Reality Check: Defensive Line?

[Verdict]

We have invested a lot on the defensive line. We traded for Clark ($20m) per year this coming year. OSA high draft pick and huge contract. Quinnen multiple picks. EZE second sound pick.

Only Clowney was not paid premium money or used premium picks to add him.

Looking back on our defensive line last year, our DL seemed to underperform vs the compensation in salary cap and draft capital.

It’s a relatively decent group of guys to start with but Clark and OSA will both be way overpaid if they perform at the same level, as a group as they did last year.

Can coaching take these guys to the next level? Will we vastly overpay for moderate production? Do we need to continue to pile assets into this group?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Clark and possibly Osa will get restructured deals.

 

[75boyz]

There was a definite lack of consistent pass rush at the first level while showing flashes of run stop potential but then just as quickly not being able to do either at all.

The second level's (linebacker play) inability to do anything behind them further contributed to the appearance of the dline underperformance.

But to your point, their paychecks should be adjusted according to performance. It just never is cuz that ain't how contracts are written.

 

[gtb1943]

Clark needs to be paid less
that contract with Osa is just bad

But lets be very honest here: the DL is by FAR the strongest unit on the Defense and THE LAST PLACE anyone should complain about

 

[Kwyn]

We have invested a lot on the defensive line. We traded for Clark ($20m) per year this coming year. OSA high draft pick and huge contract. Quinnen multiple picks. EZE second sound pick.

Only Clowney was not paid premium money or used premium picks to add him.

Looking back on our defensive line last year, our DL seemed to underperform vs the compensation in salary cap and draft capital.

It’s a relatively decent group of guys to start with but Clark and OSA will both be way overpaid if they perform at the same level, as a group as they did last year.

Can coaching take these guys to the next level? Will we vastly overpay for moderate production? Do we need to continue to pile assets into this group?

Clark and Osa are both simply average DT’s.

Clark should probably be cut or, at the very least, will be restructured.

Osa is too new in his deal to cut.

Our ends are a mess.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Clark and Osa are both simply average DT’s.

Clark should probably be cut or, at the very least, will be restructured.

Osa is too new in his deal to cut.

Our ends are a mess.

very good points!!!

 

[gtb1943]

Clark and Osa are both simply average DT’s.

Clark should probably be cut or, at the very least, will be restructured.

Osa is too new in his deal to cut.

Our ends are a mess.

we keep Clowney we are in decent shape if we can get another rusher.

Right now Average which they are both above is superior to the rest of the D

 

[Kwyn]

D TACKLE	LV	PHI	KC	DET	MIN	SD	WAS	NY
Williams	90	87	58	75	81	DNP	92	55
Odighizuwa	91	71	76	39	65	69	56	54
Clark	74	53	75	64	56	82	82	49
Thomas	DNP	75	53	33	51	67	79	43
Toia	58	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP

EDGE	LV	PHI	KC	DET	MIN	SD	WAS	NY
Ezeiuraku	69	64	78	61	51	72	54	30
Williams	56	94	71	66	63	67	76	59
Fowler	63	74	60	55	59	68	71	56
Clowney	63	60	46	DNP	80	60	83	79
Houston	68	61	84	34	59	67	61	80

 

[Havic]

Need to find a way to get Clowney i
On another 1 year deal. Trouble with the team is lbers / secondary

 

[John813]

Clark and Osa are both simply average DT’s.

Clark should probably be cut or, at the very least, will be restructured.

Osa is too new in his deal to cut.

Our ends are a mess.

I don't think they'll restructure Osa this offseason either, as if he under performs again, it's an easier out in 2027.
More likely they do something with Clark cause of the Parsons deal IMO

But agree both are just average overall. Only Williams is very good/great.

 

[30yearsstillwaiting]

We have invested a lot on the defensive line. We traded for Clark ($20m) per year this coming year. OSA high draft pick and huge contract. Quinnen multiple picks. EZE second sound pick.

Only Clowney was not paid premium money or used premium picks to add him.

Looking back on our defensive line last year, our DL seemed to underperform vs the compensation in salary cap and draft capital.

It’s a relatively decent group of guys to start with but Clark and OSA will both be way overpaid if they perform at the same level, as a group as they did last year.

Can coaching take these guys to the next level? Will we vastly overpay for moderate production? Do we need to continue to pile assets into this group?

They need to restructure Clark and Osa. They also need to get more production from Osa which should happen if all 3 DL stay healthy. We all better hope the new defensive coaches can get the most out of them going forward for next yr to be successful defensively.

 

[fivetwos]

They will probably spend those two firsts on the back seven.

They like to build from the outside in, and Shoddy even said so.

They don’t at all get that a top DLine can make a meh secondary look good much more so than the opposite.

 

[charron]

I am happy with clowny and quinnen. Clark started out ok and osa was ok but way overpaid. But they are here so they need to figure out how to get the most out of them and get some linebackers who can tackle.

 

[75boyz]

They will probably spend those two firsts on the back seven.

They like to build from the outside in, and Shoddy even said so.

They don’t at all get that a top DLine can make a meh secondary look good much more so than the opposite.

Exactly.
Your last paragraph should be read by several here as well.

 

[Mikexike]

They will be fine with better coaching, last year was just a mess for all 3 levels of the d.

 

[exciter]

We have invested a lot on the defensive line. We traded for Clark ($20m) per year this coming year. OSA high draft pick and huge contract. Quinnen multiple picks. EZE second sound pick.

Only Clowney was not paid premium money or used premium picks to add him.

Looking back on our defensive line last year, our DL seemed to underperform vs the compensation in salary cap and draft capital.

It’s a relatively decent group of guys to start with but Clark and OSA will both be way overpaid if they perform at the same level, as a group as they did last year.

Can coaching take these guys to the next level? Will we vastly overpay for moderate production? Do we need to continue to pile assets into this group?

Yes!
If your understanding of DLine play is limited to sacks.
Most other people would agree that OSA 53 pressure (6th), QWilliams 51 (7th), and Clark 44 (15th) was fairly impressive and something to build on, especially if we can limit the explosive plays and 3rd down conversions on the backend.
Most people also should recognize that EZE was instructed to focus on playing the run his rookie season and the sacks will come.

Conversely most people recognize that Clowney abandoning his run duties in that last game to artificially inflate his sack numbers to chase another last contract wasn't really all that impressive !

 

[KDM256]

I would stand pat on the defensive tackles until I can see what the new coaches can do with this group.

DEs are a huge question mark and would allocate one of our first round picks to that position plus add a veteran such as:

Dre'mont Jones (BAL) 2yr 20M
K'Lavon Chaisson (NE) 2 yr 16M
Derek Barnett (Hou) 2yr 10M

I don't think I would run it back with Sam Williams, Dante Fowler, Payton Turner unless I struck out on the following mentioned above. Clowney back on this team wouldn't hurt my feelings though.

 

[nightrain]

The Cowboys have no legitimate edge rusher. That hole needs to be filled.

 

[Captain-Crash]

What did Reality find?

 

[Creeper]

I am okay with the DTs they have. I think Williams can be dominant. They need a couple of stud DEs. Sam Williams and Ezeiruaku can be reasonable rotational players. I think Eze is too small but maybe he can put on 15 or 20 lbs in the off-season and get stronger.

Overshown is good as long as he is healthy. Shemar James might be a worth backup. They needs a couple of stud LBs. CB is a gaping hole. I do not like how any of them played last year. Maybe Revel shows some improvement but I still think he could be a possible move to safety - another gaping hole in their defense. I think they need 5 or 6 better players on defense. Perhaps they get 2 in the draft.

Then they need to address the OT problem. It might be too much to get done in 1 season.