Carp
DCC 4Life
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 15,127
IRVING, Texas -- In his past four games, defensive tackle Henry Melton has played 108 snaps. He has one tackle and two pass deflections.
In three of those games, there's no statistical evidence he even played. The Cowboys expected more from the 2012 Pro Bowl player.
The lack of production has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff. Melton’s playing time has decreased in each of the past three games from 31 plays to 25 plays to 21 plays.
“We need more from everybody; that's what we try to do as coaches every day -- and that’s get the most out of our players,” Jason Garrett said. “Henry has done some good things. He knocked a ball down against Chicago and almost intercepted a screen pass coming out of the end zone.
“He’s done some good things, but we’re always trying to grind our players to get the most out of them in practice so they can carry that to the games.”
The Cowboys signed Melton, hoping he could find the form that made him one of the game’s dominant defensive linemen a couple of years ago. He missed the past 13 games of last season with a torn ACL.
Perhaps, Melton, who's also been hampered by a groin injury this season, is still recovering from the knee injury.
Whatever the reason, there have been few times this season when Melton was a difference-maker. There’s no bigger indication than when Tyrone Crawford moved from defensive end to the three-technique defensive tackle, which is one of the key spots on this defense.
That player is supposed to be a disruptive play-maker. Crawford has solidified himself as the starter.
In his past four games, he has nine tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and four quarterback hits in 191 snaps.
The Cowboys figured that’s the kind of production Melton would provide.
Aside from a brief burst about six weeks ago, when he had a total of 3.5 sacks in losses to Washington and Arizona, Melton has been a non-factor. The lack of production is going to cost him quite a bit of money.
If Melton is on the roster the first day of the 2015 league year, he gets a three-year $24M extension with $9 million in guaranteed money.
No way, based on what we’ve seen thus far, will the Cowboys pick up that option.
In three of those games, there's no statistical evidence he even played. The Cowboys expected more from the 2012 Pro Bowl player.
The lack of production has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff. Melton’s playing time has decreased in each of the past three games from 31 plays to 25 plays to 21 plays.
“We need more from everybody; that's what we try to do as coaches every day -- and that’s get the most out of our players,” Jason Garrett said. “Henry has done some good things. He knocked a ball down against Chicago and almost intercepted a screen pass coming out of the end zone.
“He’s done some good things, but we’re always trying to grind our players to get the most out of them in practice so they can carry that to the games.”
The Cowboys signed Melton, hoping he could find the form that made him one of the game’s dominant defensive linemen a couple of years ago. He missed the past 13 games of last season with a torn ACL.
Perhaps, Melton, who's also been hampered by a groin injury this season, is still recovering from the knee injury.
Whatever the reason, there have been few times this season when Melton was a difference-maker. There’s no bigger indication than when Tyrone Crawford moved from defensive end to the three-technique defensive tackle, which is one of the key spots on this defense.
That player is supposed to be a disruptive play-maker. Crawford has solidified himself as the starter.
In his past four games, he has nine tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and four quarterback hits in 191 snaps.
The Cowboys figured that’s the kind of production Melton would provide.
Aside from a brief burst about six weeks ago, when he had a total of 3.5 sacks in losses to Washington and Arizona, Melton has been a non-factor. The lack of production is going to cost him quite a bit of money.
If Melton is on the roster the first day of the 2015 league year, he gets a three-year $24M extension with $9 million in guaranteed money.
No way, based on what we’ve seen thus far, will the Cowboys pick up that option.