How do you feel about this defensive line?

[Fla Cowpoke]

I'm hopeful that Crawford can be a player, Lawrence comes back and at least flashes the ability to be our weakside end and the Cowboys can find at least one productive player from Gardner, Bishop or Coleman. If only in a rotation.

And, of course, Melton returns to form and sticks around.

Then it's off to the offseason. Where we need to add some talent before I care to hear about this wave aspect.

It's a multi-year fix, gentlemen.

I agree with the multi year fix. We need to hope that we get two good players out of Lawrence, Bishop, Coleman and Mullet.

As far as the line posted....it's bad but not the worst in the league. And there is a little hope with Crawford and Coleman sounding decent so far. We need to hope that in week 6 we are getting Spencer and Lawrence back...that might be a little shot of help that we need. My hopes for a better defense were based upon our guys staying healthy. So far we have lost Lee for the year, lost Lawrence for probably 6 games at minimum and Spencer's status is also likely not available for the first 6 games. We can't afford to keep seeing starters drop.

There is not much in the way of help in free agency. If you wanted a situational pass rusher you could maybe give a guy like Andre Carter a shot...he had double digit sacks two years ago and still has interest in playing from what I read. Might also reconsider on bringing in Larry English....maybe he can play pass rushing DE. I know we were working Wilbur with the pass rushers too...so that is someone else that may be part of the rotation.

 

[CCBoy]

Coleman is proving to be, at this stage, as advertised leading up into the draft. Lawrence will prove his durability and be an influence from the outside. If Selvie is able to maintain, there is still Anthony Spencer to play a role in what would then be a sound rotation, when one throws in Crawford as well.

I like Bishop, and Bass is making some noise once again. Now, this is looking like an inside depth for Melton and McClain. Hey, Mencer is a freebee.

 

[Gaede]

It's horrible. Just far below avg, even with Lawrence healthy. We've gone from a DL with two journeymen and two probowlers, to a line full of journeymen and rookies.

We can spin this line any way--overlooked veterans or hungry rookies--but in reality, it's a line full of players that no one else really wanted, save a couple decent prospects.

 

[CCBoy]

It's horrible. Just far below avg, even with Lawrence healthy. We've gone from a DL with two journeymen and two probowlers, to a line full of journeymen and rookies.

We can spin this line any way--overlooked veterans or hungry rookies--but in reality, it's a line full of players that no one else really wanted, save a couple decent prospects.

By all means, if at first one doesn't succeed, cut your throat and let it bleed...carry on.

 

[jobberone]

Mincey will be better than many seem to think but he'll be someone you look to replace. Selvie is probably the real deal....solid esp if his run defense picks up. Still don't know about Melton. I think between McClain, Brent, Hayden, Coleman, Bishop, Bass and Crawford you'll find enough talent to compete at DT. Bass and Crawford can play SDE and WDE on non-rushing downs.

What worries me is WDE with only Mincey and even bigger question marks. I think the 3 is less a worry WDE and in fact will be decent or better.

 

[StarMan2112]

Poor Marinelli. He's being asked to make chicken salad out of chicken ****.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We've gone from a DL with two journeymen and two probowlers

I did not see anything close to 2 pro bowlers out there the last 6-8 weeks last year. More like 4 journeymen.

 

[CCBoy]

I wouldn't be tooting a party horn on anything dealing with the 'Rat.'

 

[SuspectCorner]

One can only pray for 'a whole that is greater than the sum of it's parts'. In forty-plus years of watching this game, i must confess, it CAN happen. Just ain't crazy 'bout the odds of it doing so.

 

[KingintheNorth]

RE: Mincey
DT: Hayden
DT: Melton
LE: Selvie

Sad, very sad.

 

[Mrdude108]

I like our interior with Melton and McClain, I think they will be fine with some nice depth guys behind them to rotate but I'm concerned about the DE across from Selvie. I think Crawford will find his official d line spot there and hopefully he excels but I don't have a ton of faith in Mincey. It would be awesome if Spencer was ready, healthy and even 50 percent of his normal self. That would be a good DE rotation and then add in Lawrence when he returns.

I'm worried about the pass rush for sure. Hopefully McClain and Carter work out big time at the LB spots because we will need them.

 

[Bullflop]

If this DL can manage to simply prove itself to be average, we'll have won a commendable victory over the catastrophe that we had to endure last season. Let's not begrudge the fact that we're likely to field a DL that's likely to prove less than stellar. Why not take at least some measure of comfort in the possibility that this d-line may have a chance of being average in 2014? I think that presents far more encouraging prospects for success than anything we had last year. Let's see what develops with our many unproven, yet potentially better DL prospects we'll field this year. No harm in giving 'em a chance to prove themselves, folks.

 

[Gaede]

I did not see anything close to 2 pro bowlers out there the last 6-8 weeks last year. More like 4 journeymen.

You can say that, but Hatcher is a probowler and Ware is a potential HOF. Even at 65%, I'd take him any day over the likes of Mincey, Selvie and whoever else we trot out there

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You can say that, but Hatcher is a probowler and Ware is a potential HOF. Even at 65%, I'd take him any day over the likes of Mincey, Selvie and whoever else we trot out there

It's a tough situation because yeah Ware and Hatcher have it all over those guys as far as talent. But hey also have it all over those guys as far as age and salary. And that's the problem.

 

[CyberB0b]

If this DL can manage to simply prove itself to be average, we'll have won a commendable victory over the catastrophe that we had to endure last season. Let's not begrudge the fact that we're likely to field a DL that's likely to prove less than stellar. Why not take at least some measure of comfort in the possibility that this d-line may have a chance of being average in 2014? I think that presents far more encouraging prospects for success than anything we had last year. Let's see what develops with our many unproven, yet potentially better DL prospects we'll field this year. No harm in giving 'em a chance to prove themselves, folks.

This line is well below average and with the lack of depth we have, it likely won't improve.

 

[cowboyblue22]

in a word its AWFUL.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I think we'll be in the nickel more than the base. I read somewhere that teams averaged 60% of plays in the nickel last year. That's not bad because I actually think our secondary is pretty solid.

Nickel

Lawrence - Melton - Crawford - Selvie
Carter - McClain
Claiborne - Carr - Scandrick - Church - Wilcox

Base vs pass

Lawrence - Melton - McClain - Selvie
Carter - McClain - Wilber
Scandrick - Claiborne - Church - Wilcox

Base vs run

Mincey - Melton - Brent - Crawford
Carter - McClain - Holloman
Scandrick - Claiborne - Church - Wilcox

 

[Risen Star]

I think we'll be in the nickel more than the base. I read somewhere that teams averaged 60% of plays in the nickel last year. That's not bad because I actually think our secondary is pretty solid.

Nickel

Lawrence - Melton - Crawford - Selvie
Carter - McClain
Claiborne - Carr - Scandrick - Church - Wilcox

Base vs pass

Lawrence - Melton - McClain - Selvie
Carter - McClain - Wilber
Scandrick - Claiborne - Church - Wilcox

Base vs run

Mincey - Melton - Brent - Crawford
Carter - McClain - Holloman
Scandrick - Claiborne - Church - Wilcox

You've got our 50 million dollar CB playing part time?

 

[JoeyBoy718]

You've got our 50 million dollar CB playing part time?

Well, who do you sit? Our best corner (Scandrick) or the guy they wanted to build the future around (Claiborne). I think they'll all play about an even amount of snaps, to be honest. But I think they'd prefer to put Claiborne over Carr because of youth and potential. Plus, Carr didn't look that great last year.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Who is our backup 3-tech? I don't know if I trust Coleman just yet. I hope Okoye gets healthy but I'm not counting on it. I feel decent about 1-tech if Brent comes back. But I can't see Melton playing 90% of the snaps in all 16 games.