The Cowboys may have found their bookend DE's

Risen Star said:
One of the positives out of this season is I'm stating to believe the Cowboys may have finally found two quality starting DEs for the future. Assuming Lawrence has turned a corner and not just playing for a contract and, of course, Taco continues to develop.

I just couldn't help thinking as I watched Taco play well down the stretch that this team's days searching for edge pressure are over. They still have work to do inside but the edges may be in better shape than it's been in years, in terms of starting players.

A lot of people have pointed out the two rookie corners and their future. Can't argue with that, they both look legit to me, but I'm more focused on the dogs that hunt. Lawrence was a revelation this year. The arrow is up on Taco and his skill set really is a perfect compliment on the other side.

Who agrees with me? Who thinks I'm just being an insufferable homer once again?
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Yes this is total homer but you may be right

Given his injury history and contract year they better franchise DLaw and not give him a long term deal

Of course we need a real 1T DT to make these guys become even more effective
 
Lawrence flashed last year and really showed up this year.
However he has had back issues that make you worried a little.

Taco has gotten better in the second half of the season but I personally don't know if it is enough to worry about not going after more ends.

I do like when we have Irving in the rotation as it provides another pressure player in the middle but you sometimes get the feeling that the Team does not fully trust
his odd ball behavior.

Collins has had a down year but I think part of it is injuries and part of it is because of Irving playing better.

I don't think many here truly trust Gregory to stay clean and if we were able to ask the FO about it and they were honest, they probably say they don't trust him either, but that is just speculation on my part.

I doubt too many would be opposed to a top DE or DT (1 or 3) in the first round of the draft if a good one falls to us. I think another 3 tech that can get after the QB would help in our rotation and allow some to also rotate on the ends.

A good massive 1 tech could also help contain some and free up the others to make moves.

As of right now Tank is the only proven pass rusher. Some of the others might have shown some flash and signs of becoming another threat but as of right now Tank is the only one and he has back issues and in a contract year.
Thinking we are ok at the position right now is a gamble at best.

Tank has 14.5 Sacks by himself.
The next player Is Irving with 7

If you take Irving, Collins, Ash, Neal, Mayowa, Crawford and Taco you have a total of 17.5 Sacks...and again Irving has 7 of those.

I think we can still improve.

I think we are in better shape than we initially thought going into the season, but I don't think we are finished or could not get much better if we wanted.

Some of this too will be determined if we keep Coach Rod here and what kind of D we will run and the premium put on a big run stuffing 1 Tech or how much they want to rotate players.
 
Risen Star said:
One of the positives out of this season is I'm stating to believe the Cowboys may have finally found two quality starting DEs for the future. Assuming Lawrence has turned a corner and not just playing for a contract and, of course, Taco continues to develop.

I just couldn't help thinking as I watched Taco play well down the stretch that this team's days searching for edge pressure are over. They still have work to do inside but the edges may be in better shape than it's been in years, in terms of starting players.

A lot of people have pointed out the two rookie corners and their future. Can't argue with that, they both look legit to me, but I'm more focused on the dogs that hunt. Lawrence was a revelation this year. The arrow is up on Taco and his skill set really is a perfect compliment on the other side.

Who agrees with me? Who thinks I'm just being an insufferable homer once again?
Click to expand...

I agree. A few questions for you though:

1) Do you see Taco being the starting RDE?
2) Where do you see Irving in this mix?
3) Who are our starting DTs next year?

Of course, at times Irving is the best player on the DL. I'm not too concerned with who starts to be honest. I think Irving is an X-factor. You could move him all around the DL. I'd be happy with a starting DL of Taco-Collins-FA-Lawrence while moving around Irving and possibly Gregory to create mismatches. What do you think?
 
KJJ said:
DLaw Is coming off a couple of back surgeries and this is the first year he’s been consistent. His back has acted up some this season and who knows how he’s going to perform once he gets paid. A lot of players have big seasons during contract years then fall off. His back situation concerns me but we have to go forward with him. There’s talk that Irving could be gone after this season which is surprising to me. You have to like what we have in Irving and DLaw if they can stay healthy.
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Surprising news about Irving (maybe poor attitude), but think DLaw gets the tag. The back problems this young are troubling.
 
BigStar said:
Surprising news about Irving (maybe poor attitude), but think DLaw gets the tag. The back problems this young are troubling.
Click to expand...

Attitude problems with Irving would be the only reason I could see why the team would want to move on from him. DLaw will likely get the tag to see if he can validate this season. Before committing long term I would like to see back to back good seasons and see if he stays healthy.
 
I don't think you necessarily need a "speed" rusher. Taco and Tank both have the combination of power and speed to keep guys off balance which is what you really need. Those guys are great vs. the run. Which a lot of speed rushers are not. Tank can be a 3 down player and Taco has the potential.

Collins has been playing out of position at the 1 technique a lot of the year. He still hasn't shown as much though. If we draft a true 1 technique it will improve Collins and the linebackers. If we have a true 1 technique to clog the middle the defense won't fall apart when Sean Lee is out.
 
If Dallas can get enough for Irving and Gregory makes a return, Irving will be expendable.
 
JoeyBoy718 said:
I agree. A few questions for you though:

1) Do you see Taco being the starting RDE?
2) Where do you see Irving in this mix?
3) Who are our starting DTs next year?

Of course, at times Irving is the best player on the DL. I'm not too concerned with who starts to be honest. I think Irving is an X-factor. You could move him all around the DL. I'd be happy with a starting DL of Taco-Collins-FA-Lawrence while moving around Irving and possibly Gregory to create mismatches. What do you think?
Click to expand...

This is like homework.

Lawrence is my RE, of course. Irving starts at the 3 and plays all over really. I would hope the starting 1 isn't on the roster right now.
 
stilltheguru88 said:
Who is Seattle’s speed demon? Or the giants in 2007? Osi wasn’t a speed guy being drafted at 6’3 279. Let’s stop this myth. While I would like to draft a speed rusher this year for versatility on the dline it’s not a necessity.
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Cliff Avril and Bruce Irvin for Seattle (at the same time for 3 years or so, too), and Justin Tuck was probably the quickest of the Giant's 4 rushers (he was obviously more balanced than just a speed guy, but was plenty quick back in '07). I agree that a speed rusher isn't the "end all be all" but let's not discount that it was a serious component to the two teams you referenced.
 
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You can have a good rush with those guys but to be truly special you need an elite edge rusher which we don't have. Right now Taco isn't that far off a decent edge rusher and in fact may be one. My guess is he will add too much bulk to play the run as well and lose some speed making him at best a decent RDE and maybe a SDE. Lawrence is a super SDE who can play the weak side as well as he has enough speed and bend. But these guys aren't like a Ware.
 
Risen Star said:
This is like homework.

Lawrence is my RE, of course. Irving starts at the 3 and plays all over really. I would hope the starting 1 isn't on the roster right now.
Click to expand...

Price may be the closest to a 1 you'll see on a Marinelli D. We need to continue to look for a 3 although I thought Collins was going to be that guy. Not this year though.
 
Risen Star said:
One of the positives out of this season is I'm stating to believe the Cowboys may have finally found two quality starting DEs for the future. Assuming Lawrence has turned a corner and not just playing for a contract and, of course, Taco continues to develop.

I just couldn't help thinking as I watched Taco play well down the stretch that this team's days searching for edge pressure are over. They still have work to do inside but the edges may be in better shape than it's been in years, in terms of starting players.

A lot of people have pointed out the two rookie corners and their future. Can't argue with that, they both look legit to me, but I'm more focused on the dogs that hunt. Lawrence was a revelation this year. The arrow is up on Taco and his skill set really is a perfect compliment on the other side.

Who agrees with me? Who thinks I'm just being an insufferable homer once again?
Click to expand...
Oh come on!

What about Tapper?
 
Parcells4Life said:
Both are best at LE. Neither is the much needed speed rusher at RE
Click to expand...

Taco at LE and Lawrence at RE is not bad. Lawrence has showed enough explosiveness and speed on the edge. Taco has been showing flashes while getting used nfl tackles. He’s been getting after it, we don’t get holding calls called on us but he’s been doing his move setting up the tackles with nice moves.
 
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