Sabin: Why improving Cowboys might feel cornerback positions are more important than linebacker spot

[waving monkey]

INDIANAPOLIS – Predicting a team’s starting defensive lineup used to be an easy task. Just ask John Madden, the Hall of Fame coach and former television analyst who retired in 2009. But at some point in the recent past, towards the end of his distinguished broadcasting career, that changed.

It was no longer a certainty a base formation would be featured on the first play. Maybe a third cornerback would open the game in place of a linebacker.

All of a sudden, Madden began asking himself, “Who do you start?”

It’s a question that has become more pertinent in today’s NFL, where pass-heavy offenses predominate and organizations have had to adjust their priorities because of how the sport has evolved.

The Cowboys, of course, are one of those franchises in the process of determining how best to allocate their resources on defense. They have three linebackers – Rolando McClain, Bruce Carter and Justin Durant – who are set to become free agents and will possibly to have to replenish a secondary that includes the high-priced Brandon Carr and the underperforming, oft-injured Morris Claiborne. Carr is set to count $12.7 million against the salary cap and a pay cut could be proposed in the coming months that leaves some doubt about his longevity with club. Claiborne, meanwhile, is recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee and the Cowboys are merely “hopeful” he will be ready to participate in training camp.

link/http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...-are-more-important-than-linebacker-spots.ece

 

[waving monkey]

“It’s a nickel game,” said Pat Kirwan, a former NFL assistant coach, scout and personnel executive who is now a SiriusXM radio host

 

[DogFace]

Yep. Lb's should be further down the priority list.

 

[noshame]

The blueprint for this defense still stands from the 90's: stout front and back 4, plug in fast LB's and it's game over. So yes, give me CB's and Safeties. A solid edge rusher would help too.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Oh, I definitely agree with this article.


Corners rock!

 

[mitchell2254]

We have such terrible luck with CB's. Anytime we pay up for one they flop. Thank God for Scandrick tho

 

[Chuck 54]

Perhaps Scandrick and Moore prove that you can play with DBs after the first couple rounds.

 

[ThreeandOut]

The #3 CB and #3 WR are basically starters in today's NFL.

 

[CF74]

Does anybody see a rare talent at CB falling to us in the first few rounds? You'd think there'd be at least one in the mix...

 

[endersdragon]

Does anybody see a rare talent at CB falling to us in the first few rounds? You'd think there'd be at least one in the mix...

There are a couple of guys who might make sense early on. If Trae Waynes falls far enough, and we fix our d-line a bit in FA, I wouldn't be surprised at all if we trade up just ahead of Pittsburgh to take him. P.J. Williams I think would make more sense in our spot (or even trading back a bit) and might be the better CB long term (I see less boom potential but also less bust potential).

Marcus Peters and Quinten Rollins are also both projected as last first early second round picks, but I don't like either of them, the first because of what we do know (you don't suspend a guy like that for no reason, certainly not an RKG), and the second because of what we don't know (he's only played CB for 1 year). I sort of like Alex Carter in the second, but I don't know too much about him.

A mid-round guy getting some buzz is Kevin White, seems a bit raw, and lacks elite size and speed... but he impressed a lot at the Senior Bowl and had a pretty good year last year, might make a really good slot CB for us, but doesn't have potential to be much more (but then again, that is somewhat what we need right now).

 

[visionary]

Coverage sacks

Everyone knows great defenses are build on great CBs, just look at how signing Carr and drafting Mo completely transformed our defense

Nuff said

 

[Bullflop]

There's no question to me that cornerback is a position that's likely to be attended to at some point in the draft. Exactly when is another matter but the need is unquestionably likely to be one that demands attention. We have somewhat more stability at the LB position, imho. Carr may or may not return and Clayborne's situation is somewhat tenuous in itself but he'll likely return if his injury permits. There's surely room for yet another CB if Carr is destined to depart or if Clayborne doesn't heal as well as might be expected. Moore's future also isn't guaranteed in view of some spotty coverage in the playoffs but that situation is yet to be determined.

 

[jobberone]

Does anybody see a rare talent at CB falling to us in the first few rounds? You'd think there'd be at least one in the mix...

My guess is edge rusher, DL if outstanding only, then DB. They are looking for playmakers but then all are; if offense then so be it. Some need to fill needs more than others.

 

[CF74]

My guess is edge rusher, DL if outstanding only, then DB. They are looking for playmakers but then all are; if offense then so be it. Some need to fill needs more than others.

Yeah I'm praying for a DE but we could use upgrades at about 6 positions across the board..

 

[jobberone]

Yeah I'm praying for a DE but we could use upgrades at about 6 positions across the board..

You're right. There is no position on defense that can't be upgraded although I'm happy with certain players. You can't have stars at every position anymore.

 

[CF74]

You're right. There is no position on defense that can't be upgraded although I'm happy with certain players. You can't have stars at every position anymore.

Is this a long live Hayden innuendo? haha

 

[SuspectCorner]

pass rush improves secondary FASTER than secondary improves pass rush. double down on the front four.

 

[jobberone]

Is this a long live Hayden innuendo? haha

Not hardly! I'm not down on Hayden as some but he's infinitely replaceable.

 

[TwoDeep3]

No pass rush, no pass defense. The problem with the defense is not the quality of pass defenders, but the quality of the pass rush. If you do not disrupt the quarterback's timing, and get him off his spot of comfort, he will pass all day long. Eli has made a living passing on Dallas, even when Dallas have continued to throw money at the corner back position.

Improve the pass rush and the pass defense improves exponentially.

This is basic football, and something Jerry has been fighting as he has tried to bolster the pass defense and ignored the pass rush for quite a few drafts now.

 

[jobberone]

You need the rush first but you need to defend the pass in the secondary as well. And now you need more CBs and nickel LBs, too.