... Not DT.

 

[jobberone]

I think they try hard to sign an edge rusher that being a 3-4 OLB type. I think they look for the opportunity to sign a vet DE as well esp a WDE. And they will try to draft an edge rusher and/or a DE. I think they could get one vet and one draft choice. I fear they will get nothing but that is the right move unless that player is clearly as good as our better rushers. It makes no sense to sign players who don't add more than what we already have. We have numbers. We need quality.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Perry, Addison or Sheard would all work for me.

Not big on Sheard right now. He is a solid player, but alot of what we already have. Solid overall DE that can provide some pressure, but not a guy you want to pressure the QB every down at RDE. At the price he will cost we can do better IMO