Immediate thoughts on a front 7 that consists of

[NextGenBoys]

I love him as a depth guy, and I'm not saying he won't be a good starter. But for now I would feel better having one more year of competition to let him develop.

The second sentence is the real reason why - I think he has a ceiling. I also think his range is a little limited and he can be targeted. I think year 3 hitchens is the fully developed starter. I think year 2 hitchens is the fantastic utility backup and future starter. Note that with Lee & McClain's injury history, I say all this with the expectation that he will very likely start games even this year.

Hitchens is a perfect fit for our scheme. Good in coverage and has good instincts, as well as physical enough to shed blocks and take down the ball carrier.

I'm a bit biased because he's a Hawkeye, but he's a legit starting NFL linebacker.

 

[DuDa]

It's a good start but they must continue to add young players to the front 7. A good 1-tech and another 3-down linebacker like Kendricks would be nice.

 

[Sandyf]

Don't forget Bishop, Coleman and Brent at 1 tech. Especially Brent, he could be a good one there. Draft is about taking the BPA on the Cowboy board not anyone's else board. McClay will have the board with the best guys, count on it.

 

[DFWJC]

There's reason for optimism....

Improved RDE: Hardy is a big upgrade
Improved DT3: T Crawford should improve...he didn't even have a training camp at DT
Same DT1: Brent/Bishop...or we get a DT in Rd 1?
Improved LDE: Crawford will improve his 2nd year almost certainly

Improved WIL: Lee is better than anyone we had
Improved or same SAM: Hitchen will improve and Durant only played 6 games
Same or Improved MIKE: If McClain returns, I'll assume the same but maybe better with one more year in system

Let's up some of the young guys we brought in last year develop to help with depth and we draft more help.

 

[xwalker]

I want one more DT and DE for depth, and we need to get another LB. I like Hitchens, but i'm not sure I like him as a full time starter yet.

We're better in the front seven, but we've gutted our LBers a bit. The good thing is that we still have the draft coming up which helps tremendously.

I think they have a lot of depth at LB and DT now. Brent/Bishop could be a big upgrade to Hayden with a full TC. T. McClain is decent when if healthy. Whaley and Coleman have physical upside. Okoye gives them another option.

At LB they've loaded up on depth with many options that have various amounts of starting experience. It's really just 2-1/2 posittions because they play Nickel about 50% of the snaps.
All of these have starting experience and the oldest is 29 (Brinkley).
Lee
Hitchens
Gachkar
Brinkley
Rivers
Watson

 

[Idgit]

Nick Hayden is hurt over this post.

Nick Hayden doesn't get hurt.

Nick Hayden is slow and very average over this post.

 

[Craig]

Lawrence and hitchens are still the two guys im most excited to see this season.

 

[Idgit]

Broaddus

The Cowboys have both Jeremy Mincey and DeMarcus Lawrence set to return as defensive ends next season. Hardy would likely move straight to the right side where he would face the opposing team’s left tackles. Lawrence would likely switch to the left side in that scenario with Mincey serving as a roving lineman who can play both sides, along with occasional defensive tackle duties in pass-rushing situations.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...bid=577964497064710144&adbpl=tw&adbpr=8824902

Yeah they were playing with moving Lawrence out and Mincey inside in pass rush situations last year. I'm sure that's going to continue with Hardy in the fold.

We need another WIL who can blitz, too, so we don't lose that if Sean Lee goes down for whatever reason. That's what we were looking at Shazier for last year, and I'm betting we take somebody at that position earlier than people expect in the draft again this year. A guy who can play more than one LB position but who's got some ability and some snake to his game for blitzing now and again.

 

[NEODOG]

Just keep throwing good players at that defense!

I still see us drafting heavy D in the draft, unless remarkable talents falls to us offense wise.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Tell you more in a few hours. I'm queueing up NFLRewind. Time to watch his 2014 sack finally.

 

[BAT]

Don't forget Okoye and Whaley coming back this year too ! But mainly both 3-tech. so I think we take a 1-tech high in the draft : )

Cowboys could be a Danny Shelton type away from pure domination on DL.

 

[Nightman]

I think they have a lot of depth at LB and DT now. Brent/Bishop could be a big upgrade to Hayden with a full TC. T. McClain is decent when if healthy. Whaley and Coleman have physical upside. Okoye gives them another option.

At LB they've loaded up on depth with many options that have various amounts of starting experience. It's really just 2-1/2 posittions because they play Nickel about 50% of the snaps.
All of these have starting experience and the oldest is 29 (Brinkley).
Lee
Hitchens
Gachkar
Brinkley
Rivers
Watson

McClain is pretty much gone after Brinkley and Gachkar signed. I think all of those guys will rotate just like the Rushmen.

Hitchens-Brinkley-Lee
Rivers-Gachkar-Watson

Still have Wilber,Crawford and Smith

 

[BAT]

good with Crawford and hardy. but Lawrence has to move to the LDE spot....and how effective will he be there. can he hold up on the strong side.

we still need a DT next to Crawford.

Expect Mincey to win that LDE spot, at least initially. Lawrence is the rotation guy at both DE spots. Add a promising rook and DEs are set. It is the 1 Tech that has no real depth, or legit starter yet.

 

[Nightman]

Cowboys could be a Danny Shelton type away from pure domination on DL.

Maybe a Bennett in the 2nd, Shelton will be gone

 

[boysfanindc]

I don;t know how to set the odds on RO signing, but I hope he does.

 

[BAT]

McClain is pretty much gone after Brinkley and Gachkar signed. I think all of those guys will rotate just like the Rushmen.

Hitchens-Brinkley-Lee
Rivers-Gachkar-Watson

Still have Wilber,Crawford and Smith

Brinkley and especially Gachkar will not affect Ro negotiations. One is a two down player and the other is a STer. Ro will be a Cowboy, he is still going to be available for a bargain due to the questions marks (off field & injuries) unless some team becomes desperate and offers crazy money, like 9ers or Raiders.

 

[NextGenBoys]

McClain is pretty much gone after Brinkley and Gachkar signed. I think all of those guys will rotate just like the Rushmen.

Hitchens-Brinkley-Lee
Rivers-Gachkar-Watson

Still have Wilber,Crawford and Smith

I don't agree with that at all. I feel like at this point, he's coming back on a very team friendly deal.

 

[lqmac1]

I say we bring in B.J Raji

 

[speedkilz88]

I don;t know how to set the odds on RO signing, but I hope he does.

I don't think he finds anymore money elsewhere. They just have to hope he doesn't get offended by the offer.

 

[Corso]

Brinkley and especially Gachkar will not affect Ro negotiations. One is a two down player and the other is a STer. Ro will be a Cowboy, he is still going to be available for a bargain due to the questions marks (off field & injuries) unless some team becomes desperate and offers crazy money, like 9ers or Raiders.

I agree. Has anybody expressed any interest officially on Ro yet? Anyone?
I actually find that a bit strange. This team does already know him better than any team, but maybe the Raiders, but they are the resident Clowns of the NFL so who cares about them...
I feel very strongly that he will be back eventually, unless the Commanders come with a stupid offer and they could...

Hardy transforms this D and Ro exacerbates it on that nasty, hard-hitting level that makes opposing offenses curl up and die.