Sabin: Why Cowboys' offseason plan of stocking up on linebackers defies conventional wisdom

[Idgit]

No mystery here. We were down to just three healthy LBs at one point last season. LBs are the RBs of the defense. They take a lot of hits and absorb a lot of injuries. Late in the season, you're always looking at guys who might help you out.

They obviously needed and wanted to add depth and competition. With Lee coming back and the flier they took on McClain paying off, hitting on Hitchens last year and a couple of the additions this season (I like both Gachkar and Wilson for us), this unit has gone from being our most obvious position group liability to a relatively strong and deep group of players really quickly.

And addressing the position group given the contract status and injury risks I'd say was perfectly conventional.

 

[jday]

Not that I don't think a stout D-line is priority #1, but I think the whole "push up the middle" argument is maybe a little overblown. When I see elite defenses play they are almost always putting pressure on from the outside.

I see what you are saying, but often times what makes them elite is rather or not the QB can step up into the pocket and avoid the outside pressure. If the QB can't, that typically suggest good to great DT's playing in the middle.

 

[jday]

While I agree that the pass rush, or lack thereof, was the major culprit, there was a lot of room for improvement all across the secondary.

Room for improvement in the secondary? Certainly, there always is. But the question is were there affordable options both in Free Agency and the Draft that the Cowboys skipped on in lieu of linebacker? I don't think so. I honestly believe the Cowboys stayed true to their board in this years draft (possibly even to a fault given the running back situation) and continued their recent trend of patience and smart moves in Free Agency.

Furthermore, much of that room for improvement across the secondary will be soaked up by what should be a very much improved pass rush. Getting the best pass rusher in both Free Agency and the draft in the same offseason may not ever happen again for any team, much less the Cowboys. Those two additions alone should make the Cowboys secondary look a heck of alot better. Add to that the maturation of Demarcus Lawrence/Tyrone Crawford/other young players, the addition of Sean Lee back to the mid-secondary and what should be a physically improved Ro McClain with a full offseason under his belt and the Cowboys defense could very well flip the script on the NFL from last season.