The return of DeMarcus Lawrence

[GhostOfPelluer]

I know you didn't ask me but.........I would franchise him and see if he can do it again in 2018.

It's dangerous to sign anybody to a big deal with only one year of production.....and that year being a contract year.

I would subscribe to this theory. A long-term deal will cost more than $16 million. But I don't know what the Joneses would do. They seem to like their own drafted guys, maybe even too much. So nothing would shock me.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Tanks body of work isn't good. He might turn it around this year, and it would be great for the team if he did. After 3-4 years, most NFL players are what they are. On a side note these wings look great

 

[BAT]

Everyone jumping gun with Lawrence. Don't even pencil him in the rotation until he can get on the field AND stay on the field.

For now:

RDE: Mayowa, Moore, Tapper (also needs to prove back is 100%)
LDE: Irving, Taco, Tapper

 

[Bullflop]

The list of potential candidates as starting material is big and getting bigger. He'd better shape up or the powers that be will ship him out. Every player only gets so many chances to prove himself. Seems to me that his chances are being wasted, barring an impending very impressive comeback. He'd better get himself squared away before it's too late (assuming it's not already.) Hopefully, he'll wake up and make up.

 

[Alexander]

Hasn't been that War Daddy. Maybe more like a Skirmish Daddy.

Skirmish is too hard core.

Try slap fight.

 

[speedkilz88]

I would subscribe to this theory. A long-term deal will cost more than $16 million. But I don't know what the Joneses would do. They seem to like their own drafted guys, maybe even too much. So nothing would shock me.

In guaranteed money it probably wouldn't.

 

[Stash]

Two years ago, it looked like trading up to draft Lawrence was going to turn out to be a great move. After moving and adjusting to playing left end, Lawrence was becoming a terror against both the run and the pass in 2015, consistently in the backfield, after missing a lot of his rookie year and flashing during the playoffs in 2014.

Then came the suspension and back problems, and we only saw a brief flash of the Lawrence of 2015 last year. With him coming off back surgery, we may never see that player again, but we at least were shown what Lawrence can be when he's healthy.

I consider him a lot like Tyrone Crawford, another player who gets flak for his play dropping off. Crawford played like he was on his way to being a star at 3-tech in 2014, virtually keeping free agent acquisition Henry Melton in a rotation role. He only ended up with three sacks, but Crawford's disruption was easy to see. The next year, he actually recorded five sacks and started all 16 games, but it also was easy to see that he wasn't as disruptive and it turned out that he played through barely being able to lift one of his arms above his head.

Injuries continued to limit his effectiveness last year, despite the fact he had 4.5 sacks mostly playing out of position at left end, and may keep us from ever seeing the Crawford of 2014 again.

If healthy and the injuries haven't taken a toll, though, I have no doubt that both of these players could contribute to this defense being able to apply more pressure. It'll be interesting to see if those injuries lead to younger, healthier replacements taking their reps or if they end up leading the charge instead.

I see both Crawford and Lawrence as players who have to this point, not lived up to the investment made in them. Neither has been what the club had envisioned and hoped that they would become.

I see two guys that the team will move on from as soon as they are able.

Crawford's contract makes cutting him painful no matter what.

And barring a miracle turnaround - anybody honestly believe that will happen? - Lawrence is playing his final season in Dallas. His one "good season" was the result of Greg Hardy, like that guy or hate him. He drew all of the opposing offense's attention away from Lawrence that year. That's why he's never come close to the production before or since.

As someone mentioned, at this point, it wouldn't shock me if Lawrence ultimately wasn't on the team this year.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

In guaranteed money it probably wouldn't.

Crawford got more than $17 million guaranteed. A 26-year-old 12-sack guy in today's NFL will get more than that. Even with his injury history. I'd guess at least 20.

 

[gimmesix]

I see both Crawford and Lawrence as players who have to this point, not lived up to the investment made in them. Neither has been what the club had envisioned and hoped that they would become.

I see two guys that the team will move on from as soon as they are able.

Crawford's contract makes cutting him painful no matter what.

And barring a miracle turnaround - anybody honestly believe that will happen? - Lawrence is playing his final season in Dallas. His one "good season" was the result of Greg Hardy, like that guy or hate him. He drew all of the opposing offense's attention away from Lawrence that year. That's why he's never come close to the production before or since.

As someone mentioned, at this point, it wouldn't shock me if Lawrence ultimately wasn't on the team this year.

I agree that neither has lived up to the investment. In fact, I think that's easy to see. I think both have shown the ability to do it, but injuries have gotten in the way ... and they might not be able to do it anymore because of those injuries.

I disagree on Lawrence's production. Yes, he benefited from Hardy's presence, but he also was consistently beating the tackles he faced. He has not been double-teammed much since then, but he also wasn't winning his one-on-ones like he had previously ... playing more right end than left end, where he had his 2015 success. He just simply hasn't played much or been healthy when he has played. It isn't like we've had several years of a healthy Lawrence to look at since he was playing really well. Last year, he ended up playing in nine games and starting three, and that was coming off back surgery and his suspension, followed by more back problems during the season and then another surgery.

It won't shock me if he's not on the team, either, if his back injuries have robbed him of the ability to win those battles. It also won't surprise me if he's completely healthy for him to go back to beating tackles one-on-one consistently and at least drawing double-teams to allow someone else to get to the quarterback. More than likely, it'll take time for him to get back to where he was in 2015, if he can, so any more success he has in the NFL will probably come with another team that gets him on a fairly low-rent contract.

 

[Stash]

I agree that neither has lived up to the investment. In fact, I think that's easy to see. I think both have shown the ability to do it, but injuries have gotten in the way ... and they might not be able to do it anymore because of those injuries.

That's what I'm thinking. Given the multiple injuries, and the areas of those injuries - shoulders and back - I'm not sure either will be the same again.

I disagree on Lawrence's production. Yes, he benefited from Hardy's presence, but he also was consistently beating the tackles he faced. He has not been double-teammed much since then, but he also wasn't winning his one-on-ones like he had previously ... playing more right end than left end, where he had his 2015 success. He just simply hasn't played much or been healthy when he has played. It isn't like we've had several years of a healthy Lawrence to look at since he was playing really well. Last year, he ended up playing in nine games and starting three, and that was coming off back surgery and his suspension, followed by more back problems during the season and then another surgery.

That's the body of work we have to go on. It is what it is. The results and lack thereof speak for themselves.

It won't shock me if he's not on the team, either, if his back injuries have robbed him of the ability to win those battles. It also won't surprise me if he's completely healthy for him to go back to beating tackles one-on-one consistently and at least drawing double-teams to allow someone else to get to the quarterback. More than likely, it'll take time for him to get back to where he was in 2015, if he can, so any more success he has in the NFL will probably come with another team that gets him on a fairly low-rent contract.

Very likely, if that ever happens. I think Dallas is in a tough spot either way. You want him to do well obviously, but there's no going back and getting the return on investment and benefits from his rookie contract.

If he plays well this year, he'll certainly be looking to get paid as much as he can, but I hope they don't invest big in someone with his injuries and surgeries. I'd rather take my lumps on the draft investment than get locked into another terrible "Tyrone Crawford" contract.

That said, I don't foresee it happening anyway. I think that even if he does come back, he's a 5-6 sack guy at best which won't validate paying him.

 

[gimmesix]

Very likely, if that ever happens. I think Dallas is in a tough spot either way. You want him to do well obviously, but there's no going back and getting the return on investment and benefits from his rookie contract.

If he plays well this year, he'll certainly be looking to get paid as much as he can, but I hope they don't invest big in someone with his injuries and surgeries. I'd rather take my lumps on the draft investment than get locked into another terrible "Tyrone Crawford" contract.

That said, I don't foresee it happening anyway. I think that even if he does come back, he's a 5-6 sack guy at best which won't validate paying him.

I think he could be more in the 10-sack range if the injuries haven't sapped his ability, but even that won't validate paying him what he'll likely be able to get on the market. If he stays healthy, then he'll have been reliable for two of his four years here. I don't think you can invest a long-term contract for that.

The only thing I would consider, which was mentioned by someone else in this thread, is putting the franchise tag on him if he somehow had a monster season, which to me would be around 15 sacks or more.

 

[Stash]

I think he could be more in the 10-sack range if the injuries haven't sapped his ability, but even that won't validate paying him what he'll likely be able to get on the market. If he stays healthy, then he'll have been reliable for two of his four years here. I don't think you can invest a long-term contract for that.

I don't think he'll come close to 10. Even in his best year, with a top pass rusher on the opposite side, he didn't get that. Two back surgeries later? I see no chance.

The only thing I would consider, which was mentioned by someone else in this thread, is putting the franchise tag on him if he somehow had a monster season, which to me would be around 15 sacks or more.

I don't think it's anything we have to "worry" about.

 

[gimmesix]

I don't think he'll come close to 10. Even in his best year, with a top pass rusher on the opposite side, he didn't get that. Two back surgeries later? I see no chance.

That best year he had got off to a slow start for him because he was adjusting to playing left end. If Dallas puts him at left end and leaves him there, I think he can get to 10. We'll see.

 

[CowboyRoy]

That best year he had got off to a slow start for him because he was adjusting to playing left end. If Dallas puts him at left end and leaves him there, I think he can get to 10. We'll see.

Let it go. Lawrence is a bust.

 

[Floatyworm]

Like everyone else, I'm just hoping we get good returns on Lawrence this year.

It may turn out great, but I was definitely in the camp that was not overly thrilled about giving up both our 2nd and 3rd rounders for him.
Hoping for the best!

He's our best pass rusher...and it's not even close. He's capable of taking over games...It's this dipschlitz coaching staff that doesn't know how to use him.

 

[gimmesix]

Let it go. Lawrence is a bust.

As I said, we'll see.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Did someone in this thread suggest we franchise Lawrence?

That would make the decision to franchise Anthony Spencer 2 years in a row seem sane.

 

[DFWJC]

Tanks body of work isn't good. He might turn it around this year, and it would be great for the team if he did. After 3-4 years, most NFL players are what they are. On a side note these wings look great

The wings looks tasty.
Something a little different.

 

[dallasdave]

I see both Crawford and Lawrence as players who have to this point, not lived up to the investment made in them. Neither has been what the club had envisioned and hoped that they would become.

I see two guys that the team will move on from as soon as they are able.

Crawford's contract makes cutting him painful no matter what.

And barring a miracle turnaround - anybody honestly believe that will happen? - Lawrence is playing his final season in Dallas. His one "good season" was the result of Greg Hardy, like that guy or hate him. He drew all of the opposing offense's attention away from Lawrence that year. That's why he's never come close to the production before or since.

As someone mentioned, at this point, it wouldn't shock me if Lawrence ultimately wasn't on the team this year.

Amen to that !!!

 

[dallasdave]

The wings looks tasty.
Something a little different.

Spicy