Defensive End

Marinelli on Randy Gregory: “I’m Training Him Like It’s His Opening Season”

Among the coaching staff for the Dallas Cowboys, Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli stands out as a guy with a big personality. He demands a lot from his players and is not shy about letting them – and the media – know when his expectations are not being met. He’ll also be the first to praise a guy that is performing well in his system on the defensive side of the ball, while continuously searching for ways to improve that player. When asked about suspended second-year defensive end Randy Gregory on Wednesday, Marinelli had this to say: “I’m training him like it’s his opening season.

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Written by: Sean Martin

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How Benson Mayowa Fits Cowboys Blueprint

The Dallas Cowboys’ approach to this offseason has been no secret. They have searched for bargains in the open market, adding youthful and athletic players with presumably high upsides but very little production to this point in their professional careers. Defensive End Benson Mayowa fits this blueprint to a “T.” The former Seattle Seahawk, but more recently former Oakland Raider, joined the Cowboys after the Raiders failed to match the Cowboys’ offer sheet to Mayowa during free agency. The questions surrounding the Cowboys’ pass rush and defensive end situation are clear, but the addition of Mayowa seemed to not mean much for the immediate future at first.

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Written by: Kevin Brady

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Rookie Watch: Cowboys Sign QB Dak Prescott & DE Charles Tapper

The Dallas Cowboys have signed two more of their nine total rookies from the 2016 draft. Quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive end Charles Tapper have inked their rookie deals with the team. Prescott will receive $2.72 million on his four year contract. The Mississippi State product has already had some pressure put on him with the Dallas Cowboys, as the coaching staff appears poised to enter training camp with Kellen Moore as the primary backup QB.

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Written by: Sean Martin

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Should Cowboys Pursue Dwight Freeney?

The names “Dwight Freeney” and “Cowboys” have been showing up in the same headlines recently – including this one. There has been some speculation as to how interested the Cowboys are in the veteran defensive end. Stephen Jones said that at this time, the Cowboys are not interested in Freeney, acknowledging that the NFL is a “younger man’s game.” But Jones also stated that Freeney has what it takes to be productive and thinks he’s a talented player. At the moment, the Cowboys are not interested in Freeney, but should the be?

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Written by: Dante Giannetta

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Dallas Cowboys: Churning The Bottom Of The Roster

The Dallas Cowboys starting of organized team activities (OTA’s) on Tuesday wasn’t the only exciting news. They also decided to make a roster move and signed the former SMU Mustang defensive end, Zach Wood. Of course, in order to add Wood to the roster the Cowboys had to release defensive end Jason Neill. Neill was signed as an undrafted free agent after the completion of the 2016 NFL Draft. Under the tutelage of head coach Jason Garrett, the Cowboys have not been afraid to churn the bottom of the roster in hopes of finding players that can contribute on game days.

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Written by: Brian Martin

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What Can the Cowboys Expect from DeMarcus Lawrence in 2016?

Happy Monday, Cowboys Nation! Looking for some silver and blue tinted optimism to start off your week? Well, you came to the right place, because I’m here to talk about the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive end position. Wait, Sean, it’s Monday AND I have to read about one of the biggest sore spots on the Cowboys’ roster? Why would you do this…

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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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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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Does Charles Tapper Start Week 1?

Probably the biggest problem the Cowboys face is the shallowness of their defensive line, specifically the defensive end position. With Greg Hardy and Jeremy Mincey gone, and Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory facing four game suspensions, it is clear the Dallas Cowboys need help at defensive end. Who will be available to rush Eli Manning against the Giants in Week 1? As of now, the starter at LDE is Ryan Russell, followed by Charles Tapper, Benson Mayowa and then Caleb Azubike. At RDE, the depth chart lists David Irving then Michael McAdoo and finally Neill Jason.

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Written by: Dante Giannetta

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Draft Film Review: Defensive End Charles Tapper

In the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cowboys decided to address arguably their biggest draft need by selecting former Oklahoma Sooner Defensive End Charles Tapper. When evaluating Tapper, the first thing you notice is that he is an athletic freak. At 6’3″ 270 pounds Tapper ran a 4.59 40-yard-dash at the combine, the fastest time of any defensive lineman who ran. Tapper’s combine performance generated a lot of buzz around him, as he had previously been flying under most radars due to the defensive line depth in this draft class, especially in the interior.

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Written by: Kevin Brady

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