No need to go after top guys in free agency

[endersdragon]

Not that I necessarily think we can, but really I believe this is a year where it isn't going to pay to go after the very top guys (Suh, maybe Hughes and Hardy, etc.) in free agency and instead go after those second tier guys who are quite deep and could improve our defense a great deal. Guys who I think fit this bill would be guys like Sheard, McPhee, Graham, and Orakpo (if his number goes down because of injury history enough) at DE, Odrick and maybe Thornton (I am a firm believer that we need a good run stuffer at DT) at DT, guys like were on our team last year at LB, and guys like Maxwell and Culliver at CB. In short... don't go after the top tier guys that cost an arm and a leg (sometimes two) go after the YOUNG second tier guys who will improve our defense, and allow us to go BPA in the draft.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Not that I necessarily think we can, but really I believe this is a year where it isn't going to pay to go after the very top guys (Suh, maybe Hughes and Hardy, etc.) in free agency and instead go after those second tier guys who are quite deep and could improve our defense a great deal. Guys who I think fit this bill would be guys like Sheard, McPhee, Graham, and Orakpo (if his number goes down because of injury history enough) at DE, Odrick and maybe Thornton (I am a firm believer that we need a good run stuffer at DT) at DT, guys like were on our team last year at LB, and guys like Maxwell and Culliver at CB. In short... don't go after the top tier guys that cost an arm and a leg (sometimes two) go after the YOUNG second tier guys who will improve our defense, and allow us to go BPA in the draft.

We need a pass rusher who can come off the edge. If we don't get a guy like that, then we are probably the same Defense we were last year IMO.

 

[Corso]

Not that I necessarily think we can, but really I believe this is a year where it isn't going to pay to go after the very top guys (Suh, maybe Hughes and Hardy, etc.) in free agency and instead go after those second tier guys who are quite deep and could improve our defense a great deal. Guys who I think fit this bill would be guys like Sheard, McPhee, Graham, and Orakpo (if his number goes down because of injury history enough) at DE, Odrick and maybe Thornton (I am a firm believer that we need a good run stuffer at DT) at DT, guys like were on our team last year at LB, and guys like Maxwell and Culliver at CB. In short... don't go after the top tier guys that cost an arm and a leg (sometimes two) go after the YOUNG second tier guys who will improve our defense, and allow us to go BPA in the draft.

I can dig it, but:

It'd be a whole lot cooler if they did...

 

[endersdragon]

We need a pass rusher who can come off the edge. If we don't get a guy like that, then we are probably the same Defense we were last year IMO.

I see the 4 guys I listed as being that sort of guy, Hughes would be as well but he might go for too much. I think any of those guys could get 7 sacks for us and cause some consistent disruption in the backfield, and that will certainly be an upgrade over what we had in Spencer last year.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I see the 4 guys I listed as being that sort of guy, Hughes would be as well but he might go for too much. I think any of those guys could get 7 sacks for us and cause some consistent disruption in the backfield, and that will certainly be an upgrade over what we had in Spencer last year.

I've posted this before but I'll say it again. Lots of guys can probably give us 7 sacks a season. Heck, there are probably guys on our own roster now who could do that over 16 games. That's really not what we want or need IMO. We need a guy who threatens on every play. Teams need to fear the edge rusher. That makes them account for him on every play and double him. Lots of guys can get 7 or 8 sacks but they may not be guys who are drawing double teams on every play.

 

[endersdragon]

I've posted this before but I'll say it again. Lots of guys can probably give us 7 sacks a season. Heck, there are probably guys on our own roster now who could do that over 16 games. That's really not what we want or need IMO. We need a guy who threatens on every play. Teams need to fear the edge rusher. That makes them account for him on every play and double him. Lots of guys can get 7 or 8 sacks but they may not be guys who are drawing double teams on every play.

Okay, so how are you going to get money for Hardy (since he is the only guy who fits your bill), are we trading Dez's franchise tag?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Okay, so how are you going to get money for Hardy (since he is the only guy who fits your bill), are we trading Dez's franchise tag?

I don't think we should just pay anything for Hardy. I think you make a good offer, based on what the market will support and if you get him, then thats good business. At this point, I don't know what the market for him is so it's difficult to say exactly how much money we are talking about.

 

[endersdragon]

I don't think we should just pay anything for Hardy. I think you make a good offer, based on what the market will support and if you get him, then thats good business. At this point, I don't know what the market for him is so it's difficult to say exactly how much money we are talking about.

Isn't that how we got Carr?

 

[Fletch]

I can dig it, but:

It'd be a whole lot cooler if they did...

Alriiight.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I believe this is a year where it isn't going to pay to go after the very top guys (Suh, maybe Hughes and Hardy, etc.) in free agency and instead go after those second tier guys who are quite deep and could improve our defense a great deal.

That is the way we do business now. Actually have a for a couple of years now.

 

[endersdragon]

That is the way we do business now. Actually have a for a couple of years now.

Yep, just hoping it continues that way, and hoping some of my fellow Cowboys fans calm down their expectations a bit.

 

[Arkyvarminter]

Does anyone think Lawrence will amount to anything???

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Isn't that how we got Carr?

What's Carr got to do Hardy?

 

[endersdragon]

Does anyone think Lawrence will amount to anything???

I certainly do. He just needs an offseason and some gametime to improve, not to mention a consistent 3 tech next to him will help.

 

[endersdragon]

What's Carr got to do Hardy?

To get the top guy at any position in free agency you are going to have to overpay him by a few million and hope he works out for it. That's what we did to Carr, and it's what we have done for a few guys in the past. Sometimes it works out, more often than not it doesn't. I don't see why Hardy will be any different, some team out there is going to ignore possible character issues, and a possible NFL investigation.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

To get the top guy at any position in free agency you are going to have to overpay him by a few million and hope he works out for it. That's what we did to Carr, and it's what we have done for a few guys in the past. Sometimes it works out, more often than not it doesn't. I don't see why Hardy will be any different, some team out there is going to ignore possible character issues, and a possible NFL investigation.

If Hardy had no issues, that would be true. A guy like Suh, for example, is probably going to be that FA you are talking about. However, that may not necessarily be the case with Hardy. He may get that kind of offer in FA, I don't know yet. As I said, we have to see what the market supports but I don't think that means that we don't try and sign him. If he's too expensive, then it's not a deal for us but we don't know if he is or if he isn't at this point.

Having said all of this, doesn't change the fact that what I said earlier is true. Lots of guys can get you 7 sacks. That is not really what we need. We need a real threat off the edge to make this Defense good enough to win a championship. At least, that is my opinion on the subject.

 

[Longboysfan]

Does anyone think Lawrence will amount to anything???

Yes. We should see much bigger results this season. Going off post season.

 

[Verdict]

If Hardy had no issues, that would be true. A guy like Suh, for example, is probably going to be that FA you are talking about. However, that may not necessarily be the case with Hardy. He may get that kind of offer in FA, I don't know yet. As I said, we have to see what the market supports but I don't think that means that we don't try and sign him. If he's too expensive, then it's not a deal for us but we don't know if he is or if he isn't at this point.

Having said all of this, doesn't change the fact that what I said earlier is true. Lots of guys can get you 7 sacks. That is not really what we need. We need a real threat off the edge to make this Defense good enough to win a championship. At least, that is my opinion on the subject.

Barring something unforeseen, I think that that guy will probably either be Lawrence at DE, or we won't have one. We probably won't get a rookie that is going to bring what you are referring to in the draft since we draft too low to get a reasonable opportunity to get an instant impact sort of guy. I also don't think we will get one of those in free agency unless we mine another gem this year like we did with McClain this past year. Guys like that are a rare bird. I would love to see us get a guy that has underperformed somewhere else who turns it on for us this year for the price of a song and dance. Keep your fingers crossed on that one.

 

[AzorAhai]

I've posted this before but I'll say it again. Lots of guys can probably give us 7 sacks a season. Heck, there are probably guys on our own roster now who could do that over 16 games. That's really not what we want or need IMO. We need a guy who threatens on every play. Teams need to fear the edge rusher. That makes them account for him on every play and double him. Lots of guys can get 7 or 8 sacks but they may not be guys who are drawing double teams on every play.

You are very right. 7 sacks consistently single blocked isnt even close to a 8-10 sack guy who draws consistent double blocks or having a TE stay in to block in order to deal with him.

 

[CF74]

Whatever we do we need upgrades over the current bunch..