Evaluating the Defensive Ends - Arm Length

[Jumbo075]

This is going to be a simple evaluation. One of the most important measurable physical traits a defensive end can have is long arms. Ideally, a DE will have 34" arms, which allows him to get leverage on blockers in the pass rush because his arms are so long, they cannot get into his body to block him. (Of course, that doesn't work with freaks like Tyron Smith, who has 36-3/8" arms himself, but I digress). With Tackles like La'el Collins, who has only 33-1/4" arms, a long-armed pass rusher can give him fits. This is why the Cowboys are moving 33" arm long Connor Williams to Offensive Guard, and why 32-7/8" arm long Zack Martin is better suited to play Guard in the NFL. (Note: Doug Free had 34" arms.)

So, let's take a look, in descending order, at the arm length of the Defensive Lineman currently on the Cowboys roster

1. 37-3/4" - David Irving
2. 34-3/4" - Dorance Armstrong
3. 34-3/8" - Charles Tapper
4. 34-1/4" - Taco Charlton and Kony Ealy
5. 34" - Randy Gregory
6. 33-7/8" - Jihad Ward
7. 33-3/4" - DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford (last year's starters)
8. 33-3/8" - Lewis Neal
9. 33-1/8" - Maliek Collins
10. 32-3/4" - Datone Jones (and Terrell McClain if he signs with the Cowboys)
11. 32-1/4" - Brian Price
12. unknown - Richard Ash, Daniel Ross

Drafted as a DE for the Packers, you can understand why Datone Jones is more suited to being an interior defensive lineman, along with Collins, Price, Ash and Ross (and maybe McClain). Going up against short-armed guards and centers, you can also see why David Irving is such a nightmare as a pass rushing defensive tackle. He's got 5 full inches of extra arm length on some interior offensive lineman. And while barely over 6' tall Lewis Neal has really long arms for a guy so short, he still doesn't have the arm length needed to play DE in the NFL, and he's not heavy enough to play DT - which may be why it is rumored the Cowboys are going to move him to FB to compete with Jamize Olawale.

This trait of long arms is also why the Cowboys are trying to convert college DT Jarron Jones, who has 35-1/2" long arms into an offensive tackle - much like they successfully converted Mark Tuinei and Jermey Parnell from interior defensive lineman to offensive linemen. Kadeem Edwards is another Olineman on the Cowboys roster with 35-1/2" arms. They are both sleeper picks to replace Chaz Green if the Cowboys decide to keep 9 offensive linemen. And both Marcus Martin and Cameron Fleming have 34" arms.

Finally, looking at this particular trait, you can understand a little bit more why the Cowboys like Dorance Armstrong. With almost 35" long arms, he can create the leverage he needs to throw offensive lineman off balance. If he can learn some advanced techniques of hand fighting from Lawrence, he might be better than some of us give him credit for being.

 

[Torturedcowboysfan]

I'd rather have Hankins.

 

[Jumbo075]

I'd rather have Hankins.

33" arms

 

[Torturedcowboysfan]

33" arms

He stops the run. Let Irvin, D Law, Tapper and Gregory Hunt the passer.

 

[Jumbo075]

He stops the run. Let Irvin, D Law, Tapper and Gregory Hunt the passer.

I agree that he's not a pass rusher. I wonder if Hankins is willing to play for Dallas at all (maybe he just doesn't like the Cowboys) or if he wants more than the Cowboys are willing to pay.

 

[Stash]

This is going to be a simple evaluation. One of the most important measurable physical traits a defensive end can have is long arms. Ideally, a DE will have 34" arms, which allows him to get leverage on blockers in the pass rush because his arms are so long, they cannot get into his body to block him. (Of course, that doesn't work with freaks like Tyron Smith, who has 36-3/8" arms himself, but I digress). With Tackles like La'el Collins, who has only 33-1/4" arms, a long-armed pass rusher can give him fits. This is why the Cowboys are moving 33" arm long Connor Williams to Offensive Guard, and why 32-7/8" arm long Zack Martin is better suited to play Guard in the NFL. (Note: Doug Free had 34" arms.)

So, let's take a look, in descending order, at the arm length of the Defensive Lineman currently on the Cowboys roster

1. 37-3/4" - David Irving
2. 34-3/4" - Dorance Armstrong
3. 34-3/8" - Charles Tapper
4. 34-1/4" - Taco Charlton and Kony Ealy
5. 34" - Randy Gregory
6. 33-7/8" - Jihad Ward
7. 33-3/4" - DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford (last year's starters)
8. 33-3/8" - Lewis Neal
9. 33-1/8" - Maliek Collins
10. 32-3/4" - Datone Jones (and Terrell McClain if he signs with the Cowboys)
11. 32-1/4" - Brian Price
12. unknown - Richard Ash, Daniel Ross

Drafted as a DE for the Packers, you can understand why Datone Jones is more suited to being an interior defensive lineman, along with Collins, Price, Ash and Ross (and maybe McClain). Going up against short-armed guards and centers, you can also see why David Irving is such a nightmare as a pass rushing defensive tackle. He's got 5 full inches of extra arm length on some interior offensive lineman. And while barely over 6' tall Lewis Neal has really long arms for a guy so short, he still doesn't have the arm length needed to play DE in the NFL, and he's not heavy enough to play DT - which may be why it is rumored the Cowboys are going to move him to FB to compete with Jamize Olawale.

This trait of long arms is also why the Cowboys are trying to convert college DT Jarron Jones, who has 35-1/2" long arms into an offensive tackle - much like they successfully converted Mark Tuinei and Jermey Parnell from interior defensive lineman to offensive linemen. Kadeem Edwards is another Olineman on the Cowboys roster with 35-1/2" arms. They are both sleeper picks to replace Chaz Green if the Cowboys decide to keep 9 offensive linemen. And both Marcus Martin and Cameron Fleming have 34" arms.

Finally, looking at this particular trait, you can understand a little bit more why the Cowboys like Dorance Armstrong. With almost 35" long arms, he can create the leverage he needs to throw offensive lineman off balance. If he can learn some advanced techniques of hand fighting from Lawrence, he might be better than some of us give him credit for being.

Nice work on this. Thanks for taking the time that share this information with the rest of us.

 

[Stash]

I agree that he's not a pass rusher. I wonder if Hankins is willing to play for Dallas at all (maybe he just doesn't like the Cowboys) or if he wants more than the Cowboys are willing to pay.

Considering the money he was looking for last year, I would presume that it's the latter.

 

[CCBoy]

A very good study and presentation. A good perspective presented...I know in the ring, quickness and reach were a killer combination.

 

[cern]

I=M/F
F=M/I
M=F*I
so yes, size matters.

 

[Longboysfan]

O.K.
Now put in the offensive lineman arm length.

 

[Aven8]

Irving is just a straight up freak.

 

[Hennessy_King]

What's Carl Lawson's arm length? That's why we would never pick him and he was up there for defensive rookie of year last year.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

Arm length can be a useful tool. Or not.

 

[JW82]

I have a hard time getting a clear answer on this. Since arm length is your forte, please explain the method the NFL uses to make that measurement? Thanks

 

[DanA]

I have a hard time getting a clear answer on this. Since arm length is your forte, please explain the method the NFL uses to make that measurement? Thanks

They use a tape measure

 

[JW82]

They use a tape measure

Thanks man. Was trying to use a compass all these years!

 

[ThreeandOut]

Irving is just a straight up freak.

He's probably not buying his long sleeve shirts off the rack.

 

[xwalker]

He's probably not buying his long sleeve shirts off the rack.

He buys those to use as short sleeves...

 

[CowboyRoy]

This is going to be a simple evaluation. One of the most important measurable physical traits a defensive end can have is long arms. Ideally, a DE will have 34" arms, which allows him to get leverage on blockers in the pass rush because his arms are so long, they cannot get into his body to block him. (Of course, that doesn't work with freaks like Tyron Smith, who has 36-3/8" arms himself, but I digress). With Tackles like La'el Collins, who has only 33-1/4" arms, a long-armed pass rusher can give him fits. This is why the Cowboys are moving 33" arm long Connor Williams to Offensive Guard, and why 32-7/8" arm long Zack Martin is better suited to play Guard in the NFL. (Note: Doug Free had 34" arms.)

So, let's take a look, in descending order, at the arm length of the Defensive Lineman currently on the Cowboys roster

1. 37-3/4" - David Irving
2. 34-3/4" - Dorance Armstrong
3. 34-3/8" - Charles Tapper
4. 34-1/4" - Taco Charlton and Kony Ealy
5. 34" - Randy Gregory
6. 33-7/8" - Jihad Ward
7. 33-3/4" - DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford (last year's starters)
8. 33-3/8" - Lewis Neal
9. 33-1/8" - Maliek Collins
10. 32-3/4" - Datone Jones (and Terrell McClain if he signs with the Cowboys)
11. 32-1/4" - Brian Price
12. unknown - Richard Ash, Daniel Ross

Drafted as a DE for the Packers, you can understand why Datone Jones is more suited to being an interior defensive lineman, along with Collins, Price, Ash and Ross (and maybe McClain). Going up against short-armed guards and centers, you can also see why David Irving is such a nightmare as a pass rushing defensive tackle. He's got 5 full inches of extra arm length on some interior offensive lineman. And while barely over 6' tall Lewis Neal has really long arms for a guy so short, he still doesn't have the arm length needed to play DE in the NFL, and he's not heavy enough to play DT - which may be why it is rumored the Cowboys are going to move him to FB to compete with Jamize Olawale.

This trait of long arms is also why the Cowboys are trying to convert college DT Jarron Jones, who has 35-1/2" long arms into an offensive tackle - much like they successfully converted Mark Tuinei and Jermey Parnell from interior defensive lineman to offensive linemen. Kadeem Edwards is another Olineman on the Cowboys roster with 35-1/2" arms. They are both sleeper picks to replace Chaz Green if the Cowboys decide to keep 9 offensive linemen. And both Marcus Martin and Cameron Fleming have 34" arms.

Finally, looking at this particular trait, you can understand a little bit more why the Cowboys like Dorance Armstrong. With almost 35" long arms, he can create the leverage he needs to throw offensive lineman off balance. If he can learn some advanced techniques of hand fighting from Lawrence, he might be better than some of us give him credit for being.

First off...........its already been confirmed by his old coach that he is bad against the run. So at best he will be a specialty DE here this year. And that's if guys like Taco fold up like a cheap suit. I like his potential, but he is more like a guy that will be better down the road with more strength and a little more weight.

 

[Bleedblue1111]

Interesting post Jumbo.

Does anyone know what Ed "Too Tall" Jones measurements were? I've googled it, and cannot find it. Just wanted to see how Irving compares to his.