Most Important Player on Defense

[Doomsdayblitz]

NFL Network showed a video where they debated who the most important player on the Cowboys defense was. Willie McGinnis mentioned "war daddies" they need to come up with, like a Taco Charlton. While I would love for us to have one, we don't have that guy yet. However, I do believe that player is on the D-line at the 3-technique position, & that's Maliek Collins. I know everyone wants to say Sean Lee, the All-Pro LB, & no one loves Lee more than I do. However, if you don't have studs in the middle of your D-line shooting gaps & putting pressure on the backfield, your LBs have little chance of making plays. So, Collins is my guy for not only what he did last year, when he had 5 sacks as a rookie DT, but this season, where I believe he is going to take the next step to becoming great. Who is your guy on the defense?

 

[Alexander]

NFL Network showed a video where they debated who the most important player on the Cowboys defense was. Willie McGinnis mentioned "war daddies" they need to come up with, like a Taco Charlton. While I would love for us to have one, we don't have that guy yet. However, I do believe that player is on the D-line at the 3-technique position, & that's Maliek Collins. I know everyone wants to say Sean Lee, the All-Pro LB, & no one loves Lee more than I do. However, if you don't have studs in the middle of your D-line shooting gaps & putting pressure on the backfield, your LBs have little chance of making plays. So, Collins is my guy for not only what he did last year, when he had 5 sacks as a rookie DT, but this season, where I believe he is going to take the next step to becoming great. Who is your guy on the defense?

If Collins is our defensive "war daddy", then we got some personnel work to do still. He had a decent rookie year, but I fail to see this dominant player emerging. He just looks like he will be a solid player in this league for a decade, not an elite talent.

 

[DoctorChicken]

If Collins is our defensive "war daddy", then we got some personnel work to do still. He had a decent rookie year, but I fail to see this dominant player emerging. He just looks like he will be a solid player in this league for a decade, not an elite talent.

Besides Aaron Donald, how many rookie DTs have racked up 5 or more sacks recently and played as well against the run as Collins? That's a legitimate question, because I don't know for sure. All I know is I see a DT that's good against the run and shows quite a bit of pass rushing ability.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Sometimes we have to wait 2-3 years for a player to develop, Collins showed it in his rookie season. Very promising

He's probably going to be the best Dlineman we have.

 

[LatinMind]

sean Lee hands down

 

[Alexander]

Besides Aaron Donald, how many rookie DTs have racked up 5 or more sacks recently and played as well against the run as Collins? That's a legitimate question, because I don't know for sure. All I know is I see a DT that's good against the run and shows quite a bit of pass rushing ability.

Suh had 10 in 2010. Marcel Dareus had 5.5 in 2011. For Dallas' historical comparison, he had one sack more than Russell Maryland did as a rookie. People around here are even projecting a Warren Sapp career arc because he had two and a half more QB traps.

All in all, I think people are looking at five sacks and thinking he was consistently explosive and impactful. I don't know why five sacks would make him much different from a player with 3.5.

But don't mistake my skepticism for saying he is a bum. He had a very solid rookie season. I am just not going to read too much into it.

Now if he explodes in his second or third season like Geno Atkins did and becomes a player that pops off your screen, I might get excited.

 

[xwalker]

NFL Network showed a video where they debated who the most important player on the Cowboys defense was. Willie McGinnis mentioned "war daddies" they need to come up with, like a Taco Charlton. While I would love for us to have one, we don't have that guy yet. However, I do believe that player is on the D-line at the 3-technique position, & that's Maliek Collins. I know everyone wants to say Sean Lee, the All-Pro LB, & no one loves Lee more than I do. However, if you don't have studs in the middle of your D-line shooting gaps & putting pressure on the backfield, your LBs have little chance of making plays. So, Collins is my guy for not only what he did last year, when he had 5 sacks as a rookie DT, but this season, where I believe he is going to take the next step to becoming great. Who is your guy on the defense?

I agree that it's possible for Collins to be the most important on defense.

If the most important player on a 4-3 defense is a LB, then that defense has problems.

Hopefully by mid season a DE gets the vote.

 

[Lutonio]

Other than the candidates mentioned already, Zeke is the most important to the defense.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

It shouldn't ever be a linebacker, but for us come on it's obviously Sean Lee

 

[Hardline]

Ezekiel Elliott.

 

[noshame]

A good LB is always #1. By good, I mean a LB who knows the offense so well he 's directing others to the ball pre snap, that is worth it's weight in gold.

 

[Alexander]

It shouldn't ever be a linebacker, but for us come on it's obviously Sean Lee

In our scheme, 3-T DT and weakside chase LB are pretty much 1A and 1B in terms of importance.

 

[Alexander]

I agree that it's possible for Collins to be the most important on defense.

His role is certainly very important. I just don't think he is good enough yet.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Suh had 10 in 2010. Marcel Dareus had 5.5 in 2011. For Dallas' historical comparison, he had one sack more than Russell Maryland did as a rookie. People around here are even projecting a Warren Sapp career arc because he had two and a half more QB traps.

All in all, I think people are looking at five sacks and thinking he was consistently explosive and impactful. I don't know why five sacks would make him much different from a player with 3.5.

But don't mistake my skepticism for saying he is a bum. He had a very solid rookie season. I am just not going to read too much into it.

Now if he explodes in his second or third season like Geno Atkins did and becomes a player that pops off your screen, I might get excited.

So he has the 4th most sacks by a rookie Dt and you don't see it, Mortimer?

 

[Alexander]

So he has the 4th most sacks by a rookie Dt and you don't see it, Mortimer?

No, I don't.

I guess I don't find him getting 5 sacks as being a huge deal.

Most DTs are not asked to pass rush much, so you are comparing his statistical prowess to others who have been asked to do different things.

So what game did he just cause huge issues for the opposition and just change the flow of the action?

I can see a Russell Maryland type career for him. No shame in that. But even Maryland was not a dominant player by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Idgit]

Besides Aaron Donald, how many rookie DTs have racked up 5 or more sacks recently and played as well against the run as Collins? That's a legitimate question, because I don't know for sure. All I know is I see a DT that's good against the run and shows quite a bit of pass rushing ability.

Collins quietly had a really really good year for a 3rd round pick. Considering he missed a chunk of TC with injury, played in one PS game, and didn't play the first game of the regular season, he was impressive. He also doesn't get a ton of edge support, as we know all too well.

In a regular team draft, he'd probably be considered the gem of that year's haul. In last year's draft, he's maybe the 4th biggest story (depending how you feel about Anthony Brown). And even with that, Charles Tapper might have something to say about that ranking in a few years if his play can ever match his athleticism.

Man, we had a great draft in 2016 when you think about it. Crazy good.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

No, I don't.

I guess I don't find him getting 5 sacks as being a huge deal.

Most DTs are not asked to pass rush much, so you are comparing his statistical prowess to others who have been asked to do different things.

So what game did he just cause huge issues for the opposition and just change the flow of the action?

I can see a Russell Maryland type career for him. No shame in that. But even Maryland was not a dominant player by any stretch of the imagination.

Maryland did not beat anyone off the snap.

Not all DE are asked to pass rush every down either particularly SDE. That comparison is still made. If you reduce DT down to 3T then you are talking McCoy, Donald, Atkins, and Jurrell as the elite. He did better than all of them other than Donald as a rookie and has a fair chance to rank favorably with them this year. Year 2 improvements are nice.

Cleveland, Washington, and Cincinnati had serious issues blocking him and he seemed to improve as the season went along.

I see Collins as a guy that is quick enough to beat OG to the gap and the upper body strength to shed blcoks. His lower body and core is not there but that is not unusual in young players. If he comes in stronger, he will be a force.

I am not sure what the standard for war daddy is but for me it means it's a guy that most NFL players cannot single block. He has a shot to reach that level of play.

 

[JJHLH1]

Collins may very well end up being our most important defensive player this year. Anthony Brown would be another consideration given his critical importance to our young developing secondary. The epic 2016 draft!

 

[kiheikiwi]

I would still have to say Lee right now. Not only an all-pro LBer, but he is the field General as well.
I am really hoping Collins takes the next step this year, The videos of his off-season workouts look intense !
He's good, now can he become great ? We will see this year, as Idgit said above, broken foot, missed training camp and all but 1 pre-season game. Started slow, as you would expect. But really came on strong toward the end of the year. (and that's as a rookie)
Perfect size and build for a 3-tech, wrestling background which again is great for the position. And really seems to want it.
Im rooting for the guy.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I'll go with Irving.

I know people are mad at him but he flashed dominance last year more often that anyone else.

If we can get him, Collins and production out of 1 other spot on the line we will have a substantial rush. It's hard to coordinate doubles on more than 2 spots on the line even if they trot out 7 man protections. Marinelli will just stunt or shift to throw a wrench in it.

Candidates include DLaw, Tapper, Taco, and Mayowa. I look forward to what they trot out for the nickel rush as well. Getting 4 of DLaw, Collins, Irving, Tapper, and Taco all at the same time could be formidable.