Archer: Higher hopes for Cowboys' Crawford

[Cotton]

Higher hopes for Cowboys' Crawford

February, 26, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


IRVING, Texas -- Last year the Dallas Cowboys had high hopes for Tyrone Crawford as their top backup defensive lineman. They might be forced to have higher hopes for him in 2014.

Crawford tore his Achilles on the first day of training camp last summer, which began the defensive line shuffle that lasted all season. He did not play a snap in a game.

With Jason Hatcher, who led the Cowboys with 11 sacks, set to hit free agency, Crawford, whose rehab has progressed well, could be the replacement.

“The good thing about Crawford is that he's versatile,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “I think he could be an under tackle. I think he could be a left end. That was unfortunately a tough one that we lost. We thought he was going to be player No. 5 for us that could be versatile and play a lot of snaps.”

Last season the Cowboys saw Barry Church return from a torn Achilles suffered in Week 3 of the 2012 season and Church did not have any issues. They have the same hopes for Crawford, who played in every game as a rookie in 2012 and had 20 tackles.

“You've got to see the guy move,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “I haven't had the chance to do much with him other than OTAs, so a guy like that we've got to kind of get him started because he's got the ability to move inside and outside.”

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I'm fine with him just backing up Selvie at LE and possibly getting some reps at DT in our sub packages.

 

[Newt]

A Selvie/Crawford rotation wouldn't be horrible but its damn sure upgradable. We just have too many other holes on the d-line to fill so this will probably be what we roll with in 2014.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

A Selvie/Crawford rotation wouldn't be horrible but its damn sure upgradable. We just have too many other holes on the d-line to fill so this will probably be what we roll with in 2014.

We have 3 spots on the D-line of much higher concern. RE and one DT spot were far worse for us last year. On top of that Hatcher is gone. So yeah, I will roll with Selvie and Crawford at LE for now and worry about the 3 other D-line positions that stunk out loud last year or having no one to even fill the spot.

 

[NoDak]

I had hopes before for Crawford being a decent rotation guy, or with a little luck, even a decent starter.

Not now. If he comes back and plays well after tearing an Achilles, I'll be shocked.

 

[Smitty]

A Selvie/Crawford rotation wouldn't be horrible but its damn sure upgradable. We just have too many other holes on the d-line to fill so this will probably be what we roll with in 2014.

What about it isn't horrible? Selvie and other schlubs last year spelled 32nd ranked defense. Selvie and Crawford seeing major minutes isn't any better. In fact it's worse because we're gonna be down Hatcher and possibly Ware too.

Those players should be backups only, unless they improve greatly, and they aren't even top flight backups at that.

 

[Newt]

What about it isn't horrible? Selvie and other schlubs last year spelled 32nd ranked defense. Selvie and Crawford seeing major minutes isn't any better. In fact it's worse because we're gonna be down Hatcher and possibly Ware too.

Those players should be backups only, unless they improve greatly, and they aren't even top flight backups at that.

Selvie wasn't horrible last year, it could have been better but he was far from the worst part of a bad defensive front 7. I just don't see us being able to upgrade that position if we lose Ware and Hatcher.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

What about it isn't horrible? Selvie and other schlubs last year spelled 32nd ranked defense. Selvie and Crawford seeing major minutes isn't any better. In fact it's worse because we're gonna be down Hatcher and possibly Ware too.

Those players should be backups only, unless they improve greatly, and they aren't even top flight backups at that.

7 sacks and 8 tackles for loss are not bad numbers for a 4-3 LE. Selvie can be improved on but you are being dramatic calling him horrible and a backup only. Hell he got more sacks then everyone's beloved Ware. Once we have 3 new D-line starters all better then Selvie then we can talk about him. Fact of the matter is if he is your worst starting DE he is fine. The problem was last year he was our second best D-lineman.

 

[midswat]

I usually hold out high hopes for players who have shown nothing and are also coming off catostrophic injuries.

Those are the kinds of guys you can build around.

 

[Smitty]

7 sacks and 8 tackles for loss are not bad numbers for a 4-3 LE. Selvie can be improved on but you are being dramatic calling him horrible and a backup only. Hell he got more sacks then everyone's beloved Ware. Once we have 3 new D-line starters all better then Selvie then we can talk about him. Fact of the matter is if he is your worst starting DE he is fine. The problem was last year he was our second best D-lineman.

So on a team where he is the 2nd best starting lineman, you agree thats bad, but if he was our third or fourth best lineman, that would be fine?

It's not fine. He's a minus starter despite his sack totals. He should be a backup.

Where he falls in line to be replaced is immaterial.... he is still on that replacement line. If Ware was to come back, by the way, Selvie remains the first DE to hit the bench.

 

[Cotton]

I usually hold out high hopes for players who have shown nothing and are also coming off catostrophic injuries.

Those are the kinds of guys you can build around.

No doubt.

 

[boozeman]

I usually hold out high hopes for players who have shown nothing and are also coming off catostrophic injuries.

Those are the kinds of guys you can build around.

But...but...the coaches saw him in practices and stuff. They know, dude.

Wait until Matt Johnson comes back.

 

[Cotton]

But...but...the coaches saw him in practices and stuff. They know, dude.

Wait until Matt Johnson comes back.

 

[Angrymesscan]

I usually hold out high hopes for players who have shown nothing and are also coming off catostrophic injuries.

Those are the kinds of guys you can build around.

Jerruh... Is that you Jerruh?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

So on a team where he is the 2nd best starting lineman, you agree thats bad, but if he was our third or fourth best lineman, that would be fine?

Yes it is. He was an average starting LE last year. I don't want average across the board on the D-line, and I would love exceptional across the board but we are a long way from that. So instead you take baby steps and start fixing the weakest spots. You would have to be retarded to make your priority replacement on the D-line the only average player we have returning.

You get so hung up on positions you want to draft that you exaggerate to ridiculous proportions. Like when you use to claim our O-line was one of the all time worst units.

Selvie is fine, he just isn't exceptional.

 

[Cotton]

Yes it is. He was an average starting LE last year. I don't want average across the board on the D-line, and I would love exceptional across the board but we are a long way from that. So instead you take baby steps and start fixing the weakest spots. You would have to be retarded to make your priority replacement on the D-line the only average player we have returning.

You get so hung up on positions you want to draft that you exaggerate to ridiculous proportions. Like when you use to claim our O-line was one of the all time worst units.

Selvie is fine, he just isn't exceptional.

This is some parallel universe shit right here.

 

[Smitty]

You get so hung up on positions you want to draft that you exaggerate to ridiculous proportions. Like when you use to claim our O-line was one of the all time worst units.

It was.

Selvie is fine, he just isn't exceptional.

He's a minus player as a starter. He's on the replacement list.

 

[Jiggyfly]

It was.



He's a minus player as a starter. He's on the replacement list.

You said the same about Bowen and Hatcher, nobody should take your evaluation seriously.

 

[boozeman]

Bowen is fine.

 

[Cotton]

Bowen is fine.

Yeah, that's what I was referring to above.