Is Tyrone Crawford More Effective At Left End Than Defensive Tackle?

[waving monkey]

When the Dallas Cowboys inked Tyrone Crawford to a five-year, $45 million extension before the 2015 season opener, it was to play the famed 3-tech defensive tackle in Rod Marinelli’s 4-3 scheme. For the most part, Marinelli subscribes to the idea that a quarterback with pressure in his face is not likely to be successful. That’s an idea that has worked since the dawning of time in the NFL. Crawford was going to be Marinelli’s next big conversion as the high-motored, intense rusher that would be too much for quarterbacks to deal with.

Unfortunately, that experiment hasn’t shown much success over the past season and change. In 2014, Crawford broke out at the position which caused the Cowboys to no longer need the services of former Marinelli project Henry Melton. However, in 2015, Crawford was injured rather early and didn’t have the follow up that Cowboys fans had hoped. Still, Crawford managed to get five sacks on the year, all while dealing with a torn shoulder. An injury so debilitating that Crawford couldn’t even bench press 250 pounds last year.

link/http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...e-effective-at-left-end-than-defensive-tackle

 

[jobberone]

Good question. Not sure. Would rather have him rotate at the 3 and have 'real' DEs

 

[Alexander]

Good question. Not sure. Would rather have him rotate at the 3 and have 'real' DEs

If he is rotating at the 3-T, we sure inked him to a disgustingly bad contract.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

If he is rotating at the 3-T, we sure inked him to a disgustingly bad contract.

They can't all be winners.

 

[CF74]

Torn shoulder, no problem, go out there anyway..

 

[CWR]

If he is rotating at the 3-T, we sure inked him to a disgustingly bad contract.

True, I really thought hed come out strong this year after dealing with the injury last year. Im suprised he hasnt given us more, but the season is young.....

 

[Star Guard_31]

We can't sit at the table chasing bad bets in an attempt to win our money back. If Crawford can be more productive at end then we need to move him there, contract to position value be damned. Even if it means acknowledging the team made a premature (perhaps bad) investment two years ago.

 

[NMfan]

On a positive note, if he does well at the DE position the Cowboys have a good DE at a bargain contract then. I hope it works because it will help overall.

 

[haleyrules]

Torn shoulder, no problem, go out there anyway..

lol. Rub some dirt on it...get out there sissy!!

 

[xwalker]

If he is rotating at the 3-T, we sure inked him to a disgustingly bad contract.

I think Marinelli decided that he would fix the run defense at all costs. They had basically 4 DTs on the DL often in the later part of the Skins game. Mayo is lightweight and moving TC to LE allowed him to put JC at RE with Collins, McClain and Thorton at DT. That is the biggest possible lineup. I'm not saying that it is a great idea when we are all calling for more pass rush, but that seems to be the objective. I have heard most D-Coordinators say they will do what it takes to stop the run. The Giants defense did it in game 1. They basically sold out against the run and dared the 1st time starter and rookie QB to beat them. It seems that Marinelli was more concerned about the Skins running game than pressuring their inaccurate QB. It will likely be a similar plan against the Bears and whoever they have at QB now.

 

[Alexander]

I think Marinelli decided that he would fix the run defense at all costs. They had basically 4 DTs on the DL often in the later part of the Skins game. Mayo is lightweight and moving TC to LE allowed him to put JC at RE with Collins, McClain and Thorton at DT. That is the biggest possible lineup. I'm not saying that it is a great idea when we are all calling for more pass rush, but that seems to be the objective. I have heard most D-Coordinators say they will do what it takes to stop the run. The Giants defense did it in game 1. They basically sold out against the run and dared the 1st time starter and rookie QB to beat them. It seems that Marinelli was more concerned about the Skins running game than pressuring their inaccurate QB. It will likely be a similar plan against the Bears and whoever they have at QB now.

I can appreciate he is trying to stop the bleeding in regards to run defense.

But the whole entire reason he was inked was because he was supposed to be the next, at least, I would hope, Jason Hatcher.

He failed. It was a bad recommendation and judging by current events, a horrible extension.

 

[xwalker]

I can appreciate he is trying to stop the bleeding in regards to run defense.

But the whole entire reason he was inked was because he was supposed to be the next, at least, I would hope, Jason Hatcher.

He failed. It was a bad recommendation and judging by current events, a horrible extension.

I don't think Marinelli moved him because he (Marinelli) thinks that he is failed at the 3-tech spot. I think Marinelli wanted to put the best possible run defense out there and this is what he came up with.

I'm not saying that TCrawford has been a success or failure at the 3-tech, but I don't think that is the basis for the move in Marineiil's mind.

I had hoped from more from TC, but in reality he's only had 3 healthy games since he signed the contract. Game 1 in 2015 and the past 2 games. It's hard to know on that sample size. He couldn't even brush his teeth with his bad arm last season so I can really judge anything that he did in those games.

 

[Alexander]

I don't think Marinelli moved him because he (Marinelli) thinks that he is failed at the 3-tech spot. I think Marinelli wanted to put the best possible run defense out there and this is what he came up with.

So how often is a player moved when they are doing their job?

Marinelli has a ton of holes he is trying to plug and what he is doing here is not by design.

If you think Crawford was doing his job and McClain is so damned good, why are we so bad that Marinelli has to make a change?

Well. I guess that means admitting that the loss of the Golden Cock was just too much to bear.

 

[thisiscowboyscountry]

Im all for getting the best group out there regardless... If Crawford is a better LDE than other players on the roster and he can hold his own then we should stick him there. We know Thornton, Collins, and McClain are inside players only, but if they can be productive and are the better dl players on the roster then let them hold down the middle.

LDE: T. Crawford
1tech: Thornton/McClain
3tech: Collins
RDE: Lawrence

Not perfect position fits for Crawford or Lawrence, but we have to find a way to get our best players out there. There would also be flexibility to rotate them back to their natural positions and plug in Irving, J. Crawford, Tapper, Mayowa in certain situations.

 

[xwalker]

So how often is a player moved when they are doing their job?

Marinelli has a ton of holes he is trying to plug and what he is doing here is not by design.

If you think Crawford was doing his job and McClain is so damned good, why are we so bad that Marinelli has to make a change?

Well. I guess that means admitting that the loss of the Golden Cock was just too much to bear.

When he has 4 DTs on the field it tells me that he wants to stop the run and/or that the other DEs are dealing with injuries. If they kept the same DEs and TCrawford just got less snaps and/or didn't start at DT then I would conclude it's because he is failing. If you recall, Marinelli originally wanted him at LDE from the beginning but moved him mid season because they were short handed at DT. I guess that was 2014 but I lose track.

 

[waving monkey]

My main interest in the article was Collins appearing to be what we thought he was when we drafted him.
For me thats a big relief in as he was my favorite draft pick in the drafting time.
He goes a long ways to fixing some problems regardless of the pissing and moaning from the usual suspects.

 

[Alexander]

When he has 4 DTs on the field it tells me that he wants to stop the run and/or that the other DEs are dealing with injuries. If they kept the same DEs and TCrawford just got less snaps and/or didn't start at DT then I would conclude it's because he is failing. If you recall, Marinelli originally wanted him at LDE from the beginning but moved him mid season because they were short handed at DT. I guess that was 2014 but I lose track.

I don't recall that at all.

I recall the team signing Crawford for very decent money to play 3-T. It was not like we had other options.

 

[Alexander]

My main interest in the article was Collins appearing to be what we thought he was when we drafted him.
For me thats a big relief in as he was my favorite draft pick in the drafting time.
He goes a long ways to fixing some problems regardless of the pissing and moaning from the usual suspects.

So is he what we thought?

I can't say one way or the other.

 

[Alexander]

Torn shoulder, no problem, go out there anyway..

You know, that is a good point. His shoulder health matters more inside than outside.

 

[CF74]

lol. Rub some dirt on it...get out there sissy!!

LOL!! They said he couldn't even bench press 250lbs but somehow he managed to get 5 sacks anyways.. We don't even know what's fact or fiction anymore...