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

[1972COWBOY]

One of the reasons Irving was available on a practice squad for the Cowboys to take was because he didn't have the stamina to play full games. Irving's success will highly depend on his cardio vascular conditioning.

 

[CowboyRoy]

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

Its nice to think about. Irvin was one of the young guys I felt could come on this year.

 

[Established1971]

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.

Good to know, yeah I admit it was a hurried comment. This info is good, thanks

 

[xwalker]

One of the reasons Irving was available on a practice squad for the Cowboys to take was because he didn't have the stamina to play full games. Irving's success will highly depend on his cardio vascular conditioning.

Rotation...

 

[xwalker]

Does Lawrence or Irving move to the right side?

They had Crawford at RDE for some snaps. Either Irvin or Crawford are going to move to DT when Irvin returns. DLaw does need little more rest than he's been getting.

 

[silver]

Who sits? Price spells Paea, who they seem to be managing his snaps, so there's no room there. If Irving plays mostly 3T does he replace Crawford who is coming off one of his best games? If he plays mostly DE does he replace Mayowa? I dont think they will sit Taco, for whatever reasons, being the 1st draftee and all. Tapper needs to get back out there. It looks from afar that the odd man out might be Irving himself.

 

[manster4ever]

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.

Yeah, I wouldn't say Smith will be 'benched' but in my mind he's being asked to do things right now he isn't capable of doing. He isn't all the way back. We need Lee desperately but he is older and has a bad injury history. I hope we draft 1-2 more solid LB's next year and/or sign another in free agency. Too darn thin there currently.

 

[Future]

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.

Moore just turned 25. Irving and Tapper will both be 25 when next year starts. He's not stopping either one of them from developing, because he's at about the same stage that they are.

 

[Future]

Who sits? Price spells Paea, who they seem to be managing his snaps, so there's no room there. If Irving plays mostly 3T does he replace Crawford who is coming off one of his best games? If he plays mostly DE does he replace Mayowa? I dont think they will sit Taco, for whatever reasons, being the 1st draftee and all. Tapper needs to get back out there. It looks from afar that the odd man out might be Irving himself.

He probably just replaces Price. You're overthinking it.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

Moore just turned 25. Irving and Tapper will both be 25 when next year starts. He's not stopping either one of them from developing, because he's at about the same stage that they are.

Sort of. Age isn't the real issue. Moore was drafted in 2013 making this his 5th year in the league. At some point a guy has had enough time to develop that you just have to accept that he is what he is. If, in Moore's case, he's not producing this year, I think you have to conclude that he's just a progress stopper and move on to developing your next batch of young talent.

I actually think this is being generous to Moore, relative to, say, Parcells' 3-year guideline.

 

[Future]

Sort of. Age isn't the real issue. Moore was drafted in 2013 making this his 5th year in the league. At some point a guy has had enough time to develop that you just have to accept that he is what he is. If, in Moore's case, he's not producing this year, I think you have to conclude that he's just a progress stopper and move on to developing your next batch of young talent.

I actually think this is being generous to Moore, relative to, say, Parcells' 3-year guideline.

Yea, that's true. But a lot of the growth of young NFL players is physical - getting stronger and such. There are some technique things that can improve, sure, but for a guy like Tapper, there's not much more ceiling there.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

A nickel line of DLaw Collins Irving and one of Mayowa, Tapper, or Taco sounds great to me.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Yea, that's true. But a lot of the growth of young NFL players is physical - getting stronger and such. There are some technique things that can improve, sure, but for a guy like Tapper, there's not much more ceiling there.

I don't see that is being the case with with any player in his second year much less Tapper who spent much of last season rehabbing as opposed to strength training.

I take the example of DLaw. Between his first year and the second he dramatically improved his core and lower body strength. He went from being driven to the ground by Tyron in his first few snaps of practice to being one of the better anchoring DE over that period.

In the two years since then he has improved his arm and upper body strength dramatically. That was obvious to me watching him grab Veldheer's wrists and torquing him.

DLaw went to Boise which is a quality program. I've never bought into the idea that any college program is equal to what the full time and complete nature of what the Cowboys S&C program provides. I've heard Broaddus claim it but I put no stock into it.

 

[Pants]

two years ago "OMG, we generate no pass rush, we don't have one player that scares the QB, we suck....."
right now "OMG, when Irving comes back, we are loaded at DL, we already are top 3 in pressures/sacks..."

now THAT, my friends, is a positive change

 

[vaturkey]

This seems like a nice problem to have. Wish we had this depth everywhere.

 

[ConceptCoop]

They had Crawford at RDE for some snaps. Either Irvin or Crawford are going to move to DT when Irvin returns. DLaw does need little more rest than he's been getting.

Do you see many snaps with both Irving and Tank manning both DE spots? I can see Irving rushing from the 3T on some passing downs, but would also like to see him on the edge. Just not sure who you move.

 

[ThreeandOut]

Hopefully, Irving is more productive in returning after his suspension than Dlaw was after his.

 

[xwalker]

Do you see many snaps with both Irving and Tank manning both DE spots? I can see Irving rushing from the 3T on some passing downs, but would also like to see him on the edge. Just not sure who you move.

Yes, but hard to know exactly what they'll do.

Also, who is inactive? I would like to see 9 DL active but they always carry 8.

 

[Denim Chicken]

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

there's a lot to be excited about with the return of Irving to the dline.

- he's chomping at the bit
- has showed some serious flash
- added depth/rotation/rest
- more potential double team needs by opposing OLs
- they will all feed/benefit off each other's production

I'm looking forward to it