Verdict
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I may be in the minority but I find it pretty interesting at the number of DEs on this roster that actually have a chance to stick and wonder if it is telling us something that we haven't figured out yet. Let's go through them:
1. Lawrence. (Certain lock unless traded)
2. Taco. (Based on draft position only you would assume he is a lock. What is not certain is if they will use him exclusively at DE or kick him inside)
3. Gregory. Feel good story. ( Based on us keeping him around, draft position and reputation he could be a lock, although his antics make it more questionable)
4. Crawford. Slimmed down to play DE. Contract indicates he is either a significant contributor/starter or gone.
5. Tapper. Reportedly had the weak side starting end spot locked up prior to injury. Speedy. Fastest end on the roster.
6. Dorance Armstrong. 4th round pick. You would think that we wouldn't have used a 4th rounder on this guy unless he's going to make the 53. We already knew how many ends we had prior to drafting him.
7. Ealy. High drat pick who hasn't found his groove prior to being picked up by the Cowboys.
8. Irving. Part time end who is suspended.
That's 8 ends. Too many to keep, or is it? Irving will be suspended so he won't count on the 53, although I'm not sure he if he has to make the 53 before he goes to the suspended list.
I'm thinking I'm missing one or two other ends but they are the main participants.
The club's strategy in large part probably depends on whether they plan on keeping Lawrence around or parting with him via trade in the offseason. It also depends on how many DTs they plan on keeping around. They could go really light at DT early on if they chose to. But you have to have guys who can play inside.
With Marinelli's preference for lighter DT's could they play Taco almost exclusively inside during Irving's absence and Collin's injury rehab? It would enable them to go long at DE if they have several they want to keep and hedge their bets on Lawrence next year.
Crawford had inside flexibility but ideally he is really to light to play inside at this point.
If one or more of these guys busts out or gets injured. (Tapper -injury history) (Ealy- prior bust) it makes their decision easier. On the other hand if they all pan out they are going to have a lot of competent ends.
They could trade one or two if they choose to assuming they can find a trade partner. I have belief that the team will desperately want to hedge their bets on Lawrence and not get held hostage.
The problematic part of that theory is that:
1. Tapper has injury history
2. Irving has suspension history
3. Gregory has suspension history.
If healthy Tapper is the least risky of those 3 guys.
Who may be around next year will likely factor into the roster composition of the position. I sort of think we will go a bit longer than normal at the position. The team really has a lot to consider when compiling the 53 as it pertains to DE.
All this talent at DE and the refusal to prioritize DTs may indicare they will go light at DT and maybe kick a player or two inside in the mean time.
1. Lawrence. (Certain lock unless traded)
2. Taco. (Based on draft position only you would assume he is a lock. What is not certain is if they will use him exclusively at DE or kick him inside)
3. Gregory. Feel good story. ( Based on us keeping him around, draft position and reputation he could be a lock, although his antics make it more questionable)
4. Crawford. Slimmed down to play DE. Contract indicates he is either a significant contributor/starter or gone.
5. Tapper. Reportedly had the weak side starting end spot locked up prior to injury. Speedy. Fastest end on the roster.
6. Dorance Armstrong. 4th round pick. You would think that we wouldn't have used a 4th rounder on this guy unless he's going to make the 53. We already knew how many ends we had prior to drafting him.
7. Ealy. High drat pick who hasn't found his groove prior to being picked up by the Cowboys.
8. Irving. Part time end who is suspended.
That's 8 ends. Too many to keep, or is it? Irving will be suspended so he won't count on the 53, although I'm not sure he if he has to make the 53 before he goes to the suspended list.
I'm thinking I'm missing one or two other ends but they are the main participants.
The club's strategy in large part probably depends on whether they plan on keeping Lawrence around or parting with him via trade in the offseason. It also depends on how many DTs they plan on keeping around. They could go really light at DT early on if they chose to. But you have to have guys who can play inside.
With Marinelli's preference for lighter DT's could they play Taco almost exclusively inside during Irving's absence and Collin's injury rehab? It would enable them to go long at DE if they have several they want to keep and hedge their bets on Lawrence next year.
Crawford had inside flexibility but ideally he is really to light to play inside at this point.
If one or more of these guys busts out or gets injured. (Tapper -injury history) (Ealy- prior bust) it makes their decision easier. On the other hand if they all pan out they are going to have a lot of competent ends.
They could trade one or two if they choose to assuming they can find a trade partner. I have belief that the team will desperately want to hedge their bets on Lawrence and not get held hostage.
The problematic part of that theory is that:
1. Tapper has injury history
2. Irving has suspension history
3. Gregory has suspension history.
If healthy Tapper is the least risky of those 3 guys.
Who may be around next year will likely factor into the roster composition of the position. I sort of think we will go a bit longer than normal at the position. The team really has a lot to consider when compiling the 53 as it pertains to DE.
All this talent at DE and the refusal to prioritize DTs may indicare they will go light at DT and maybe kick a player or two inside in the mean time.
