State of the D Line

[waving monkey]

If we’re to believe many pundits and a large part of the fan base, our chances in 2017 are over before they begin. After all, our lack of big moves in FA has led to so many other needs, we may not be able to use picks on the dline. Let’s assume for a moment I agree that our draft, UDFA’s and guys off the street must be used addressing DB, TE and RT. What then happens to the DLine?



Well, let’s first look at what happened in 2016 to see where the bar is set. I’m just going to list the Crawford’s as DE’s to keep it simple. But I acknowledge a stat or three may have been earned at DT for either of them.



We have to keep in mind that we use a rotation compared to a team like NY who primarily plays two studs. So the stats are distributed between several players rather than one racking them up.



As an example, our Crawford’s totaled 1,098 snaps compared to 1,040 for Vernon alone. It’s not exactly accurate to then combine their stats verse Vernon since both players were moved around, but it’s closer to accurate than just comparing one to Vernon, imo.

link/http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2017/3/17/14963460/state-of-the-d-line

 

[big dog cowboy]

If we’re to believe many pundits and a large part of the fan base, our chances in 2017 are over before they begin.

I think the Cowboys should strongly consider forfeiting all games this year and wait until next year to play.

 

[Bryan8284]

From a pure people perspective of course we want more sacks and pressure. If you look at the parts we are not in terrible shape, barring injury (Tank) and overall under performing (Crawford).

Mayowa, Tank, Irving and likely a high draft pick highlight the ends. Definitely could use another body here which might be Moore and definitely not counting anything on Gregory for obvious reasons. Yes we definitely need a stronger edge here but the draft might help that quickly. Won't fix it any better this year.

Inside with Collins and Thornton plus Crawford and Paea things are not terrible. It's another area where you'd want another stud but we all have high hopes on Collins, Thornton has been disruptive prior to coming here so perhaps he rebounds along with Paea getting recast in to a more familiar role. Crawford, you can only hope he plays closer to that contract but another surgery leaves me doubting. I'd definitely hope another body is added soon but it'll be in the draft or someone else's squad a la Irving.

The fact this group would overwhelm a team does make the secondary a bigger hole than it should be.

 

[DogFace]

This optimistic outlook is clearly meant to anger.

 

[Teague31]

Rod wants to have 10 DL on the roster. Right now I count 8 locks

Lawrence
Mayowa
Irving
Collins
Paea
Thornton
Tapper
Crawford
Decent guys but not stars. Can we add something big with these other 2 spots?

 

[Alexander]

Meeting room is getting dangerously close to full. Better hold off. Not enough chairs.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

State of the DL, well what position does Irving play in all this. And where do we put Crawford. Collins?

Just a question.

 

[jazzcat22]

Rod wants to have 10 DL on the roster. Right now I count 8 locks

Lawrence
Mayowa
Irving
Collins
Paea
Thornton
Tapper
Crawford
Decent guys but not stars. Can we add something big with these other 2 spots?

Hopefully they are 2 draft picks, and should be in the first 4 picks.

However, do not forget, we will get the Jerry-isms....we are not discounting the fact that Randy Gregory could be available sooner than expected....
note...I left out the "uhms" for better reading on the eyes.

 

[unionjack8]

Is there one single game changer in that list?
No!
Failed front office attempt at putting a DL tigsther and I include marinelli in that as he hand picked Crawford

 

[Merlin]

Rod wants to have 10 DL on the roster. Right now I count 8 locks

Lawrence
Mayowa
Irving
Collins
Paea
Thornton
Tapper
Crawford
Decent guys but not stars. Can we add something big with these other 2 spots?

Left out Moore

 

[Teague31]

Left out Moore

Not a lock. Too much of a knucklehead

 

[gmoney112]

If everyone goes into the season healthy, I actually see a lot of young decently talented dudes. Mayowa actually started finding a groove late in the season, and Tank/Tapper have talent if their backs don't snap in half. Irving is such an interesting young player, he has potential as well. So does Moore, if he doesn't go full ****** (coin flip).

I think we're probably adding 1 DE and then a DT later.

They could actually end up being pretty fun to watch in a rotation.

 

[Alexander]

State of the DL, well what position does Irving play in all this. And where do we put Crawford. Collins?

Just a question.

That is a huge question on it's own. Keeping Crawford outside would be a mistake IMO but given the fact he has bad shoulders, I bet they use him more outside to keep him from getting beaten up more. The Irving dilemma is a tough one. He did well outside in a couple of games, but I still believe he might be better off as a five technique. Collins needs to be at the 5-T period, he is not really a nose.

 

[waving monkey]

Is there one single game changer in that list?

Failed front office attempt at putting a DL tigsther and I include marinelli in that as he hand picked Crawford

failure i tell ya, all is lost ,damn front office is the reason this country is going to hell,I swear

 

[Alexander]

If everyone goes into the season healthy, I actually see a lot of young decently talented dudes.

But that is all it is. None of them have been truly consistent. Sad thing is, they will look at this collection of dudes and see "talent" yet forget they could not get the job done. The group needs a couple of alphas. Superior players that stay in the majority of the time. We don't have that end and might possibly have the interior player in Collins.

A rotation is nice, but there have to be a couple that teams will prepare for and that the gameplan can be built around. Rotations serve the purpose to keep the best talent fresh, not be the entire sum of the unit. I have yet to see a great defense that had eight players rotating in and out, doing different things. There has to be some continuity and glue.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

That is a huge question on it's own. Keeping Crawford outside would be a mistake IMO but given the fact he has bad shoulders, I bet they use him more outside to keep him from getting beaten up more. The Irving dilemma is a tough one. He did well outside in a couple of games, but I still believe he might be better off as a five technique. Collins needs to be at the 5-T period, he is not really a nose.

My point is we have alot of round holes and square pieces.

Got rid of most of the secondary, but the DL, who knows. Alot of questions, not enough answers.

 

[Alexander]

My point is we have alot of round holes and square pieces.

Got rid of most of the secondary, but the DL, who knows. Alot of questions, not enough answers.

Not disputing that.

But I don't like your tone. It sounds like you are doubting the Great Marinelli.

 

[gmoney112]

But that is all it is. None of them have been truly consistent. Sad thing is, they will look at this collection of dudes and see "talent" yet forget they could not get the job done. The group needs a couple of alphas. Superior players that stay in the majority of the time. We don't have that end and might possibly have the interior player in Collins.

A rotation is nice, but there have to be a couple that teams will prepare for and that the gameplan can be built around. Rotations serve the purpose to keep the best talent fresh, not be the entire sum of the unit. I have yet to see a great defense that had eight players rotating in and out, doing different things. There has to be some continuity and glue.

I dunno I think some guys will stand out, i'm including one of our high pick at DE too.

Agreed that they should go to the alpha store, but I think that's probably going to be next year if they turn out to be a bunch of betas.

 

[Alexander]

I dunno I think some guys will stand out, i'm including one of our high pick at DE too.

Agreed that they should go to the alpha store, but I think that's probably going to be next year if they turn out to be a bunch of betas.

But we should already realize they are all betas.

What do we need, another year of more of the same?

This will be the fourth year we have tried the jabroni method and it is not going to work just because you give it more time. And honestly, adding another say, Demarcus Lawrence type rookie is going to do what, exactly?

I know there seems to be too many, but how exactly would competition hurt any of them? Are they afraid if they add many more that they just won't be able to figure it out?

Practically the entire group would be depth on a great line. Add a quality DE and DT, this is a good deep group.

But watch it stop, at best, with a 2nd round "mini-daddy" and then we think we are set. Writing is already on the wall with how they have allowed the rest of the roster to lose numbers.

 

[Noclaf]

not 1 guy on that list that any other team would want. thats a problem. Only person on this D worth a darn is Lee