Our DE need

[Alexander]

I see Tapper as a WDE.

He was one of the most athletic DE's at the combine. He's been timed as fast as 4.59 in the forty and has a quick burst.

And half a spine.

 

[jwitten82]

It seems like most everyone considers DE to be the most critical need area on the team. It's not a want it's a must get. Early in the draft if not in FA and there doesn't look to be anyone realistic in FA. At least with all their fingers and toes.

Here's the deal though. It's not what you think. It's not what I think. It's what the team thinks that's going to actually shape our offseason.





I'm sure there will be a lot of eye rolling to those tweets but these are two recent draft picks. Lawrence has proven he can play in the league, Tapper hadn't had his chance to fail. There's no reason the Cowboys would feel any differently toward his talent now than they did a year ago drafting him in the 4th round. Both appear healthy and ready to go for next year medically.

So is it possible that while the entire Cowboys fan base views this offseason as pass rusher or bust that the team sees it differently? Not that they will have no interest in a pass rusher at some point but the need isn't nearly as critical as the fans believe it is.

Food for thought. Don't dismiss it. This could easily be true and lead to a lot of Coughlin faces on draft week.

Lol if we go into next season with pretty much the same dline, then this FO is borderline ********, and have learned nothing from our past playoff losses.
You NEED pressure on the qb to beat the elite qb's in the post season, if not then say hello to another one and done. I mean we been singing this same song about the defense since Garrett took over as HC. It needs to change

 

[CF74]

You don't have to cut anyone right now., and once you get to training camp, you just let things get sorted out.

Right now, we have DeMarcus Lawrence, Benson Mayowa, and Charles Tapper at DE. Maliek Collins and Cedric Thornton are at DT. Tyrone Crawford and David Irving can play both.

That's seven players.

Rod Marinelli prefers to dress eight DL for games in order to have a quality rotation. Ideally, I'd like to keep 10 DL on the 53 man roster and 2-3 more on the practice squad.

There will be multiple factors at play when the initial cut to 53 takes place next September, but there is definitely room to add 3 more DL.

Terrell McClain (29 July), Jack Crawford (29 Sept) and Ryan Davis (28 Feb) are all set to become unrestricted free agents.

McClain's a good player, but Dallas opted to pay Cedric Thornton instead of him last year and he will probably find more money elsewhere. It would be better to add another young DT to the unit instead.

Crawford's a solid utility player without a true home position. I would look to spend some money on a true veteran DE to take his spot.

Davis' spot can go to a draft pick.

RDE: Benson Mayowa, veteran FA, possible rookie
NT: Cedric Thornton, possible rookie
UT: Maliek Collins, Tyrone Crawford (can play together in Nickel a lot)
LDE: DeMarcus Lawrence, David Irving, Charles Tapper

Jason Garrett is big on competition and adding three more legit DL would allow for a lot of it. Starters would be worried about losing snaps to the back-ups and those guys would be fighting with each other every week in order to dress for the game.

McClain made us regret paying Thornton 1st but maybe Jerry did that to light a match. Dude looked better than he's ever had but again with the injuries. I would try to keep him and draft another 1-Tech in the first four rounds. A young and an old bull in the middle, do it...

 

[Chuck 54]

I'm actually very high on what Mayowa started doing, too. I think he can also be an effective factor in the rotation.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm actually very high on what Mayowa started doing, too. I think he can also be an effective factor in the rotation.

He's the only true, uninjured, unsuspended 4-3 DE on the roster. Irving, T Crawford... They're more 3-4 DE's or 3 technique DT's in a 4-3.

 

[camaro69]

The prognosis on back issues if very dependent on the specific details of the problem.

Tapper's issue is different than what most people with back issues have had. In theory, if it was not the severe version of that condition, then it should heal with no problem. It's basically a hairline fracture. Bones usually heal in young people.

I don't know what type of surgery Lawrence had the 1st time or the 2nd time. Many people these days have arthroscopic back surgery and never have another problem. I don't know if he had the same area operated on or if he just had the same problem with on a different disc.

Thanks you I didn't know this. Lawrence had surgery in the off season then a four game suspension didn't play much when he came back and needs back surgery? Your right we don't know what type of surgery it was. I just hope he right and come back stronger. But the GM in me say draft a DE anyway

 

[CF74]

BPA in any order: DE, 1-Tech, CB, LB, S, RT, WR, TE. If we hit on 3-4 it's a major coup...

 

[StarBoyz83]

For sure need insurance. This is dlaws last year unless he comes really cheap.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Thanks you I didn't know this. Lawrence had surgery in the off season then a four game suspension didn't play much when he came back and needs back surgery? Your right we don't know what type of surgery it was. I just hope he right and come back stronger. But the GM in me say draft a DE anyway

I don't think there's any question– At least on DE will be drafted and I'm thinking a FA DE will be signed also.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

BPA in any order: DE, 1-Tech, CB, LB, S, RT, WR, TE. If we hit on 3-4 it's a major coup...

I think CB and potentially safety are a bigger need than 1-tech DT.

 

[MonsterD]

I hope more than anything that DLaw pulls a Sean Lee and nips the injury bug he's experienced early on and goes on to be a pro bowl contributor for the foreseeable...and frankly, I have no idea how Sir Charles will pan out other than he appears to be a freakish athlete for his size but I'm not clear on what, if any, long-term issues exist from his back condition...even if it is now technically "fully healed"...

I must admit I am a little on the fence for this upcoming draft/off season...I particularly think we need to make a quantum leap via the draft at DE (Mayowa being our highest paid DE says everything we need to know about the position's current talent level). While I am no draft guru (don't follow the college game like I used to), I'm certainly familiar with the narrative about this draft being deep in DE/Edge players (and DT's for that matter). I must say that I am suffering a little bit from shiny new object syndrome in that I have these visions of packaging Collins and/or Romo and a premium pick and jumping up to get Myles Garrett or some other elite, blue chip DE prospect. Sure, that is wild fantasy at this point but it would be great to get a new DWare or even better...I have some doubts about us being able to do that at the bottom of the first round, despite the apparent depth...I certainly would welcome being pleasantly surprised (Fred Beard style) on the latter score.

My biggest fear is we end up drafting some other surprise pick at the end of round one (e.g., a Jason Witten replacement such as the kid from Bama) as a BPA and then we end up not addressing the issue of DE (and DB for that matter) until round 3 or even later under the auspices that "the board didn't fall that way"...blah blah. In other words, WE MUST find dynamic talent in this draft and the next to solidify any short-/long-term SB aspirations in my view...I don't care how dominant our Oline and running game is (TOP)...we have to change the story on taking the ball away and winning on 3rd down in order to affect outcomes come playoff (money) time.

Fingers crossed...thanks for sharing!

Are you kidding I would be thrilled if we got O.J. Howard at 28, that said he is probably going in the top 15.

 

[rambo2]

I like the mock that I saw today where they would get Charles Harris at pick 28 and Demarcus Walker at 60.

 

[Risen Star]

I like the mock that I saw today where they would get Charles Harris at pick 28 and Demarcus Walker at 60.

Those guys are idiots.

 

[Risen Star]

Lol if we go into next season with pretty much the same dline, then this FO is borderline ********, and have learned nothing from our past playoff losses.
You NEED pressure on the qb to beat the elite qb's in the post season, if not then say hello to another one and done. I mean we been singing this same song about the defense since Garrett took over as HC. It needs to change

But it wouldn't be the same defensive line. You'd have a healthy Lawrence and Tapper added to the mix. You'd also have a 2nd year Maliek Collins with a training camp and preseason. A more seasoned David Irving.

Of course injuries can change everything but on paper it's not the same.

 

[visionary]

That has always been he case. Some fans just refuse to accept it.

Oh the fans know it , they just can't believe a FO can be this stupid

But every time they manage to surprise us

 

[Risen Star]

Oh the fans know it , they just can't believe a FO can be this stupid

But every time they manage to surprise us

Meet me in the alley behind the Rant Zone.

 

[CF74]

I think CB and potentially safety are a bigger need than 1-tech DT.

We have gotten bye but never over achieved with mid-level flashy talent at all three of those positions.

 

[jwitten82]

But it wouldn't be the same defensive line. You'd have a healthy Lawrence and Tapper added to the mix. You'd also have a 2nd year Maliek Collins with a training camp and preseason. A more seasoned David Irving.

Of course injuries can change everything but on paper it's not the same.

Lol a healthy Lawrence needs someone to take the double teams, kinda like Hardy did for him. So yea two guys with back injuries is pretty stupid to count on them.

 

[visionary]

But it wouldn't be the same defensive line. You'd have a healthy Lawrence and Tapper added to the mix. You'd also have a 2nd year Malik Collins with a training camp and preseason. A more seasoned David Irving.

Of course injuries can change everything but on paper it's not the same.

Lawrence and Tapper can't be counted on and Irving is inconsistent

The only person you can count on is Malik

 

[Bluefin]

McClain made us regret paying Thornton 1st but maybe Jerry did that to light a match. Dude looked better than he's ever had but again with the injuries. I would try to keep him and draft another 1-Tech in the first four rounds. A young and an old bull in the middle, do it...

Terrell McClain is a good football player, and he finally managed to stay on the field for most of last season for a change, but I don't see him returning.

There's the injury issues, McClain's age, and the team opted to pay Cedric Thornton instead of looking to extend a player they already knew and liked.

McClain and Thornton will both turn 29 during the summer, that's too much age for a position that plays less than the rest of the DL.

McClain, the incumbent, played 44.6% of the snaps and notched 2.5 sacks and 3 TFLs.

Thornton, a new addition, played 26.3% of the snaps and recorded 1.5 sacks and 3 TFLs.

I'm comfortable that Thornton will continue to grow in the scheme and play better. And while he may not be asked to play 45% of the snaps next season, his participation will go up a good bit.

I'd spend the money needed to re-sign McClain on a free agent RDE, which is a bigger positional concern, and then look to add a rookie NT to groom behind Thornton.