Cowboys News

Finding Roles for the Cowboys Defensive Rookies

The Dallas Cowboys spent 5 of their 7 draft picks in the 2016 NFL Draft on improving Rod Marinelli’s defense. After grabbing Ezekiel Elliott at fourth overall, this defensive trend certainly makes sense, as the team will try to emulate the 12-4 season of 2 years ago where the defense often found themselves on the field in favorable situations. For a defense that showed some really good signs in the bleak 2015 season, this unit should be excited at the new additions joining the mix. The key will be finding roles for these rookies alongside the veterans. Let’s attempt to do that for all 5 players:

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Written by: Sean Martin

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Moving Tyrone Crawford To Defensive End Is A Mistake

It has been rumored this off-season that the Dallas Cowboys are toying with the idea of moving Tyrone Crawford to defensive end due to Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence’s pending four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The depth at the defensive end position is a concern, so Crawford’s possible position switch is understandable. First off, I’m in favor of doing anything that will help out the defense overall, but Crawford’s potential move to defensive end concerns me a little. Actually, it concerns me more than a little. I’ll go as far as saying that I think it would be a mistake and I’ll attempt to explain why.

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Written by: Brian Martin

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Dallas Cowboys Have Eyes On Houston, Super Bowl LI

Inside The Star is where the voices of a nation, you the fans, can come congregate together for high-quality analysis regarding America’s Team. I speak on behalf of the entire Inside The Star team when I say that our primary objective is always to satisfy you. Earlier this week a loyal Inside The Star reader threw a tweet my way and asked if I could write up something on the subject. If you have something that you want us to write about, all you have to do is ask. Shout out to TJ, hopefully this is what you’re looking for good sir.

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Written by: RJ Ochoa

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2016 To Be A True Test for Scott Linehan

The 2016 Dallas Cowboys are on a mission to re-create their winning ways of 2014. Led by their offensive line that season, DeMarco Murray led the league with 1,845 rushing yards. Murray’s dominance made things easy for Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan, as he called his number to carry the football about 24 times a game on average (24.5). When Murray wasn’t churning out yards on the ground, a healthy Tony Romo and Dez Bryant feasted on defenses through the air as a result of Murray’s production.

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Written by: Sean Martin

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Is the Defensive Backfield Still a Concern?

Given the option of Ezekiel Elliott or Jalen Ramsey, the Cowboys opted for Elliott. I’m thrilled Elliott will be playing for Dallas and I’m rubbing my hands together in anticipation for Week 1.  While the idea of Ramsey paired with Byron Jones and Orlando Scandrick seemed exciting, that fantasy is not reality. So in reality is the secondary fine the way it is, or could it have used more attention in the draft? Many would agree that, at this point, the Dallas Cowboys’ achilles heel is the defensive line.

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Written by: Dante Giannetta

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Dallas Cowboys: Getting Back To The 2014 Blueprint

For a period of time, the Dallas Cowboys couldn’t seem to get away from the 8-8 record, until finally in 2014 they finished with a 12-4 winning season. Unfortunately, the numbers 12 and 4 would pop up again in 2015, but this time the numbers flip-flopped which resulted in the Cowboys finishing with a 4-12 record and having one of the worst seasons in franchise history. The 2014 blueprint that the Cowboys used should once again work for the organization in 2016. There are number reasons why you can take comfort in the fact that this is the direction that head coach Jason Garrett and the rest of the coaching staff believe that this is the best course of action to take. The Cowboys offense carried the entire team in 2014 and helped them go undefeated on the road (8-0).

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Written by: Brian Martin

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Building A Winner: NFL Execs, Scouts Praise Cowboys

The common thread which has tied all Cowboys haters together for the better part of the last 20 years has been the perceived incompetence of Jerry Jones. Nobody wants to believe that the Owner and General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys has any idea what he is doing when it comes to football decisions. They point to failed experiments with players such as Adam “Pacman” Jones or, more recently, Greg Hardy to illustrate that Jerry and the Cowboys are simply reckless and “stupid.” Or, they point to the Cowboys lack of postseason success since 1995 as an indication that Jerry Jones is simply lost in this football world. All of a sudden, these detractors are being clearly proven wrong.

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Written by: Kevin Brady

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Could Maliek Collins be a Week 1 Starter?

This year Dallas selected Maliek Collins, a defensive tackle out of Nebraska, with their third-round pick. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli was audibly excited about the selection, telling Collins that he “fit us to a T.” An immediate scheme fit is a great thing for any rookie, but especially with the opportunity that presents itself on the defensive line. With defensive ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory facing suspensions to start the year, Dallas will be looking for the best temporary solutions. They have several DE options in free agent addition Benson Mayowa and returning players David Irving, Jack Crawford, and Ryan Russell.

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Written by: Jess Haynie

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Ezekiel Elliott: No Tony Romo, No Problem?

“It’s broken.” The collective hearts of Cowboys Nation were shattered into a million pieces as Tony Romo walked into the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field with his hand on his collarbone as ominous clouds hovered in the air on September 20th, 2015. When word trickled out that Romo had in fact broken his collarbone… the resolve of Cowboys Nation reared its legendary force as hope for the season remained despite the fact that we were, two weeks into a season rich with Super Bowl hopes, suddenly down our offense’s top two weapons (Dez Bryant being injured the week before in a last-second victory over the Giants). “This team will survive until Tony comes back,” was our battle cry.

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Written by: RJ Ochoa

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Tyrone Crawford Could Help Cowboys at DE

With the pass rush still a question mark in Dallas, many are looking for other players to rise to the occasion. As DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory look at a four game suspension, it may be the Cowboys’ best option to have the defensive line’s most courageous player switch to defensive end. I call him courageous because following the 2014 season, he won the Ed Block Courage Award. The award goes to a player who exemplifies the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Other nominees included Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

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Written by: Dante Giannetta

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