ThoughtExperiment

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Jerry Jones, Rod Marinelli: Cowboys' defensive line now a strength
By Jared Dubin | NFL Writer
May 15, 2015 9:49 am ET

After cutting DeMarcus Ware last offseason, the Dallas Cowboys had to make do with a bunch of castoffs and late-round picks along their defensive line for most of the 2014 season. They moved up in the draft to select Boise State's DeMarcus Lawrence in the second, but he was hurt in training camp and missed half the season, which left Dallas depending on players like Tyrone Crawford, Jeremy Mincey, Nick Hayden, Terrell McClain, Henry Melton and George Selvie up front.

That group did an adequate job for the most part (Crawford and Mincey in particular stood out as two-way stalwarts), holding up fine against the run and at least generating some pressure, if not always getting to the quarterback for sacks all that much (Dallas finished with the NFL's fourth-lowest Adjusted Sack Rate, per Football Outsiders). But when it came time to bring the heat on a limping Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs, the line could not get it done. So when the offseason began, the Cowboys clearly had the intent to upgrade the unit.

Fast forward to this week, and the Cowboys have made some major additions. They signed former Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy, who instantly becomes the team's best defensive player the moment his suspension ends and he steps on the field; and they drafted Randy Gregory, considered by many a top-10 talent in the draft, with the 60th overall pick after he fell out of the first round due to concerns about his marijuana use, behavioral problems and potential mental health issues.

Add those two to the now-healthy Lawrence, plus Mincey, Crawford and McClain, and owner Jerry Jones now considers the line a strength, rather than a liability.

"When I look at what we got out of Tyrone Crawford last year on the interior, when I look at how Terrell McClain came along, when I look at the interior, then I actually think that with the personnel we've got competing with them and behind them, I think we got real good inside push or rush that exceeds last year," Jones said, per ESPN. "I look to the outside and I see the numbers we've got. I see the potential to have a rotation. I see the quality or the skill of those pass rushers out there and will say without hesitation we're dramatically better on the outside. Our coach will tell you that is to be seen. We've got to have the work that goes along with it.

"One of the things I like about the players that we're counting on is that all of them are exceptional effort guys, in practice and on the field. When I look at their unique skills as well as effort guys, overachiever types out there, every one of them, then we really have helped our pass rush."

Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli praised the group of returning players.

"We've got a lot of guys back from last year," Marinelli said. "Now we lost some real good men too up front, but the men that are back from Jack Crawford and Mince, some real tough guys, Nick Hayden and Terrell McClain. They were a big part of this thing in terms of developing a toughness and the effort of that group. As we bring more men in and we get some young guys from last year with a chance to display their skill, now it's still about heart."

Jones and Marinelli both had good things to say about Hardy, with Jerry noting that his "zest" is "contagious," and Marinelli saying, "I coach him hard and he reacts hard. And he plays hard every snap out there. That's how I coach him. I want him to get better every day. Every day we walk off this field, he's better."

The Cowboys now have the ability to throw a ton of bodies at their pass rush, very much in keeping with the style Marinelli has developed throughout his career. And on those obvious passing downs late in the season, he'll be able to roll with a front of Lawrence-Hardy-Crawford-Gregory, which is a big step up from last season.
 
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Too many unknowns to be a strength. Still another year or two away from being a D-line that can dominate. I’d feel better if they added another player or two.
 

Rynie

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I'm not sure about strength, but it's definitely not going to be the reason we lose games, unlike last season. I think our D is immensely better this year.
 

LAZARUS_LOGAN

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I'm not sure about strength, but it's definitely not going to be the reason we lose games, unlike last season. I think our D is immensely better this year.

I'd feel a lot better about the defense as a whole if Jones was moved to FS and Wilcox to SS, and reduce Church's role and make him like a Rover (LB-Safety hybrid). Having Lee at Will is a good start.
 
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Is Byron Jones a Cowboys' safety net?

Dallas Cowboys - ESPN

"Safeties are hard to analyze statistically because their assignments can vary wildly from team to team. By and large, though, we can say they are asked to prevent opposing offenses from making big plays, and the Cowboys' pair didn't offer much help there, especially in the running game. Church was 25th among safeties in run stops (tackles that stopped an offense from gaining 45 percent of yards to go on first down, 60 percent on second, and 100 percent on third or fourth); Wilcox was 61st. That would be fine if their conservative play was taking away home runs, but Dallas gave up 1.03 open-field yards per carry last year, third-worst in the league. (Open-field yards are rushing yards gained at least 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.) The Cowboys also struggled to stop deep passes, ranking 20th in pass coverage on throws that traveled at least 16 yards past the line of scrimmage."
 
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Thinking about the D line and the whole defense, if Hardy, Gregory, and Lawrence make up the general DE speed attack. Then Crawford, TMcClain, and Bishop are the basic DTs, then Mincey, Coleman, and Gardner are a lighter interior rush, that is really a pretty solid pass rush. Sapp and McFarland were barely 300 lbs so size wise, it is possible. Just seems like teams who have a strong running game could theoretically push around a lighter line. But if the pass rush is faster and more threatening on the ends now and also that RoMac and Lee are patrolling the LOS, doesn't that mean that the Safeties don't need to play as close to the box and can play more (turnover-based) coverage in the secondary?
 
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Last year the Cowboys offense helped the Cowboys defense by putting up points and eating up the clock.

If the offense is able to do this again, the Cowboys defense should look better this coming year.
 

LAZARUS_LOGAN

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Is Byron Jones a Cowboys' safety net?

Dallas Cowboys - ESPN

"Safeties are hard to analyze statistically because their assignments can vary wildly from team to team. By and large, though, we can say they are asked to prevent opposing offenses from making big plays, and the Cowboys' pair didn't offer much help there, especially in the running game. Church was 25th among safeties in run stops (tackles that stopped an offense from gaining 45 percent of yards to go on first down, 60 percent on second, and 100 percent on third or fourth); Wilcox was 61st. That would be fine if their conservative play was taking away home runs, but Dallas gave up 1.03 open-field yards per carry last year, third-worst in the league. (Open-field yards are rushing yards gained at least 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.) The Cowboys also struggled to stop deep passes, ranking 20th in pass coverage on throws that traveled at least 16 yards past the line of scrimmage."


Because Wilcox is playing FS. He'd be much better at SS.
 

ThoughtExperiment

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DE might be a strength later in the year -- might be.

But early in the year when Hardy is suspended and Gregory's 230-lb butt doesn't know what he's doing, it won't be.

I for one am not sold on Lawrence, either. He's getting way too much credit for one play against Detroit.
 

Doomsday

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I for one am not sold on Lawrence, either. He's getting way too much credit for one play against Detroit.
It was several good plays, with the one gaffe mixed in. Then the redeeming play. Of course other than this we didn't get a chance to learn much about him.
 

Bob Sacamano

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DE might be a strength later in the year -- might be.

But early in the year when Hardy is suspended and Gregory's 230-lb butt doesn't know what he's doing, it won't be.

I for one am not sold on Lawrence, either. He's getting way too much credit for one play against Detroit.

Good thing about last year is that it was basically a redshirt for Lawrence. He did a good job of gaining weight and strength while he was and held up fine against the run when he came back.

He just needs to work on his pass-rushing, but the talent ie quickness and bend level are there.
 

ThoughtExperiment

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Okay, say one good game, then.

I know he was hurt, but still, it's one good game out of 17. Far from a proven anything.
 
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