Who stays/who goes within our DL Rotation

[Cowboyny]

Clearly the Defensive Line needs to be retooled if not rebuilt. This defensive line has struggled stopping the run for several years, especially against the top teams in this league. Won't matter if we are the best pass rushing team, best in coverage, but we are consistently in 3rd and short. Defense 101: make an offense one dimensional by stopping their run game!

Which holdover players should be apart of the future, which should not?

Defensive Ends

Parsons-elite pass rusher
DLaw-big decision this offseason
Sam Williams-1 more year to prove his worth
Kneeland-high draft pick
Golston-has played well this season, especially against the run.
Lawson-time to find a younger replacement
Wheat-needs to earn a roster spot

Defensive Tackles

Osa-unrestricted free agent. Always seems to flash early and then disappears as the season progresses. Undersized could be a liability against the run.
Mazi-high draft pick. Signs he is improving, but remains a disappointment
Joseph-A younger free agent
Watkins-see Joseph

 

[KingintheNorth]

A kid like Mason Graham would do wonders. He plays relentlessly and it will rub off on, if not push the veterans to get to his level

I really like Deone Walker but he may need to be coached hard and we don’t do that at Jerry World.

 

[Cowboyny]

A kid like Mason Graham would do wonders. He plays relentlessly and it will rub off on, if not push the veterans to get to his level

I really like Deone Walker but he may need to be coached hard and we don’t do that at Jerry World.

Our first priority is to fix this poor run defense, in my opinion, to do that you need bigger personnel along the DL. Have to move away, from those undersized, quick twitch lineman that Marinelli/Quinn targeted. A player like Graham fits like a glove, he has the size/strength to be good on the early downs, but also has pass rush abilities to play on the money down.

 

[tm1119]

You have Parsons, Mazi and Kneeland to build off of…and that’s very sad.

I think Osa is a fine rotational 3 tech, but as a full time starter he’s just average. I wouldn’t spend up to keep him, but if the price is right I also wouldn’t mind him coming back. Just can’t be penciled in to play the vast majority of the 3 tech snaps. We need more from that position.

Golston is a fine backup DE, but also a very replaceable player. If someone else wants to pay him let them, but I suspect he’ll be back on a reasonably cheap 2 or 3 year deal.

And definitely have to walk away from DLaw before we end up in a Tyron like hostage situation praying he can stay healthy and affective

Sam Williams is just a bonus lotto ticket at this point. If you get anything out of him next year great, but he shouldn’t be relied on.

No one else is really even worth mentioning and shouldn’t be on the team next year. So we are looking at needing to add 3-5 legit pieces that can play right away on the D-line.

 

[nhcowboysfan]

Mason Graham would be an excellent addition to our DL. Unfortunately, to get him will likely require a top-ten pick. If the Cowboys win 2 or possibly even one more game, he will be gone before our pick.

 

[darthseinfeld]

You have Parsons, Mazi and Kneeland to build off of…and that’s very sad.

I think Osa is a fine rotational 3 tech, but as a full time starter he’s just average. I wouldn’t spend up to keep him, but if the price is right I also wouldn’t mind him coming back. Just can’t be penciled in to play the vast majority of the 3 tech snaps. We need more from that position.

Golston is a fine backup DE, but also a very replaceable player. If someone else wants to pay him let them, but I suspect he’ll be back on a reasonably cheap 2 or 3 year deal.

And definitely have to walk away from DLaw before we end up in a Tyron like hostage situation praying he can stay healthy and affective

Sam Williams is just a bonus lotto ticket at this point. If you get anything out of him next year great, but he shouldn’t be relied on.

No one else is really even worth mentioning and shouldn’t be on the team next year. So we are looking at needing to add 3-5 legit pieces that can play right away on the D-line.

Golston's rookie deal career has seemed eerily similar to Dorance Armstrongs. Hopefully if we sign him we get similar production on his 2nd contract as we did Armstrong. Failing that, he is still a pretty good utility lineman that can get pressure from different and plays the run well. I think he is a good 5th/6th lineman

 

[Cowboyny]

You have Parsons, Mazi and Kneeland to build off of…and that’s very sad.

I think Osa is a fine rotational 3 tech, but as a full time starter he’s just average. I wouldn’t spend up to keep him, but if the price is right I also wouldn’t mind him coming back. Just can’t be penciled in to play the vast majority of the 3 tech snaps. We need more from that position.

Golston is a fine backup DE, but also a very replaceable player. If someone else wants to pay him let them, but I suspect he’ll be back on a reasonably cheap 2 or 3 year deal.

And definitely have to walk away from DLaw before we end up in a Tyron like hostage situation praying he can stay healthy and affective

Sam Williams is just a bonus lotto ticket at this point. If you get anything out of him next year great, but he shouldn’t be relied on.

No one else is really even worth mentioning and shouldn’t be on the team next year. So we are looking at needing to add 3-5 legit pieces that can play right away on the D-line.

I agree and we don't even know about both Mazi/Kneeland just yet. This is a great draft to address this area and the team needs to make it a priority.

 

[Cowboyny]

Golston's rookie deal career has seemed eerily similar to Dorance Armstrongs. Hopefully if we sign him we get similar production on his 2nd contract as we did Armstrong. Failing that, he is still a pretty good utility lineman that can get pressure from different and plays the run well. I think he is a good 5th/6th lineman

Think he returns unless he prices himself out. He is a good rotational player, but also has the ability to play multiple positions.

 

[Cowboyny]

Mason Graham would be an excellent addition to our DL. Unfortunately, to get him will likely require a top-ten pick. If the Cowboys win 2 or possibly even one more game, he will be gone before our pick.

The entire group is really good this yr and we can still find quality after Graham

 

[darthseinfeld]

Think he returns unless he prices himself out. He is a good rotational player, but also has the ability to play multiple positions.

Its always hard to tell a DL's market. A team in need could always overpay. Id be happy giving him a similar tiered deal as we gave Armstrong.

 

[darthseinfeld]

The entire group is really good this yr and we can still find quality after Graham

Im really starting to warm up to Harmon as a potential pick for us. I see some Muhammad Wilkerson in him

 

[tm1119]

Golston's rookie deal career has seemed eerily similar to Dorance Armstrongs. Hopefully if we sign him we get similar production on his 2nd contract as we did Armstrong. Failing that, he is still a pretty good utility lineman that can get pressure from different and plays the run well. I think he is a good 5th/6th lineman

Like I said, I think Golston is a useful player…just not sure he has the pass rush ability of Armstrong. Don’t know if he has the athletic profile. He might be better against the run tho.
Not quite as good Tyrone Crawford is probably a closer comparison imo.

 

[Cowboyny]

Im really starting to warm up to Harmon as a potential pick for us. I see some Muhammad Wilkerson in him

When I watch both players, thought Graham was the better pass rusher and he was the better run defender. Cnuball mentioned Harmon's metrics were actually better then Graham's. Dane has them closely rated, they look comparable and either would be a big upgrade for our DL.

 

[Cowboyny]

Its always hard to tell a DL's market. A team in need could always overpay. Id be happy giving him a similar tiered deal as we gave Armstrong.

I think Golston can play in any scheme, something I cannot say about Osa. We also have to keep in mind, 99% chance we have a new DC.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Like I said, I think Golston is a useful player…just not sure he has the pass rush ability of Armstrong. Don’t know if he has the athletic profile. He might be better against the run tho.
Not quite as good Tyrone Crawford is probably a closer comparison imo.

Ya when I think Golston, I think more of a Tweener. Armstrong was a pure DE, even though we did rush him inside alot

 

[darthseinfeld]

When I watch both players, thought Graham was the better pass rusher and he was the better run defender. Cnuball mentioned Harmon's metrics were actually better then Graham's. Dane has them closely rated, they look comparable and either would be a big upgrade for our DL.

I think when all is said and done, Harmon will be DT2, and get drafted somewhere in the 8-15 range

 

[JohnsKey19]

Golston's rookie deal career has seemed eerily similar to Dorance Armstrongs. Hopefully if we sign him we get similar production on his 2nd contract as we did Armstrong. Failing that, he is still a pretty good utility lineman that can get pressure from different and plays the run well. I think he is a good 5th/6th lineman

I think they keep Gholston but unable to retain Osa.

 

[baltcowboy]

Clearly the Defensive Line needs to be retooled if not rebuilt. This defensive line has struggled stopping the run for several years, especially against the top teams in this league. Won't matter if we are the best pass rushing team, best in coverage, but we are consistently in 3rd and short. Defense 101: make an offense one dimensional by stopping their run game!

Which holdover players should be apart of the future, which should not?

Defensive Ends

Parsons-elite pass rusher
DLaw-big decision this offseason
Sam Williams-1 more year to prove his worth
Kneeland-high draft pick
Golston-has played well this season, especially against the run.
Lawson-time to find a younger replacement
Wheat-needs to earn a roster spot

Defensive Tackles

Osa-unrestricted free agent. Always seems to flash early and then disappears as the season progresses. Undersized could be a liability against the run.
Mazi-high draft pick. Signs he is improving, but remains a disappointment
Joseph-A younger free agent
Watkins-see Joseph

I really want to resign both Osa and Gholston. They have developed into solid players.

 

[beware_d-ware]

I like the Golston - Armstrong comp. Little different in terms of playstyle, but they're both rotational types that just keep getting a little better every year.

Osa's been OK, but not as good as he was under Dan Quinn. Just not sure if he is as suited for life outside of an attacking, pass rush heavy system. Enough to justify a big contract, anyway.

 

[Cowboyny]

I really want to resign both Osa and Gholston. They have developed into solid players.

Think we have to move on from Osa, just think he is more of a rotational type and he will be paid to be a starter