Moore: How Greg Hardy fits into the Cowboys' free agency plan

[esloan]

heh. It's not that simple. A players ability can fit anyone's plan. That doesn't mean the person fits. Could you imagine teams dealing with Charles Haley locker room antics these days?

I imagine that teams, even today, would find a way to deal with Haley's antics. Elite pass rushers get a lot more lee way than normal team fodder.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

The year prior to last year was so bad that last year seemed better than it really was.

Last year we were NOT good on defense, we were just better than the year prior and a good deal of that is because we had an offense that stayed with the run and did well.

This is a half-truth. The offense improved greatly in time of possession per drive from 2013 (2:36 per drive, good for 15th in league) to 2014 (3:02 per drive, good for 2nd in the league). That is almost certainly a product of a greater commitment to running the ball, as you suggest, and it would have helped the defense by allowing fewer drives for the opponent.

But you're short-changing the defensive improvement. The defense also improved greatly in time of possession per drive (something the offense cannot impact), going from 21st in the NFL in 2013 (2:41) to 7th in 2014 (2:34), indicating that it was doing better at getting itself off the field (mostly as a result of leading the league in turnovers per drive). More importantly, it improved significantly in points per drive (again, something the offense cannot impact, since the offense can only limit the number of drives the defense faces and not what happens on those drives), going from 30th in 2013 (2.31 points per drive) to 16th in 2014 (1.89 points per drive).

Yeah, there's still a lot of room for improvement on defense, but I'm not sure why people are so eager to credit the offense for the improvements already made.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I imagine that teams, even today, would find a way to deal with Haley's antics. Elite pass rushers get a lot more lee way than normal team fodder.

He used to whip out his .... and wiz all over peoples lockers / stuff. I'm pretty sure that would not be overlooked these days.

 

[esloan]

He used to whip out his .... and wiz all over peoples lockers / stuff. I'm pretty sure that would not be overlooked these days.

It doesn't matter. They would find a way to deal with it but he would still line up on Sundays.

 

[38 Special]

Agreed. Plus, the double teams that Hardy will undoubtedly draw, will certainly help out DeMarcus Lawrence. No one will benefit more from Hardy's presence than Lawrence, in my opinion.

I didn't think Lawrence was doubled much at all, but I could be mistaken.

Which player would take which end spot in obvious passing downs?

 

[esloan]

I didn't think Lawrence was doubled much at all, but I could be mistaken.

Which player would take which end spot in obvious passing downs?

I don't think he was last year a lot either but if you are going to double anyone this year, it would probably be Lawrence if Hardy is not here. If Hardy is here, it will be Hardy, of course.

 

[YosemiteSam]

It doesn't matter. They would find a way to deal with it but he would still line up on Sundays.

By suspending him. Yep, that works out well.

There is no way in hell Charles Haley could function in today's NFL the way he did in the 80s/90s. The media would be all over it. Times have changed.

 

[esloan]

By suspending him. Yep, that works out well.

There is no way in hell Charles Haley could function in today's NFL the way he did in the 80s/90s. The media would be all over it. Times have changed.

Ok....

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

This is a half-truth. The offense improved greatly in time of possession per drive from 2013 (2:36 per drive, good for 15th in league) to 2014 (3:02 per drive, good for 2nd in the league). That is almost certainly a product of a greater commitment to running the ball, as you suggest, and it would have helped the defense by allowing fewer drives for the opponent.

But you're short-changing the defensive improvement. The defense also improved greatly in time of possession per drive (something the offense cannot impact), going from 21st in the NFL in 2013 (2:41) to 7th in 2014 (2:34), indicating that it was doing better at getting itself off the field (mostly as a result of leading the league in turnovers per drive). More importantly, it improved significantly in points per drive (again, something the offense cannot impact, since the offense can only limit the number of drives the defense faces and not what happens on those drives), going from 30th in 2013 (2.31 points per drive) to 16th in 2014 (1.89 points per drive).

Yeah, there's still a lot of room for improvement on defense, but I'm not sure why people are so eager to credit the offense for the improvements already made.

Because the offense being on the field more gave more time to the defense to rest off the field instead of constantly being on the field like the year prior to that.

The defense was better...it would have been hard for it to be worse than it was the year prior.

Better does not however equal good.

 

[Risen Star]

But you're short-changing the defensive improvement. The defense also improved greatly in time of possession per drive (something the offense cannot impact), going from 21st in the NFL in 2013 (2:41) to 7th in 2014 (2:34), indicating that it was doing better at getting itself off the field (mostly as a result of leading the league in turnovers per drive).

Certainly an offense can impact that. A fresher defense will play better.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I imagine that teams, even today, would find a way to deal with Haley's antics. Elite pass rushers get a lot more lee way than normal team fodder.

Yes they have a someone like Chad Hennings tire of Haley's act and knock him out or shove his head through some glass.

 

[BigD_95]

This better happen or what a awful offseason

Sign Hardy at any cost!

 

[xwalker]

The FO finally understands to not overpay free agents and it's definitely something I support. But Hardy is one of the few players who I wouldn't let go to some other team if there turns out to be a bidding war.

They may overpay him some, but it would give the team so much more flexibility come draft time with the gaping hole at DE filled. He's only 26 and could stay with the club for years to come ideally. Plus, he'd make Lawrence and Crawford and the secondary better.

There are a lot more benefits to signing him than just his own production on the field.

Yes, I think they might consider over-paying him now that Murray is gone. It might cost not getting McClain, but they have a big group of reasonable NFL players now at the LB position.

As you said, it really free them up in the draft to go BPA. They could also free up a big sum of money (8M) if they draft a CB early and made Carr a June 1st cut.

 

[mitchell2254]

 

[boysfanindc]

Hardy's head is too small for his body.

But I don't think his wallet will be.

 

[CCBoy]

Pursuit of Greg Hardy about price more than right-guy motto
March, 17, 2015
Mar 17
12:20
PM ET
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowb...g-hardy-about-price-more-than-right-guy-motto


IRVING, Texas – Jason Garrett loves to talk about having the right kind of guys on the Dallas Cowboys.

Most often that has been defined as choir boys with impeccable comportment, even if it is not true. At the NFL scouting combine, Garrett was asked about the right kind of guy.

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Patrick SemanskyGreg Hardy will visit the Cowboys, who will have to measure whether he's worth the risk.

“I think it’s critical,” he said. “And there’s so many different levels to that. There’s personal character, there’s football character, there’s work ethic, there’s passion for the game, all those things. And we literally grade the players on that. We grade our own players on that. We grade the players coming into the league on those things. You really have to dig and try to find out what this guy is all about, what makes him tick. It’s cliche to say that but that’s really what we’re trying to do and we all can watch them run, watch them jump, watch them throw, watch them back pedal, watch them run routes. We can see that. There’s some physical things that guys need to have but then you got to figure out what’s next. What’s behind that? How important is football to them? What kind of person is he? What’s his makeup? I just have a firm belief that the best players I’ve been around are made up of the right stuff and they have the right ability. I get that. But Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin and all those guys were elite, elite people too. They love the game. They wanted to be great players. Jason Witten, Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, they’re the same way. Certainly DeMarco Murray and there’s a number of other guys on our team, Tyron Smith, I hate to even bring up names because there’s so many of them. But we believe strongly in that and you put those guys together and you do things the right way on a daily basis and that gives you a chance to win ballgames.”

The Cowboys will welcome Greg Hardy to Valley Ranch on Tuesday for a free-agent visit, a source confirmed to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter. If all goes well, the Cowboys could have a deal with the 2013 Pro Bowler.

On May 13, 2014, Hardy was arrested and charged with assaulting and threatening to kill ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder. A Mecklenburg (North Carolina) County judge found Hardy guilty on July 15. The verdict was set aside when Hardy requested a jury trial.

All charges were dropped on Feb. 9 because Holder refused to cooperate with the district attorney’s office after receiving a financial settlement from Hardy.

Hardy remains on the commissioner’s exempt list and could face a possible suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

The Cowboys have done their background on Hardy. At the combine, several team sources were dismissive of potentially adding Hardy via free agency because of the off-field baggage.

So what has changed?

Clearly the price has changed.

As free agency hits its second week, the economics start to shift. No longer is it the players’ market. It’s the teams’ market where bargains start to become the norm.

The Cowboys have factored their need with the potential price and have deemed it worth trying to sew up a deal with Hardy.

Jerry Jones has long viewed himself as a Father Flanagan type. He has been more than willing to take chances others wouldn’t. He did it with Tank Johnson and Adam Jones in 2008. He has done it with Dimitrius Underwood and Alonzo Spellman.

In 2006, he gave another Rosenhaus client, Terrell Owens, a chance after an acrimonious departure from Philadelphia led most teams to stay away from the ultra-talented wide receiver. Owens had three productive seasons with the Cowboys but his time did not end well.

The NFL is a talent acquisition business. Hardy is extremely talented.

If the Cowboys make this deal, then they are taking a big risk, but they will likely mitigate it with lower-than-expected money.

And that might help fit with their right-kind-of-guy motto.

ESPN.com Panthers reporter David Newton contributed to this report.

 

[Doomsday]

Restructure Tyrone Smith and get err done. I cant imagine that Jerry would be flying Hardy in if they werent serious about getting a deal done.

 

[Alexander]

I imagine that teams, even today, would find a way to deal with Haley's antics. Elite pass rushers get a lot more lee way than normal team fodder.

How would you describe Hardy's situation as "antics"?

He had woman problems, but antics means more like Charles Haley to me. Hardy had never had issues before this blow up and his teammates and coaches wanted him back.

 

[Thatkidbob]

How would you describe Hardy's situation as "antics"?

He had woman problems, but antics means more like Charles Haley to me. Hardy had never had issues before this blow up and his teammates and coaches wanted him back.

Agreed.

I haven't found anything that says Hardy was a bad teammate. In fact, every story out of that locker room says that they loved him.

Aside from this one incident he's exactly the RKG we're looking for. If our FO judges that this was a one time thing, or that it was blown out of proportion, then I say let's sign him and fix this pass rush.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

He used to whip out his .... and wiz all over peoples lockers / stuff. I'm pretty sure that would not be overlooked these days.

Brian: "he couldn't hold it in, he just had to go... I know...."