If Hayden was replaced with a superior 1 Tech player

[CowboysFaninHouston]

If Nick Hayden was replaced with a superior 1 Tech player, how much better would it make the rest of the DL look?

I think our biggest issue on defense is LBs. they are average across the board.

 

[TonyRomo17]

I have yet to see Hayden win a 1on1 in a passing play and when he has a free way to a sack via stuns he either falls down or hes too slow to even get there lmao

 

[Alexander]

Never once thought Dunbar was the key to what ails us on offense. Is Scan marginal?

You brought up McClain. I thought we were talking about the DTs here.

If losing Terrell McClain causes massive issues, the issue is not necessarily the loss of the marginal player.

 

[Fletch]

You brought up McClain. I thought we were talking about the DTs here.

If losing Terrell McClain causes massive issues, the issue is not necessarily the loss of the marginal player.

Does me saying "really hurt" our defense equate to massive? Let's not stretch what I said into something I didn't. He would have helped this defense was the only thing I was trying to convey without turning this into a pissing contest of who's more in tune with our Cowboys at this point in time in this miserable season.

 

[Alexander]

Does me saying "really hurt" our defense equate to massive? Let's not stretch what I said into something I didn't. He would have helped this defense was the only thing I was trying to convey without turning this into a pissing contest of who's more in tune with our Cowboys at this point in time in this miserable season.

I understand the desperate desire to solely blame injuries for everything that is wrong, but this is a league where if you are not prepared for injuries, both personnel wise and scheme wise, they will cause issues or "really hurt". You can take a look around the league and find numerous Terrell McClains who went down with injury. Good teams adapt and overcome, the bad ones simply don't.

Sorry if using the word massive put extra emphasis you don't think you meant. I think the "really" in front of it implies larger than normal stress.

My general point is if people are pointing to minor cogs like McClain as reasons for losing seven in a row, I don't think that is accurate. And if it is, well, we have real problems. That is what losing like this makes people do, look for phantoms.

 

[Fletch]

I understand the desperate desire to solely blame injuries for everything that is wrong, but this is a league where if you are not prepared for injuries, both personnel wise and scheme wise, they will cause issues or "really hurt". You can take a look around the league and find numerous Terrell McClains who went down with injury. Good teams adapt and overcome, the bad ones simply don't.

Sorry if using the word massive put extra emphasis you don't think you meant. I think the "really" in front of it implies larger than normal stress.

My general point is if people are pointing to minor cogs like McClain as reasons for losing seven in a row, I don't think that is accurate. And if it is, well, we have real problems. That is what losing like this makes people do, look for phantoms.

It's definitely a conglomeration of things. Injuries, execution, coaching, talent, schemes. I'm not blind to that.

 

[Oh_Canada]

It's a futile exercise. Gold Cock-roach will be starting again next year.

 

[Sydla]

Why are people somewhat defensive of Hayden......... is it because people like Marinelli alot and because Hayden is his pet cat you then have to like Hayden too?

He's mediocre and that might be kind to him. Sure, he makes a random play here or there but more often than not, he's swallowed up. That Eagles game he was pancaked numerous times by what is a bad Philly OL.

The team needs to upgrade that position either through the draft or find a more competent free agent and let Hayden be a backup DT for us.

 

[waving monkey]

Does me saying "really hurt" our defense equate to massive? Let's not stretch what I said into something I didn't. He would have helped this defense was the only thing I was trying to convey without turning this into a pissing contest of who's more in tune with our Cowboys at this point in time in this miserable season.

Josh Flech that never happens on this board

 

[Daillest88]

The thing we don't really have a 1 tech. Coach Rod wants all 4 lineman to get to the qb. And Hayden can't do that at all!

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It would give us more 2nd or 3rd and long opportunities and make it more difficult to score in the red zone. It would also help free up Crawford and DLaw who flank him and eat the extra blocker.

We could also in turn, move away from gigantic hard hitting MLB like McClain and start using more speed at that position to help in coverage in the middle of the field.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

This guy could be available when we pick. Going from Hayden to that would be nice.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It's definitely a conglomeration of things. Injuries, execution, coaching, talent, schemes. I'm not blind to that.

I don't think Alex cares so much about that. He is more into who it is we are going to blame and be angry at. He is apparently determined to arbitrate that and gets mad when anyone else interferes. McClain is minutiae compared to that. He does this type of thing to me too. I was making excuses and had to be stopped apparently.

 

[waving monkey]

The thing we don't really have a 1 tech. Coach Rod wants all 4 lineman to get to the qb. And Hayden can't do that at all!

Marinelli

 

[tomsanders921]

Losing McClain and Scandrick really hurt this defense.

Yep. Scandrick was the best player on this defense. And he played with swagger too

 

[AzorAhai]

The thing we don't really have a 1 tech. Coach Rod wants all 4 lineman to get to the qb. And Hayden can't do that at all!

Nobody has been doing it is the thing. We've brought in Hardy, Spent 3 premium picks on the DL in the last 2 years (Lawrence trade up) and extended Crawford. Take our fan familiarity away with these players and does it look like a good DL? It looks awful. Have to look higher up than the players on this one.

 

[texbumthelife]

People asking for Irving over Hayden do realize Irving weighs 273lbs and has been absolutely manhandled in the run game, right? I am not defending Hayden, he should be a bench minimum snap guy at best, but Irving sincerely isn't any better against the run and may actually be worse.

To the OP, another DT that commands double teams would be huge for this defensive line. It frees up Crawford while making stunts and slants (which we don't run enough of anyway) far more effective. I honestly don't believe it has to be a defined "1 tech".I think we could/would be just as succesful with another play like Crawford, as long as one of them could consistently beat their man.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Skins, Giants, and to a lesser extent Eagles have all been able to run all over us. Other teams too but it's been a staple in the NFCE and for everyone else for that matter to run right up the middle at us. I think it's been the most frustrating thing about watching this defense for me over the past few years. During the telecast half the time they fixate on the line and the first thing I look at is how the nose is doing particularly if I see run.

People get angry watching Jason Garret clap. I get angry watching Nick Hayden play football. Every 5 yard run up the middle is like a stab right in the heart.

Then Marinelli praises him! I'm starting to hate him no matter how hard I try not to.

I don't get him or this defense at all. Then they cut Coleman and Bishop. What a cluster!

I've tried but I don't care how good of a locker room guy anyone is or how smart a guy is, I don't know why you would want someone that weak and slow playing anywhere on your defense. This is the NFL.

I try looking at his pursuit because Marinelli says he is like another LB and sure I guess if he gets close to the ball carrier he is a decent tackler but most times it's downfield because he's been shoved off the line sometimes even in LOL look at him get washed out terms as the HB sprints through a gaping hole. Running backs just running right by while he has his arms trapped inside is another of my favorite Hayden plays. The weak half pinned flail is another.

 

[Alexander]

The Hayden thing reminds me a lot of when Proctor played.

We all knew he sucked. Then you had a bunch of people saying that he really did, but did not want to look at the real reasons why.

If you hate Hayden, you have to admit that you disagree, rather strongly, with Marinelli.

There is no middle ground here.

So then you get into that little debate where someone goes "you think you know more than the coaches?"

Pretty entertaining to watch people pick out the little craptastic players they seem to find as faults but fail to acknowledge that that coaches they revere as geniuses are directly responsible for them even being around.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Nobody has been doing it is the thing. We've brought in Hardy, Spent 3 premium picks on the DL in the last 2 years (Lawrence trade up) and extended Crawford. Take our fan familiarity away with these players and does it look like a good DL? It looks awful. Have to look higher up than the players on this one.

Let Hardy go and spend that $13m on LB and S where the prices aren't so high. PT Barnum needs to put his circus away. Suh is the most expensive defender in the league and if you want to get that then selecting Nkemdiche is a low cost alternative and a good investment. The Cowboys have already demonstrated the effectiveness of stacking your lines.

I would love to see DLaw Nkemdiche Crawford Gregory. Bring back Mincey, Crawford, Hayden and a whole lot of UDFA and go.

I just don't think outside of Hayden and Russell none of them have played poorly. Crawford is the most underrated player on this board by a mile.