Interior D-Line - NT DT

[DominantD]

How do you feel about each of our interior D-Line spots. NT? DT? Are we average/above average, etc.? How is the strength of the rotation at each spot?

(I apologize as I know you all have discussed this in the past.)

Thank you!
DominantD

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

How do you feel about each of our interior D-Line spots. NT? DT? Are we average/above average, etc.? How is the strength of the rotation at each spot?

(I apologize as I know you all have discussed this in the past.)

Thank you!
DominantD

average to slightly above average...no difference makers...except maybe for Irvin, but he is never on the field....

 

[Stash]

How do you feel about each of our interior D-Line spots. NT? DT? Are we average/above average, etc.? How is the strength of the rotation at each spot?

(I apologize as I know you all have discussed this in the past.)

Thank you!
DominantD

One never need apologize for starting a thread for valid, legitimate conversation.


I have long criticized the team for not placing a stronger value on the position and not making a bigger investment. But I think a lot of that comes from Rod Marinelli and his system. He is more preoccupied with his "Rushmen" getting up the field and fundamentals and run defense are a secondary concern. And as a result, he has a certain player type he will and won't consider, and a certain value that he places on the position. It's among his lowest priorities, and therefore gets treated like the last kid picked.

I consider it below average and thin at this point.

 

[glimmerman]

They are doing good. Keep grinding.

 

[Mr_437]

I loved Woods play early at NT, but he's not playing to his early level yet still good. 3T hasn't had a consistent starter, has it? Anyways, if Irving can get back and be right, the interior is Good (higher than above average).

This week - may see more Cauran Reid with all the injuries, so we got Woods n Reid at NT vs Falcons.

Looking forward - I'd like for this team to find a monster DT to keep Jaylon n LVE clean.

 

[DominantD]

NT - I liked Woods early. How is he holding up against the run? I get the impression he has been average. My expectation going into the season was we would be really poor. Yet, I sense that we've been decent.

DT - Has Crawford rotated at DT or has he stayed outside? My secret hope was that Crawford and Collins would rotate this season and make this a strong position. Collins has been overcoming injuries. I pretend Irving isn't part of the evaluation as I can't depend on him to be here. My impression is we have only been average (not bad, not good).

P.S. I love our DEs but I'm only focused on the interior guys here.

 

[xwalker]

NT - I liked Woods early. How is he holding up against the run? I get the impression he has been average. My expectation going into the season was we would be really poor. Yet, I sense that we've been decent.

DT - Has Crawford rotated at DT or has he stayed outside? My secret hope was that Crawford and Collins would rotate this season and make this a strong position. Collins has been overcoming injuries. I pretend Irving isn't part of the evaluation as I can't depend on him to be here. My impression is we have only been average (not bad, not good).

P.S. I love our DEs but I'm only focused on the interior guys here.

Crawford has played both DT and DE. How much of each depends on which other players are healthy and active for the game.

When Collins and Irving played, Crawford was primarily at DE.

To start the season and after Irving was out again, Crawford played more DT.

In the past game with Taco out he was playing more DT but then Collins had an injury issue and Crawford played a lot of both. He probably played way more snaps than Marinelli prefers.

It's hard to compare to other team's DTs. The Cowboys DTs would not do well in a scheme like the Giants have used for many years but a guy like Hankins that was good for the Giants might not be as valuable to the Cowboys.

Watch how the Cowboys DLinemen get outside on many tackles. There was a play against Philly where the RB ran outside and down the left (offensive left) sideline. DLaw came from all the way over from going against the right tackle to make the tackle.

DLaw is obviously a DE but you'll see the DT do some of that also; whereas, you won't on some other defenses.

Some players would be good in any scheme. Snacks Harrison at over 340 pounds often made those same type of plays outside as well as being an army tank on the inside. The Giants traded him for a 4th or 5th round pick.

Snacks is my favorite non-Cowboys player. I wish the Cowboys had traded for him.

 

[kiheikiwi]

This has been a pet subject/rant for years now, but instead of discussing why we don't draft better TALENT - I like how you have bought this around to our currant players.
DT is my one reason why I want Marinelli to retire this off-season. But about what we have now.....
Woods is a good find, who played great to start the season, but has plateaued here lately. Big and strong, he just lacks the talent to be an above average DT. He's very serviceable, but not a game changer or demand the extra attention that would free up Collins at the 3-tech more. Love Maliek Collins, wish they would give him more help. Ross - same as Woods, big body but not much else. Crawford should be on a 3/4 team. Love that he gives everything he has and is a team first guy. This coaching staff has done him no favor's by jerking him back and forth between DE and DT. Irving can go kick rocks, amazing talent, 2 cent head, don't want him here any longer.
Its a position that screams for an upgrade, and with the DE's we are building, would/should be a great compliment to them. But as long as Marinelli is here it wont happen. So he must go !

 

[charron]

For the style Marinelli employs we are doing about average. Most of us would like a bigger stronger 1tech so we tend to be more critical of our players who are asked to penetrate more. When woods or ross or whomever gets that penetration we look fantastic, but if they use that against us such as the titans did we look horrible.

 

[jazzcat22]

I still wish they would set a big stud DT. But that means nothing what I wish for.

I do think Crawford is under appreciated at times.
They kept moving him DT to DE to DE, which I think Hirt him as well as the team.
But they did the right thing and moved him back inside.

He gets a lot of lack from us fans, and I am right in there giving it too.
But in reality he does a lot of the dirty work, so others get the glory and the sacks and the tackles.

Teams need those players. As too many times fans get caught up in the stats.

Overall the DT’s are average at best. Maybe it gets addressed once Rod is gone.

 

[dwreck27]

I feel the position has been better than it has been in years past....

 

[buybuydandavis]

How do you feel about each of our interior D-Line spots. NT? DT? Are we average/above average, etc.? How is the strength of the rotation at each spot?

(I apologize as I know you all have discussed this in the past.)

Thank you!
DominantD

They're ok. We're all psyched about Woods, but that's more about our expectation that we were screwed at 1tech. Collins has been just ok. Irving wasn't much in the limited time he played. Ross is much like Woods, another pleasant surprise from low expectations. And Crawford is making some plays from 3tech and playing ok. He's probably played the best, and he's just a little above average, and probably the only one.

We've got a rotation of guys who aren't hurting us, and give a little something. That's above expectations, especially considering the injuries we've had.

I've just looked at PFF. They have Ross rated at 79, highest of the DTs. Maliek is 50s, others are 60s. A little higher than I'd say, and particularly with Ross.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

If we let Irving walk(I wouldn't) I would like to have a new starting 1T and 3T next season.

Woods is signed for the next two seasons after this one, and think he would be excellent depth.

 

[Chrispierce]

I don’t feel good about it. They keep getting injured,otherwise I would because they have players to disrupt the pocket. They aren’t great, but when guys are there it’s the best overall group they’ve had in I don’t know how long.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I'm hoping the fact that a guy that Tennessee didn't keep on their 90-man roster not only came in and started from day one, but has played extremely well, will change their stubborn mindset on the 1Tech or "shade" position.

Daniel Ross seems to make a play or two every once in a while as well.

 

[Texas_Pete]

 

[gimmesix]

How do you feel about each of our interior D-Line spots. NT? DT? Are we average/above average, etc.? How is the strength of the rotation at each spot?

(I apologize as I know you all have discussed this in the past.)

Thank you!
DominantD

We don't have a dominant 3-tech right now. Both Crawford and Collins are solid rotational guys, but we're supposed to be getting more pass rush from that position in this scheme. Irving provided that kind of pass rush last year between his suspension and injury, though, so maybe he can get back to it when he returns. Crawford and Collins are fairly disruptive, but this defense calls for more than that from its 3-tech.

Woods at 1-tech is fine because it's not a real demanding position. As long as you have someone there who is stout at the point of attack and can tie up double-teams, you're good to go. Now, it would be great to have a 1-tech who can transition to bona fide pass rusher when teams choose to pass on run downs, but the coaches don't seem to care if they have that.

 

[gimmesix]

I'm hoping the fact that a guy that Tennessee didn't keep on their 90-man roster not only came in and started from day one, but has played extremely well, will change their stubborn mindset on the 1Tech or "shade" position.

Daniel Ross seems to make a play or two every once in a while as well.

Why would that change their minds? It seems to reinforce their position if they can take a castoff and get good 1-tech play from him.

 

[cern]

collectively, it's the best it's looked in some time. at least when everyone is healthy.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Why would that change their minds? It seems to reinforce their position if they can take a castoff and get good 1-tech play from him.

I get that. My thinking was more that they have gone nontraditional with guys like Nick Hayden and tried moving Maliek Collins over there, wheres Woods is an actual 1Tech-type player.

This Front Office very much views themselves as next-level, outside-of-the-box thinkers. They are extremely stubborn with their views on 1Tech's, safeties, free agents, etc, despite not having a ton of success (in regards to contending for championships). They seem to care more about being clever than being good.