You Build the defense

[KingintheNorth]

Okay, I'll assume a few things for this.

Jason Garrett isn't going anywhere and we are drafting in the 20s. We either barely missed the playoffs or were 1-and-done again.

We are still in a unique, desirable situation of having a franchise-caliber quarterback who gets paid like a 4th round draft pick so I'm pretty much all in on trying to win it all these next 2 years.

I would fire Rod Marinelli and this is important, the entire defensive staff. I know some of you will want to cling onto a Matt Erberflus or a Leon Lett, but the biggest mistake I think Jerry makes is assigning coaches to someone. It breeds complacency and sends a message that new guy isn't really in charge of repairing the very thing he is being hired to fix. If the new DC wants to re-hire any of those guys based on their merits, that is fine, but there will be no pressure form ownership to do so. Jerry can always assign them to front office or scouting positions.

Now saying that, Jerry should consult with Jason Garrett on who the next DC will be. Once Jason offers nothing significant to the conversation, I'd go ahead and write a big check to hire Clemson Defensive Coordinator Brent Venbales. Venables is 46 years old and has coached under Bill Snyder (Kansas State), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), and Dabo Sweeney (Clemson). His Clemson defense has been very good the past few years and a ton of his players were high draft picks. He gets to name his staff however he seems fit.

Then in free agency, I am incredibly aggressive. I pull out all of the stops, using Jerry, Jason, Venables, the players, the stadium, The Star, whatever to woo these guys the first few days of free agency. I'm going to spend some money because I realize in 2 years, Dak's contract will jump significantly. This is after some restructuring (Tyron Smith, Dez, Jason Witten,Sean Lee, Orlando Scandrick) and some cap casualties (Tyrone Crawford, Benson Mayowa). I'm also letting some free agents walk (Kyle Wilber, Alfred Morris Darren McFadden, Justin Durant, Byron Bell, Bene Benwikere). I'm prepared to let Anthony Hitchens walk unless he signs a team-friendly, short-term deal. He's a good player but I'm not overpaying to keep him. I'm still torn on Demarcus Lawrence and the Franchise Tag. He's clearly playing lights out but I'm always wary of guys who suddenly step it up in a contract year and there's the suspension and injury history. He is one strike away from a lengthy suspension. I'll make the safe move and go ahead and Franchise him but I'd prefer to work out a long-term deal.
Back to recruiting new free agents, I target three guys: Oakland DT Justin Ellis (Age 26, 6-2, 335), Chicago CB Kyle Fuller (Age 25, 5-11, 190), and San Francisco S Eric Reid (Age 25, 6-1, 213).

Ellis is the 1Tech we've needed. His ability to occupy multiple blockers helps out our run defense and frees up our more athletic players to make plays. Fuller has been up-and-down these past 4 years in Chicago but has started to live up to his potential this year. We have a few solid Cover-2 type physical corners but Fuller is the speedy, athletic corner we need to run with opposing #1 WR's. Eric Reid gives us the most talented safety we've had since Darren Woodson and like Woodson, Reid will provide valuable leadership to this young secondary. He also lets the team confidently move Byron Jones around to take advantage of his versatility.

In the draft, I'm targeting 4 players in the first round and I'm prepared to move up to get him. The players are Florida's Taven Bryan, Boston College's Harold Landry, NC State's Bradley Chubb, and Clemson's Clelin Ferrell. Since I like all 4, I can afford to be patient but again, I'm ready to move up. My personal hope is we draft Taven Bryan (6-5/293) because I think he is barely scratching the surface of the monster he will become. Again, I'm perfectly happy with any of those 4 and if safeties Derwin James (Florida State) or Minkah Fitzpatrick(Alabama) somehow start to slip, they become part of the conversation. Then in the late 1st/early 2nd, I'm moving up to get LB Malik Jefferson (Texas), LB Jerome Baker (Ohio State), or LB/S Kyzir White (West Virginia) depending who falls. Remember, my philosophy is that the offense is ready to compete for a Super Bowl right now. I envision Kyzir White as a Deone Bucannon-type hybrid linebacker. White (6-3/212) has similar size as Bucannon (6-1/215) and is more athletic. He has played LB, S, and CB for the Mountaineers this year. White, Byron Jones, and Chidobe Awuzie give us a ton of position flex as well.

2018 Defense
LDE Demarcus Lawrence
3TECH Maliek Collins
1TECH Justin Ellis (run downs) / David Irving (pass downs)
RDE Taven Bryan

SAM Kyzir White
MIKE Damien Wilson / Jaylon Smith
WILL Sean Lee

LCB Kyle Fuller
RCB Jourdan Lewis
NICKELChidobe Awuzie
SS Byron Jones
FS Eric Reid

 

[Sydla]

Okay, I'll assume a few things for this.

Jason Garrett isn't going anywhere and we are drafting in the 20s. We either barely missed the playoffs or were 1-and-done again.

We are still in a unique, desirable situation of having a franchise-caliber quarterback who gets paid like a 4th round draft pick so I'm pretty much all in on trying to win it all these next 2 years.

I would fire Rod Marinelli and this is important, the entire defensive staff. I know some of you will want to cling onto a Matt Erberflus or a Leon Lett, but the biggest mistake I think Jerry makes is assigning coaches to someone. It breeds complacency and sends a message that new guy isn't really in charge of repairing the very thing he is being hired to fix. If the new DC wants to re-hire any of those guys based on their merits, that is fine, but there will be no pressure form ownership to do so. Jerry can always assign them to front office or scouting positions.

Now saying that, Jerry should consult with Jason Garrett on who the next DC will be. Once Jason offers nothing significant to the conversation, I'd go ahead and write a big check to hire Clemson Defensive Coordinator Brent Venbales. Venables is 46 years old and has coached under Bill Snyder (Kansas State), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), and Dabo Sweeney (Clemson). His Clemson defense has been very good the past few years and a ton of his players were high draft picks. He gets to name his staff however he seems fit.

Then in free agency, I am incredibly aggressive. I pull out all of the stops, using Jerry, Jason, Venables, the players, the stadium, The Star, whatever to woo these guys the first few days of free agency. I'm going to spend some money because I realize in 2 years, Dak's contract will jump significantly. This is after some restructuring (Tyron Smith, Dez, Jason Witten,Sean Lee, Orlando Scandrick) and some cap casualties (Tyrone Crawford, Benson Mayowa). I'm also letting some free agents walk (Kyle Wilber, Alfred Morris Darren McFadden, Justin Durant, Byron Bell, Bene Benwikere). I'm prepared to let Anthony Hitchens walk unless he signs a team-friendly, short-term deal. He's a good player but I'm not overpaying to keep him. I'm still torn on Demarcus Lawrence and the Franchise Tag. He's clearly playing lights out but I'm always wary of guys who suddenly step it up in a contract year and there's the suspension and injury history. He is one strike away from a lengthy suspension. I'll make the safe move and go ahead and Franchise him but I'd prefer to work out a long-term deal.
Back to recruiting new free agents, I target three guys: Oakland DT Justin Ellis (Age 26, 6-2, 335), Chicago CB Kyle Fuller (Age 25, 5-11, 190), and San Francisco S Eric Reid (Age 25, 6-1, 213).

Ellis is the 1Tech we've needed. His ability to occupy multiple blockers helps out our run defense and frees up our more athletic players to make plays. Fuller has been up-and-down these past 4 years in Chicago but has started to live up to his potential this year. We have a few solid Cover-2 type physical corners but Fuller is the speedy, athletic corner we need to run with opposing #1 WR's. Eric Reid gives us the most talented safety we've had since Darren Woodson and like Woodson, Reid will provide valuable leadership to this young secondary. He also lets the team confidently move Byron Jones around to take advantage of his versatility.

In the draft, I'm targeting 4 players in the first round and I'm prepared to move up to get him. The players are Florida's Taven Bryan, Boston College's Harold Landry, NC State's Bradley Chubb, and Clemson's Clelin Ferrell. Since I like all 4, I can afford to be patient but again, I'm ready to move up. My personal hope is we draft Taven Bryan (6-5/293) because I think he is barely scratching the surface of the monster he will become. Again, I'm perfectly happy with any of those 4 and if safeties Derwin James (Florida State) or Minkah Fitzpatrick(Alabama) somehow start to slip, they become part of the conversation. Then in the late 1st/early 2nd, I'm moving up to get LB Malik Jefferson (Texas), LB Jerome Baker (Ohio State), or LB/S Kyzir White (West Virginia) depending who falls. Remember, my philosophy is that the offense is ready to compete for a Super Bowl right now. I envision Kyzir White as a Deone Bucannon-type hybrid linebacker. White (6-3/212) has similar size as Bucannon (6-1/215) and is more athletic. He has played LB, S, and CB for the Mountaineers this year. White, Byron Jones, and Chidobe Awuzie give us a ton of position flex as well.

2018 Defense
LDE Demarcus Lawrence
3TECH Maliek Collins
1TECH Justin Ellis (run downs) / David Irving (pass downs)
RDE Taven Bryan

SAM Kyzir White
MIKE Damien Wilson / Jaylon Smith
WILL Sean Lee

LCB Kyle Fuller
RCB Jourdan Lewis
NICKELChidobe Awuzie
SS Byron Jones
FS Eric Reid

Like it. I said Poe as the 1 tech but Ellis would be even better. Like Reid a lot too. I am not sure we need Fuller if they believe Lewis and Awuzie can play. Plus, with what Scandrick is making, he's not riding the pine or getting cut (I don't think we get much benefit cutting him). I differ a bit on Bryan. He seems like another strongside end type and we have enough of them. I'd prefer a guy like Ferrell or Landry, more quick twitch types.

As for DC, Venables would be interesting as would be Elko from ND. He's another 4-3 guy, who mixes up his defenses and has a philosophy of aggressive LOS play, getting after the QB and puts a huge premium on turnovers.

But your post makes me sad.

Because I suspect none of it will come true. They'll keep Marinelli. They'll go cheap in FA saying they need the cash and flexibility to sign Martin and other guys down the road. They'll waste another year of Prescott and Elliott and this OL "building" the D through the draft.

 

[Sydla]

A few more comments King.

- Based on Over the Cap, cutting Crawford this coming offseason would only result in $1.8MM in cap space saved. Not sure it makes much sense cutting him at that point.

- Witten has to be a restructure/new deal. He's a $6.5MM cap hit next year.

- Beasley is an interesting case. If you cut him, you'd save almost $3.3MM in cap space.

- Some have talked about booting Scandrick but he's only like a $1.5MM cap savings.

- Glad we have to eat $2MM for Nolan Carroll. Awesomeness right there.

 

[Tristan]

Irving is not our best DL. That's Lawrence.

And you can get Irving on the field a lot because he can play DE and the 3 tech so you can move him around a lot. But he's not a starting 1 tech in this league.

Poe has been playing well in Atlanta. Much better than what we have gotten out of our 1 techs.

I see your point, I would say its a toss up between Laurence and Irving but I would certainly have those two in the game as much as possible.

I like Irving at LE rotating in to tackle either way hes gonna be demanding double teams at times.

I like Laurence at RE, he blowed by staley like con miller on sunday, he can be a war daddy at re imo especially w a bookend like Irving to keep em honest.

I like Taco to Improve alot and would rotate him in at LE and RE

Collins is one of the five I could consider all starters rotating

I agree we need to get some beef in the middle and would love a young stud like chris jones added to the line but no pricey old guys hungry young guys, theres alot of "new breed" dt's coming along in college that are huge and fast not one or the other.

While I think Taco can develope into a great asset and a Greg Ellis type but we didnt "need" a lde enough to draft him over higher rated prospects, im sick to my stomach that we passed Foster and Watt we needed either bad imo.

Im thinking Chido and Woods csn be the future at s we need a guy like jenkins (phil) and chido might have that game in him!

Bryon can be a cb and help at s as needed but i like him at slot alot

I love Lewis at CB and Brown is a solid guy to have in the rotation but Id like to add another cb to bump brown to a rotational role.

Draft I want a WR like tyrek hill but If we get a chance I want a beast DT or LB early and another "sticky" db like lewis

 

[Tristan]

A few more comments King.

- Based on Over the Cap, cutting Crawford this coming offseason would only result in $1.8MM in cap space saved. Not sure it makes much sense cutting him at that point.

- Witten has to be a restructure/new deal. He's a $6.5MM cap hit next year.

- Beasley is an interesting case. If you cut him, you'd save almost $3.3MM in cap space.

- Some have talked about booting Scandrick but he's only like a $1.5MM cap savings.

- Glad we have to eat $2MM for Nolan Carroll. Awesomeness right there.

We gotta stop throwing away 4 mill on guys like Carroll while letting a good player leave like leary or church to save that same $? So if we release a guy like beasly it better not be throw away lol

Ive always liked scandrick but id trade him right now if i could. He seems to have lost his stickyness imo, i see him a day late and a dollar short way to often, i think hes been more of a liability and beaten pretty easy alot. Id prefer jones at slot if chido gets healthy and plays s

 

[KingintheNorth]

I am not sure we need Fuller if they believe Lewis and Awuzie can play. Plus, with what Scandrick is making, he's not riding the pine or getting cut (I don't think we get much benefit cutting him).

In my scenario, Scandrick takes a paycut or restructure. I like most of our young CB's (I'm not an Anthony Brown fan at all). My issue is that Scandrick, Jourdan Lewis, Chidobe Awuzie, and even Byron Jones are all suited for the #2 or slot CB spot. They are all physical, zone-type corners or what I call "muggers." We need that speedy, athlete type who can match the speed and athleticism of true #1 WRs. I think Fuller has that type of physical skills.

I differ a bit on Bryan. He seems like another strongside end type and we have enough of them. I'd prefer a guy like Ferrell or Landry, more quick twitch types.

I came into this year with Landry and Ferrell being 1/2, truly wanting that edge pressure rusher. I was checking out Florida's edge guy Jabari Zuniga and Bryan kept popping. I saw some cut-up's of him the past two years and I really feel he is a JJ Watt slash Joey Bosa type player. You can line him up at all 4 DL spots and he is a problem for the guy across him.

But your post makes me sad.

Because I suspect none of it will come true. They'll keep Marinelli. They'll go cheap in FA

I hear you but if true than this leadership is not serous about winning. If they wait to build through the draft, there will be other positions that need to be addressed by the time they solve current issues. If they accept mediocrity (or even less) from Marinelli and this defense, then they can't get upset when the team fails to stop teams when it matters most.

Either you want to win or you want to make excuses. Jerry has to figure out which.

 

[Sydla]

I just think they believe they are the smartest people in the room and that slow and steady will win the race........... And then 5 years from now, they will wonder how they blew the cheap years of Prescott and used up Elliott's prime rushing years.

 

[DiResta]

So I've built my two deep for the 2018 defense with a new DC. Didn't go overboard in FA and again used prime picks for the defense:

SDE - Lawrence, Irving
RDE - Ferrell/Chubb/Landry, Tapper
3 Tech - Collins, Crawford
1 Tech - Poe, draft pick/Pryce

Add a legit pass rushing end, and a real 1 Tech and you have a legit front four. Invest a mid-round pick on a project at the 1 tech.

WILL - Smith, Wilson
MIKE - Lee, Hitchens
SAM - Wilson, Wilber/draft pick

I am making an assumption Smith's leg continues to improve. If not, then you might have to hit FA or invest a high pick in a LB or two.

CB - Lewis, Brown
CB - Awuzie, Scandrick
Slot - Scandrick, Jones
FS - Woods, Jones
SS - Vaccarro, draft pick/Heath

With so much youth, they need a legit vet in the secondary to help. Vaccarro isn't great but he's decent and he's likely going to be fairly cheap. Now, depending on the new hire at DC, they might want interchangeable safeties so I wouldn't be opposed to trying Awuzie at S alongside Woods. Jones is a better CB.

this is a real possibility
very likely they go defense heavy again and those are safe moves though i dont like Vaccarro very much
but they need help no doubt Heath needs to be a st ace and fs #3

 

[DiResta]

Okay, I'll assume a few things for this.

Jason Garrett isn't going anywhere and we are drafting in the 20s. We either barely missed the playoffs or were 1-and-done again.

We are still in a unique, desirable situation of having a franchise-caliber quarterback who gets paid like a 4th round draft pick so I'm pretty much all in on trying to win it all these next 2 years.

I would fire Rod Marinelli and this is important, the entire defensive staff. I know some of you will want to cling onto a Matt Erberflus or a Leon Lett, but the biggest mistake I think Jerry makes is assigning coaches to someone. It breeds complacency and sends a message that new guy isn't really in charge of repairing the very thing he is being hired to fix. If the new DC wants to re-hire any of those guys based on their merits, that is fine, but there will be no pressure form ownership to do so. Jerry can always assign them to front office or scouting positions.

Now saying that, Jerry should consult with Jason Garrett on who the next DC will be. Once Jason offers nothing significant to the conversation, I'd go ahead and write a big check to hire Clemson Defensive Coordinator Brent Venbales. Venables is 46 years old and has coached under Bill Snyder (Kansas State), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), and Dabo Sweeney (Clemson). His Clemson defense has been very good the past few years and a ton of his players were high draft picks. He gets to name his staff however he seems fit.

Then in free agency, I am incredibly aggressive. I pull out all of the stops, using Jerry, Jason, Venables, the players, the stadium, The Star, whatever to woo these guys the first few days of free agency. I'm going to spend some money because I realize in 2 years, Dak's contract will jump significantly. This is after some restructuring (Tyron Smith, Dez, Jason Witten,Sean Lee, Orlando Scandrick) and some cap casualties (Tyrone Crawford, Benson Mayowa). I'm also letting some free agents walk (Kyle Wilber, Alfred Morris Darren McFadden, Justin Durant, Byron Bell, Bene Benwikere). I'm prepared to let Anthony Hitchens walk unless he signs a team-friendly, short-term deal. He's a good player but I'm not overpaying to keep him. I'm still torn on Demarcus Lawrence and the Franchise Tag. He's clearly playing lights out but I'm always wary of guys who suddenly step it up in a contract year and there's the suspension and injury history. He is one strike away from a lengthy suspension. I'll make the safe move and go ahead and Franchise him but I'd prefer to work out a long-term deal.
Back to recruiting new free agents, I target three guys: Oakland DT Justin Ellis (Age 26, 6-2, 335), Chicago CB Kyle Fuller (Age 25, 5-11, 190), and San Francisco S Eric Reid (Age 25, 6-1, 213).

Ellis is the 1Tech we've needed. His ability to occupy multiple blockers helps out our run defense and frees up our more athletic players to make plays. Fuller has been up-and-down these past 4 years in Chicago but has started to live up to his potential this year. We have a few solid Cover-2 type physical corners but Fuller is the speedy, athletic corner we need to run with opposing #1 WR's. Eric Reid gives us the most talented safety we've had since Darren Woodson and like Woodson, Reid will provide valuable leadership to this young secondary. He also lets the team confidently move Byron Jones around to take advantage of his versatility.

In the draft, I'm targeting 4 players in the first round and I'm prepared to move up to get him. The players are Florida's Taven Bryan, Boston College's Harold Landry, NC State's Bradley Chubb, and Clemson's Clelin Ferrell. Since I like all 4, I can afford to be patient but again, I'm ready to move up. My personal hope is we draft Taven Bryan (6-5/293) because I think he is barely scratching the surface of the monster he will become. Again, I'm perfectly happy with any of those 4 and if safeties Derwin James (Florida State) or Minkah Fitzpatrick(Alabama) somehow start to slip, they become part of the conversation. Then in the late 1st/early 2nd, I'm moving up to get LB Malik Jefferson (Texas), LB Jerome Baker (Ohio State), or LB/S Kyzir White (West Virginia) depending who falls. Remember, my philosophy is that the offense is ready to compete for a Super Bowl right now. I envision Kyzir White as a Deone Bucannon-type hybrid linebacker. White (6-3/212) has similar size as Bucannon (6-1/215) and is more athletic. He has played LB, S, and CB for the Mountaineers this year. White, Byron Jones, and Chidobe Awuzie give us a ton of position flex as well.

2018 Defense
LDE Demarcus Lawrence
3TECH Maliek Collins
1TECH Justin Ellis (run downs) / David Irving (pass downs)
RDE Taven Bryan

SAM Kyzir White
MIKE Damien Wilson / Jaylon Smith
WILL Sean Lee

LCB Kyle Fuller
RCB Jourdan Lewis
NICKELChidobe Awuzie
SS Byron Jones
FS Eric Reid

this is a great post
i totally agree with the moves
i think it puts the best players in the best positions and is very doable

i just dont see them firing the defense
not that you dont have a very solid plan
i would be extremely happy with the draft picks

 

[DiResta]

Then make him the DL coach. Because he's not cutting it as the DC.

yes but demoting wont happen
no matter who we want its unlikely Jerry or Jason whoever - would make such a drastic move like firing Marinelli this year
unless they feel they gave him every chance and i dont think they feel that way
of course i dont know what they say in Jerrys office