Lawrence 2018

[Verdict]

Lawrence is playing under his franchise tag for this year (at least that is what it looks like right now). The Cowboys seem to be concerned that 2017 may be the exception rather than the rule. If you look at past history they may be right.

Up until last year Lawrence was a good but not great player. In 2017he looked unstoppable at times. But which one is the real Lawrence?

I would not be surprised if Lawrence regresses back to his pre 2017 form. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Lawrence pick up where he left off last year.

The important part is this: If the Cowboys were to sign Lawrence now they have to pay him as if the 2017 Lawrence is the real Lawrence. All the risk is on the Cowboys.

If they wait, if Lawrence regresses they have saved themselves a TON of money. If Lawrence does it again the Cowboys can either give him a long term contract or trade him as a proven, established pass rusher.

I won't be shocked either way. The Cowboys have continued to add DEs to the roster for a reason.

 

[glimmerman]

He will be giving full effort. If you watched AON when it showed him and his family, they talked about his stats and he seemed worried about that more than the success of the team. He wants to get paid and said as much.

 

[Stash]

Lawrence is playing under his franchise tag for this year (at least that is what it looks like right now). The Cowboys seem to be concerned that 2017 may be the exception rather than the rule. If you look at past history they may be right.

Up until last year Lawrence was a good but not great player. In 2017he looked unstoppable at times. But which one is the real Lawrence?

I would not be surprised if Lawrence regresses back to his pre 2017 form. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Lawrence pick up where he left off last year.

The important part is this: If the Cowboys were to sign Lawrence now they have to pay him as if the 2017 Lawrence is the real Lawrence. All the risk is on the Cowboys.

If they wait, if Lawrence regresses they have saved themselves a TON of money. If Lawrence does it again the Cowboys can either give him a long term contract or trade him as a proven, established pass rusher.

I won't be shocked either way. The Cowboys have continued to add DEs to the roster for a reason.

Personally, I would be shocked if Lawrence regresses back to his pre 2017 form. He was hampered by injury prior to that and wasn't last year. Unless injury crops up again, he's figured things out and isn't simply going to forget everything he's learned

And last I checked, the guy was among the top of the league in terms of sacks. Did this team have anyone close to him there?

After all of the talk of needing a "War Daddy", why would we be so dismissive of the one we've found?

 

[Verdict]

Personally, I would be shocked if Lawrence regresses back to his pre 2017 form. He was hampered by injury prior to that and wasn't last year. Unless injury crops up again, he's figured things out and isn't simply going to forget everything he's learned

And last I checked, the guy was among the top of the league in terms of sacks. Did this team have anyone close to him there?

After all of the talk of needing a "War Daddy", why would we be so dismissive of the one we've found?

Sacks are in part based on talent. They are also partly based on luck. There may or may not be any real difference in a guy who gets 9 sacks and a guy who gets 15. But that number makes all the difference in the world in pay.

Lawrence may play just as good this year as last year and get 9 sacks. That can affect his contract significantly. He could also get 20 but a lot of luck would also have to go his way.

 

[Doomsday101]

I expect Lawrence to show himself as a legit DE. His rookie year he missed a lot of time after breaking his foot in camp and of course was suspended 4 games in 2016. Last season he had a break out season playing the full 16 game schedule. I think he is capable but this is the year to show he can be a top DE in this league.

 

[Stash]

Sacks are in part based on talent. They are also partly based on luck. There may or may not be any real difference in a guy who gets 9 sacks and a guy who gets 15. But that number makes al the difference in the world in pay.

Sorry, but that sounds rather lazy to me. Trying to create a grey area to hide in rather than dealing with facts and statistics.

And if we're talking about "luck", how about the facts and very real "bad luck" of 2017 where Lawrence and other Cowboys defensive linemen were repeatedly held with no calls? Remember that? I do. It got to the point that people were writing stories about it. And then, inexplicably, the team started to actually get some calls. Once the light was turned on it. I remember that.

Lawrence may play just as good this year as last year and get 9 sacks. That can affect his contract significantly. He could also get 20 but a lot of luck would also have to go his way.

Or again, maybe if he's not held again and again and again with no call? That would help too.

And if he duplicates or betters his 2017 season, his asking price goes from high to ridiculous.

And if you then let him go, who does this team have in the pipeline to possibly replace that production? I can't see anybody.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Sacks are in part based on talent. They are also partly based on luck.

DL's technical skills, especially handwork, were impeccable. His plays against the run and edge setting were underrated.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

you don't get 14.5 sacks in the NFL and not be a special talent. I seriously doubt he regresses, especially considering it's a contract year and he has a lot of talent around him that OCs need to account for.

 

[Longboysfan]

Think the opponents may sit the TE on his side most of the year.

 

[Stash]

you don't get 14.5 sacks in the NFL and not be a special talent. I seriously doubt he regresses, especially considering it's a contract year and he has a lot of talent around him that OCs need to account for.

Injury is the only thing that can stop him at this point.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

Injury is the only thing that can stop him at this point.

agreed.....he seems to have a good head on his shoulders and stays out of trouble

 

[3rd_n_inches]

He will be giving full effort. If you watched AON when it showed him and his family, they talked about his stats and he seemed worried about that more than the success of the team. He wants to get paid and said as much.

Well if he was paid based on the success of the team he wouldn’t be making much so I can see why they would be concerned with individual stats.

 

[ShiningStar]

Sacks are in part based on talent. They are also partly based on luck. There may or may not be any real difference in a guy who gets 9 sacks and a guy who gets 15. But that number makes all the difference in the world in pay.

Lawrence may play just as good this year as last year and get 9 sacks. That can affect his contract significantly. He could also get 20 but a lot of luck would also have to go his way.

Luck and needs others to play well. If our players step up and this isnt me bashing them, a lot of them are playing well. But Lawerence needs the team to help him out too. if he can sustain his play

 

[Stash]

agreed.....he seems to have a good head on his shoulders and stays out of trouble

Yeah, I think that PED suspension was a one time screwup, not anything I'm personally worried about.

 

[BermyStar]

Personally, I would be shocked if Lawrence regresses back to his pre 2017 form. He was hampered by injury prior to that and wasn't last year. Unless injury crops up again, he's figured things out and isn't simply going to forget everything he's learned

And last I checked, the guy was among the top of the league in terms of sacks. Did this team have anyone close to him there?

After all of the talk of needing a "War Daddy", why would we be so dismissive of the one we've found?

He was also among the top in the league in pressure percentage IIRC.

 

[Chuck 54]

Unless he and his agent are totally unreasonable, I fully expect him to be resigned before or during the 2018 season. I don't think the Cowboys really want to wait to negotiate with him coming off the Franchise tag next summer.

 

[ItzKelz]

If Malik has to play the 1 tech then expect DLaw to have average sack numbers

 

[Denim Chicken]

If Malik has to play the 1 tech then expect DLaw to have average sack numbers

He played there last year

 

[ItzKelz]

He played there last year

When he went to 1tech DLaw sacks decreased.

 

[Point-of-the-Star]

Cowboys will play the trust but verify strategy concerning DLaw's contract.