The need for a 3 Pass Rusher

[conner01]

At DE, Cowboys have:

Bradlee Anae
Dorance Armstrong
Tarell Basham
Ron'Dell Carter
Chauncey Golston
Randy Gregory
Ladarius Hamilton
DeMarcus Lawrence
Breeland Speaks
Brent Urban
Carlos Watkins

Looks like they have plenty of players to choose from to make the team at DE/Edge.

Big number
Small proven talent

 

[Pantone282C]

Terrible. It confuses us fans and makes us look bad on social media websites. Sheesh. lol

Been that way for years. For such a high profile industry, they miss the little things, such as who's on a team! Must not have to be very accountable to keep your job in the NFL front office.

 

[davey999]

At DE, Cowboys have:

Bradlee Anae
Dorance Armstrong
Tarell Basham
Ron'Dell Carter
Chauncey Golston
Randy Gregory
Ladarius Hamilton
DeMarcus Lawrence
Breeland Speaks
Brent Urban
Carlos Watkins

Looks like they have plenty of players to choose from to make the team at DE/Edge.

Most of those guys suck, tbh.

 

[Doomsday101]

Could be right, I wonder if Parsons is also used to rusher at times.

I expect to see Parson play DE in certain pass situation. Main thing for this defense to help get after the QB starts with keeping offense in sure passing downs something this defense did not do because we could not stop the run. If an offense is keeping themselves in 2 or 3rd in short the offensive can do pretty much what they want and defense is put at a disadvantage of playing pass or run. Hell this is why Dallas wants to run, to dictate to the defense and keep defense off balance and guessing.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

There isn't one on this list, that scares any offense, outside the 2 starters.

There isn’t many teams if any outside the starters that scares people. Just saying!

 

[morasp]

Golston is a much better prospect than Bennett was with significantly better production in 11 fewer games including twice as many sacks. He just needs to get some experience which he should have by the playoffs and get stronger which he should be able to do in the offseason. Adding a veteran pass rusher is silly, Griffen was terrible last year and Smith had three of his five sacks against a terrible Seahawks OL.

 

[Cowboyny]

Golston is a much better prospect than Bennett was with significantly better production in 11 fewer games including twice as many sacks. He just needs to get some experience which he should have by the playoffs and get stronger which he should be able to do in the offseason. Adding a veteran pass rusher is silly, Griffen was terrible last year and Smith had three of his five sacks against a terrible Seahawks OL.

Doesn't mean the next guy is going to be bad. Quinn was a good low cost trade that helped our rush two seasons ago.

 

[morasp]

Doesn't mean the next guy is going to be bad. Quinn was a good low cost trade that helped our rush two seasons ago.

33% is a pretty low hit rate.

 

[Cowboyny]

I expect to see Parson play DE in certain pass situation. Main thing for this defense to help get after the QB starts with keeping offense in sure passing downs something this defense did not do because we could not stop the run. If an offense is keeping themselves in 2 or 3rd in short the offensive can do pretty much what they want and defense is put at a disadvantage of playing pass or run. Hell this is why Dallas wants to run, to dictate to the defense and keep defense off balance and guessing.

Excellent insight. Yes, our pass rush never had a chance last season as they were always in 3rd and shorts, where they had to still play the run. Just getting teams in 3rd and longs would be a major improvement.

 

[Cowboyny]

33% is a pretty low hit rate.

Justin Houston. If you can get him on a discounted rate, he still is a quality pass rusher.

 

[Cowboyny]

Yes, he is a penetrating, passrushing 3T

Think he starts as a rotational player, but could push the likes of Gallimore/Hill for more snaps.

 

[morasp]

Justin Houston. If you can get him on a discounted rate, he still is a quality pass rusher.

Sounds like he's on the decline and would be pricey.

24. EDGE JUSTIN HOUSTON
Reported Visits/Interest: Colts, Ravens

Team Fits: Colts, Falcons, Giants, Ravens

The big question for Houston is what he has left at this point after 10 years in the league. He doesn’t possess the same burst and power that made him the fifth-best pass-rushing edge defender in the NFL during the past decade, and he finished 2020 with the lowest pass-rush grade of his career.

Houston still flashes useful ability, as he can put offensive tackles off-balance with his length and good technique, but his days of accumulating 50-plus pressures in a season appear to be in the past. Even in the run game, Houston took a step back in 2020. On the other hand, he is just one year removed from an 87.1 overall grade while playing just over 40 snaps per game, and he may have something to offer in a rotational role.

Contract Analysis: Houston's 2021 free agency has been underwhelming. The market for older players at expensive positions like edge rusher has taken a hit due to the salary cap constraints ahead, and guys in the same boat as Houston — Everson Griffen and Vic Beasley Jr., for example — didn’t exactly do him any favors.

Updated Contract Projection: One year, $8.25 million

 

[Doomsday101]

Excellent insight. Yes, our pass rush never had a chance last season as they were always in 3rd and shorts, where they had to still play the run. Just getting teams in 3rd and longs would be a major improvement.

As Romo said all 3rd downs are not created equal. Cowboys run defense or lack of was a killer and when you can run it opens the playbook for an offense

 

[Cowboyny]

Sounds like he's on the decline and would be pricey.

24. EDGE JUSTIN HOUSTON
Reported Visits/Interest: Colts, Ravens

Team Fits: Colts, Falcons, Giants, Ravens

The big question for Houston is what he has left at this point after 10 years in the league. He doesn’t possess the same burst and power that made him the fifth-best pass-rushing edge defender in the NFL during the past decade, and he finished 2020 with the lowest pass-rush grade of his career.

Houston still flashes useful ability, as he can put offensive tackles off-balance with his length and good technique, but his days of accumulating 50-plus pressures in a season appear to be in the past. Even in the run game, Houston took a step back in 2020. On the other hand, he is just one year removed from an 87.1 overall grade while playing just over 40 snaps per game, and he may have something to offer in a rotational role.

Contract Analysis: Houston's 2021 free agency has been underwhelming. The market for older players at expensive positions like edge rusher has taken a hit due to the salary cap constraints ahead, and guys in the same boat as Houston — Everson Griffen and Vic Beasley Jr., for example — didn’t exactly do him any favors.

Updated Contract Projection: One year, $8.25 million

As a rotational pass rusher, he could give us a 6-8 sack seasons. Now, I wouldn't pay him 8 million to sign, but if we could get him in that 5-6 range, he would be an excellent signing.

 

[Cowboyny]

As Romo said all 3rd downs are not created equal. Cowboys run defense or lack of was a killer and when you can run it opens the playbook for an offense

I think the front office goal was to fix the run defense this off-season. Almost every new player is good at stopping the run. The new secondary players were all about making plays on the football.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think the front office goal was to fix the run defense this off-season. Almost every new player is good at stopping the run. The new secondary players were all about making plays on the football.

I hope that is the case, there is no defense you can run if you can't stop the run.

 

[Fletch]

At DE, Cowboys have:

Bradlee Anae
Dorance Armstrong
Tarell Basham
Ron'Dell Carter
Chauncey Golston
Randy Gregory
Ladarius Hamilton
DeMarcus Lawrence
Breeland Speaks
Brent Urban
Carlos Watkins

Looks like they have plenty of players to choose from to make the team at DE/Edge.

We like our guys.

 

[Cowboyny]

I hope that is the case, there is no defense you can run if you can't stop the run.

Basic football.

 

[RS12]

At DE, Cowboys have:

Bradlee Anae
Dorance Armstrong
Tarell Basham
Ron'Dell Carter
Chauncey Golston
Randy Gregory
Ladarius Hamilton
DeMarcus Lawrence
Breeland Speaks
Brent Urban
Carlos Watkins

Looks like they have plenty of players to choose from to make the team at DE/Edge.

Looks like a lot of plow horses and not many thoroughbreds.

 

[quickccc]

I think the front office has done a good job of addressing all the needs, except maybe Safety and a #3 Edge Rusher.

As for safety, think they do have quality options available such as Kazee, Wilson and maybe even Lewis, but the third edge rusher is currently Basham, Anae, both unproven players.

Will we see another late pass rusher add like Griffen last season? Justin Houston is still out there, along with Melvin Ingram, could we land one at a discounted price?

If you're going for a Houston, Ingram, etc, those types you'll probably have to yield to them a more significant roles than just spot play.
Dunno if lightning can strike twice with such cheap bargain price and limited role play vet.

Dunno if we could ever get the bargain price and spot role that we did with Everson Griffin, but yet what's the use of drafting guys, and signing FA vet guys, if we don't even
bother to give them a chance at proving themselves they can present a role here ?
.
- As far as safeties, I think we have serviceable candidates such as Kazee, - and keep in mind he's still trying to recover from serious achilles injury- and remember
how that kind of injury affected those such as All pro Eric Berry.

- Beyond Kazee we have fill in JAG such as Dorian Thompson
And a rookie such as Israel M. will have to have time to learn the safety role at the NFL level. So that could take some time.

- While I think Jourdan Lewis would be a much more effective player at safety, where's he facing the QB, rather than having to run in turn n go man coverage,
I really dunno what the team's plans and role for him in Quinn's D". - Much less understand why the team overpaid him just to be 4th CB.
Could even surprising 3rd rd rookie draftee Lashon Wright be a candidate to beat out both .

- At least Wilson in just his 2nd year, has flashed some abilities and potential, both in creating turnovers and delivering a physicality tone.
And keep in mind that last year was really the first year he's received significant game experience.- Here's hoping the rest of his game catches up.