ESPND: Watkins and Archer breakdown the DL

[jobberone]

Cowboys position breakdown: D-line
January, 29, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

Cowboys reporters Calvin Watkins and Todd Archer breakdown the Cowboys, position by position, analyzing what the players did in 2013, what they can do in the future and what the team can do to improve the position in 2014.

Under contract: DeMarcus Ware, George Selvie, Nick Hayden, Corvey Irvin,Martez Wilson, Everette Brown, Frank Kearse, Ben Bass, Tyrone Crawford, Edgar Jones, Caesar Rayford

A look back: Jason Hatcher had the best season of his career with 11 sacks and was added to the Pro Bowl, but the defensive line play in 2013 was shoddy and played a big part in why the Cowboys finished last in the NFL in defense.

Spencer

Monte Kiffin’s defense is predicated on the front four getting pressure, and they did not affect the quarterback enough. From the first day of training camp on, the group was beset by injury. Tyrone Crawford tore his Achilles on the first day. Jay Ratliff never played a down and was cut in October. Anthony Spencer played in one game before needing microfracture surgery on his knee. The Cowboys used 20 different defensive linemen during the season. They hit on George Selvie, who started every game and had seven sacks, and received some moments from Nick Hayden as well, but the group just wasn’t good enough.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4723842/cowboys-position-breakdown-d-line

 

[DBOY3141]

any word on how Crawford and Bass are recovering from there injuries?

I see 3 picks in this draft going towards the DL. It's going to take 2 drafts to get it right.

 

[morasp]

I wonder how much they get paid to write that stuff.

 

[Idgit]

any word on how Crawford and Bass are recovering from there injuries?

I see 3 picks in this draft going towards the DL. It's going to take 2 drafts to get it right.

I think so, too, on the 2 drafts part. Even if it didn't take that long to assemble the talent, it'll take more than a year for the players to be really effective. We can get improved play on the DL this year, though, just by adding some talented bodies, at least.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Archer and Watkins? Seriously?

 

[OhSnap]

Does anyone know how Hatcher was rated against the run? Do we get a comp pick for him leaving? Tryna find positives in him leaving. I wanna say "yes but he sucked against the run and we get a draft pick for him leaving so someone else can over pay." I'm way past skeptical when these guys pop up and have a career year when they play for a new contract.

 

[xwalker]

Does anyone know how Hatcher was rated against the run? Do we get a comp pick for him leaving? Tryna find positives in him leaving. I wanna say "yes but he sucked against the run and we get a draft pick for him leaving so someone else can over pay." I'm way past skeptical when these guys pop up and have a career year when they play for a new contract.

The positive in Hatcher leaving could be that they give that money to a younger free agent.

Hopefully, the Cowboys have learned that giving big money to non-QBs over 30 is a bad idea.

 

[adamknite]

Does anyone know how Hatcher was rated against the run? Do we get a comp pick for him leaving? Tryna find positives in him leaving. I wanna say "yes but he sucked against the run and we get a draft pick for him leaving so someone else can over pay." I'm way past skeptical when these guys pop up and have a career year when they play for a new contract.

To answer the comp pick part, that depends on how much he signs for with another team and his performance... and who we sign (if any). He most likely would, but we wouldn't know until the next year either way.

 

[theSHOW]

Get of Ware and bring the rest of these scrubs to camp hoping to get a starter or two from them. Sign 2-3 free agent DL and draft 2 more DL. Fixed.

 

[jterrell]

this is seriously called a breakdown?
more like a quick overview.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Get of Ware and bring the rest of these scrubs to camp hoping to get a starter or two from them. Sign 2-3 free agent DL and draft 2 more DL. Fixed.

I agree with that take.

I'm thinking the Cowboys sign 2 FA DL. Draft 2 DL and take an undrafted FA home from camp.

That would be 5 new faces on the roster.

Add Selvie, Crawford and potentially Bass and/or Spencer/Ware and you've got your roster.

Add another DL in the 2015 draft and sign another FA DL and you've probably made some good progress.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Get of Ware

Doubt that happens.

 

[theSHOW]

Doubt that happens.

*Get rid of Ware. Yes, I have heard Mickey and most of the offseason associates of Jerry make mention that you keep Ware. I strongly disagree. Overpaid in 2014 will kill this team. The team could use the same money on 2 powerpacked free agent dlinemen. Other teams get rid of age. We don't.

 

[big dog cowboy]

*Get rid of Ware. Yes, I have heard Mickey and most of the offseason associates of Jerry make mention that you keep Ware. I strongly disagree. Overpaid in 2014 will kill this team. The team could use the same money on 2 powerpacked free agent dlinemen. Other teams get rid of age. We don't.

I don't disagree with anything you said. But it's not to difficult to predict what Jones will do. It should be done is for no other reason to send a message to the locker room that it is time to start producing.

 

[theSHOW]

I don't disagree with anything you said. But it's not to difficult to predict what Jones will do. It should be done is for no other reason to send a message to the locker room that it is time to start producing.

Another benefit is that new players can bring in a nasty attitude needed that energizes the entire defense and entire team. Ware just seems to lead by his play and now what? I don't see the play.

 

[theSHOW]

This d line needs some maniacs. A yeller and screamer who encourages the rest of the defense. Ware is a quiet guy who wants his numbers but does not do a whole lot of team team... lets make this stop talk. It is time to get some new attitude about winning. The guys who stay need to do a mind turnabout. Can't just line up the same players and add 2 rookies.

 

[JBS]

That was a really, really, really bad piece. Wow

 

[CyberB0b]

this is seriously called a breakdown?
more like a quick overview.

Well, do you really want them doing an in depth breakdown?

 

[cowboyblue22]

the thing with the cowboys is they don't have two or three draft to fix the defense there qb wont be here that long and when he is gone then you are back at square one look how many teams have tired to find a qb and are still floundering around

 

[LatinMind]

The begining of the yr Dallas was getting turnovers because teams didnt know what to expect from the DL. But when they had tape on the players they knew what to do to adjust and those turnovers stopped. With 2 or 3 new guys who can form a rotation with Ware, Selvie, Crawford, Bass i have no doubt they can improve and create pressure. With marinelli being more aggresive in his style than Kiffin will improve the defense as well. But the Lber core and secondary showed they can get turnovers if the DL can force some bad throws and force some fumbles along the way. The key is to stay healthy.