Twitter: Rapoport: The Cowboys are still looking for edge help, hosting former Lions DE Jason Jones

[speedkilz88]

Cassillas (or did he strictly play DT?).

DT, Tony was a NT for the falcons. A lot smaller than NT of today at 280

 

[lostar2009]

Is he "quick twitch" enough?

Nope !!!

 

[JPostSam]

Yeah it's all about talent. Any team can put together a rotation. They all have backups.

yes, it's about raising the level of talent across the board. but you can't go out and sign an all-star team anymore. you have to draft, sign good free agents to sound contracts, and keep your good players.

so, it's not just about adding deion and haley anymore. and if you want to say, revis and demarcus ware, well, you can't pay them.

i know we'd all like to see more high-profile signings. those usually don't work out well, though.

in the meantime, the drafting is getting better and the free agents coming in are contributing and not breaking the bank, and there isn't much reason to rue those who are leaving. that's progress.

i'm hoping to see even more in the draft next month before i pass judgment on this offseason.

 

[Daillest88]

I keep hearing about this year being compared to 2014.. Funny thing is as of right now this line is already better than that line. Lawrence going into his 3rd year, Crawford going into his 3rd year as a DT healthy.. And no more Hayden.. Yeah line is much better than 2014

 

[Rogerthat12]

He started for the lions for the last 2 years And they have had a good defensive line. Not an all-star but a pretty good player ala Anthony Spencer

He would probably be better than anything that is left out there assuming Hardy is a foregone conclusion at this point.

He has flex in terms of end and kicking inside that Marinelli covets, if they add him it will certainly help the rotation but the draft has to be their focus at this point.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I keep hearing about this year being compared to 2014.. Funny thing is as of right now this line is already better than that line. Lawrence going into his 3rd year, Crawford going into his 3rd year as a DT healthy.. And no more Hayden.. Yeah line is much better than 2014

I agree. We don't have nearly as much dead weight on this line. Only thing I think we're lacking is a proven stud. But (if we sign Jones), we'll have 5-6 solid D-linemen.

 

[Risen Star]

yes, it's about raising the level of talent across the board. but you can't go out and sign an all-star team anymore. you have to draft, sign good free agents to sound contracts, and keep your good players.

so, it's not just about adding deion and haley anymore. and if you want to say, revis and demarcus ware, well, you can't pay them.

i know we'd all like to see more high-profile signings. those usually don't work out well, though.

in the meantime, the drafting is getting better and the free agents coming in are contributing and not breaking the bank, and there isn't much reason to rue those who are leaving. that's progress.

i'm hoping to see even more in the draft next month before i pass judgment on this offseason.

My point is a rotation of bad players doesn't make them anything but bad players.

How is the drafting getting better? That's a hollow statement people like to throw around but it can not be supported with actual facts. Last year's crop may very well be a one player draft class.

 

[LittleD]

Oh my...and the OSHA inspecter, the safety coordinator...

Well, the safety inspector for sure to determine if he has a case of Jerry's CTE?

 

[CCBoy]

Well, the safety inspector for sure to determine if he has a case of Jerry's CTE?

I'm thinking that definitely will require a whole team to get into the front door...

 

[LittleD]

He would probably be better than anything that is left out there assuming Hardy is a foregone conclusion at this point.

He has flex in terms of end and kicking inside that Marinelli covets, if they add him it will certainly help the rotation but the draft has to be their focus at this point.

I think Bosa might have disappointed on his pro day. Buckner might be in focus now as we get down and dirty with the draft.

 

[CCBoy]

I keep hearing about this year being compared to 2014.. Funny thing is as of right now this line is already better than that line. Lawrence going into his 3rd year, Crawford going into his 3rd year as a DT healthy.. And no more Hayden.. Yeah line is much better than 2014

Wait, let me add another op's direction here...but the pass defense really sucks...(chuckling to self)

 

[LittleD]

I was still pretty young at the time......But I kept waiting for Shante, kept waiting..... Its been awhile, but it seemed like they pumped up Shante a great deal...... and then .......nothing. Another one was that TE. Lafluer I think his name was...

There were more than just a few years when our drafting "sucked".

 

[LittleD]

I'm thinking that definitely will require a whole team to get into the front door...

I'm thinking Will McClay's "couch potato" squad is lining up right now.

 

[jobberone]

My point is a rotation of bad players doesn't make them anything but bad players.

How is the drafting getting better? That's a hollow statement people like to throw around but it can not be supported with actual facts. Last year's crop may very well be a one player draft class.

Agree wholeheartedly with the first point. I disagree about not drafting better though.

2015 Jones, Gregory, and Swaim appear to be contributors. Green, Wilson, Russell and Nz** are TBD which is fine for now.
2014 Martin, Lawrence, Hitchens and Street all contribute.
2013 Fred, Escobar, Williams, Wilcox all contribute. Randle arrested himself off the team and Holloman was a player.
2012 Claiborne, Crawford, Wilbur and Hanna contribute.

Three or four a year is all you want to see otherwise your prior drafts and other acquisitions were poor and/or unlucky. We could stand to do better later in the draft but we make up for it IMO with UDFAs. We could hit on a few more playmakers and take fewer risks IMO. Overall we are doing fairly well.

 

[cheftjpeck]

The idea is to give Rod "waves " of fresh players on the defensive line in the hopes that although one person might not get a huge number of sacks, a few will combine to get a number of sacks.

Although so far I am not sure we will be able to produce waves with some of these players and might be lucky to produce ripples.

So like offensive philosophy Rb by committee
We will be DE by committee ... Cool sounds like a winning logic .. Especially as you said with this current talent

 

[Oh_Canada]

That really is not new. Sounds like 2014's DL by committee.

Yup great strategy, worked like a charm last few years.

Draft Bosa, enough with the scrap heap garbage.

Bosa, Lawrence, Crawford and Thornton is a nice young core to build around.

 

[gimmesix]

I guess Jones could be looked at as our Mincey replacement and Mayowa as our Crawford replacement (although we're paying Mayowa more than we ever did Crawford in hopes that he can be more).

We still would not have our Hardy replacement.

 

[LittleD]

So like offensive philosophy Rb by committee
We will be DE by committee ... Cool sounds like a winning logic .. Especially as you said with this current talent

The heck with LB's, CB's & Safeties... Let's just get the Marinelli "quick twitch" 11 DL and blitz the hell
out of everybody.

 

[Rogerthat12]

I think Bosa might have disappointed on his pro day. Buckner might be in focus now as we get down and dirty with the draft.

They just visited Bosa at Ohio State for a private workout where Marinelli was putting him through tests specifically, he definitely is still in play.

I think they have interest in Buckner especially with the flex ability which Marinelli likes but I have no idea which way they are leaning with respect to these two comparatively speaking.

 

[Cowboys22]

Agree wholeheartedly with the first point. I disagree about not drafting better though.

2015 Jones, Gregory, and Swaim appear to be contributors. Green, Wilson, Russell and Nz** are TBD which is fine for now.
2014 Martin, Lawrence, Hitchens and Street all contribute.
2013 Fred, Escobar, Williams, Wilcox all contribute. Randle arrested himself off the team and Holloman was a player.
2012 Claiborne, Crawford, Wilbur and Hanna contribute.

Three or four a year is all you want to see otherwise your prior drafts and other acquisitions were poor and/or unlucky. We could stand to do better later in the draft but we make up for it IMO with UDFAs. We could hit on a few more playmakers and take fewer risks IMO. Overall we are doing fairly well.

Contributors to what? Drafting contributors to consistently underachieving and disappointing teams doesn't mean you are drafting well. The recent 1st round OL picks are the only thing that really stand out to me.