How big is the need at DE?

[Cowboyny]

Let's assume the Cowboys continue with a 4 man front, they have 4 four DE's under contract next season:

-DLaw-long-term roster lock
-Gregory-will become a fa in 2022
-Armstrong-reportedly a player liked by the staff, rotational backup
-Anae-healthy scratch for the majority of the 2nd half of the season. Has to earn his roster spot next yr.

*Aldon Smith is an unrestricted fa.

I think defensive end is a sneaky need. They don't have much behind the two starters.

Gregory is only on a 1yr deal and outside of DLaw they don't have a player who is consider strong run defender, although Gregory is underrated in that department.

They could always use more pass rush if Aldon Smith leaves via fa.

I wouldn't be surprised if a Defensive End is taken much higher then we anticipate.

 

[817Gill]

I think this depends on how the next staff plays their DE’s. This year it seemed like, especially when they settled in more towards the back half of the season, Tomsula and Nolan liked keeping it a tight 4 man group.

Some games you’d see Randy get as low as 20% of the snaps behind Armstrong’s 30-40%. When discussing the defense in the offseason, McCarthy and Nolan both mentioned a Designated Pass Rusher as part of their arsenal. We saw none of that this season, and it seems like if you’re going to have that LB/DE hybrid (which Anae is literally built to be), then you’d activate 5 DE’s.

Tomsula also has been on record saying he’s not a fan of substituting his lineman. Went as far to say that even if he sees you tapping your helmet he’s “leaving your a** in there”. If we have another “say one thing do another” or “stuck in our ways” defensive staff, DE is a diminished need especially if Smith comes back. The new DE might hardly see the field.

With a new staff and no resigning of Smith, I would love a pick up a SPARQ guy in the mid-rounds. Let him and Anae get pass rush snaps and let’s get some depth on our pass rush.

Also Carl Lawson in FA would be perfect and solve any need.

 

[cnuball21]

You can't have enough pass rushers. Gregory has shown great signs but I'm not ready to depend on him and outside of him there are no solid options.

I'd 100% be open to spending a top pick on a DE.

 

[817Gill]

I think this depends on how the next staff plays their DE’s. This year it seemed like, especially when they settled in more towards the back half of the season, Tomsula and Nolan liked keeping it a tight 4 man group.

Some games you’d see Randy get as low as 20% of the snaps behind Armstrong’s 30-40%. When discussing the defense in the offseason, McCarthy and Nolan both mentioned a Designated Pass Rusher as part of their arsenal. We saw none of that this season, and it seems like if you’re going to have that LB/DE hybrid (which Anae is literally built to be), then you’d activate 5 DE’s.

Tomsula also has been on record saying he’s not a fan of substituting his lineman. Went as far to say that even if he sees you tapping your helmet he’s “leaving your a** in there”. If we have another “say one thing do another” or “stuck in our ways” defensive staff, DE is a diminished need especially if Smith comes back. The new DE might hardly see the field.

With a new staff and no resigning of Smith, I would love a pick up a SPARQ guy in the mid-rounds. Let him and Anae get pass rush snaps and let’s get some depth on our pass rush.

Also Carl Lawson in FA would be perfect and solve any need.

As I finished typing this, both Tomsula and Nolan were fired. Wow. Defensive end please!

 

[75boyz]

The 3 A's are all expendable. Lawrence's contract is an albatross and a reasonable mid tier offer to Gregory would not be terrible.
Defensive tackle and offensive tackle tie as my first needs.

Linebacker is my second.

DE depth is lower on my priority list for above reasons.

 

[ColoradoCowboy]

DE need is a 4 of 10. I don't see DE as the pick in the first 3 rounds at all.

 

[Mr_437]

You'd like to have 3 dependable DEs, so I could see another dumpster dive for a FA veteran DE.

 

[FiveSuperBowls]

Let's assume the Cowboys continue with a 4 man front, they have 4 four DE's under contract next season:

-DLaw-long-term roster lock
-Gregory-will become a fa in 2022
-Armstrong-reportedly a player liked by the staff, rotational backup
-Anae-healthy scratch for the majority of the 2nd half of the season. Has to earn his roster spot next yr.

*Aldon Smith is an unrestricted fa.

I think defensive end is a sneaky need. They don't have much behind the two starters.

Gregory is only on a 1yr deal and outside of DLaw they don't have a player who is consider strong run defender, although Gregory is underrated in that department.

They could always use more pass rush if Aldon Smith leaves via fa.

I wouldn't be surprised if a Defensive End is taken much higher then we anticipate.

This is the reason Anae needed snaps so you could evaluate his on field play.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Let's assume the Cowboys continue with a 4 man front, they have 4 four DE's under contract next season:

-DLaw-long-term roster lock
-Gregory-will become a fa in 2022
-Armstrong-reportedly a player liked by the staff, rotational backup
-Anae-healthy scratch for the majority of the 2nd half of the season. Has to earn his roster spot next yr.

*Aldon Smith is an unrestricted fa.

I think defensive end is a sneaky need. They don't have much behind the two starters.

Gregory is only on a 1yr deal and outside of DLaw they don't have a player who is consider strong run defender, although Gregory is underrated in that department.

They could always use more pass rush if Aldon Smith leaves via fa.

I wouldn't be surprised if a Defensive End is taken much higher then we anticipate.

You could very be right.....notice the positional coach who was fired with Nolan. Also, remember when MM was asked game-planning? His response was to score fast and turn the game over to his DLine. So, I agree we could them using a higher pick on this unit than expected. I also wouldn't rule out bringing in at least 1, maybe 2 mid-level free agents.

 

[Cowboyny]

You could very be right.....notice the positional coach who was fired with Nolan. Also, remember when MM was asked game-planning? His response was to score fast and turn the game over to his DLine. So, I agree we could them using a higher pick on this unit than expected. I also wouldn't rule out bringing in at least 1, maybe 2 mid-level free agents.

I wrote this post before today's news of the firings. The team has a very poor track record of drafting the position. There have been many busts from Tapper, Ryan Russell, Joe Jackson, etc. It seems like every year they have to pay to fill the need. It's long overdue to find a quality, productive DE that we can control at an affordable rate.

 

[Cowboyny]

This is the reason Anae needed snaps so you could evaluate his on field play.

I think Gregory's return took away any snaps that Anae would of gotten. Don't understand what they see in Armstrong.

 

[Cowboyny]

DE need is a 4 of 10. I don't see DE as the pick in the first 3 rounds at all.

The draft isn't so much about yr 1, especially at a position that needs developmental time. They need to look ahead, there is basically nothing behind the starters. There is no guarantee Gregory even returns after next season as his contract is up.

 

[Cowboyny]

As I finished typing this, both Tomsula and Nolan were fired. Wow. Defensive end please!

Wrote the post prior to today's news. Do think this is a bigger need then many realize.

 

[Cowboyny]

I think this depends on how the next staff plays their DE’s. This year it seemed like, especially when they settled in more towards the back half of the season, Tomsula and Nolan liked keeping it a tight 4 man group.

Some games you’d see Randy get as low as 20% of the snaps behind Armstrong’s 30-40%. When discussing the defense in the offseason, McCarthy and Nolan both mentioned a Designated Pass Rusher as part of their arsenal. We saw none of that this season, and it seems like if you’re going to have that LB/DE hybrid (which Anae is literally built to be), then you’d activate 5 DE’s.

Tomsula also has been on record saying he’s not a fan of substituting his lineman. Went as far to say that even if he sees you tapping your helmet he’s “leaving your a** in there”. If we have another “say one thing do another” or “stuck in our ways” defensive staff, DE is a diminished need especially if Smith comes back. The new DE might hardly see the field.

With a new staff and no resigning of Smith, I would love a pick up a SPARQ guy in the mid-rounds. Let him and Anae get pass rush snaps and let’s get some depth on our pass rush.

Also Carl Lawson in FA would be perfect and solve any need.

Let's see who they hire first to determine what type of end they will be looking for. I think Armstrong playing so many snaps really irritated the front office as they wanted Gregory to play more.

 

[FiveSuperBowls]

I think Gregory's return took away any snaps that Anae would of gotten. Don't understand what they see in Armstrong.

Didn’t see much from Aldon either.

 

[Cowboyny]

Didn’t see much from Aldon either.

Outside from the Seattle game, where they had a poor OL, he really didn't do anything for the season. I don't expect him to return next yr, especially after his DL coach was fired today.

 

[817Gill]

Let's see who they hire first to determine what type of end they will be looking for. I think Armstrong playing so many snaps really irritated the front office as they wanted Gregory to play more.

Agreed, really wish we had a preseason for Anae’s sake.

 

[Cowboyny]

Agreed, really wish we had a preseason for Anae’s sake.

He should get his opportunity to compete for a rotational spot.

 

[baltcowboy]

Let's assume the Cowboys continue with a 4 man front, they have 4 four DE's under contract next season:

-DLaw-long-term roster lock
-Gregory-will become a fa in 2022
-Armstrong-reportedly a player liked by the staff, rotational backup
-Anae-healthy scratch for the majority of the 2nd half of the season. Has to earn his roster spot next yr.

*Aldon Smith is an unrestricted fa.

I think defensive end is a sneaky need. They don't have much behind the two starters.

Gregory is only on a 1yr deal and outside of DLaw they don't have a player who is consider strong run defender, although Gregory is underrated in that department.

They could always use more pass rush if Aldon Smith leaves via fa.

I wouldn't be surprised if a Defensive End is taken much higher then we anticipate.

The Dallas needs everything on defense. The Cowboys hopefully will draft BPA. Dane said there is depth at defensive end and cornerback. The Georgia DE seems to have put it together so they could pick him early.

 

[Cowboyny]

The Dallas needs everything on defense. The Cowboys hopefully will draft BPA. Dane said there is depth at defensive end and cornerback. The Georgia DE seems to have put it together so they could pick him early.

A lot will depend who they hire. If we stay in a 4-3 base, more of a rotational type, but if we move to 3-4, we are going to need another starting caliber OLB.