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Could Jack Crawford be biggest beneficiary of Cowboys' suspensions along D-line?
By David Moore
JACK CRAWFORD
Position: Backup defensive tackle/end
Size: 6-foot-5, 288 pounds
Age when season starts: 28
College: Penn State
Drafted: Fifth round, 158th overall in 2012
Experience: Fifth season
Contract Status: Signed a 1-year, $1.1 million deal.
Last season
Crawford proved to be a nice rotation player. He backed up primarily at tackle but also had the versatility to swing outside to end. He finished fourth on the team in sacks with four and had three other tackles behind the line of scrimmage for a loss.
Crawford displays the tenacity and high motor that defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli demands. But his production waned as the season progressed. Crawford failed to record a sack in his final six games and had no quarterback hurries in his final five.
This season's outlook
He should be a solid contributor in the second wave of defenders the Cowboys throw at opposing quarterbacks. But he has a chance to pick up more snaps than usual in the first month of the season.
Since DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory open the season on suspension, there will be more snaps to go around the first four games. Crawford will get more opportunities to rush from one of those end spots or can pick up additional time at the three-technique at defensive tackle while Tyrone Crawford slides outside. A fast start would earn more time for him as the season unfolds.
By David Moore
JACK CRAWFORD
Position: Backup defensive tackle/end
Size: 6-foot-5, 288 pounds
Age when season starts: 28
College: Penn State
Drafted: Fifth round, 158th overall in 2012
Experience: Fifth season
Contract Status: Signed a 1-year, $1.1 million deal.
Last season
Crawford proved to be a nice rotation player. He backed up primarily at tackle but also had the versatility to swing outside to end. He finished fourth on the team in sacks with four and had three other tackles behind the line of scrimmage for a loss.
Crawford displays the tenacity and high motor that defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli demands. But his production waned as the season progressed. Crawford failed to record a sack in his final six games and had no quarterback hurries in his final five.
This season's outlook
He should be a solid contributor in the second wave of defenders the Cowboys throw at opposing quarterbacks. But he has a chance to pick up more snaps than usual in the first month of the season.
Since DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory open the season on suspension, there will be more snaps to go around the first four games. Crawford will get more opportunities to rush from one of those end spots or can pick up additional time at the three-technique at defensive tackle while Tyrone Crawford slides outside. A fast start would earn more time for him as the season unfolds.
