If Hayden was replaced with a superior 1 Tech player

[jobberone]

What's weird is that Marinelli has them shifting the DT over a gap and flipping them essentially. Hayden might not be a 3 but he lines up there on plenty of downs because of that shift. If the positions are interchangeable and the 3 tech drives the line then I cannot help but think we need to improve the position.

You can get into the UT/OT but primarily you are still working a one gap defense and those guys are all going to be shooting or shooting/holding for the most part. So while it does matter how you line up and how you shoot the gap, you're still a one gap. That's simplistic of course.

 

[Bluefin]

If you can replace Hayden on the cheap with a better 1 like Coleman or even Bishop then great. I just wouldn't advocate spending significant bucks on a 1.

I'm willing to overspend, allbeit not prohibitively, when it comes to upgrading NT, because Rod Marinelli really wants both DTs to have UT ability.

Coach Rod doesn't want a traditional 350 pound road block out there who can only occupy bloxkers and not push up the field (note: we do have 340 lb NT Casey Walker on the practice squad but I've no idea if he's a true developmental prospect or just here to run 3-4 NT on the scout team).

There's nothing wrong with being a hefty, but you have to quick feet to go with it and a non-stop motor.

Besides Nick Hayden's limitations as a player, the real problem is he continues to receive too much playing time (3rd this year with 395 DL snaps). DL injuries and lack of talent have contributed to hayden's excessive snaps in years past, this time the underperforming offense may be largely at fault.

Hayden has the heart and effort, just not the ability to be a starter.

 

[jobberone]

I'm willing to overspend, allbeit not prohibitively, when it comes to upgrading NT, because Rod Marinelli really wants both DTs to have UT ability.

Coach Rod doesn't want a traditional 350 pound road block out there who can only occupy bloxkers and not push up the field (note: we do have 340 lb NT Casey Walker on the practice squad but I've no idea if he's a true developmental prospect or just here to run 3-4 NT on the scout team).

There's nothing wrong with being a hefty, but you have to quick feet to go with it and a non-stop motor.

Besides Nick Hayden's limitations as a player, the real problem is he continues to receive too much playing time (3rd this year with 395 DL snaps). DL injuries and lack of talent have contributed to hayden's excessive snaps in years past, this time the underperforming offense may be largely at fault.

Hayden has the heart and effort, just not the ability to be a starter.

No argument here re: Hayden. And I agree you want rush DTs. As in another post, I don't care, speaking generally, where they rush from but he does want everyone rushing the passer. I wonder how many here understand how hard it is to get 4 rush DL much less 6-8 of them; and I'm not even speaking to paying them just in the acquisition of that talent. He does get a lot of snaps and a good part of that is he's healthy and on the field and others aren't. Clowney has talent but he's not on the field for it to matter.

You find a better player than Hayden esp if they are cheaper I'm your new BFF.

 

[AzorAhai]

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.

I agree with almost everything you just said. I'm still pretty high on Lawrence. I think he's played a lot better than he gets credit for. Crawford has as well. The run defense has been bad up the middle for a couple of reasons. Hayden is the glaring problem there that needs to be fixed and most here know it.

My post is mainly focused on sacks/pressures. For a coach whose main focus is getting up field and after the QB, they've underwhelmed. Thats a lot of resources to dedicate to "getting up the field" with very little to show for it.

I keep going back to his own players saying that they don't like/agree with his scheme/play calling. They think its outdated. I can only guess, but I would imagine they're talking about stunts, disguising coverage and blitz packages. They also said he doesn't believe in making adjustments in the 2nd half of games. It's starting to look like they need to go in a different direction than Marinelli and bring in a younger DC who's more in touch with what works in todays NFL.

 

[Alexander]

My post is mainly focused on sacks/pressures. For a coach whose main focus is getting up field and after the QB, they've underwhelmed.

If you are not rushing, you are stealing. - Rod Marinelli

So what are these guys doing?

 

[AzorAhai]

If you are not rushing, you are stealing. - Rod Marinelli

So what are these guys doing?

Really only two ways to answer this. Either we massively overrated players like Hardy, Crawford and Lawrence or we massively overrated Marinelli. While I don't have the inside access required to be 100% I'm leaning towards Marinelli based on some of the off the record comments his players have been making.

 

[Alexander]

Really only two ways to answer this. Either we massively overrated players like Hardy, Crawford and Lawrence or we massively overrated Marinelli. While I don't have the inside access required to be 100% I'm leaning towards Marinelli based on some of the off the record comments his players have been making.

I just think we lost our way. Marinelli was all gung ho on "rushmen" and all that, but I think we lost what the whole defense is supposed to be. The LBers and the secondary have not performed well and I am just guessing, we are not all on the same page.

 

[CF74]

Better, but not game altering. You have to remember that Crawford isn't exactly himself with being banged up. It would allow us to go with Irving and Crawford at the 3-tech and keep them both fresh.

If we had a Nick Fairly type (when he was first in the league), then a real contribution. Fairly wasn't exactly your prototype 1-tech either. But he fit the idea of being more of a guy that can go after the QB than just a gap filler.

I think the bigger impact would be if Gregory was healthy and as good as advertised. It would keep Mincey, Hardy and Lawrence fresher. It would allow us to move Hardy and Mincey to DT on passing downs





YR

Needs more Cowbell

 

[sbark]

When healthy, T.Mcclain was very effective for the 15-20 snaps he played.

To answer the OP's question. I think it would make a tremendous difference. It would make everyone on the DL and LBs better by sucking up double-team blocks. if you're lucky, you get a guy who occasionally defeats the double-team. For the life of me, i cant see how an experienced coach like Marinelli apparently disagrees. Wasn't he the DL coach in TB when Sapp had Booger McFarland at 1T? Why the change in philosophy?????

No doubt about that........pull the tape of the game vrs. NYG last year where he was totally dominate.........give me a Ol Miss Neukadume (sp?) in that spot

 

[CyberB0b]

I think losing Terrell McClain hurt us more then people realize. He was our run stuffer. Without him, teams have been able to gash us up the middle.

Gash is an overstatement. We're 15th in rushing yards per game given up.

 

[cowboys1981]

Agreed.

I would keep Hardy on the cheap with incentives otherwise let him walk. Included is a clause to boot him for being disruptive although I realize that verbage can be difficult.

To the OP I wouldn't pay a lot for a 'better' 1 and we don't need a 0 tech although I understand you aren't calling for that. Some have. You aren't going to get a rush 1 because that is called a rush 3.

This D needs rush from all the DL and we should have the edge rushers to do the job now if they are all healthy. Adding another rush 3 or edge rusher would be great in the draft. We need a WLB, MLB, at least one good safety and CB.

We need to draft a S preferably in the top 20 and at least top 50. We need a CB in the first three rounds that is not just a cover CB but can tackle as well.

Rd 1- FS Jalen Ramsey
Rd 3- CB Cameron Sutton

I think Hardy will be back at a team friendly contract. I just don't see a market for him that gives him leverage.

 

[jobberone]

Rd 1- FS Jalen Ramsey
Rd 3- CB Cameron Sutton

I think Hardy will be back at a team friendly contract. I just don't see a market for him that gives him leverage.

I don't keep up with the draft or many college players. I have to look up most of the guys you people talk about. I agree with the latter re Hardy.

 

[sbark]

I wonder if a big part of Marinelies and GM Jones still comes from Jimmy Johnson days.............certain positions are money saver. JJohnson believed in pouring money into the DLine, but LB was a area of cost cutting. I see them looking at the 1-tech position as a place to control costs.......

 

[Risen Star]

I need more data. What is this fictional new 1 tech's nickname?

 

[JohnsKey19]

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.

I have no problem questioning and disagreeing with Marinelli on this. Now obviously he's a well respected and decorated NFL coach who forgot more in 2 seconds about football than i will EVER come close to learning.
Similarly, i would question Garrett/Linehan about Clutts, a FB who actually cant effectively run block. The difference is Clutts only plays 10-15 snaps while Hayden is usually around 35.

 

[morasp]

Should get a good illustration against the Commanders. Last year against the Packers when they had some success in the power running game with Lacey Marinelli countered with Bishop and Brent and shut it down. This year I'm not sure who those two guys would be.

 

[gmoney112]

They'd be better, not worlds better, but better.

Hayden might be the least talented 1 tech that's starting in the NFL. I get he's a "try hard" guy and everybody likes him, but if you're serious about improving your front 4, then you have to start with him.

We don't have a single 1T on the roster that can be considered "average". That's a problem.

The issue with our defense is that we really just completely lack talent in the middle of the field and in the secondary in general. McClain is Jekyll and Hyde at mike, Church/Wilcox are lackluster at S, and our CB's can't play the ball outside Byron.

Hayden won't fix those issues, but if I'm serious about improving the defense and DL, I'm targetting a guy like Mebane in FA.

 

[JohnsKey19]

They'd be better, not worlds better, but better.

Hayden might be the least talented 1 tech that's starting in the NFL. .

i find it hard to believe there are 5 starting defensive linemen in the NFL on par with or less talented than Hayden.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I can't see Dallas spending a first on a 1-Tech, but hopefully they can grab Kenny Clark or Hassan Ridgeway. Move Hayden to a rotational spot.

 

[phildadon86]

Gash is an overstatement. We're 15th in rushing yards per game given up.

Oh I know, I just remember how well he played in both the NYG and Philly games. He stopped Murray and Matthews on a load of plays.