News: Top 5 Cowboys veterans who could shock everyone at training camp

[CyberB0b]

Until the arrival of Lawrence and Gregory, this does looking interesting as a start:

Defensive end (Benson Mayowa): Signed as a restricted free agent from the Oakland Raiders, the Cowboys are betting that with more playing time will come more sacks. He is coming off knee surgery before minicamp but should be ready to go and win the job during Randy Gregory's four-game suspension.

Defensive end (David Irving): With DeMarcus Lawrence out the first four games because of a suspension, Irving and Ryan Russell will get the chance to win this job. Russell took most of the turns in the spring with Irving limited with a wrist injury.

Defensive tackle (Tyrone Crawford): He signed a five-year, $45 million deal last summer and posted a career-high five sacks. He knows the Cowboys need more, especially with the suspensions of Lawrence and Gregory.

Defensive tackle (Cedric Thornton): The Cowboys' biggest free-agent signing at four years, $17 million, the Cowboys are looking at him as a solid run defender with some pass rush ability. They need him to occupy blockers to help Crawford.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/pos...zekiel-elliott-to-start-and-have-a-big-season

I see a whole lot of nothing there. Thornton will be a huge upgrade over the Golden Cock, but he plays the least important position on the line.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Valid.

I just can't shake loose from the point of both a great unit and great depth. I'm very interested to see how the picture with Chaz Green plays out. The team made a concerted effort towards the future, by taking him in the 3rd round.

I dont think I would let Leary go regardless for less then a 3rd. Thats a starter level pick and he has been a quality starter. Anything less is just poor value and thats a bad gamble

 

[Daillest88]

I think Brandon Carr is going to have a great year. he's going back to the Right side where he shined in Kansas city . this guy had 65 Passes defended playing on that side with his time in KC. in his last 2 years he had 40 passes defended. that's crazy

 

[CCBoy]

I dont think I would let Leary go regardless for less then a 3rd. Thats a starter level pick and he has been a quality starter. Anything less is just poor value and thats a bad gamble

If the Cowboys lose him in the off season...then he will balance the ledger on players acquired this past off season?

I think Leary has good value as well.

 

[CCBoy]

I see a whole lot of nothing there. Thornton will be a huge upgrade over the Golden Cock, but he plays the least important position on the line.

He should get some lane push in the passing defense. But I would be happy with him always keeping the linebackers clean on the running plays.

 

[chagus]

I see a whole lot of nothing there. Thornton will be a huge upgrade over the Golden Cock, but he plays the least important position on the line.

Well, perhaps turning the least important position on our dline into a VERY important position for the opposing oline to deal with, may help Dallas. Im hoping and thinking it will since it has been a weekness for a while now.

 

[CCBoy]

Well, perhaps turning the least important position on our dline into a VERY important position for the opposing oline to deal with, may help Dallas. Im hoping and thinking it will since it has been a weekness for a while now.

Using an excuse of least important, first, is a cop out. It usually is brought out when other posterior anatomical body parts are dangling in the wind. I don't see this in the picture of Thornton and Crawford...up front.

Oh, and I am agreeing with you...

 

[cowboyblue22]

the cowboys need several players on defense to step up for the team to have a good year the defense has to improve just has to

 

[cowboy_ron]

mcclain is waste of a roster spot. the guy does just enough to get a paycheck and then gets hurt and takes the rest of the season off to heal. we need players that we can count on.

It does seem like if your last name is McClain IR or suspensions are on your resume

 

[CyberB0b]

Well, perhaps turning the least important position on our dline into a VERY important position for the opposing oline to deal with, may help Dallas. Im hoping and thinking it will since it has been a weekness for a while now.

Marinelli is the one who says it isn't important.

 

[CCBoy]

Marinelli is the one who says it isn't important.

It's not like Marrinelli knows anything about defense, now...does it?

 

[DandyDon52]

Marinelli is the one who says it isn't important. (DT)

It's not like Marrinelli knows anything about defense, now...does it?

Well to be fair, Marinelli isnt the best DC ever, some of his philosophy, and what he thinks is flawed, or one could argue that.

Using Carr on the left side for last 3-4 years, when he prefers to be on left side, makes me wonder.
It could be that Carr said he would take less $ if he could play the right side ??
I am now curious to see how he does there.

Also I think the defense plays poorly late in games due to Marinelli and his philosophy.

Knowing x's and O's , pretty much all coaches have that down, it is being innovative and their philosophy that seperates
the good from the bad.

 

[CCBoy]

Marinelli is the one who says it isn't important. (DT)

Well to be fair, Marinelli isnt the best DC ever, some of his philosophy, and what he thinks is flawed, or one could argue that.

Using Carr on the left side for last 3-4 years, when he prefers to be on left side, makes me wonder.
It could be that Carr said he would take less $ if he could play the right side ??
I am now curious to see how he does there.

Also I think the defense plays poorly late in games due to Marinelli and his philosophy.

Knowing x's and O's , pretty much all coaches have that down, it is being innovative and their philosophy that seperates
the good from the bad.

Marinelli lines his troops up in simple attacking schemes, and flat out challenges an offense. Flawed? I sure don't think so. He doesn't hide a large number of varied attacks...as did say, a Rob Ryan.
For the largest part, his side of the ball is still in a rebuilding phase for that unit....building phase. He is about one year away from having a pretty strong group on the defensive side of the ball.

Two seasons ago, he was a miracle worker and elevated what he had to a rather strong group.

As Bill Parcells has stated many, many times...football is about total yardage, clock dominance, and special team play. Well, last season, due to the offense and lack luster pass rush led by Greg Hardy, the defense was left floundering.

To be blunt, having to shoulder both his defense and the offense at the same time was too much for even Super Man.

Go back and do some research on good Marinelli's defenses have been over the years. You should find they have been solid to very good. No, I wouldn't be jumping ship on this man...he's a good one to have steering the defense's ship.

By next season, they will be a strong unit and projecting much farther.

As to defensive tackle, did the Cowboys pursue someone like a Suh? Nope. They even drafted a defensive tackle in the third round...important, but not the key to the defense, let's say.

Outside pressure, and a strong linebacker group are relevant, when mixed with a sound secondary.

 

[DandyDon52]

Marinelli lines his troops up in simple attacking schemes, and flat out challenges an offense. Flawed? I sure don't think so. He doesn't hide a large number of varied attacks...as did say, a Rob Ryan.
For the largest part, his side of the ball is still in a rebuilding phase for that unit....building phase. He is about one year away from having a pretty strong group on the defensive side of the ball.

Two seasons ago, he was a miracle worker and elevated what he had to a rather strong group.

As Bill Parcells has stated many, many times...football is about total yardage, clock dominance, and special team play. Well, last season, due to the offense and lack luster pass rush led by Greg Hardy, the defense was left floundering.

To be blunt, having to shoulder both his defense and the offense at the same time was too much for even Super Man.

Go back and do some research on good Marinelli's defenses have been over the years. You should find they have been solid to very good. No, I wouldn't be jumping ship on this man...he's a good one to have steering the defense's ship.

By next season, they will be a strong unit and projecting much farther.

As to defensive tackle, did the Cowboys pursue someone like a Suh? Nope. They even drafted a defensive tackle in the third round...important, but not the key to the defense, let's say.

Outside pressure, and a strong linebacker group are relevant, when mixed with a sound secondary.

Well I didnt say he was bad, I said he wasnt great.
I Think he uses the bend dont break philosophy which is supposed to prevent long scores, but teams still do that on us.
I think he uses some sort of prevent late in game, and teams just move right down the field.
Also he is not very good at designing or calling blitz's.

You say he doesnt have the players, but not many teams have more overall talent on defense than we do.
Rob was fired, and Marinelli hasnt had a better defense, in fact it was worse in 2013, and Rob was fired due to no
or few turnovers, but Rob isnt even criticized when he had the lower amount of TO in 2015.

And I am not saying Rob is a better DC, just that kiffen and Marinelli have not really done better than what Rob did.

On a side note, Philly got Shwartz as DC, and he seemed to be a good DC, so I am curious to see what their defense is like
this year, I think they may surprise us and other teams on defense.
I just have no idea what their offense will be like.
If he turns them into a good defense this year, then you would have to wonder why it takes years here??

About Suh , he wasnt worth the money. Miami was stupid to sign him, the only way he would be worth it is as a last piece that
would make your defense great, and your ready to make a run on the SB.

 

[CCBoy]

Well I didnt say he was bad, I said he wasnt great.
I Think he uses the bend dont break philosophy which is supposed to prevent long scores, but teams still do that on us.
I think he uses some sort of prevent late in game, and teams just move right down the field.
Also he is not very good at designing or calling blitz's.

You say he doesnt have the players, but not many teams have more overall talent on defense than we do.
Rob was fired, and Marinelli hasnt had a better defense, in fact it was worse in 2013, and Rob was fired due to no
or few turnovers, but Rob isnt even criticized when he had the lower amount of TO in 2015.

And I am not saying Rob is a better DC, just that kiffen and Marinelli have not really done better than what Rob did.

On a side note, Philly got Shwartz as DC, and he seemed to be a good DC, so I am curious to see what their defense is like
this year, I think they may surprise us and other teams on defense.
I just have no idea what their offense will be like.
If he turns them into a good defense this year, then you would have to wonder why it takes years here??

About Suh , he wasnt worth the money. Miami was stupid to sign him, the only way he would be worth it is as a last piece that
would make your defense great, and your ready to make a run on the SB.

You make some good points...but spend a lot of effort in simply not understanding the elements that a whole-team-look adds to a side of the ball.

Last season was the albatross, but similar to three seasons ago when the defense was switched around from the 3-4 and having to start adding players to a cap strapped picture.

One just can't look at a final win/loss picture and correlate to directions and actual improvements. One has to look for those improvements as well....as to changes, since the lock out season, has the offense improved? How long did that take and was last season an albatross for the offense as well? That is what it is also...

 

[TheFinisher]

I hope Tyrone Crawford can shock everyone by being the 3-tech we need to have this defense actually work, aka the guy we're paying him to be.

 

[DandyDon52]

You make some good points...but spend a lot of effort in simply not understanding the elements that a whole-team-look adds to a side of the ball.

Last season was the albatross, but similar to three seasons ago when the defense was switched around from the 3-4 and having to start adding players to a cap strapped picture.

One just can't look at a final win/loss picture and correlate to directions and actual improvements. One has to look for those improvements as well....as to changes, since the lock out season, has the offense improved? How long did that take and was last season an albatross for the offense as well? That is what it is also...

Well CC I am not judging him on win loss, or yards , or points allowed, but more on what I see at key points in games, and then overall just how
he schemes and they play.
I also look at what other defenses do to cowboys.
one big thing I have noticed is teams often get a free guy coming thru a gap to sack tony.
Marinelli has never or rarely been able to do that.

So is the dallas offense just really inept at dealing with that, or is marinelli too inept to do the same to opponents??
One or the other lol, or even worse both are true.

I dont have the stats, but I think tony may be sacked more by non linemen than by linemen or DE's
So then I have to think you dont have to get your sacks , pressures, hits by just DE's, and if your lacking in DE's you need to be
good in blitzing other guys.

 

[BAT]

Scanned the other NFCE starters and was shocked to see Junior Galette's name. How is Hardy blackballed but an even bigger monster is still playing???? Galette was accused of kidnapping, drugging the girl and sexually assaulting her. How is this a lesser crime than domestic violence. One is horrific the other is pure evil.

 

[Swanny]

Top 5 Cowboys veterans who could shock everyone at training camp

http://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/201...ns-who-could-shock-everyone-at-training-camp/


1. Cole Beasley

Beasley?? Yes, Beasley. With all the talk about whether or not Brice Butler can unseat Terrance Williams to line up opposite Dez Bryant, maybe the diminutive Beasley should be getting all the press instead. Beasley ran 353 of his 408 routes out the slot last year, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be Romo’s second option after Dez. Beasley is normally the most sure-handed receiver on the team, is lightning quick and difficult to get a hand on. It’s not inconceivable that he becomes a 60+ catch guy as future Hall-of-Famer Jason Witten slows some.

There was plenty of talk of Beasley’s ascension last offseason, but not much of it to this point in 2016. Fans shouldn’t be surprised if training camp features a lot of talk about the offenses reliance on the slot guy.

2. Alfred Morris

Morris was the team’s answer to the running back question when he was signed to a very friendly two-year deal in the later phase of free agency. After changing their run scheme to suit Darren McFadden in 2015, Morris’ zone acumen was the hope prior to drafting Ezekiel Elliott. Morris’ production dipped in Washington as they moved to more of a power man scheme under Jay Gruden. While Elliott will get the lions share of carries in the regular season, Morris will get the chance to earn the backup role; though he doesn’t have the pass catching ability to be the third-down specialist. If he shows out during camp, he could give Dallas one of the league’s most potent 1-2 punches at the position.


3. Brandon Carr

Carr took a paycut over the offseason of over $3 million, a move made to show his commitment to helping the Cowboys win. It was also a concession that his last two seasons, void of interceptions, were not played to the level of his contract. In the final year of his deal, don’t be surprised if “contract year bump” comes into play for the ninth-year vet. Carr will face competition from the newly bulked up Morris Claiborne to line up opposite Orlando Scandrick. All eyes will be on the right side, where Carr was placed after spending the last four seasons stationed on the left. Carr played on the right in Kansas City, where he played well enough Dallas offered him a five-year, $50 million deal. No comment on why it took so long to return him, but watch out for a potential rebirth...

When Morris was signed I'm certain it was to be the back up to DMC. DMC> Morris . But with DMCs busted Elbow he (Morris) could get the back up job. But I still think DMC will get it back.

 

[jobberone]

We definitely need McClain to step up. DT depth is my biggest position worry.

But of the players on this list, I think Brandon Carr is the best bet to have a good season. He will be covering lesser WRs with Scandrick back and he will be in a contract year.

Beasley gets my vote but all are capable of 'surprising'.