MacMahon: Cowboys desperate for D-line depth

Cotton

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Cowboys desperate for D-line depth

July, 22, 2013

By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com


OXNARD, Calif. – Jerry Jones’ draft-weekend declaration that the defensive line is a strength for the Cowboys caused a lot of eyebrow raising and head scratching.

It’s even more off the mark now.

The Cowboys desperately need to address their lack of depth on the defensive line. It was an issue before Tyrone Crawford, the team’s best young defensive linemen, went down with what the Cowboys fear is a torn Achilles tendon during the first practice of training camp. It’s a glaring need now.

“We’ll probably be looking at that,” said executive vice president Stephen Jones, declining to discuss any potential candidates. “We were already looking at that anyway.”

The Cowboys were counting on the 6-foot-4, 284-pound Crawford to spell Anthony Spencerat the strong side defensive end and also play some at defensive tackle. The hope was that Crawford, a third-round pick in 2012 who earned rave offseason reviews, would perform well enough to make the Cowboys comfortable saying farewell to Spencer in free agency.

But next offseason is a long way away. The Cowboys have to address their immediate concerns about the defensive line.

With Ratliff and Anthony Spencer (knee) nursing injuries, Sean Lissemore and Kyle Wilberjoined DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher on the starting defensive line. The only other healthy defensive linemen on the roster with any NFL experience: Ben Bass, who saw action in two games as an undrafted rookie last season; and Nick Hayden, who has played a total of two games since 2010.

Stephen Jones insists that the hamstring strain that sidelined Ratliff for the start of camp isn’t a significant concern. However, it’s another indication that Ratliff’s days of being a durable interior playmaker are probably done. He turns 32 next month, missed 10 games last year and is still recovering from the sports hernia surgery that put him on injured reserve in 2012.

The Cowboys passed on the easiest way to add depth to their defensive line when they traded down in the first round instead of selecting Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, the No. 5 player on their board, with the 18th overall pick. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, who didn’t feel that Floyd was “quick twitch” enough to excel in their scheme, essentially won a draft-room debate over the scouts.

That decision was widely questioned at the time, and the second-guessing will continue, especially if Floyd emerges as a force for the Minnesota Vikings.

But the Cowboys can’t worry about that at the moment. They’ve got to get busy finding reinforcements for a depleted defensive line that is far from a strength.
 

Carp

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Crawford was the only DE that offered any size for us as well. We're pretty much screwed up front stopping the run...but it is a passing league, so no worries.

I will say this though...if Marinelli makes something out of this bag of shit it would be pretty amazing.
 

Carp

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It's like we thought the move to the 4-3 would make our DL younger and healthier.
 

ravidubey

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Desperate is the right word. Crawford going down was almost the worst possible injury. They may need to make a trade, because expecting more than one of Hayden, Bass, and Igbinosun to be good enough is absurd.
 

Carp

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Well...they were going to play regardless as DTs. Crawford's injury affects the DE depth.
 

Simpleton

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We should have some balls and give John Abaraham a 1 year, 5 million deal or some such then just rotate him, Spencer and Ware constantly.
 

Cowboysrock55

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You joke, but that is probably Jerry's plan B.
I honestly didn't even know who our third string DE's were without looking it up. After Wilbur and Crawford I wasn't sure we even had anyone on the roster. Just unbelievably thin at the DE position to start out with and now we are even thinner. Although I think Spencer's injury is just a load of crap. Sounds a lot to me like a veteran who doesn't want to workout because he knows he has his starting spot locked up.
 

boozeman

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Broaddus tweeted that they are thinking young.
 

Simpleton

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Broaddus tweeted that they are thinking young.
Great, so we're going to sign some 25 year old schlub because Jerry and his retard son's new obsession is giving young guys a chance to shine. On a 1 or 2 year deal you can't do much better than a guy like Abraham who can do exactly what this scheme wants out of DE's, to press/bend the corner and get to the QB.

Unless his asking price is ridiculous there's no reason not to kick the tires at least.
 

bbgun

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Great, so we're going to sign some 25 year old schlub because Jerry and his retard son's new obsession is giving young guys a chance to shine. On a 1 or 2 year deal you can't do much better than a guy like Abraham who can do exactly what this scheme wants out of DE's, to press/bend the corner and get to the QB.

Unless his asking price is ridiculous there's no reason not to kick the tires at least.
he'd probably fail the conditioning test
 

2233boys

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3 of the guys already failed the conditioning test (including at least two guys just signed) no repercussions. I don't think Abraham should be worried about it.
 

Texas Ace

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We wouldn't be desperate if we hadn't made no attempt whatsoever to address what was already an area of need before any of these injuries happened.
 

UncleMilti

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We wouldn't be desperate if we hadn't made no attempt whatsoever to address what was already an area of need before any of these injuries happened.
Exactly. That's what is so damn laughable about this whole situation.
 

mcnuttz

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What do "contingencies" mean?
 

boozeman

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Stephen says they like what they have over anyone else available.

:budd
 

mcnuttz

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Stephen says they like what they have over anyone else available.

:budd
I take this to mean that they've done their due diligence and can claim with absolutely zero uncertainty that the ROSTER IS SET!!!!!!!!! :towel

When you got it, you got it.
 
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