Runmen vs. Rushmen

[gimmesix]

It seems like we've got (with a little crossover) two distinct groups of defensive linemen, assuming we get Lawrence re-signed.

First, there are the runmen (linemen who would play primarily on clear run downs):

RDE Tyrone Crawford/Taco Charlton, 3-tech Christian Covington, 1-tech Antwuan Woods, LDE DeMarcus Lawrence/Dorance Armstrong

Some of these (Lawrence, Covington, Crawford, possibly Charlton) have at least some ability to also rush the passer if the offense throws on a run down.

Then, there are the rushmen (those who would play primarily on clear passing downs):

RDE Robert Quinn, 3-tech Kerry Hyder, 1-tech Maliek Collins/Tyrone Crawford, LDE DeMarcus Lawrence

Outside of Lawrence and possibly Collins, this group would not ideally what you want on the field if the other team chooses to run because the offense would have a clear size advantage. However, it could be a tough group to handle when pass rushing. Gregory also would be in the mix with this group if his suspension is lifted or delayed.

 

[xwalker]

It seems like we've got (with a little crossover) two distinct groups of defensive linemen, assuming we get Lawrence re-signed.

First, there are the runmen (linemen who would play primarily on clear run downs):

RDE Tyrone Crawford/Taco Charlton, 3-tech Christian Covington, 1-tech Antwuan Woods, LDE DeMarcus Lawrence/Dorance Armstrong

Some of these (Lawrence, Covington, Crawford, possibly Charlton) have at least some ability to also rush the passer if the offense throws on a run down.

Then, there are the rushmen (those who would play primarily on clear passing downs):

RDE Robert Quinn, 3-tech Kerry Hyder, 1-tech Maliek Collins/Tyrone Crawford, LDE DeMarcus Lawrence

Outside of Lawrence and possibly Collins, this group would not ideally what you want on the field if the other team chooses to run because the offense would have a clear size advantage. However, it could be a tough group to handle when pass rushing. Gregory also would be in the mix with this group if his suspension is lifted or delayed.

Crawford at DT: Pass Rusher
Crawford at DE: Run Stopper.

Hyder played more DE than DT in Detroit. He plays run and pass as a DE but just pass at DT.

Taco played run downs last year at RDE (7 starts).

Crawford also played at RDE on run downs in some games.

Gregory played more on pass downs but he is a good run player. They just didn't want to wear him down playing too many snaps against the run.

Quinn will replace Gregory as the pass rusher at RDE but somebody else will play much of the run downs at RDE.

DLaw is both at LDE.

Collins is both as a 3-tech. He played 1-tech in 2017 but it's not his best position.

Woods is a 1-tech.

In obvious passing situations both DTs play as 3-techs.

Covington appears to have ability at both 3-tech and 1-tech; although he played in Houston's 3-4 which makes it difficult to know his exact fit in the 4-3.

Armstrong appears to have ability to play either run or pass.

There are different requirements between LDE and RDE in the Cowboys scheme. The RDE can be a player that is not as strong against the run as compared to the LDE even on base downs.

The RDE often aligns wider than the LDE AND the scheme often has a LB or Safety as the primary edge defender against the run on the right side but on the left side the LDE almost always has edge contain responsibility against the run.

Some years the Seahawks took that concept to the extreme when they had a 330 pound starting LDE and often used LB Bruce Irvin (6-3, 248) as a pass rush specialist at RDE.

The lightest lineup against the run would be with Crawford and Hyder at DT and Quinn at RDE.

 

[charron]

RDE- Taco, Quin
3T- Crawford, Collins
1T- Woods, Covington
LDE- Dlaw, Armstrong,

Hyder probably plays at DE but i'm not sure what side he'll rotate on or backup.

 

[Risen Star]

We have all bases covered.