Scouting Report: New DE Crawford Can Play Right End

[Doomsday101]

Games Studied: Dallas ’13, Minnesota Preseason ’14, Combined Practices Dallas – Oakland ‘14

• Physically looks more like a defensive tackle than an end. He has some a square build and is thick in the upper and lower body.

• Plays with an initial burst and quickness. Can accelerate off the line. Good foot quickness. Gets into the blocker quickly.

• Shows the ability to explode off the ball and strike with some snap. Can easily control his man. Does a really nice job of playing with his hands. Very good contact balance. Wasn’t knocked off his feet when facing a double team. Plays with power at the point.

• High effort and motor player. Relentless in the way he attacked his man. Plays with outstanding stamina and desire. Worked hard to fight blocks and get to the ball.

• Showed the ability to key and diagnose the play. Was not fooled with play action or when influenced by a pulling blocker.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...ight-End/ef5e3bb7-3062-46dc-b8c6-c736e1a7b452

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Sure he could play RDE...the question is...can he be effective playing RDE?

 

[Doomsday101]

Sure he could play RDE...the question is...can he be effective playing RDE?

Has played on both at left and right defensive end in his career, so he has that flexibility. I could see him getting an opportunity to play on the right side in this scheme because of his quickness. I think this guy could develop as a pass rusher on that side.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...ight-End/ef5e3bb7-3062-46dc-b8c6-c736e1a7b452
I don't know I guess we will find out.

 

[LucaBrasi]

I liked him when he was at PSU. Good player.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I liked him when he was at PSU. Good player.

Kind of related note.

Saw that Devon Still (PSU) was released by the Bengals. I thought he was a good player coming out but don't know what his story was after being drafted.

 

[LucaBrasi]

Kind of related note.

Saw that Devon Still (PSU) was released by the Bengals. I thought he was a good player coming out but don't know what his story was after being drafted.

Still's daughter has cancer. Its likely that affected his play, not sure he got picked up by anybody or if he is going to focus on his daughter's health for now.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Still's daughter has cancer. Its likely that affected his play, not sure he got picked up by anybody or if he is going to focus on his daughter's health for now.

Oh...did not know...that is horrible about his daughter.

 

[Stash]

Kind of related note.

Saw that Devon Still (PSU) was released by the Bengals. I thought he was a good player coming out but don't know what his story was after being drafted.

I've read up on him. It appears that his young daughter is battling cancer and his focus is rightfully with her.

The Bengals released him and signed him to their practice squad so he could keep his health benefits until such time as he is ready to fully commit to playing football.

 

[Bowdown27]

Sure he could play RDE...the question is...can he be effective playing RDE?

My thoughts exactly.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I've read up on him. It appears that his young daughter is battling cancer and his focus is rightfully with her.

The Bengals released him and signed him to their practice squad so he could keep his health benefits until such time as he is ready to fully commit to playing football.

That is really nice of the Bengals to do that for him and his daughter.

 

[gimmesix]

Sure he could play RDE...the question is...can he be effective playing RDE?

We're not going to use a RDE this year, just going to line up Melton and Hayden in their gaps and put 4 LDEs next to them. Offenses will be so confused that they walk off the field and forfeit.

 

[LucaBrasi]

I've read up on him. It appears that his young daughter is battling cancer and his focus is rightfully with her.

The Bengals released him and signed him to their practice squad so he could keep his health benefits until such time as he is ready to fully commit to playing football.

Thanks for the update. I heard his daughter was ill, but good for the Bengals doing that for him so he can focus on what is truly important.

 

[21Savage]

I don't know what Broadus saw here but the guy I saw on tape can't really rush from right DE. And he was so all over the line the Raider did me and him a disservice.

I'd try him out as a 3 technique and nickel DT rusher. But we already have a lot of those guys.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Games Studied: Dallas ’13, Minnesota Preseason ’14, Combined Practices Dallas – Oakland ‘14

• Physically looks more like a defensive tackle than an end. He has some a square build and is thick in the upper and lower body.

• Plays with an initial burst and quickness. Can accelerate off the line. Good foot quickness. Gets into the blocker quickly.

• Shows the ability to explode off the ball and strike with some snap. Can easily control his man. Does a really nice job of playing with his hands. Very good contact balance. Wasn’t knocked off his feet when facing a double team. Plays with power at the point.

• High effort and motor player. Relentless in the way he attacked his man. Plays with outstanding stamina and desire. Worked hard to fight blocks and get to the ball.

• Showed the ability to key and diagnose the play. Was not fooled with play action or when influenced by a pulling blocker.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...ight-End/ef5e3bb7-3062-46dc-b8c6-c736e1a7b452

Lol sounds a lot like our other Crawford .

 

[Kaiser]

My reaction to Crawford, Edwards and Toomer is that they have significantly more tools than the players Marinelli had to work with as backups last year. The DL was atrocious last year, but actually overperforming the talent level of the street FA's that Marinelli was coaching up. If these guys stay healthy and play in spots, Marinelli can make something of them.

 

[Doomsday101]

Lol sounds a lot like our other Crawford .

Yeah makes it hard to listen on the radio, Crawford with the sack? which Crawford? Lol Not going to claim he is the savior by any means he is I think a solid player and I see others who look to be solid players. No big super star players which is why I don't expect a top 10 defense but I think this group can become a solid defense with more depth than what we have seen. I hope guys like Melton, Rolando McClain and Demarcus Lawrence can show themselves as star players as well as some guy who have thus far underachieved

 

[Zimmy Lives]

My reaction to Crawford, Edwards and Toomer is that they have significantly more tools than the players Marinelli had to work with as backups last year. The DL was atrocious last year, but actually overperforming the talent level of the street FA's that Marinelli was coaching up. If these guys stay healthy and play in spots, Marinelli can make something of them.

Agree. I realize that they (Crawford, Edwards, Toomer, and Sam) have not played a meaningful game yet but I like them much better as prospects.

 

[Kaiser]

Agree. I realize that they (Crawford, Edwards, Toomer, and Sam) have not played a meaningful game yet but I like them much better as prospects.

Its so much better IMO than watching guys like Jarius Wynn and Everette Brown, much less the street FA's like Frank Kearse.

The local news in LA is covering "Michael Sam joins Cowboys". I was in favor of signing him, but its funny that after the Terabytes of media coverage Sam ends up as our Everette Brown type of project player on the practice squad.

 

[Idgit]

Hard to get too worked up over any DL churning we do at that point after the last two years, but I do like that this guy played with Sean Lee in college, and that we saw him up close with OAK this summer. It would sure be nice if we get a bluebird with one or more of these bottom-barrel defensive linemen.

 

[Doomsday101]

Hard to get too worked up over any DL churning we do at that point after the last two years, but I do like that this guy played with Sean Lee in college, and that we saw him up close with OAK this summer. It would sure be nice if we get a bluebird with one or more of these bottom-barrel defensive linemen.

He is coming from a 3-4 defense in Oakland to a 4-3 in Dallas hopefully he is a better fit in this system as opposed to theirs.