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Free Agency Preview: Forecasting The Future For The Cowboys' D-Line
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2016/01/11/free-agency-preview-forecasting-future-cowboys-d-line
IRVING, Texas – There’s no better place to start a free agency preview than the Cowboys’ defensive line. Dallas has four total defensive linemen set to hit the market, including two starters – one of them being the unit’s only Pro Bowler.
To start this series off, we’ll take a look at those four names, starting with the biggest one – a guy whose future will be heavily-scrutinized, whether it’s with the Cowboys or not.
Let’s get started:
Greg Hardy
Height: 6-5
Weight: 279
Position: DE
2015 Performance: The coaches tried to put Hardy in position to get sacks by moving him around, but he just couldn’t be as disruptive as he was in Carolina. He played hard, but his technique was up and down -- which led to games where he was not nearly the factor that he should have been.
2016: Forecast: This will be a difficult decision, because we do not know what happened behind the scenes. There are rumors that led you to believe that the front office and coaches might have had enough and are interested in moving on. If Hardy would have had double digit sacks, then maybe it’s easier to tolerate some distraction, but this situation has a feel of allowing him to walk.
Nick Hayden
Height: 6-4
Weight: 303
Position: DT
2015 Performance: The coaches have a great deal of respect for Hayden, despite what fans feel. There are things that he does during the game that don’t show up unless you watch him play down after down. He does hold blocks and will make an occasional down the line tackle. When he was rotated, he was a much better player.
2016: Forecast: I have always viewed him as a bridge player, but they have yet to find someone to replace him. In studying players for this 2016 NFL Draft, there are several one-techniques that could make his time as a starter come to an end. I could see a situation where they draft his replacement but sign him for depth...
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2016/01/11/free-agency-preview-forecasting-future-cowboys-d-line
IRVING, Texas – There’s no better place to start a free agency preview than the Cowboys’ defensive line. Dallas has four total defensive linemen set to hit the market, including two starters – one of them being the unit’s only Pro Bowler.
To start this series off, we’ll take a look at those four names, starting with the biggest one – a guy whose future will be heavily-scrutinized, whether it’s with the Cowboys or not.
Let’s get started:
Greg Hardy
Height: 6-5
Weight: 279
Position: DE
2015 Performance: The coaches tried to put Hardy in position to get sacks by moving him around, but he just couldn’t be as disruptive as he was in Carolina. He played hard, but his technique was up and down -- which led to games where he was not nearly the factor that he should have been.
2016: Forecast: This will be a difficult decision, because we do not know what happened behind the scenes. There are rumors that led you to believe that the front office and coaches might have had enough and are interested in moving on. If Hardy would have had double digit sacks, then maybe it’s easier to tolerate some distraction, but this situation has a feel of allowing him to walk.
Nick Hayden
Height: 6-4
Weight: 303
Position: DT
2015 Performance: The coaches have a great deal of respect for Hayden, despite what fans feel. There are things that he does during the game that don’t show up unless you watch him play down after down. He does hold blocks and will make an occasional down the line tackle. When he was rotated, he was a much better player.
2016: Forecast: I have always viewed him as a bridge player, but they have yet to find someone to replace him. In studying players for this 2016 NFL Draft, there are several one-techniques that could make his time as a starter come to an end. I could see a situation where they draft his replacement but sign him for depth...
