Cowboys roster analysis: DL
by Todd Archer
11:36 AM CDT on Friday, July 6, 2007
IRVING – If there is one group on the Cowboys that is looking forward to Wade Phillips' 34 defense more than any other, then the defensive line is it.
In Bill Parcells' scheme, defensive linemen felt like sitting ducks, unable to use their athleticism and ability to move for the sake of gap control. They had to engage blockers and mostly allow for others to make plays. It worked for Parcells before and it works for other teams employing the 3-4, too.
But the lack of movement and the lack of change wore on the players.
That should not be the case this year. Phillips wants his defensive line to be more disruptive and will involve them in the scheme more. The players will twist and stunt, something that did not happen much the last two seasons.
With it comes pressure to perform because if they don't do their job, then the defense will be susceptible to big plays. With that, here's the first look at the defense in our continuing roster analysis.
Defensive line
Marcus Spears, Jason Ferguson, Chris Canty, Jay Ratliff, Jason Hatcher, Stephen Bowen, Remi Ayodele, Montavious Stanley, Ola Dagunduro, Marcus Smith
Coming out of the off-season work, Phillips seemed somewhat surprised by what he saw from this group because the statistical numbers were not impressive. In San Diego, the Chargers' linemen accounted for 17.5 sacks last year. The Cowboys had 13.5, and four of those belonged to Kenyon Coleman, who signed with the New York Jets.
No player was more critical of Parcells' approach this off-season than Spears. But truth be told, Parcells was giddy when the Cowboys drafted Spears with the 20th pick in 2005. He lobbied to take Spears at No. 11. In two seasons, Spears has 2.5 sacks and 83 tackles, hardly what the Cowboys were expecting. His sack total, however, can be directly linked to his lack of work on third downs. He was a two-down player his first two years. Maybe he moves inside in the nickel this year on a more regular basis. To do that, however, he needs to improve his consistency. He can look an All-Pro one play and disappear the next. Spears has acknowledged that if he can't play in this defense, then he can't play. He needs to have a big season.
Canty had first-round ability in 2005, but knee and eye injuries scared teams off. Having played in the read-and-react 3-4 scheme at Virginia, Canty had an advantage over Spears, and he has developed. He really caught Phillips' eye in the off-season work and proved to be more disruptive. How that translates when the pads come on during the preseason, we will have to see. He is the prototypical 3-4 end at 6-7, 300 pounds. He is strong. He can use his hands. He can mix power and speed. He does not make many mental mistakes, but he also needs to be more consistent every week.
Hatcher was something of a surprise third-round pick last year and started off strong with three sacks in the preseason. He is raw and needs to work on his technique. He needs to add to his moves, especially a counter move when linemen take away his push to the outside. He has the size, athleticism and desire. He needs to put it together to continue his work in the nickel defense or push Spears and Canty.
Ferguson had a top-notch 2006 season after never finding his groove while splitting time with La'Roi Glover the previous year. He is powerful at the point of attack and can absorb blockers. He is also a two-down player, but when he moved to the 4-3 in his last few years with the Jets, he showed some ability to get after the pass rusher. While his job description remains largely the same under Phillips, he will be able to shade the center more, which could allow him to shoot some gaps.
The biggest area of concern defensively is what happens behind Ferguson. Right now the backup is Jay Ratliff, who is a defensive end by trade. He plays with good leverage and energy and has enough wiggle to make himself dangerous as a situational pass rusher. But at 305 pounds, he lacks the mass and stamina to take on Ferguson's role completely.
Montavious Stanley was a sixth-round pick last year who was cut before being reclaimed later in the season. He did not play in a game and some questioned his work ethic. By no means is he guaranteed a roster spot because the club is high on undrafted free agent Ola Dagunduro. Ayodele spent part of last year on the practice squad and this summer played in NFL Europa. The game action should help him early in camp.
As training camp moves on, the Cowboys should be interested in other teams' cuts and potentially looking at trades to shore up the spot behind Ferguson if these players don't show potential.
Bowen is an intriguing candidate. A late-season call-up from the practice squad, he had one sack in the one game he played. He can play inside and outside, which should help his chances, and it looked like he added some bulk this off-season. Like Hatcher, though, he is raw, but there is talent there to work with. Smith finds himself in an uphill battle, but he possesses a good size-speed combination. He will have to make his impressions early in the preseason to have a chance.
11:36 AM CDT on Friday, July 6, 2007
IRVING – If there is one group on the Cowboys that is looking forward to Wade Phillips' 34 defense more than any other, then the defensive line is it.
In Bill Parcells' scheme, defensive linemen felt like sitting ducks, unable to use their athleticism and ability to move for the sake of gap control. They had to engage blockers and mostly allow for others to make plays. It worked for Parcells before and it works for other teams employing the 3-4, too.
But the lack of movement and the lack of change wore on the players.
That should not be the case this year. Phillips wants his defensive line to be more disruptive and will involve them in the scheme more. The players will twist and stunt, something that did not happen much the last two seasons.
With it comes pressure to perform because if they don't do their job, then the defense will be susceptible to big plays. With that, here's the first look at the defense in our continuing roster analysis.
Defensive line
Marcus Spears, Jason Ferguson, Chris Canty, Jay Ratliff, Jason Hatcher, Stephen Bowen, Remi Ayodele, Montavious Stanley, Ola Dagunduro, Marcus Smith
Coming out of the off-season work, Phillips seemed somewhat surprised by what he saw from this group because the statistical numbers were not impressive. In San Diego, the Chargers' linemen accounted for 17.5 sacks last year. The Cowboys had 13.5, and four of those belonged to Kenyon Coleman, who signed with the New York Jets.
No player was more critical of Parcells' approach this off-season than Spears. But truth be told, Parcells was giddy when the Cowboys drafted Spears with the 20th pick in 2005. He lobbied to take Spears at No. 11. In two seasons, Spears has 2.5 sacks and 83 tackles, hardly what the Cowboys were expecting. His sack total, however, can be directly linked to his lack of work on third downs. He was a two-down player his first two years. Maybe he moves inside in the nickel this year on a more regular basis. To do that, however, he needs to improve his consistency. He can look an All-Pro one play and disappear the next. Spears has acknowledged that if he can't play in this defense, then he can't play. He needs to have a big season.
Canty had first-round ability in 2005, but knee and eye injuries scared teams off. Having played in the read-and-react 3-4 scheme at Virginia, Canty had an advantage over Spears, and he has developed. He really caught Phillips' eye in the off-season work and proved to be more disruptive. How that translates when the pads come on during the preseason, we will have to see. He is the prototypical 3-4 end at 6-7, 300 pounds. He is strong. He can use his hands. He can mix power and speed. He does not make many mental mistakes, but he also needs to be more consistent every week.
Hatcher was something of a surprise third-round pick last year and started off strong with three sacks in the preseason. He is raw and needs to work on his technique. He needs to add to his moves, especially a counter move when linemen take away his push to the outside. He has the size, athleticism and desire. He needs to put it together to continue his work in the nickel defense or push Spears and Canty.
Ferguson had a top-notch 2006 season after never finding his groove while splitting time with La'Roi Glover the previous year. He is powerful at the point of attack and can absorb blockers. He is also a two-down player, but when he moved to the 4-3 in his last few years with the Jets, he showed some ability to get after the pass rusher. While his job description remains largely the same under Phillips, he will be able to shade the center more, which could allow him to shoot some gaps.
The biggest area of concern defensively is what happens behind Ferguson. Right now the backup is Jay Ratliff, who is a defensive end by trade. He plays with good leverage and energy and has enough wiggle to make himself dangerous as a situational pass rusher. But at 305 pounds, he lacks the mass and stamina to take on Ferguson's role completely.
Montavious Stanley was a sixth-round pick last year who was cut before being reclaimed later in the season. He did not play in a game and some questioned his work ethic. By no means is he guaranteed a roster spot because the club is high on undrafted free agent Ola Dagunduro. Ayodele spent part of last year on the practice squad and this summer played in NFL Europa. The game action should help him early in camp.
As training camp moves on, the Cowboys should be interested in other teams' cuts and potentially looking at trades to shore up the spot behind Ferguson if these players don't show potential.
Bowen is an intriguing candidate. A late-season call-up from the practice squad, he had one sack in the one game he played. He can play inside and outside, which should help his chances, and it looked like he added some bulk this off-season. Like Hatcher, though, he is raw, but there is talent there to work with. Smith finds himself in an uphill battle, but he possesses a good size-speed combination. He will have to make his impressions early in the preseason to have a chance.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:28 PM
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