How good can the Cowboys’ defensive line be when David Irving returns?

[waving monkey]

After three games, the Dallas Cowboys have 11 sacks, led by DeMarcus Lawrence with 6.5 sacks, Maliek Collins with 2.5 sacks, and Tyrone Crawford and Charles Tapper with one sack each. That ties the Cowboys for second in the NFL with the Steelers, Chargers, and Chiefs, two behind league-leading Jacksonville. The Cowboys’ sack rate, however, is only 8.5%, which ranks the team seventh in the NFL.

Is there still room for improvement? Obviously. Where’s it going to come from? That’s less clear. Let’s take a look at the current line and rank them

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...e-when-david-irving-returns-demarcus-lawrence

 

[drawandstrike]

When we have both DLaw & Irving out there coming off the edges, right now the OC's are going to slide the protection to DLaw until Irving proves he's in game shape and can get the QB.

If Irving picks up where he left off last season, it won't matter who gets double teamed. Somebody is going to get through.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I'm just as excited to see the return of Hitchens. Lee, JSmith, Hitchens. Hope they don't bench Smith, but start all 3. Unless Wilson is too good to bench.

 

[Leadbelly]

If Lawrence isn't a mirage and if Irving becomes everyday what he is on some days, pretty dang good. Maliek is looking really strong. Paea does the dirty work. Taco and Tapper should be a lot better by the stretch run as they acquire more experience. D Moore looks like a 5-7 sack guy.

I do wish we had a single LB who could bring pressure and add to the mayhem. I love Sean Lee but damn he's terrible on a blitz.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I'm just as excited to see the return of Hitchens. Lee, JSmith, Hitchens. Hope they don't bench Smith, but start all 3. Unless Wilson is too good to bench.

They finally stopped playing Wilson last week. He has been bad this year. Coaches took notice and he only got 16% of snaps.

 

[OUCowboy]

If Lawrence isn't a mirage and if Irving becomes everyday what he is on some days, pretty dang good. Maliek is looking really strong. Paea does the dirty work. Taco and Tapper should be a lot better by the stretch run as they acquire more experience. D Moore looks like a 5-7 sack guy.

I do wish we had a single LB who could bring pressure and add to the mayhem. I love Sean Lee but damn he's terrible on a blitz.

Speaking of Tapper, I wonder why he was inactive for the game against the Cardinals? He's not going to gain the experience he needs and get better if they don't allow him to play.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

Speaking of Tapper, I wonder why he was inactive for the game against the Cardinals? He's not going to gain the experience he needs and get better if they don't allow him to play.

I've also wondered about this. I suppose the choice was between Tapper or Taco when D. Moore returned. I guess I can understand giving the game reps to this year's 1st round pick instead of last year's 4th round pick. But you have less time to develop and evaluate Tapper because he's that much further into his rookie contract (and unlike Taco you don't have that 5th year option). Would make it a tough choice for me given that I think they've both flashed some ability.

The bigger issue this raises is whether Moore is that dreaded 'progress stopper' everyone worries about. There will be significant pressure on him to produce in order to avoid having that label rightfully slapped on him.

 

[jazzcat22]

If Lawrence isn't a mirage and if Irving becomes everyday what he is on some days, pretty dang good. Maliek is looking really strong. Paea does the dirty work. Taco and Tapper should be a lot better by the stretch run as they acquire more experience. D Moore looks like a 5-7 sack guy.

I do wish we had a single LB who could bring pressure and add to the mayhem. I love Sean Lee but damn he's terrible on a blitz.

I am hoping Jaylon Smith can become the pass rushing LB. But I think we are a year away from that though. but that is ok. Maybe Wilson can step up and do that also.

 

[jazzcat22]

Speaking of Tapper, I wonder why he was inactive for the game against the Cardinals? He's not going to gain the experience he needs and get better if they don't allow him to play.

Most likely because they need extra DB's because we were missing 2 or 3. So Benewikere was active in place of Awuzie and Carroll, and Scandrick was going to be limited with his hand.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Speaking of Tapper, I wonder why he was inactive for the game against the Cardinals? He's not going to gain the experience he needs and get better if they don't allow him to play.

Mainly because Taco was a 1st round pick. He's gonna get the game reps over Tapper.

 

[Longboysfan]

When we have both DLaw & Irving out there coming off the edges, right now the OC's are going to slide the protection to DLaw until Irving proves he's in game shape and can get the QB.

If Irving picks up where he left off last season, it won't matter who gets double teamed. Somebody is going to get through.

Throw in a LB blitzer randomly and.......

 

[Pants]

If we have GB Irving (from last year), the GB game this year could be fun....having Irving in there (in general) may take some sacks away from Lawrence and thus, lower his cost -

WIN-WIN

 

[Established1971]

After three games, the Dallas Cowboys have 11 sacks, led by DeMarcus Lawrence with 6.5 sacks, Maliek Collins with 2.5 sacks, and Tyrone Crawford and Charles Tapper with one sack each. That ties the Cowboys for second in the NFL with the Steelers, Chargers, and Chiefs, two behind league-leading Jacksonville. The Cowboys’ sack rate, however, is only 8.5%, which ranks the team seventh in the NFL.

Is there still room for improvement? Obviously. Where’s it going to come from? That’s less clear. Let’s take a look at the current line and rank them

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...e-when-david-irving-returns-demarcus-lawrence

Well Irving was not consistent but boy could he be good at times. The Packer game gets mentioned often but I think we lose that Tampa Bay game without his play last year too. I guess the question is how much of the illegal substance helped him? The fact that he has standout games and then you hardly hear of him is a bit suspicious

 

[DCreppinBoysfan]

Anybody know Where do we rank in hurries?

 

[jazzcat22]

If we have GB Irving (from last year), the GB game this year could be fun....having Irving in there (in general) may take some sacks away from Lawrence and thus, lower his cost -

WIN-WIN

On the local post game show from Monday night, Brad Sham and Babe Laufenberg asked DLaw about this. If they come at him and double team him, how does he feel about that. DLaw said, if that is what a team does, and it helps free up someone else, as long as it helps the team, so be it. Or basically he said that.

I recorded it, and finally got around to watching it yesterday.

 

[jazzcat22]

Well Irving was not consistent but boy could he be good at times. The Packer game gets mentioned often but I think we lose that Tampa Bay game without his play last year too. I guess the question is how much of the illegal substance helped him? The fact that he has standout games and then you hardly hear of him is a bit suspicious

He was not on any illegal substance, and that did not occur until the off season.
It was an ingredient in a product he was promoting. Some power drink or powder to boost energy or whatever it was. He should have checked with the team and / or NFL on it. Turned out of of the ingredients is on the banned list. But a common mistake many would have made.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I can see Irving, maybe starting out with the second until he gets back in game shape.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Anybody know Where do we rank in hurries?

I gave you a like because you reppin DC like me.

 

[xwalker]

They finally stopped playing Wilson last week. He has been bad this year. Coaches took notice and he only got 16% of snaps.

That's based on how often they play nickel. It not an indicator about Wilson.

They averaged about 15% in base last season.

 

[ConceptCoop]

Does Lawrence or Irving move to the right side?