FO still trying to get away without investing in DL

[CowboyRoy]

Not me... Zeke will most likely be the best RB in the league for the next 3 or 4 years. If you don't have the defensive horses ( which we don't), you have to win games with offense. We are built to win games with offense right now. Does that translate to SB appearances? Who knows.

Zeke didnt even have the best numbers last year for a RB. And he will have great numbers not only because he is great, but also because he has the best line in football. See Demarco Murray. Any very good back is going to go nuts in this offense. YOu dont need a Zeke. Perfect example is last year in the playoffs. Zeke couldnt rush the passer so we lost again. Any of 15-20 backs in the league can get 1600 yards behind this line.

That is my opinion. But Zeke will get you some bigger plays.

 

[LocimusPrime]

 

[Dale]

I love how people defend this team as if we've been knocking on the door of a championship the last few years...

We've been to the playoffs twice in seven years under Garrett and he is 1-2 in the playoffs...

We've been investing in offense since before Garrett was head coach and we've ignored defense the entire time to no avail. The investments we did make on defense were always in the secondary instead of up front where most plays are determined.

To me, there's a difference between saying we haven't made an investment and saying we missed on our investment.

I think it's clear we have made an investment -- a pair of 2nd-round picks and a 1st-round pick since 2014. They've just been flops. Lawrence isn't a bona fide guy, Gregory likely won't play another snap, and it's too soon to tell on Charlton.

Now, if we're fortunate enough for Tapper to become a player and for Collins to continue on the path he appears to be headed, that investment could look much different.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

To me, there's a difference between saying we haven't made an investment and saying we missed on our investment.

I think it's clear we have made an investment -- a pair of 2nd-round picks and a 1st-round pick since 2014. They've just been flops. Lawrence isn't a bona fide guy, Gregory likely won't play another snap, and it's too soon to tell on Charlton.

Now, if we're fortunate enough for Tapper to become a player and for Collins to continue on the path he appears to be headed, that investment could look much different.

Good post. Let me add incase some has not already... There have been times when Garrett has been HC that the target during the first round or the draft was a defensive player but they were taken just before our pick... We were on the phone with Shazier when the Steelers drafted him one pick before us. We also wanted Ogbah at the top of the second round but someone took him before us (Browns maybe). That would be three DEs in the second round since Garret was coach. And let's not forget they invested more than just a second round pick to get D. LAW since we traded up to get him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

He did not live up to expectations

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Zeke didnt even have the best numbers last year for a RB. And he will have great numbers not only because he is great, but also because he has the best line in football. See Demarco Murray. Any very good back is going to go nuts in this offense. YOu dont need a Zeke. Perfect example is last year in the playoffs. Zeke couldnt rush the passer so we lost again. Any of 15-20 backs in the league can get 1600 yards behind this line.

That is my opinion. But Zeke will get you some bigger plays.

Oh boy......

 

[joseephuss]

Zeke didnt even have the best numbers last year for a RB. And he will have great numbers not only because he is great, but also because he has the best line in football. See Demarco Murray. Any very good back is going to go nuts in this offense. YOu dont need a Zeke. Perfect example is last year in the playoffs. Zeke couldnt rush the passer so we lost again. Any of 15-20 backs in the league can get 1600 yards behind this line.

That is my opinion. But Zeke will get you some bigger plays.

I truly doubt that many backs would get 1600 yards in Dallas. Only 20 running backs gained over 800 yards last season. The 19 guys not named Elliott averaged 1066 yards on the season.

 

[DCreppinBoysfan]

He was one of the best post superbowl dynasty FA signings the cowboys ever made IMO.
I doubt we could have a better bang for the Buck FA since that time.

Man whatever. Look at what he did in New Orleans and then look at what he did for us. I guess I was hoping for similar production to his saints day. Excuse me for having high expectations.

 

[Bullflop]

Here's hoping Taco Charlton removes any misgivings we may have about our grumpiness over the DL.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I truly doubt that many backs would get 1600 yards in Dallas. Only 20 running backs gained over 800 yards last season. The 19 guys not named Elliott averaged 1066 yards on the season.

Are you joking? McChicken had what 1400 yards and didnt even play in 4 or 5 games? McChicken isnt even top 50.

But no doubt they would all have to get the number of carries that Zeke gets. Its about opportunity, OL, Offense, and talent.

 

[Doomsday101]

I would love to be wrong, but I don't think Taco Charlton is going to be the answer to our pass rush woes. I think next year we'll see him playing a lot more at left end replacing Lawrence.

I can certainly see us in the position of needing to draft a defensive end and defensive tackle high next year.

I think we're stuck with Crawford again in 2018, but after that, he needs to be gone. Knowing that the team needs to start taking the line more seriously.

2018 1st rounder - Collins - 2018 2nd rounder - Charlton
mayowa - irving - paea - tapper

Depending on how well we do this year I would certainly think about trading up for Arden Key or drafting Harold Landry.

I think we do have the fortunate situation of having a stacked roster outside of defensive line and safety now, that they have no excuse but to invest in the line. Stop trying to get Marinelli to squeeze water from rocks.

I think the defensive line is going to continue to cost us games against playoff caliber teams.

You can disagree with the selection but the Cowboys have been investing in DL. DLaw, Gregory,Tapper,Charlton

 

[DC Cowboy]

2017 - rnd 1 - Taco Charlton
2016 - rnd 3 - Maliek Collins
2016 - rnd 4 - Charles Tapper
2015 - rnd 5 - Ryan Russell
2014 - rnd 2 - Demarcus Lawrence

?????

And Gregory. Ok it hasn't worked out but you can't say they aren't trying.

That is the amazing part, we played with two corners everyone has been screaming for the FO to get rid of for the past 3 years, with only one defensive player that is recognized as an All Pro in Sean Lee. I believe our interior Dline lead by a rising young player in Maliek Collins, the LB group is steady and solid and can only get better with Jaylon getting healthier, if the 3 CB's we recruited even come close to what Anthony Brown was able to produce as a rookie last year I'd like to think the FO is doing just fine minus missteps with Gregory and injuries (Tapper, Lawrence).

D-Law-Irving-Collins-Moore/Charlton (with Crawford, Thornton, Benson, Pea) good rotation. Keep in mind, ALL the money NYG spent last year, they had one more sack than we did.

 

[Doomsday101]

And Gregory. Ok it hasn't worked out but you can't say they aren't trying.


D-Law-Irving-Collins-Moore/Charlton (with Crawford, Thornton, Benson, Pea) good rotation. Keep in mind, ALL the money NYG spent last year, they had one more sack than we did.

I agree. Had Dallas not made those picks then of course you could say that they are not addressing it but the truth is they have been selecting players along the DL, those players panning out is a different story.

 

[DC Cowboy]

I agree. Had Dallas not made those picks then of course you could say that they are not addressing it but the truth is they have been selecting players along the DL, those players panning out is a different story.

and I forgot to mention Tapper. And we seem to have some healthy competition this year to make the team.

 

[Dhragon]

Zeke didnt even have the best numbers last year for a RB. And he will have great numbers not only because he is great, but also because he has the best line in football. See Demarco Murray. Any very good back is going to go nuts in this offense. YOu dont need a Zeke. Perfect example is last year in the playoffs. Zeke couldnt rush the passer so we lost again. Any of 15-20 backs in the league can get 1600 yards behind this line.

That is my opinion. But Zeke will get you some bigger plays.

CBR, without a Zeke level RB, Dak does NOT have the historically great year he had as a rookie. Even if 15-20 backs COULD rush for as much or near as much as Zeke could behind our O-line (I disagree of course), there probably aren't many of those 15-20 who could also pass protect as well as Zeke or score TDs like Zeke. He took a ton of pressure off of Dak last year not only from pass rushers but from having to shoulder the whole load as a scorer. Ask Weeden or Cassel how much pressure McFadden took off of them. Not much I'd wager.

It's not just the gross yardage a RB runs for that effects the game. A truly great RB could add to a QB's effectiveness, get WRs more space to catch the ball by drawing more defenders into the box, and even help the O-line be more effective. 15-20 other RBs could not do that IMO.

Even if your premise was accurate, the only pass rusher in Zeke's draft worthy of #4 would be Bosa, and he went #3.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

CBR, without a Zeke level RB, Dak does NOT have the historically great year he had as a rookie. Even if 15-20 backs COULD rush for as much or near as much as Zeke could behind our O-line (I disagree of course), there probably aren't many of those 15-20 who could also pass protect as well as Zeke or score TDs like Zeke.

That is the meme but I am not convinced of it. There is no way to prove it.

Bosa would have been a gamechanger for our defense. Granted he was gone but I am not convinced that we would not have done as well had we gotten Bosa instead. The offense would not have been as potent but the defense would have been a hell of a lot better with an elite pass rusher.

 

[joseephuss]

Are you joking? McChicken had what 1400 yards and didnt even play in 4 or 5 games? McChicken isnt even top 50.

But no doubt they would all have to get the number of carries that Zeke gets. Its about opportunity, OL, Offense, and talent.

You are incorrect on a few facts. McFadden didn't miss any games in 2015. He had at least 5 carries in every single game that season. He finished with 1089 yards.

 

[Doomsday101]

and I forgot to mention Tapper. And we seem to have some healthy competition this year to make the team.

That is my hope as well. Right now I just see potential but they have got to go out and turn potential into production. I think if this defense can improve in terms of pressure and turnover this team will get that championship they desire and we the fans desire.

 

[Dhragon]

That is the meme but I am not convinced of it. There is no way to prove it.

Bosa would have been a gamechanger for our defense. Granted he was gone but I am not convinced that we would not have done as well had we gotten Bosa instead. The offense would not have been as potent but the defense would have been a hell of a lot better with an elite pass rusher.

Again, Bosa was gone - not in play for us. So saying we would have done as well with Bosa is a moot point.
I agree that a premier, Probowl level pass rusher would effect our overall game to a significant degree. But we would not have gotten that player if we passed on Zeke because Bosa was gone. Zeke was the next best bet to significantly upgrade our overall game - and he did.

Pass rusher needs to be our priority now for sure, but great ones are hard to get. Best we can do is try and find a diamond in the rough or get one let go for special reasons somehow.

 

[Doomsday101]

CBR, without a Zeke level RB, Dak does NOT have the historically great year he had as a rookie. Even if 15-20 backs COULD rush for as much or near as much as Zeke could behind our O-line (I disagree of course), there probably aren't many of those 15-20 who could also pass protect as well as Zeke or score TDs like Zeke. He took a ton of pressure off of Dak last year not only from pass rushers but from having to shoulder the whole load as a scorer. Ask Weeden or Cassel how much pressure McFadden took off of them. Not much I'd wager.

It's not just the gross yardage a RB runs for that effects the game. A truly great RB could add to a QB's effectiveness, get WRs more space to catch the ball by drawing more defenders into the box, and even help the O-line be more effective. 15-20 other RBs could not do that IMO.

Even if your premise was accurate, the only pass rusher in Zeke's draft worthy of #4 would be Bosa, and he went #3.

As much as I like Dak I agree that Zeke was a big difference maker. It is not just about long runs it is often about picking up that 1 to 2 extra yards at the end of the run that moves the chains. I never seen Zeke get knocked backwards he was always grinding out that 1 to 2 extra yards. Not to mention his ability to stand in there and deliver blocks to help keep Dak up.

I like McFadden but I see Zeke like I saw Emmitt and that is a difference maker and someone defense must account for at all times.