2. DeMarcus Ware said that Tank Lawrence has been reaching out to him and inquiring about rushing the passer from a two point stance. We've heard all offseason that Dallas is playing a 4-3 defense, with "3-4 principles", but this definitely raised eyebrows. We were told in 2017 that we didn't draft a monster like TJ Watt because there was no tape of him rushing with his hand on the ground. To all of our dismay, we took Soft Taco Charlton. JJT alluded to a guy like Herschel Walker. Johnson County High School, I-Formation, could not be stopped. University of Georgia, I-Formation, couldn't be stopped. New Jersey Generals, I-Formation, couldn't be stopped. Dallas Cowboys, I-Formation, couldn't be stopped. Minnesota Vikings, split backfield, just a guy. Why are we even entertaining the idea of experimenting with arguably our best defender? JJT hopes that we can see Tank rushing standing up in practice before we ever unveil that on the field, because Tank has never done it before. It is easier on the body if you make these adjustments with aging pass rushers, but Tank is only 28.
JJT did note that Greg Ellis made the switch at age 31, and moaned and groaned and complained about it publicly and even more about it privately, saying the Cowboys were setting him up for failure. He had 52 sacks as a 4-3 DE, but what's interesting is that he had 25 sacks in 38 games and 6 forced fumbles after he switched to a 3-4 LB under the Parcells tutelage. He only had 5 seasons with 8 sacks or more, 2 of them were with Parcells in a 3-4.
Additionally, his only Pro Bowl, where he amassed 12.5 sacks, was also with Parcells running a 3-4. So there is some evidence of success there historically.