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Jack Crawford finding a home inside
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. -- In the Dallas Cowboys media guide, Jack Crawford is listed as a defensive end. On the flip card the team hands out he is listed as a defensive end, too.
But he's not really played much defensive end in training camp.
Is he a defensive tackle?
"Mostly, yeah," coach Jason Garrett said.
Said Crawford, "I still know the end position. I know all the position. I'm just playing more D-tackle now because that's pretty much what they're asking me to do."
Jack Crawford is the more unsung of the two Crawfords on the Cowboys' roster. They just happen to play the same position. Tyrone Crawford (no relation) is the starting under tackle in defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's scheme. Jack Crawford has been the top backup.
The Cowboys signed Jack Crawford the week of the season opener after he was cut by the Oakland Raiders. They became impressed with him in their two days of practices against the Raiders in Oxnard, California.
He played in only six games before his season was ended because of a thumb injury that required surgery. His first of two sacks came against New Orleans punter Thomas Morstead on a fake, His second came in his home city, London, when he dropped Blake Bortles at Wembley Stadium.
He got hurt two weeks later against the New York Giants, but he made a favorable impression on Marinelli. In addition to his two sacks, he was credited with seven tackles, one tackle for loss, four quarterback pressures and one forced fumble.
Like Tyrone Crawford, who moved from defensive end to defensive tackle last season, Jack Crawford showed last year he can make plays on the interior.
"In this system it's the best position to be in on the defensive line," Jack Crawford said. "Coach Marinelli, he allows a lot of versatility but there's also like a lot of responsibility for the under tackle. It's a good position to be in. You use your speed a lot."
While he might be listed as a defensive end, he has the size of a defensive tackle. He is listed as 288 pounds, 13 more than what he was listed at last year.
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. -- In the Dallas Cowboys media guide, Jack Crawford is listed as a defensive end. On the flip card the team hands out he is listed as a defensive end, too.
But he's not really played much defensive end in training camp.
Is he a defensive tackle?
"Mostly, yeah," coach Jason Garrett said.
Said Crawford, "I still know the end position. I know all the position. I'm just playing more D-tackle now because that's pretty much what they're asking me to do."
Jack Crawford is the more unsung of the two Crawfords on the Cowboys' roster. They just happen to play the same position. Tyrone Crawford (no relation) is the starting under tackle in defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's scheme. Jack Crawford has been the top backup.
The Cowboys signed Jack Crawford the week of the season opener after he was cut by the Oakland Raiders. They became impressed with him in their two days of practices against the Raiders in Oxnard, California.
He played in only six games before his season was ended because of a thumb injury that required surgery. His first of two sacks came against New Orleans punter Thomas Morstead on a fake, His second came in his home city, London, when he dropped Blake Bortles at Wembley Stadium.
He got hurt two weeks later against the New York Giants, but he made a favorable impression on Marinelli. In addition to his two sacks, he was credited with seven tackles, one tackle for loss, four quarterback pressures and one forced fumble.
Like Tyrone Crawford, who moved from defensive end to defensive tackle last season, Jack Crawford showed last year he can make plays on the interior.
"In this system it's the best position to be in on the defensive line," Jack Crawford said. "Coach Marinelli, he allows a lot of versatility but there's also like a lot of responsibility for the under tackle. It's a good position to be in. You use your speed a lot."
While he might be listed as a defensive end, he has the size of a defensive tackle. He is listed as 288 pounds, 13 more than what he was listed at last year.
