Stephen Jones: Hints they are still looking at pass rushers

[CalPolyTechnique]

This. What most in favor of signing Freeney fail to consider is whether he can play more than 20-25 snaps a game. The Cowboys need solid play from their DEs, not just pass rush skills. If they sign anyone it has to be someone who can give them 40-50 snaps a game.

Not even remotely true.

Who is the 3rd down/pass rush specialist on this team?

Go ahead. Name him.

 

[Cowboy06]

The more I think about it, why would you ever STOP looking at pass rushers? Why aren't you always churning the roster?

 

[BAT]

I'll throw out a name....Terrell Suggs. Just because he's up in age and salary....And the Ravens drafted Kamalei Correa.

They are pretty deep w/ pass rushers...someone is gonna go..

Terrell Suggs
Kamalei Correa
Bronson Kaufusi
Za'Darius Smith
Matt Judon
Elvis Dumervil
Victor Ochi

Doubt it's Suggs that is released. Ochi, Smith or Judon are more likely. If a big contract needs to be ejected then I expect Dumervil goes before Suggs.

 

[dogunwo]

How about trading for J. Clowney?

He's in the wrong scheme in HOU...probably wouldn't command anything crazy in return...and still has some upside

That's not too bad of an idea, although I disagree that it wouldn't take much in return.

 

[Alexander]

I am going to research the CFL rosters for a while since that is probably where these pass rushers are coming from.

 

[dogunwo]

I am going to research the CFL rosters for a while since that is probably where these pass rushers are coming from.

Oh great. A bunch of DEs that will be 6'2" 245lbs.

 

[Carson]

I am going to research the CFL rosters for a while since that is probably where these pass rushers are coming from.

You have to add in, "They have NFL experience" Meaning, we get excited then find out they spent some time on a practice squad.

 

[Denim Chicken]

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Not even remotely true.

Who is the 3rd down/pass rush specialist on this team?

Go ahead. Name him.

Why should I? ONE aged pass rusher with limited skills is not going to help this defense. Not convinced? How much of an impact did a in-the-prime-of-his-life Greg Hardy have?

This team needs youth -- since no blue-chipper was drafted it has to come from within -- to step up. It's up to Coach M to make it happen. Dallas will not bring in a aging specialist just to appease the masses. Sorry.

 

[Sydla]

Why should I? ONE aged pass rusher with limited skills is not going to help this defense. Not convinced? How much of an impact did a in-the-prime-of-his-life Greg Hardy have?

This team needs youth -- since no blue-chipper was drafted it has to come from within -- to step up. It's up to Coach M to make it happen. Dallas will not bring in a aging specialist just to appease the masses. Sorry.

You'll find out this year how important Hardy might have been. Teams will now double Lawrence instead of Hardy unless another pass rusher develops.

 

[TX Cowboy]

So this title should read

Stephen Jones: Hints they are still looking at pass rushers from
inside their own ranks

which means they aren't going to spend the money on some
aging veteran allowing the defense to tank this year, forcing
them in 2017 to take a serious look at defense as a major #1
priority

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Why should I? ONE aged pass rusher with limited skills is not going to help this defense. Not convinced? How much of an impact did a in-the-prime-of-his-life Greg Hardy have?

This team needs youth -- since no blue-chipper was drafted it has to come from within -- to step up. It's up to Coach M to make it happen. Dallas will not bring in a aging specialist just to appease the masses. Sorry.

Your lack of an answer was predictable.

Freeney put up 8 sacks and 3 FFs last year at the age of 35 in just 11 games on limited reps. The idea is you don't need him to be a 3-down, snap-after-snap defensive end. What you need him for is to get after the QB on obvious passing downs, if you can't grasp on a football-level why that is important then I can't help you.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

You'll find out this year how important Hardy might have been. Teams will now double Lawrence instead of Hardy unless another pass rusher develops.

No one, unless they are clairvoyant, could know for certain how important Hardy would be in this defense. If Dallas wants to secure the DE position they are going to have to make a trade.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Your lack of an answer was predictable.

Freeney put up 8 sacks and 3 FFs last year at the age of 35 in just 11 games on limited reps. The idea is you don't need him to be a 3-down, snap-after-snap defensive end. What you need him for is to get after the QB on obvious passing downs, if you can't grasp on a football-level why that is important then I can't help you.

To put it simply: Dallas needs a starting DE not a pass rusher. This is why you will not see Freeney in Dallas. He is not the missing piece.

 

[big dog cowboy]

they aren't going to spend the money on some aging veteran

We stopped doing that years ago....thank goodness.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

To put it simply: Dallas needs a starting DE not a pass rusher. This is why you will not see Freeney in Dallas. He is not the missing piece.

You've made it into an either/or situation when it simply doesn't need to be.

You can find guys, probably currently in the roster, that can adequately be 2-down players that can hold the edge and play the run. What you don't have us a proven pressure player (i.e. Pass rusher) off the edge.

To think you should only bring in a guy that can play both or be a 3-down player is bunk.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

You've made it into an either/or situation when it simply doesn't need to be.

You can find guys, probably currently in the roster, that can adequately be 2-down players that can hold the edge and play the run. What you don't have us a proven pressure player (i.e. Pass rusher) off the edge.

To think you should only bring in a guy that can play both or be a 3-down player is bunk.

To pay an old guy big money to rush the passer might be considered bunk as well. Oh well, to each his own....

 

[CCBoy]

So this title should read

Stephen Jones: Hints they are still looking at pass rushers from
inside their own ranks

which means they aren't going to spend the money on some
aging veteran allowing the defense to tank this year, forcing
them in 2017 to take a serious look at defense as a major #1
priority

(cough...cough)

The Cowboys have tried to rectify their defensive problems. In 2014, the team spent seven of its nine draft choices on defensive players, including Lawrence in the second round. They gambled on the muddled history of Rolando McClain. They named Marinelli defensive coordinator.

Then in 2015 they spent their first-round pick on defensive back Byron Jones, their second-round pick on Gregory and three of the next six on defensive players. They also signed Hardy in free agency and re-signed McClain.

2016 saw Dallas signing Mayowa and Thornton. Then in the draft: 2-LB Jaylon Smith; 3-Maliek Collins; 4-Charles Tapper; and in addition - 2 DB's.

Smith, Gregory, Lawrence, and Byron Jones...were all high round picks, and positionally talented.

The team has been doing a diligent job at attempting to maximize the talent in the defense. They have been attempting to improve both depth and numbers on that side of the ball.

Right now, the storylines for Smith, Gregory, Lawrence, and Jones are all still upon the table at present.

In Spanish, there's an expression: La rata de la puerta, con safo...

 

[jobberone]

We aren't one pass rusher from pushing this defense over the top.
For me it's the youngsters or bust.

I agree with the first sentence. But I think the right vet would help the team with the right contract.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Why should I? ONE aged pass rusher with limited skills is not going to help this defense. Not convinced? How much of an impact did a in-the-prime-of-his-life Greg Hardy have?

This team needs youth -- since no blue-chipper was drafted it has to come from within -- to step up. It's up to Coach M to make it happen. Dallas will not bring in a aging specialist just to appease the masses. Sorry.

Hardy had quite a bit of impact until they flipped Hayden and Crawford inside and it was easier to chip him and have the OG take away the inside move down in down out. He wrecked Tom Brady early in the year.

Hardy's problem is that he is mentally weak and when the going got tough and those pictures got released, he turned to alcohol. He showed up drunk or hung over constantly was what the word was. Given the issues with DLaw and Gregory you just cannot have that.

I'm not going to tell you that we shouldve kept Hardy but the revisionist history where teams didn't account for him all year long just isn;t true.