Melton Signed

[Smitty]

Ealy is a playmaker, but it's looking like at this point he could be had later in the round. I don't get what's dinging his value so much but he would be a fine player for years. I mean WGAS if he runs a 4.92 40? The man weighs over 275 pounds FFS. I don't like his 22 bench press reps, but shit that's one better than Clowney. I do like his 3 cone time, which is a far better indicator of quickness than 40 time anyway.

Also, no one dominates as a pass rusher in their rookie year, but we'd still get quality snaps from Ealy in 2014. DeMarcus Ware himself had 5 sacks his entire rookie year until the light went on vs Carolina and he had 3 strip sacks in one game.

Dallas must accumulate DL talent starting with this draft. You can find DT talent later, but the DE talent dries up early. Ealy was at his best in big games and I think he's being overlooked.

I think you are right. He may not be a 15 sack a year guy like Ware, but he's a solid end. If you are getting him outside the top 15 or 20, he's a very good pick.

 

[Smitty]

I'm happy they signed Melton but it's hard to get excited when the line still isn't better than last year (or even as good).

I think if Melton is healthy, he'll actually be a better player than Hatcher was. Or at least better than Hatcher was likely to be this coming (non-contract) season.

However, overall, you are right. This DL is at least a 2 offseason rebuild, and let's not forget the OL needs attention still too, it's not done just because we've locked down C and LT. The guards are still undertalented and RT is a crapshoot -- Free is on his best days average and his worst he's a catastrophe.

Anyway, the DL just can't be fixed in one offseason. We are essentially having to turn over all four starters from the projected 2013 lineup of Ware-Ratliff-Hatcher-Spencer, and that group itself had such suspect depth that addressing it was already a priority. I mean, even if you count George Selvie as a keeper (and I'm ok with that as long as it's depth), you probably need 7 more names on the DL.

If Crawford is one, and Melton is one, we're still at 5. Hell, even if Ben Bass is one, you need 4 more. You can't get them all in the draft, and we have no money left in free agency, and Crawford and Bass are looking to be the definition of multi-position tweener wave players who definitely aren't starting material. And no, I wouldn't count re-signing Spencer to a one year stopgap contract as fixing the situation.

It's depressing knowing that there is really no way this DL is gonna be patched together to allow this defense to be anything more than painfully lower-mediocre next season. Even if you devoted 2-3 draft picks to it, it's probably still not a strength unless they are all home runs. And you do that at the expense of getting serious and much needed OL and S options on board.

 

[Genghis Khan]

They have said the DL needed to get better, I think they know they need more than what they brought in.

I know they will do more, I'm just skeptical that it will ultimately be any better.

They desperately need to find a plus pass rusher, and it isn't easy to find.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I think if Melton is healthy, he'll actually be a better player than Hatcher was. Or at least better than Hatcher was likely to be this coming (non-contract) season.

However, overall, you are right. This DL is at least a 2 offseason rebuild, and let's not forget the OL needs attention still too, it's not done just because we've locked down C and LT. The guards are still undertalented and RT is a crapshoot -- Free is on his best days average and his worst he's a catastrophe.

Anyway, the DL just can't be fixed in one offseason. We are essentially having to turn over all four starters from the projected 2013 lineup of Ware-Ratliff-Hatcher-Spencer, and that group itself had such suspect depth that addressing it was already a priority. I mean, even if you count George Selvie as a keeper (and I'm ok with that as long as it's depth), you probably need 7 more names on the DL.

If Crawford is one, and Melton is one, we're still at 5. Hell, even if Ben Bass is one, you need 4 more. You can't get them all in the draft, and we have no money left in free agency, and Crawford and Bass are looking to be the definition of multi-position tweener wave players who definitely aren't starting material. And no, I wouldn't count re-signing Spencer to a one year stopgap contract as fixing the situation.

It's depressing knowing that there is really no way this DL is gonna be patched together to allow this defense to be anything more than painfully lower-mediocre next season. Even if you devoted 2-3 draft picks to it, it's probably still not a strength unless they are all home runs. And you do that at the expense of getting serious and much needed OL and S options on board.

Definitely very disheartening.

 

[Clay_Allison]

I know they will do more, I'm just skeptical that it will ultimately be any better.

They desperately need to find a plus pass rusher, and it isn't easy to find.

Seattle did all right pass rushing by committee. Of course we have neither a great starter nor great depth, but either one should do just fine.

 

[Carp]

I know they will do more, I'm just skeptical that it will ultimately be any better.

They desperately need to find a plus pass rusher, and it isn't easy to find.

We waited too long to overhaul the DL...at least with Ware gone the emphasis will be on finding the next pass rusher.

 

[Simpleton]

This organization waits too long to do everything because Jerry and his band of yokel idiots are irrationally optimistic about everything. The OL needed to be overhauled after the 2009 season, what do we do?

Dick around until at least 2011 and arguably even up until the present day.

The only spot they don't dick around at is at CB and TE, definitely that.

 

[hstour]

I think if Melton is healthy, he'll actually be a better player than Hatcher was. Or at least better than Hatcher was likely to be this coming (non-contract) season.

However, overall, you are right. This DL is at least a 2 offseason rebuild, and let's not forget the OL needs attention still too, it's not done just because we've locked down C and LT. The guards are still undertalented and RT is a crapshoot -- Free is on his best days average and his worst he's a catastrophe.

Anyway, the DL just can't be fixed in one offseason. We are essentially having to turn over all four starters from the projected 2013 lineup of Ware-Ratliff-Hatcher-Spencer, and that group itself had such suspect depth that addressing it was already a priority. I mean, even if you count George Selvie as a keeper (and I'm ok with that as long as it's depth), you probably need 7 more names on the DL.

If Crawford is one, and Melton is one, we're still at 5. Hell, even if Ben Bass is one, you need 4 more. You can't get them all in the draft, and we have no money left in free agency, and Crawford and Bass are looking to be the definition of multi-position tweener wave players who definitely aren't starting material. And no, I wouldn't count re-signing Spencer to a one year stopgap contract as fixing the situation.

It's depressing knowing that there is really no way this DL is gonna be patched together to allow this defense to be anything more than painfully lower-mediocre next season. Even if you devoted 2-3 draft picks to it, it's probably still not a strength unless they are all home runs. And you do that at the expense of getting serious and much needed OL and S options on board.

I wouldn't want to rebuild either line in one year. We are on a good schedule with the OL (Tyron 3 years ago, Frederick last year). We need a G this year. And I'd like to do the same with the DL. Melton was a good bridge. If Spencer is healthy and we can try him for a year like Melton. Then still need to draft a DT or DE this year. Then continue with another piece on both next year.

You don't want either of your lines contracts all coming up for renewal in the same year because you rebuilt in one year.

 

[Cotton]

Cowboys deal could earn Melton as little as $2.25 million

Posted by Darin Gantt on March 20, 2014, 9:32 AM EDT

We mentioned yesterday that the Cowboys contract with defensive tackle Henry Melton gave them the flexibility to make it a one-year deal.

But the extent to which he’s betting on himself is even more glaring when you see the details of the deal.

According to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, Melton can make as little as $2.25 million this season, but up to $29 million over the next four years.

Melton will make a $1.25 million base salary this year, along with a $1 million signing bonus.

Instead of a bigger bonus, they gave him a $78,125 roster bonus for each week he’s on the active 46-man roster. That could earn him another $1.25 million, assuming he’s fully recovered from last year’s torn ACL and able to stay healthy enough to play all 16 games. There are also $1.5 million worth of incentives for playing time and sacks.

Next year, his base salary of $9 million is guaranteed if the Cowboys pick up his option on the first day of the new year, so it’s no certainty they will.

The per-game roster bonuses are becoming increasingly popular (for teams) in new contracts. Of course, that puts the financial burden of staying on the field on the player, at a time when the preaching about “player safety” is louder than ever.

 

[GShock]

It's depressing knowing that there is really no way this DL is gonna be patched together to allow this defense to be anything more than painfully lower-mediocre next season.

But even that could be a 2-game improvement, and it's the reason you don't reach if options to improve the oline and safety fall into your lap. Mediocre can win in this league if you are superlative somewhere else.

 

[p1_]

But even that could be a 2-game improvement, and it's the reason you don't reach if options to improve the oline and safety fall into your lap. Mediocre can win in this league if you are superlative somewhere else.

Where's the superlative?

 

[Cotton]

 

[GShock]

Where's the superlative?

If we fall into a starting RT and guard, it could be the offensive line.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

However, overall, you are right. This DL is at least a 2 offseason rebuild, and let's not forget the OL needs attention still too, it's not done just because we've locked down C and LT. The guards are still undertalented and RT is a crapshoot -

I wouldn't say that about the D-line until we see what happens in the draft. If we somehow land an elite pass rushing end and a starting DT in the draft, that thing would be rebuilt. Of course that is asking a lot out of a draft class.

Also not sure why you are bagging on our guards from last year. They both had excellent seasons. Leary worries me because of his knee but otherwise I see no reason why I would think he needs replaced.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Cowboys deal could earn Melton as little as $2.25 million

Posted by Darin Gantt on March 20, 2014, 9:32 AM EDT

We mentioned yesterday that the Cowboys contract with defensive tackle Henry Melton gave them the flexibility to make it a one-year deal.

But the extent to which he’s betting on himself is even more glaring when you see the details of the deal.

According to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, Melton can make as little as $2.25 million this season, but up to $29 million over the next four years.

Melton will make a $1.25 million base salary this year, along with a $1 million signing bonus.

Instead of a bigger bonus, they gave him a $78,125 roster bonus for each week he’s on the active 46-man roster. That could earn him another $1.25 million, assuming he’s fully recovered from last year’s torn ACL and able to stay healthy enough to play all 16 games. There are also $1.5 million worth of incentives for playing time and sacks.

Next year, his base salary of $9 million is guaranteed if the Cowboys pick up his option on the first day of the new year, so it’s no certainty they will.

The per-game roster bonuses are becoming increasingly popular (for teams) in new contracts. Of course, that puts the financial burden of staying on the field on the player, at a time when the preaching about “player safety” is louder than ever.

I love a contract like this. It gives the player all the incentive in the world to bust his ass off. I expect a big year out of Melton.

 

[Smitty]

I wouldn't say that about the D-line until we see what happens in the draft. If we somehow land an elite pass rushing end and a starting DT in the draft, that thing would be rebuilt. Of course that is asking a lot out of a draft class.

Also not sure why you are bagging on our guards from last year. They both had excellent seasons. Leary worries me because of his knee but otherwise I see no reason why I would think he needs replaced.

Neither of them had "excellent" seasons. Excellent for the low expectations we have, or maybe excellent for the low standards you, personally, set for OL play, as you clearly don't think it is as important as it really is.

But neither of them were any better than average, really, and Leary tailed off significantly as the season went on. I don't consider either of them long term solutions. And Free you just can't trust.

And if we add two quality starters to our DL in the draft, we'll still have one more to go, plus we'll still need some more depth in the long term (though obviously Mincey, McClain, Bass, and Crawford would be the depth this year, but I'd replace 2-3 of them without blinking as soon as I had the chance).

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Neither of them had "excellent" seasons. Excellent for the low expectations we have, or maybe excellent for the low standards you, personally, set for OL play, as you clearly don't think it is as important as it really is.

But neither of them were any better than average, really, and Leary tailed off significantly as the season went on. I don't consider either of them long term solutions. And Free you just can't trust.

How in the hell did Murray have such a great season with such average to below average play across the board other then Smith according to you (5.2 YPC)? So either the O-line really isn't that important or you are blatantly undervaluing the talent we have on the O-line. You can't have it both ways. Unless you think having the top YPA for a RB is a meaningless stat.

 

[Smitty]

How in the hell did Murray have such a great season with such average to below average play across the board other then Smith according to you (5.2 YPC)? So either the O-line really isn't that important or you are blatantly undervaluing the talent we have on the O-line. You can't have it both ways. Unless you think having the top YPA for a RB is a meaningless stat.

Simple... we got elite play out of our LT, our center was a revelation, Free had a decent rebound year, and most importantly, teams didn't respect the run game due to our pass heaviness and our historical inability to run successfully.

The guards were not better than average, though, and Leary in particular tailed off as the year went on.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Simple... we got elite play out of our LT, our center was a revelation, Free had a decent rebound year, and most importantly, teams didn't respect the run game due to our pass heaviness and our historical inability to run successfully.

The guards were not better than average, though, and Leary in particular tailed off as the year went on.

So guards just don't matter is what your saying.

 

[Clay_Allison]

I wouldn't want to rebuild either line in one year. We are on a good schedule with the OL (Tyron 3 years ago, Frederick last year). We need a G this year. And I'd like to do the same with the DL. Melton was a good bridge. If Spencer is healthy and we can try him for a year like Melton. Then still need to draft a DT or DE this year. Then continue with another piece on both next year.

You don't want either of your lines contracts all coming up for renewal in the same year because you rebuilt in one year.

There's upside in trying Melton for a year because he's 27. Spencer is 30, he's not a DE, and he's had only one season in his 7 year career in which he was productive.

He's probably a 3rd down pass rush specialist at best, except that for most of his career he was a terrible pass rusher.