Projected Starting Lineup on Defense

[xwalker]

wouldn't you think Spencer is fairly important this year and then needing one high dart pick at DE

Spencer is a free agent. They need some type of free agent DE, IMO. Spencer is at least serviceable; although I had hoped for better.

 

[xwalker]

I'm usually optimistic but this is a tough sell and there is no reason for it. Spend some darn money and get some decent players. They have become obsessed with value over quality. Not ever deal has to a win for the team on paper.

We lost Spencer-SDE, Melton-DT, Selvie-DE, Carter-SLB, RoMc-MLB, Durant- WLB, Moore-Nickel CB

We gained Lee-WLB, Rivers- SLB, Brinkley-MLB

We need a DT, SDE, SLB and CB to break even on a pretty average Defense that lost it's best player Demarco Murray.

Spencer and RoMc are not lost yet.
Selvie needed to be upgraded.
Melton would have been inactive a couple of times if Brent had been healthy according to multiple reports.
Hitchens started over Carter in weeks 12 though 16.
Durant played 16 of 34 games with the Cowboys due to injuries.
Moore was decent. He has not signed with another team as far as I know.

 

[waving monkey]

I thought Spencer came on the last few games of the season and he
holds the edge and provided pressure.Him and a quality draft pick
should get us some more pressure if Spencer continues his recovery

 

[xwalker]

If we are counting on this as a necessity, we are already doomed. Rivers is basically a roster fill signing, if we are "counting on" him to suddenly be worthwhile, heaven help us. I could also go with the Brent thing, since apparently there is the misperception he was some sort of destroyer of worlds even before he took a layoff. Lee and Lawrence points are 1 and 2, respectively.

Lee and Hitchens appear to be the starters at this minute. The 3rd LB plays less than 50% of the snaps and they have 9, yes 9 guys competing for that 1/2 spot.

The players have said that Brent is the strongest guy on the defense. That's not a faulty perception.

 

[gimmesix]

Lee and Hitchens appear to be the starters at this minute. The 3rd LB plays less than 50% of the snaps and they have 9, yes 9 guys competing for that 1/2 spot.

The players have said that Brent is the strongest guy on the defense. That's not a faulty perception.

Clearly, though, McClain had a major impact on this team when he was healthy. That might could be absorbed some by Lee's return, but he would certainly be a loss. Getting him back to pair with Lee would give us a better 1-2 punch at linebacker than we had with him and Durant/Carter/Hitchens. I think Hitchens is a good enough as a third LB, but on the same level as McClain.

I could be happy at this point defensively with Dallas just getting McClain back, but I'd also like to see Spencer and Moore return for depth purposes.

Offensively, the only concern is the running back position.

 

[Nightman]

Spencer and RoMc are not lost yet. Not signed yet either. McClain is a must. Shead? Clayborn? Schofield?
Selvie needed to be upgraded. Draft? Maybe Gardner
Melton would have been inactive a couple of times if Brent had been healthy according to multiple reports. Better than anyone here
Hitchens started over Carter in weeks 12 though 16. Carter had a big role and some timely picks, 2nd rd pick
Durant played 16 of 34 games with the Cowboys due to injuries. Rivers and/or Brinkley, fine
Moore was decent. He has not signed with another team as far as I know.Why not tender until better option is found?

 

[gimmesix]

It's interesting that Dallas brought in Corey White on a waiver claim for basically what it would have cost to tender Sterling Moore. I guess the Cowboys just don't think Moore is worth it.

 

[JoeBoBBY]

It didn't happen. it hasn't happened this is March 14th 2015

It didn't happen... YET

I covered myself!

But I really don't think it will. Sure, they will bring in some other guys that have potential....and rotate them in. But the big name, proven FAs, difference makers, are getting snapped up quick and are pretty much gone. I don't see then trading for anybody either... They will draft. But rookies are rookies...... very few come in and make a big impact. But they will draft mostly Defense this year, is my guess, and they will rotate those rookies that make it, in and out of the game. I don't disagree with that either. That seems to be the approach on Defense now. The entire Defensive roster will see action!

It is the Offense that has to be Great.

 

[xwalker]

Spencer and RoMc are not lost yet. Not signed yet either. McClain is a must. Shead? Clayborn? Schofield?
Selvie needed to be upgraded. Draft? Maybe Gardner
Melton would have been inactive a couple of times if Brent had been healthy according to multiple reports. Better than anyone here
Hitchens started over Carter in weeks 12 though 16. Carter had a big role and some timely picks, 2nd rd pick
Durant played 16 of 34 games with the Cowboys due to injuries. Rivers and/or Brinkley, fine
Moore was decent. He has not signed with another team as far as I know.Why not tender until better option is found?

Sheard and Clayborn are off the market.

Melton: Not according to the coaching staff last year.

I have no idea why they didn't tender Moore.

 

[CWR]

It's embarrassing. That should be, like, the Jacksonville Jaguars' defense.

All 3 lbs are good and can be great, Crawford was good last year, Mincey was solid and Lawrence flashed potential. Oscan is pretty good also. The safeties aren't awful and some say Wilcox can develop and be damn good. So we're is the severe lack of talent you cry about?

 

[Nightman]

Sheard and Clayborn are off the market.

Melton: Not according to the coaching staff last year.

I have no idea why they didn't tender Moore.

Sheard, Schofield and Clayborn signed cheap deals, so did Melton

They didn't sign any of those guys or tender Moore because they are obsessed with getting steals instead of focusing on getting better.

 

[waving monkey]

Sheard, Schofield and Clayborn signed cheap deals, so did Melton

They didn't sign any of those guys or tender Moore because they are obsessed with getting steals instead of focusing on getting better.

obsessed with getting steals/

that what I call winning programs

 

[Nightman]

obsessed with getting steals/

that what I call winning programs

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take

If they only go for low risk, low upside they are going to get mediocre results

They should be looking to get better first, then worry about the costs

 

[waving monkey]

That does sound good but taste bad.
Our past experience has been worse then 50/50
plus we have to dig out of cap jail every four or five years

We're going around and around and I do under your desire to get a known producer.
I have faith in the coaching staff to get max results from the talent on board
If we can get some drafting production during the season and from the mid level
Plus the maturing of last years rookie's we'll return to the play offs .Then we'll see'

 

[crashintonickdm]

vince wilfork is still available. would be nice veteran leadership if he came cheap.

 

[waving monkey]

Would Wolfork come cheap? If so his a bad man

 

[crashintonickdm]

Would Wolfork come cheap? If so his a bad man

hes 33, so im not sure if he's cheap or not. id at least make a phone call.

do something on defense FFS.

 

[Kaiser]

I think people are missing some things about last year's LB Corp in saying it is bound to be worse this year. Several points -

Eberflus did a great job coaching up the group and will again this year. Durant was a journeyman when he was signed, exactly like Rivers and Brinkley. If you liked what Eberflus did with Durant, the odds are good he will do the same with Rivers and Brinkley.

McClain is likely to come back and was playing after missing a full year of football. He missed 3 full games, a ton of practice and most of two other games - including the Green Bay playoff game. With a complete year in the offseason program and working with the coaching staff, he is likely to improve over last year and be on the field for more games.

Sean Lee is an All Pro and clearly a better player than Bruce Carter. It would have been good to have Carter back but he was wildly overpaid in FA.

Hitchens was forced to play as a rookie and forced to play all three LB positions because of injuries. Almost all players improve in their second year over the rookie seasons and he will improve even more if he only has to worry about playing the Sam instead of three spots.

There is plenty of time to pick up Free Agents, June 1st cuts and to pick up another Hitchens in the draft. But even if we go into the season with the players we have now, this group will be as good or better than last year's group.

 

[Nightman]

I think people are missing some things about last year's LB Corp in saying it is bound to be worse this year. Several points -

Eberflus did a great job coaching up the group and will again this year. Durant was a journeyman when he was signed, exactly like Rivers and Brinkley. If you liked what Eberflus did with Durant, the odds are good he will do the same with Rivers and Brinkley.

McClain is likely to come back and was playing after missing a full year of football. He missed 3 full games, a ton of practice and most of two other games - including the Green Bay playoff game. With a complete year in the offseason program and working with the coaching staff, he is likely to improve over last year and be on the field for more games.

Sean Lee is an All Pro and clearly a better player than Bruce Carter. It would have been good to have Carter back but he was wildly overpaid in FA.

Hitchens was forced to play as a rookie and forced to play all three LB positions because of injuries. Almost all players improve in their second year over the rookie seasons and he will improve even more if he only has to worry about playing the Sam instead of three spots.

There is plenty of time to pick up Free Agents, June 1st cuts and to pick up another Hitchens in the draft. But even if we go into the season with the players we have now, this group will be as good or better than last year's group.

Gotta disagree

Hitchens-Brinkley-Lee is not as good as Carter-McClain-Durant

If we end up with Hitchens-McClain-Lee with Rivers-Brinkley-Watson/Wilber as backups, that would be a great group

 

[speedkilz88]

Gotta disagree

Hitchens-Brinkley-Lee is not as good as Carter-McClain-Durant

If we end up with Hitchens-McClain-Lee with Rivers-Brinkley-Watson/Wilber as backups, that would be a great group

The latter is the plan, and I'm sure they will be looking for that athletic Will again in the draft. Or another Hitchens if they see one.