Where should Crawford play?

[JoeyBoy718]

I briefly mentioned the idea in a few threads, but I'll pose the question in its own thread.

We all know Tyrone Crawford started the season at SDE. This was when Spencer was still out and Selvie was the only SDE we had. Crawford was easily better than Selvie and probably our best DE. Then we moved him inside with a string of injuries at DT and the return of Spencer. He thrived at DT and won the starting 3-tech position. At the time, Melton wasn't yet fully healthy (or was just rusty) and was still getting limited snaps. Now that Melton is fully healed and seems to be his old self again, he's destroying it at DT.

Now, I have a few questions. 1) Was Crawford that much better at 3-tech than SDE? I mean, he was the best DE on the roster. 2) Is Crawford a better 3-tech than Melton? 3) Would we be best off putting our best guys on the field? Melton and Crawford are probably our two best D-linemen. That doesn't mean Crawford couldn't move to the inside still, and Crawford and Melton could still both play DT in the nickel (which is basically what people were predicting Crawford would be before the season started -- the starting SDE who moves inside in the nickel).

I'm looking at the long-term. Melton is playing great and is making a case for an extension. Crawford is looking good and is progressing into a great player. We also have Lawrence who we just drafted and who had a good debut game. Why not a starting D-line of Lawrence-Melton-1-tech (Brent maybe)-Crawford? Selvie isn't a starter and Spencer probably shouldn't be back next year. We really need to address SDE early or in free agency next year. But we already have the best SDE currently on the roster. He's just playing 3-tech.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Might simply depend on the DL roster makeup when we break camp next summer.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Might simply depend on the DL roster makeup when we break camp next summer.

The way we've been approaching the draft lately, we like to fill all our weaknesses before the draft and go with BPA. We were probably perfectly fine with going into the season with Bernadeau as our starting RG. That was probably our plan all along since we were set on drafting Donald, Barr and Shazier before Martin. But when our pick came up, Martin was the BPA and RG was a position that could have used an upgrade. The pick worked out for the best.

So, looking at the potential starting D-line next year, I see a few areas that look good enough to go.

RDE: I don't see us drafting a RDE in the 1st unless an absolute stud is there. But blue chip RDEs go in the top 7 picks of the draft. They're up there with LTs and QBs. I'm guessing we'll be drafting in the mid-20's, so the best RDE available then will probably be as highly regarded as D-Law was going into this year's draft. Also, I think Mincey has proven to be a solid RDE and would make a fine backup. I think we'd be happy going into next season with D-Law and Mincey.

3-tech: It all depends on if we pick up Melton's option. At the moment, it's looking like it would be stupid not to. He was an elite 3-tech with the Bears and is starting to show glimpses of his old self. You're not gonna get a guy in the draft who will come in and immediately be as good as Melton. Now, if they decide to release Melton and go with Crawford, that's another story. But with Melton and Crawford (if Melton is signed and Crawford stays at 3-tech) the 3-tech position will be pretty stacked.

1-tech: We won't spend a 1st round pick on a big 1-tech. Brent is only 26 and looked good as a 3-4 NT. This isn't really a position we'd address early. But we definitely need to upgrade over Hayden.

LDE: At the moment we have Spencer and Selvie splitting snaps. I think Spencer needs to go. He's never played in the 4-3 in the NFL, he's coming off micro surgery, and he's yet to look great. He's also old. I don't see any reason why we'd let him stay on the roster as a progress stopper. And Selvie is nothing more than a backup in this league. I think he's a solid backup, but if he's your starter you're in trouble. Now, we can probably draft a solid LDE in the 1st round. Those guys are usually around at that point. The best LDEs in this past year's draft were still available. But would they be better than Crawford?

I think where Crawford plays will be interesting. We need to upgrade LDE. I don't want Spencer back and Selvie is a backup. I also think it would be a mistake not to pick up Melton's option. We could draft a LDE in the 1st who can probably come in and start. But if the BPA isn't a LDE, then you don't want to reach for a guy when you already have Crawford, who would probably be better than any LDE in the draft.

 

[AmishCowboy]

I think Crawford is a natural 3-Tech

 

[Zman5]

Crawford at SDE wasn't even as good as last year's version of Selvie. I thought he was significantly better as a 3-Tech. I think he can eventually become a pro-bowler as a 3 Tech. Maybe even soon as next year.

 

[Macnalty]

I think you are taking a little bit of liberty assuming Josh Brent comes in and plays at a high level after the tremendous emotional ordeal he has been through this last year. I think it is 50/50 that he makes a significant contribution from this point on in his career.The cowboys have been very lucky in their FA pickups and drafts these last couple of years with the only exclusion being the Claiborne pick(along with the second rounder it took to acquire the 6th pick). I like to think it is a science but it is probably closer to picking horses in races, nobody gets it correct 100% of the time and at sometime we are going to regress back to the mean.
Crawford seems like a perfect DL swing man to me at this point in time, he is not a pro bowl 3 tech so lets just tap the brakes some and see how the season plays out until we pigeon hole him with a educated fans positioning. He has a massive upside which is starting to reveal itself on the field it is amazing to watch him get better each week.

 

[21Savage]

Crawford at SDE wasn't even as good as last year's version of Selvie. I thought he was significantly better as a 3-Tech. I think he can eventually become a pro-bowler as a 3 Tech. Maybe even soon as next year.

This is total rubbish. It's so much rubbish it's laughable. You must just be comparing stats btw both players because if you actually watched the game there's no possible way you'd say Crawford this season at DE wasn't even good as Selvie last year. lol

 

[21Savage]

As to the OP, Crawford is a better run playing 3 tech right now and better overall player than at DE. Melton while very good as a pass rusher is still struggling as a run player on the inside. He's also more nimble than Crawford is to the point where over the last couple of games, him rusher over the RT has been better than what Crawford did.

So even with Crawford out for this next game, I think you might see us start with Mcclain as the 3 tech and have Melton mainly come in on rushing downs.

And don't worry about the starting 4 so much. This team would pay two 3 techs in a rotation before they pay a starting 1 tech. The snap counts at the end of the game are what matter more.

 

[Risen Star]

Crawford seems like a perfect DL swing man to me at this point in time, he is not a pro bowl 3 tech so lets just tap the brakes some.

You'll regret saying that when he gets his first sack.

This guy is special.

 

[conner01]

i think crawford can play both outside and inside. where he plays next year will depend alot on what we do with melton. if you pay melton then he will be the 3 most of the time

 

[VACowboy]

I think you put Crawford at 3-tech and leave him there, regardless of what happens with Melton and McClain.

 

[xwalker]

I briefly mentioned the idea in a few threads, but I'll pose the question in its own thread.

We all know Tyrone Crawford started the season at SDE. This was when Spencer was still out and Selvie was the only SDE we had. Crawford was easily better than Selvie and probably our best DE. Then we moved him inside with a string of injuries at DT and the return of Spencer. He thrived at DT and won the starting 3-tech position. At the time, Melton wasn't yet fully healthy (or was just rusty) and was still getting limited snaps. Now that Melton is fully healed and seems to be his old self again, he's destroying it at DT.

Now, I have a few questions. 1) Was Crawford that much better at 3-tech than SDE? I mean, he was the best DE on the roster. 2) Is Crawford a better 3-tech than Melton? 3) Would we be best off putting our best guys on the field? Melton and Crawford are probably our two best D-linemen. That doesn't mean Crawford couldn't move to the inside still, and Crawford and Melton could still both play DT in the nickel (which is basically what people were predicting Crawford would be before the season started -- the starting SDE who moves inside in the nickel).

I'm looking at the long-term. Melton is playing great and is making a case for an extension. Crawford is looking good and is progressing into a great player. We also have Lawrence who we just drafted and who had a good debut game. Why not a starting D-line of Lawrence-Melton-1-tech (Brent maybe)-Crawford? Selvie isn't a starter and Spencer probably shouldn't be back next year. We really need to address SDE early or in free agency next year. But we already have the best SDE currently on the roster. He's just playing 3-tech.

They have played Melton at LDE some in the past couple of games. Melton and Crawford play together at times, generally in the Nickel.

Mincey seems like he would be a LDE; although, they had at least 1 snaps this past game where is was:
LDE Melton
LDT Crawford
RDT Mincey
RDE Lawrence

I envision next season and possibly later this season having the Nickel DLine look like this:
LDE Mincey
DT Crawford
DT Melton (if they pick up his contract option)
RDE Lawrence

Brent would like be the 1-tech DT at some point over Hayden.

Summary: I thing Crawford stays at DT. Marinelli wants more than one quality 3-tech rotating in the game. In most defensive schemes the DEs are the top 2 pass rushers, but Marinelli wants his top 2 rushers to be the RDE and 3-tech DT.

 

[Crown Royal]

Crawford is a 3tech. He should make his living feasting on less athletic guards. Crawford would benefit from better players on the edge that can hold contain, because he can prevent a QB from climbing the pocket. Right now, QBs can side step interior pressure a bit too much, especially to the strong side.

 

[BlindFaith]

I personally dont think he's built to be an inside guy. Can he do it? Sure, but for how long. He's already hurt himself. Injuries happen, but I think he'd have a better long term career as an end. He needs work on his pass rush from there, but I think he could easily do it.

 

[Crown Royal]

I personally dont think he's built to be an inside guy. Can he do it? Sure, but for how long. He's already hurt himself. Injuries happen, but I think he'd have a better long term career as an end. He needs work on his pass rush from there, but I think he could easily do it.

His injury was the result of getting rolled up on. I understand what you mean, is he durable enough for it? WHo knows. But I don't think he can be effective over the tackle.

 

[BlindFaith]

His injury was the result of getting rolled up on. I understand what you mean, is he durable enough for it? WHo knows. But I don't think he can be effective over the tackle.

He was effective in college. He has the physical skills. He just needs to work on pass rush moves. He seems to always fall back on the bull rush, which he's very good at. Right now he'd be more effective than Mincey, against the pass or the run. He's much stronger against the run than Selvie, and probably on equal ground as far as rushing the passer.

 

[Crown Royal]

He was effective in college. He has the physical skills. He just needs to work on pass rush moves. He seems to always fall back on the bull rush, which he's very good at. Right now he'd be more effective than Mincey, against the pass or the run. He's much stronger against the run than Selvie, and probably on equal ground as far as rushing the passer.

Oh against the run, no doubt. But I don't think he has the moves to take on good RTs.

 

[BlindFaith]

Oh against the run, no doubt. But I don't think he has the moves to take on good RTs.

As I've said, he's not there yet as far as pass rush. But it's only his second year.

I think if he could spend the off season working on getting his body ready to play as an end, and then focus strictly on playing end, he'd be a more than adequate starting LDE for us.

 

[Crown Royal]

Maybe you're right. I'd just prefer to play to a guy's natural strengths than try to coach him up to play elsewhere.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

He's a DT, IMO. He's extremely good. He reminds me a bit of Spencer in the sense that he would play well early on, but could not quite finish plays. But, Crawford is getting much more penetration than Spencer was early on in his career. And I don't see why we can't move him around a little. It would give us some versatility as to what D-Line lineups we have. We could have Spencer play 3-tech or 1-tech, have Melton to the opposite of him and have our 2 best pass rushing DE's. Then we could move Crawford to SDE, insert McClain and Melton at DT with Lawrence at RDE.




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