Archer: Re-setting Cowboys D-line

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,705
Re-setting Cowboys D-line

April, 28, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


IRVING, Texas -- With Anthony Spencer re-signing over the weekend, the Dallas Cowboysnow have 12 defensive linemen on their current roster.

Is that enough?

Probably not. And as explained on Saturday, the Spencer deal should not preclude the Cowboys from going after more defensive linemen in the draft.

Let’s reset the Cowboys defensive line:

Ben Bass: Signed through 2014 -- A restricted free agent after the season, has to show he can stay healthy.

Tyrone Crawford: Signed through 2015 -- Coming off torn Achilles, but expected to be main contributor this season.

Nick Hayden: Signed through 2014 -- An unrestricted free agent after the season, he was a starter last year and had some moments.

Frank Kearse: Signed through 2015 -- A late-season addition in 2013, more of a depth player.

Terrell McClain: Signed through 2016 -- A free-agent pickup, he could take over the one technique spot this year from Hayden.

Henry Melton: Signed through 2014 -- Team holds a three-year option on his deal that would guarantee him $9 million. The key free-agent signing.

George Selvie: Signed through 2014 -- A revelation last year with seven sacks, he will be counted on more in 2014. He is an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Anthony Spencer: Signed through 2014 -- He is coming back from microfracture surgery but his rehab has gone well recently. The one-year deal allows him to make good this year to cash in next year.

Martez Wilson: Signed through 2014 -- His measurables have the team intrigued at what he could be in a full year with Rod Marinelli. He is an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Tristan Okpalaugo: Signed through 2014 – He was a futures signing after the season and team is hoping they found a diamond in rough.

Caesar Rayford: Signed through 2014 – Acquired in trade from Indianapolis last summer, he is a project but looks the part.

Analysis: The only player with a contract past 2015 is McClain, which is one of the reasons why defensive line remains a need. The main reason, however, is they can still use an infusion of talent and a natural pass rusher … Melton’s deal could run through 2017 if the Cowboys pick up his option. For that to happen, however, he will have to perform close to his Pro Bowl level with the Chicago Bears in 2013 … Position flexibility helps. Bass, Crawford, Mincey and Selvie have the ability to play end and tackle depending on the situation.
 

UncleMilti

This seemed like a good idea at the time.
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
17,981
Anyone that looks at that list and feels confident is smoking some good stuff.
 

Smitty

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
22,488
Amazing, of all those guys we rotated through last year, Hayden and Selvie are the only two who really look like they stuck heading into next year, and Hayden is very tenuous.

What's our current depth chart here?

RDE: G. Selvie / T. Crawford
RDT: H. Melton / B. Bass
LDT: T. McClain / N. Hayden
LDE: A. Spencer / T. Crawford

Not even penciling in Frank Kearse, Martez Wilson, Tristan Okpalaugo and Caesar Rayford. Camp fodder only. If everyone stays healthy it might be marginally better than last year. While Hatcher = Melton and Spencer = Ware, and so we didn't really upgrade any starting spot, the unit as a whole might be better because Crawford, Bass and Hayden would be better depth than what we had last year.

But I mean geez, given that Spencer is probably one more year only and Melton MIGHT be that way, you could argue we still need 4 more DLs. At least 3, before the start of the 2015 season.

We need to pull at least two quality starting caliber DLs out of this draft.
 
Last edited:

boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
121,745
Anyone that looks at that list and feels confident is smoking some good stuff.
Especially since even some of these schlubs are under one year deals.

If we don't tackle a good chunk of this now to cover for their losses, we will be forced to overpay the turds or need even more linemen next draft.
 

Clay_Allison

Old Bastard
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
5,488
Amazing, of all those guys we rotated through last year, Hayden and Selvie are the only two who really look like they stuck heading into next year, and Hayden is very tenuous.

What's our current depth chart here?

RDE: G. Selvie / T. Crawford
RDT: H. Melton / B. Bass
LDT: T. McClain / N. Hayden
LDE: A. Spencer / T. Crawford

Not even penciling in Frank Kearse, Martez Wilson, Tristan Okpalaugo and Caesar Rayford. Camp fodder only. If everyone stays healthy it might be marginally better than last year. While Hatcher = Melton and Spencer = Ware, and so we didn't really upgrade any starting spot, the unit as a whole might be better because Crawford, Bass and Hayden would be better depth than what we had last year.

But I mean geez, given that Spencer is probably one more year only and Melton MIGHT be that way, you could argue we still need 4 more DLs. At least 3, before the start of the 2015 season.

We need to pull at least two quality starting caliber DLs out of this draft.
RDE: G. Selvie / Jeremy Mincey
RDT: H. Melton / B. Bass
LDT: T. McClain / N. Hayden
LDE: A. Spencer /T. Crawford

Figure Mincey is probably in there somehow.
 

Smitty

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
22,488
RDE: G. Selvie / Jeremy Mincey
RDT: H. Melton / B. Bass
LDT: T. McClain / N. Hayden
LDE: A. Spencer /T. Crawford

Figure Mincey is probably in there somehow.
Right.

My brain probably banished him from all recollection.

At least with Spencer there, if he's healthy, it's beginning to look like a legitimate mediocre-to-below-average NFL defensive line, instead of a disaster of epic proportions.
 
Last edited:

Plan9Misfit

Appreciate The Hate
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
5,836
Especially since even some of these schlubs are under one year deals.

If we don't tackle a good chunk of this now to cover for their losses, we will be forced to overpay the turds or need even more linemen next draft.
This is why we need to draft at least three defensive linemen in this draft. And draft them as early as possible.
 

Rev

Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
19,333
This is why we need to draft at least three defensive linemen in this draft. And draft them as early as possible.
You mean in the third round after trading First and Second for Manziel.
 

Cowboysrock55

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
52,463
But I mean geez, given that Spencer is probably one more year only and Melton MIGHT be that way, you could argue we still need 4 more DLs. At least 3, before the start of the 2015 season.
I think you would have a hard time fitting 4 rookie D-lineman on the roster. That is a lot of rookies for one position group.

I think you could do 3 though. You figure you can carry about 9 D-lineman on your roster. Selvie, Melton and Mincey are basically all locks to make the roster. Hayden, McClain and Crawford will probably all make the roster even though I don't think any of them should be locks and their contracts don't really restrict us. You are at 6 D-lineman at that point with room basically for 3 more.

I didn't mention Spencer because he is a big wild card. If he ends up starting the season on PUP (Which I think he will) then their is no reason to bother counting him in these numbers. If his recovery from micro-fracture surgery isn't as successful as we hope then he will be cut. If he is successful then just kick one of the three I previously mentioned off the roster.
 

Smitty

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
22,488
I think you would have a hard time fitting 4 rookie D-lineman on the roster. That is a lot of rookies for one position group.
I said before the start of the 2015 season. Having Melton and Spencer here means you don't need them right this second.

So maybe 2 now and 2 next season.
 

Cowboysrock55

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
52,463
I said before the start of the 2015 season. Having Melton and Spencer here means you don't need them right this second.

So maybe 2 now and 2 next season.
And that would make sense as well. The biggest thing is we need 2 legit D-lineman in this draft. I'm not talking about seventh round picks. We need guys who will be major contributors as rookies with those 2 D-lineman. I hesitate to say starter because I think a pass rush specialist as a rookie would also do the job at RE. Same thing with a DT who is on the field for half the defensive snaps. Of course they need to be long term potential starters.
 

p1_

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Messages
26,455
I said before the start of the 2015 season. Having Melton and Spencer here means you don't need them right this second.

So maybe 2 now and 2 next season.
I don't know if you can book Spencer in as a starter yet, though. I don't think he's 100% today, and not sure how soon he gets there.
 

Rev

Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
19,333
You can't count on him starting. As of a day or two ago he was just hoping to make it to training camp. That doesn't sound like to me that he thinks he is ready.
 
Top Bottom