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BY GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
Need meter: Seven out of 10 stars.
On the roster:
Stephen Bowen 26
Clifton Geathers 23
Igor Olshansky 28
Jay Ratliff 29
Marcus Spears 27
New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan likes to use his ends to create confusion along the line.
Ryan will move the ends around. He’ll have them playing from a three-point stance on one play and have them standing up on the next play.
That could mean a changing of the guard at the position.
Igor Olshansky and Marcus Spears, who combined for 65 starts the last two seasons, are traditional space-eating ends in a 3-4 defense. They occupy blockers, enabling linebackers and safeties to make plays.
Ryan values that skill. The question is whether Olshansky and Spears are versatile enough at this stage of their careers to handle everything Ryan wants from his ends.
Nose tackle Jay Ratliff, a Pro Bowler, would seem an ideal end for Ryan. Ratliff has experience at nose tackle and end in the nickel defense.
Stephen Bowen moved into the rotation for the final eight games last season in place of the injured Spears and improved the more he played. The Cowboys are still not certain if Jason Hatcher will be more than a nickel pass-rusher.
Clifton Geathers could not make it with Ryan’s defense at Cleveland last season before landing with the Cowboys. Geathers is raw and still learning how to play with his extreme height: 6-7.
What the Cowboys should do: The Cowboys need an upgrade through the draft or free agency. San Diego’s Jacques Cesaire seems a good fit. Cal’s Cam Jordan, North Carolina’s Robert Quinn and Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt — the best 3-4 end in the draft — are worthy of first-round consideration.
Interesting fact: Bowen had four tackles for losses last season, one more than all other Cowboys defensive linemen combined.
Who’s available:
Jason Babin Tennessee.................12 1/2 sacks this season as a rush end in 4-3
Jacques Cesaire San Diego..............Big reason Chargers allowed 3.7 yds. per run
Ray Edwards Minnesota................Light (268 pounds), better fit on edge in 4-3
Cullen Jenkins Green Bay...............Prototypical 3-4 end: stops run, can rush QB
Robaire Smith Cleveland................Knows what Ryan wants, past prime at 33
Need meter: Seven out of 10 stars.
On the roster:
Stephen Bowen 26
Clifton Geathers 23
Igor Olshansky 28
Jay Ratliff 29
Marcus Spears 27
New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan likes to use his ends to create confusion along the line.
Ryan will move the ends around. He’ll have them playing from a three-point stance on one play and have them standing up on the next play.
That could mean a changing of the guard at the position.
Igor Olshansky and Marcus Spears, who combined for 65 starts the last two seasons, are traditional space-eating ends in a 3-4 defense. They occupy blockers, enabling linebackers and safeties to make plays.
Ryan values that skill. The question is whether Olshansky and Spears are versatile enough at this stage of their careers to handle everything Ryan wants from his ends.
Nose tackle Jay Ratliff, a Pro Bowler, would seem an ideal end for Ryan. Ratliff has experience at nose tackle and end in the nickel defense.
Stephen Bowen moved into the rotation for the final eight games last season in place of the injured Spears and improved the more he played. The Cowboys are still not certain if Jason Hatcher will be more than a nickel pass-rusher.
Clifton Geathers could not make it with Ryan’s defense at Cleveland last season before landing with the Cowboys. Geathers is raw and still learning how to play with his extreme height: 6-7.
What the Cowboys should do: The Cowboys need an upgrade through the draft or free agency. San Diego’s Jacques Cesaire seems a good fit. Cal’s Cam Jordan, North Carolina’s Robert Quinn and Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt — the best 3-4 end in the draft — are worthy of first-round consideration.
Interesting fact: Bowen had four tackles for losses last season, one more than all other Cowboys defensive linemen combined.
Who’s available:
Jason Babin Tennessee.................12 1/2 sacks this season as a rush end in 4-3
Jacques Cesaire San Diego..............Big reason Chargers allowed 3.7 yds. per run
Ray Edwards Minnesota................Light (268 pounds), better fit on edge in 4-3
Cullen Jenkins Green Bay...............Prototypical 3-4 end: stops run, can rush QB
Robaire Smith Cleveland................Knows what Ryan wants, past prime at 33
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