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Good pass-rusher worth the money
Taylor By Jean-Jacques Taylor
ESPNDallas.com
Take away defensive tackle Henry Melton, and the Dallas Cowboys don't have a proven pass-rusher on their roster.
Perhaps DeMarcus Lawrence will soon evolve into the kind of pass-rusher who forces offensive coordinators to focus on him each week, but for now he's not.
The NFL is all about passing. The rules are designed to help the passing game and teams that can't rush the passer usually struggle to win.
So it makes sense to pick up Melton's three-year option at the end of the season.
Melton has a team-leading five sacks. The other 10 defensive linemen on the roster have combined for 5.5 sacks, and no one else has more than two.
Melton missed the final 13 games of last season with a torn ACL, and he struggled in training camp with a strained groin that kept him out the entire preseason. Only recently has he felt healthy enough to be dominant.
It shows.
He has 3.5 sacks in the past three games, and he's been consistently pressuring opposing quarterbacks. He's been lining up at defensive end and defensive tackle, depending on the situation and the matchup, and producing consistent pressure.
It's so difficult to find legitimate pass-rushers that the Cowboys shouldn't let one walk away. We've seen for years how hard it was for DeMarcus Ware when the Cowboys didn't have a legitimate pass-rusher opposite him.
If Lawrence develops as expected and the Cowboys pair him with Melton and, let's say, another first- or second-round pick who can also rush the passer, then the Cowboys could have a dominant defensive line to go with their offensive line.
Good pass-rushers in the NFL are hard to find, especially at defensive tackle. They're players who command a high price, but in today's NFL, they're worth the money.
If the Cowboys are going to overspend for a player, it's far better to do it on a pass-rushing defensive tackle, such as Melton, who can make an impact on the game.
Taylor By Jean-Jacques Taylor
ESPNDallas.com
Take away defensive tackle Henry Melton, and the Dallas Cowboys don't have a proven pass-rusher on their roster.
Perhaps DeMarcus Lawrence will soon evolve into the kind of pass-rusher who forces offensive coordinators to focus on him each week, but for now he's not.
The NFL is all about passing. The rules are designed to help the passing game and teams that can't rush the passer usually struggle to win.
So it makes sense to pick up Melton's three-year option at the end of the season.
Melton has a team-leading five sacks. The other 10 defensive linemen on the roster have combined for 5.5 sacks, and no one else has more than two.
Melton missed the final 13 games of last season with a torn ACL, and he struggled in training camp with a strained groin that kept him out the entire preseason. Only recently has he felt healthy enough to be dominant.
It shows.
He has 3.5 sacks in the past three games, and he's been consistently pressuring opposing quarterbacks. He's been lining up at defensive end and defensive tackle, depending on the situation and the matchup, and producing consistent pressure.
It's so difficult to find legitimate pass-rushers that the Cowboys shouldn't let one walk away. We've seen for years how hard it was for DeMarcus Ware when the Cowboys didn't have a legitimate pass-rusher opposite him.
If Lawrence develops as expected and the Cowboys pair him with Melton and, let's say, another first- or second-round pick who can also rush the passer, then the Cowboys could have a dominant defensive line to go with their offensive line.
Good pass-rushers in the NFL are hard to find, especially at defensive tackle. They're players who command a high price, but in today's NFL, they're worth the money.
If the Cowboys are going to overspend for a player, it's far better to do it on a pass-rushing defensive tackle, such as Melton, who can make an impact on the game.