The Linch Pins

[Bullflop]

Doug Free took a step back last year. I can understand why he retired. The bar to replace his level of play is not high. Collins was the best guard prospect the year he came out and has shown many good things. The issues with pass pro awareness have a good chance of improving and he deals with speed rushers better than Leary did who struggled to move laterally and got turned. La'el both moves better and has better ability to recover when he gets beat.

I also think you underestimate the coaching staff's ability to develop players on the fly. We've seen it with Martin, Jones, Wilson, Dak, Zeke, Collins, and Brown in recent years. They are not like the teams of yore who had young players sit and took a step back when they played. The coaches ability to develop players is a big reason why our drafts have been so successful. From Wilson to Jackson Garrett's staff has been exemplary.

Charlton and Jones are likely going to take some time. Taco is still new to 4-3 techniques and was a 1 year starter and Jones is making the leap from a smaller conference and who knows how he will adjust to the speed of the game. Jones and Ivie too for that matter need to hit the weight room.

OTOH, Switzer, Awuzie, and Lewis have 3+ seasons of starting experience out of power conferences. They of course will have a learning curve as rookies but they have a leg up over most prospects. That is 1000s of snaps in zone and man as well as routes run against those coverages. They will be able to contribute early.

As for "no one has repeated" as NFCE champion and similar concerns. I need to see some mechanics to give that backdoor conclusion credence. From an opponent winning percentage we faced one of the toughest schedules last season. The first place schedule doesn't bother me one whit. We remain a young team on the come.

Nzeocha has the potential to be a superb coverage LB. He just needs to stay healthy which to this point he has not been able to do. If he can stay healthy I am not worried about LB as we can absorb injury.

Lee and Jaylon would be the best coverage LB tandem in the NFL if they can stay on the field.

The coverage overall will be better. Brown has a year of experience under his belt. Scandrick will be two years removed from his ACL tear. I already thought Carrol could replace what we lost from Carr and Claiborne. Add in the two rookies and our coverage up front has a shot to be outstanding.

On the backend, Heath is a better cover guy then both Church and Wilcox. He is also more dynamic than both able to play both roles. Wilcox struggled with angles the close he got to the LOS. Church was awful in space. Blanton was not bad for the Lions and we will see how well Jones transitions from FCS play.

Overall success though will be determined by the work on the line. I keep throwing out different DL permutations and I cannot guess where Marinelli will end up. For example:

Irving Thornton Collins Tapper
DLaw Paea Crawford Mayowa
Crawford Collins Irving Taco
Taco Collins Irving Tapper

You can go on with that with all the position flex. They are going to be hard to run against with all that size and quickness but their ability to beat OL in pass protection is going to determine how successful this defense will be. The coverage will give them time to do so but they have to get to the QB if we are going to beat the elite teams with the elite QBs. Happy hunting big fellas.

One thing I think we can really look forward to though is the second and third string defenses in preseason. We are going to give opposing backup offenses fits.

Good stuff, there, Fuzzy -- really good insights on the team and what to expect from them in future happenings. Gotta love it.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I truly may be underestimating this coaching staff's ability to bring these players up to speed. But I think you may underestimate how much that depends on the specific player. Take Dak, just for instance. Great coaching was evident, but he had the attitude to receive and apply the coaching. That is a rare trait, even in the NFL.

The money also has to be a factor to consider; how will these players evolve while having more money in their bank than they have ever seen. I love to ask people what they would do if they won the lottery. Often times they will go down a list of things they'd do and I can't help but laugh. I always say, that's the poor you talking. The rich you may have different ideas. Same could be said of these rookies. As lofty as their expectations may be for themselves, those expectations where conceived with the motivation of poverty nipping at their heels. With money, who are they now? Do they have the same goals? Do they have the same expectations of themselves? Right now, it is way too early to say one way or the other...but as everything else I have brought to the table in these conversations, in bears consideration.

Like you, I've gone through the various defensive lineup rotation exercise myself. I mentioned in the OP that we may have found two starters in this years draft and if so, that's reason to celebrate. But if you consider how much Marinelli likes to rotate players, we might not have even found 1 starter (at least not one in the graphic the TV shows at the beginning of games)...and considering how Marinelli rotates players, that wouldn't necessarily suggest that they failed in the draft. So long as the Cowboys found guy's that merit being placed in the rotation and kept on the gameday roster, I'll be happy.

I am considering the players though.

Using Dak's example he started 3 full seasons in a top conference. I don't think it unreasonable to think that Awuzie, Switzer, and Lewis are ready to play sooner than later as they have similar experiences.

The Cowboys don't select people with poor work ethics and rookie contracts particularly after the first round are not that lucrative. None of those 3 deviate from those scripts.

Taco will be part of the rotation at the very least. He has a longer learning curve though.

 

[stilltheguru88]

If only...

I'm not sure the playoffs hinge on those two, though they will certainly have a big say in that question. Truth is, I'm not all that worried about the offense as a whole. I believe in Dak. I believe in the weapons surrounding Dak. The offense line has some question marks, but even then, they still have Tyron, Travis, and Zack, which should help the other two that slide in. You can certainly get to the playoffs with an above average offense and average defense. But if you want to get beyond that, you have to have the defense.

As long as the defense grows we'll be fine. It's been on an upswing since 2014 anyway. I think next year will be the apex, but I expect good enough to win a ring this year. Patriots defense isn't really much better than ours. They are just coached better. Rod needs to stop living off of a suspect rep.

 

[CCBoy]

jday, you really opened it up with a lot of perspective and talk about the Dallas Cowboys.

You touched upon the view that this team is coming together, and like a seasoned offense, which is in Dallas...that takes time.

I think this group is filled to the rim with talented players. I see the secondary as menacing and aggressive...they I would describe as the wolf pack. Running together, they will be very hard to confront and handle. They will fight in their strength, with aggression being the key note to deal with.

I see the defensive line, now, as the dogs up front. A pack of dogs go a little crazed, but don't hesitate to attack. Present that group with the focus of a target...such as a beef truck, and see how focused they become. The schedule for this season, is an intense one, and up front should be trying to get to the quarterback, all season long.

I was a linebacker...and this season, hey, I'm excited. Just like the secondary, this group is the band aide between the defensive line and the secondary. But with the youth and up front experience already paid for, they may well prove to be metal now, to forge a union between front and back. The top shelf talent is there to make all packages a source of strength, in the persons of Lee and Smith. The box, with this group making it all work, will be an aggressive arena...and will be a force to reckon with.

To me, two things stand up and salute...(1) Teams will pay by confrontation, for any and all gains against them on their 'property.' (2) The center of the field against them, will be very tough to move upon. That is both in base and package levels...

Thanks for your thoughts guy,

 

[xwalker]

Yesterday I looked at the Cowboy current situation through realist colored lenses. I focused a spotlight on the ugly truths. Gone is Free to retirement. Not mentioned, but bears pointing out, that gone also is Ron Leary, taking the money and running…as well he should. In their place, we slide La’el Collins back into the rotation under the impression that he brings better value to the Guard position vacated by Leary; while we believe that to be the truth, we’d by lying if we said we knew one way or the other if La’el truly does bring improved play to that position. He still has much to prove. In Free’s stead, we have Chaz Green, a man who has struggled to stay healthy but according to some is a clear improvement over Free’s severely declining play. I do not profess to be an expert, so I will have to take those who believe that at their word.

I also pointed out that it would be madness to expect that the Cowboys repeated 2016 draft success (despite the significant difference in draft position) and found four more starters to add to the ranks in this year’s draft. The most we can hope for, all things considered, is two starters….and believe it or not, once again considering draft position that would be a success.

Lastly, I pointed out an alarming stat: since 2007, every year the Cowboys have been to the playoffs, the following year marked a step back in success, often times finishing at the bottom of the East. Beyond that stat, however, is another stat that was pointed out to me in the course of the conversation: The last time an NFCE team repeated as the NFCE leader was the Eagles in 2005. That stat is quite possibly even more alarming because it doesn’t just apply to one team; it applies to all four teams in this division and has for more than 10 years.

But I’d be lying if I told you I don’t have high hopes for the upcoming season. The truth is, I believe, despite their youth, this defense could be really good. I think the Cowboys nailed the draft with just about every pick up to Xavier Woods. After that player, I couldn’t tell you anything about the other players picked up other than they are more than likely destined for the Practice Squad; better luck next year.

But as for those first five picks, I believe it is their collective intangible quality that will overcome any physical limitations they may have. Each (even Switzer) brings a certain swagger to their play. It’s not a look-at-me swagger; it’s that winning-is-everything-to-me swagger. It’s a swagger that bears the weight of expectations and punches through it with abandon and proclaims for anyone listening and watching that they struggle to set a goal too high for them to achieve.

But swagger for a team is like a garden. It must be nurtured, watered and cared for. It must be encouraged, because that attitude unattended and uninspired can wilt over time…especially in the face of losing. What I’m talking about right now is an intangible. But as intangible’s go, this is likely the most crucial tangible to the success of any given team. The belief that no matter what the prognosticators say, no matter their limitations as a whole, and no matter their lack of experience, they can win the day; all they have to do is win their own personal battle on every single play.

That said, I do believe the destiny of this season pivots on two players. They are the hinges to a door, that otherwise would not stand, open and shut without them. They are the linch pins: Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith. Before I dive into why I believe everything rest on these two’s shoulders, a brief history lesson is in order.

The year is 2014. Sean Lee has just recently been placed on IR following a freak accident that involved getting plowed into the ground by then rookie Zack Martin. The Cowboys FO felt really good about their upcoming season, and knew they had to find a viable replacement for Lee if they were going to have any chance. Enters Rolando McClain. Now, years from now, when sport historians look back, they will likely look on this move with disdain. Rolando had lost his love of the game and all those God-given talents were wasted on fishing. But the truth is much more complex. Because in 2014, he was a God-send. He breathed new life in a defense that had no business competing at the NFL level. He became a rally call; a call to arms; he was the life-blood in this defense. Obviously, the 2015 iteration of Rolando clouded his memory about his contribution in 2014, but in him the defense found a leader and a reason to believe they as a unit deserved to be considered a good defense…not great, but good enough when paired with that ground pounding offense, spearheaded by none other than Demarco Murray.

Flash forward now to today. The Cowboys need Jaylon to be their new and improved RoMac. To take the Cowboys to the next level and not just be considered good enough, they need Lee to provide leadership, direction and a veteran presence that demonstrates how to be a pro. For many, that is all but a given at this point. Lee stayed healthy for the entire season last year and recent reports indicate Jaylon’s nerve is on the mend. But Lee has to continue to stay healthy and the taller order is that Jaylon, after such a devastating injury and subsequent year layoff from football, has to be everything his supposed top-10 selection (draft value before the injury) in the 2016 draft suggest him to be. He has to be able to cover. He has to be able to blitz. And he has to be able to hit with the same bad intentions we saw early on from Rolando McClain in 2014. Because if Lee can ball like we can expect and Jaylon is everything we hope him to be, you can bet their play will inspire the youngsters on the back end and on the front end to play above whatever their talent is.

If these rookies and the bevy of second and third year players see them succeed and see how they work to get to that success, you can bet many, if not all, will follow suit. They will bring whatever Lee and Smith bring and they will bring it with an intensity these parts haven’t seen in almost 30 years. The realist in me says we are a year a two away from seeing that actually happening. But, much like an act of nature, with the right conditions, the right distribution of hard coaching-up, and the right attitude taking hold in 11 players on every given play, and the NFL could be in for a tornado of hard-hitting and opportunistic play from this young defense. If that happens, and the Cowboys offense is able to reproduce what they accomplished in 2016, this team could be Super Bowl bound. It’s a lot to hope for; a part of me thinks that getting to the play offs alone would be considered a success, given how young this team is overall.

But if the aforementioned linch pins are in place and operate according to expectation, there is no limit to what this defense can accomplish.

Thoughts?

I thought this was going to be about the 49ers...

I disagree. Lee and Jaylon are not the Linchpins. They could get by with Hitchens and Wilson at MLB/WLB. If Jaylon can't play, I think Wilson might be the top choice to play MLB.

 

[jday]

jday, you really opened it up with a lot of perspective and talk about the Dallas Cowboys.

You touched upon the view that this team is coming together, and like a seasoned offense, which is in Dallas...that takes time.

I think this group is filled to the rim with talented players. I see the secondary as menacing and aggressive...they I would describe as the wolf pack. Running together, they will be very hard to confront and handle. They will fight in their strength, with aggression being the key note to deal with.

I see the defensive line, now, as the dogs up front. A pack of dogs go a little crazed, but don't hesitate to attack. Present that group with the focus of a target...such as a beef truck, and see how focused they become. The schedule for this season, is an intense one, and up front should be trying to get to the quarterback, all season long.

I was a linebacker...and this season, hey, I'm excited. Just like the secondary, this group is the band aide between the defensive line and the secondary. But with the youth and up front experience already paid for, they may well prove to be metal now, to forge a union between front and back. The top shelf talent is there to make all packages a source of strength, in the persons of Lee and Smith. The box, with this group making it all work, will be an aggressive arena...and will be a force to reckon with.

To me, two things stand up and salute...(1) Teams will pay by confrontation, for any and all gains against them on their 'property.' (2) The center of the field against them, will be very tough to move upon. That is both in base and package levels...

Thanks for your thoughts guy,

Thanks in kind for your thoughts, CC.

 

[jday]

I thought this was going to be about the 49ers...

I disagree. Lee and Jaylon are not the Linchpins. They could get by with Hitchens and Wilson at MLB/WLB. If Jaylon can't play, I think Wilson might be the top choice to play MLB.

Sure, a combination of Hitchens and Wilson would be serviceable. But I'm not talking about having a serviceable defense. I'm talking about having a Super Bowl ready defense. Again, we could potentially get to the playoffs on the strength of our offense alone, but if all we get is status quo from the defense, we can expect a repeat of last years let down.

On the other hand, if Lee stays healthy and maintains his level of play and Jaylon Smith plays up and possibly beyond his potential, the impact that will have on the whole defense will be obvious. It will encourage better play from the other ranks. But again, this is not something I can point to a whole lot of stats to prove; this is simple human nature. If that fires starts anywhere, I believe it starts with those two. But I could be wrong; it could be a repeat of the RoMac situation where the Cowboys acquire a Free Agent late in training camp/preseason who just so happens to bring a fire with him. But my bet, once again, is it starts with Lee and Smith.

 

[xwalker]

Sure, a combination of Hitchens and Wilson would be serviceable. But I'm not talking about having a serviceable defense. I'm talking about having a Super Bowl ready defense. Again, we could potentially get to the playoffs on the strength of our offense alone, but if all we get is status quo from the defense, we can expect a repeat of last years let down.

On the other hand, if Lee stays healthy and maintains his level of play and Jaylon Smith plays up and possibly beyond his potential, the impact that will have on the whole defense will be obvious. It will encourage better play from the other ranks. But again, this is not something I can point to a whole lot of stats to prove; this is simple human nature. If that fires starts anywhere, I believe it starts with those two. But I could be wrong; it could be a repeat of the RoMac situation where the Cowboys acquire a Free Agent late in training camp/preseason who just so happens to bring a fire with him. But my bet, once again, is it starts with Lee and Smith.

The 1995 Cowboys 3 starting LBs had 1 career Pro Bowl between them.

It would be great to have Lee and a 100% Jaylon but they can still have a great defense with Lee and Wilson at MLB. Without both it would get dicey, especially with such a young defense. Coverage would be a bigger concern than run defense. Hitchens is a good run defender but limited in coverage. I think Wilson can be good in both. If Lee and Jaylon were out, I'm not sure who would be the other coverage LB with Wilson. Last year it was Durant. Nzeocha has the physical ability (Good size and really fast) but him and Wilson together would lack experience to help each other.

 

[jday]

The 1995 Cowboys 3 starting LBs had 1 career Pro Bowl between them.

It would be great to have Lee and a 100% Jaylon but they can still have a great defense with Lee and Wilson at MLB. Without both it would get dicey, especially with such a young defense. Coverage would be a bigger concern than run defense. Hitchens is a good run defender but limited in coverage. I think Wilson can be good in both. If Lee and Jaylon were out, I'm not sure who would be the other coverage LB with Wilson. Last year it was Durant. Nzeocha has the physical ability (Good size and really fast) but him and Wilson together would lack experience to help each other.

I think even you know your argument referencing the early 90's team is flimsy at best. That team had a completely different chemistry playing, to be fair, a very different game. I'm not suggesting the linebacking unit is the linch pin. I am specifically talking about Sean and Jaylon; im talking about my perceived understanding of their approach to the game; their attitude; their swagger; there potential as the new leaders of this defense. Lee will do that predominantly through his film study, and demonstrate how that work pays off on the field. Jaylon will communicate it through the context of his journey, teamed with his inspirational play on the field. They both will back that up with an excellent work ethic off the field. They both strike me as vocal. So, of the available candidates currently on the defensive roster, I have pegged them as most likely to demand excellence from their teammates and back their words up on the field.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Jday, I especially enjoyed the comparison you made between Rolando McClain and Jaylon in terms of being an inspirational element to the team. It never actually occurred to me to think of them in terms of such a comparison but there's probably a real element of truth to it, even if it seems something of a stretch to consider Rolando inspirational, in terms of how he turned out. His physicality undeniably had something to do with that effect, though and the same might well be said about Jaylon once he assumes his role and gets settled in. Anyhow, thanks for that. It really gave me food for thought in a perspective that I hadn't even considered until now.

The leadership factor is the key unknown, defensively. Smith can be the missing inspirational piece to what could be a good defense.

For those of you who can remember, the addition of Thomas Everett, the sassy, hard-hitting safety from Baylor, combined with the addition of Charley Haley and the maturity of Ken Norton, propelled the defense to heights no one could have predicted. Jaylon, if he is healthy can definitely be the "linchpin" Dallas needs to improve this defense, overall, if all other personnel pieces fall into place.

 

[jday]

The leadership factor is the key unknown, defensively. Smith can be the missing inspirational piece to what could be a good defense.

For those of you who can remember, the addition of Thomas Everett, the sassy, hard-hitting safety from Baylor, combined with the addition of Charley Haley and the maturity of Ken Norton, propelled the defense to heights no one could have predicted. Jaylon, if he is healthy can definitely be the "linchpin" Dallas needs to improve this defense, overall, if all other personnel pieces fall into place.

Very well said. I could have saved myself writers cramp with that.