FanPost

Cowboys position-by-position breakdown (defense/special teams)

Ok, with the offense out of the way, let's get down to the more interesting and weirdly, better side of the Cowboys, the defense.

Side note: I'm not counting SLB as a starting position on the D, instead Slot CB is going to be considered a starting position on this D

Position: Current Starter (Expected Starter Next Year)

LDE: Demarcus Lawrence (Demarcus Lawrence): Alright, so I think regardless of what happens during the offseason, that Tank will be back with the Cowboys, most likely on the Franchise Tag. Getting Lawrence on a nice contract would be wonderful, but with his back issues it's unlikely and he most likely won't take a hometown-discount. As far as his play goes, he was a top 5 D-Lineman this year, with Aaron Donald,Snacks Harrison,Cameron Jordan, and Calais Campbell right there with him. I don't think that this year was a flash in the pan either, his technique as a pass rusher is incredible, might be the best technique in the entire NFL for a D-Lineman, not only that, but he was awesome against the run as well. I have zero qualms outside of his back issues with signing him to a long term contract, but those back issues will probably put him on the Franchise Tag. Also, I expect a BIG jump for Taco next year, he's started flashing pretty frequently as we get to the end of the year, yes it was against a horrid Seattle O-line, but that's still tangible progress, very excited for next year at this position

RDE: Tyrone Crawford (Hopefully Randy Gregory, but otherwise, Tyrone Crawford): Crawford, as much as we dislike the contract, actually played really well this year, he earned it this year. I think as long as Crawford is healthy he'll earn the contract we gave him, but he can never seem to stay healthy for more than one year at a time. I'm hoping Gregory comes back next year, because he's the perfect RDE, plus the amount of potential he has flashed when on the field, would make this D-Line unstoppable with Lawrence and Irving as well, maybe the best D-Line in the entire NFL, but I'm getting ahead of myself, I'm gonna go ahead and say that Crawford will be the starter here again, because I can't put too much faith in Randy yet, but I'm perfectly fine with Crawford starting here next year.

3T: David Irving (David Irving): When Irving recovers from his concussion, he'll return to being a monstrous beast in the middle, top 20 DL in the NFL, and probably the 2nd best pass rushing DT in the NFL, behind Aaron Donald. Irving just makes splash plays constantly, largely due to his massive frame, one of the most freakishly athletic players in the NFL. I expect that we'll tender him with the first round tender, but I hope we get him on a long term contract, because guys like him don't come along more than maybe twice in a generation. Love him as the 3T next year.

1T: Maliek Collins (????): The question marks aren't an indictment on Maliek, because I think he has a massive amount of untapped potential, but he's just not a 1-Technique, I expect he'll either be the starter here or the backup to Irving at 3-Technique because we drafted a 1-Technique, namely Vita Vea, we'll be right in the range in the draft to get Vea, and he's the PERFECT fit for this D, but we have Marinelli, and he doesn't like 1T's, I hope we draft Vea, but unless Marinelli leaves, I'll just say Collins starts at 1T next year, but I'm not gonna say it with 100% certainty

WLB: Sean Lee (Sean Lee): We definitely need to start thinking about Lee's replacement, but if we don't get it in this draft, Lee still has at least 3 or 4 good years left if he doesn't get seriously injured, but that's the kicker, I hope Lee can stay healthy for a couple years in a row, because that would be a MASSIVE boon for this D, and he's going to be the starter next year regardless, but his health is a big concern, I would love to grab Roquan Smith, but the chances of him dropping to us are minuscule. Anyway, the General will be the starter next year.

MLB: Anthony Hitchens (Anthony Hitchens): I was going to put Jaylon Smith here as next years starter, but I feel like we overvalued Hitchens play a bit this year, don't get me wrong, he played good to great the entire year, and he's a home run as a mid round draft pick, but he didn't play so well that he's gonna command a massive contract, plus he did get injured this year, feel like we can get him back at a fairly decent price. As far as Hitchens future is concerned, I'm perfectly happy with Lee and him as our starters next year, but I also think Jaylon is going to take a big jump in play next year, so this might still end up with Jaylon as the starter eventually with Hitchens rotating in. I could also see a scenario where we let Hitchens walk and trust Jaylon to start, but I'm going to say that we keep Hitchens next year.

CB1: Orlando Scandrick (Chidobe Awuzie): I know most everybody thinks that Scandrick wasn't considered our number 1 CB last year, but I felt that the team considered him CB1 for us, but next year that will change, as Chidobe Awuzie takes over as CB1 and puts a stranglehold on that position, Chido has a lot of obvious talent, but he needs experience, as we saw in both the Oakland and Seattle games, which he'll get over the offseason, and he could be a shutdown CB as soon as next year. I'm excited for him to show out next year as our CB1.

CB2: Chidobe Awuzie (Jourdan Lewis): Lewis was our CB3 most of the year with Anthony Brown at CB2, but with Brown being benched, and Awuzie taking over at CB1 next year, Lewis will shift up to CB2, and he'll do wonderful there because he has obvious talent as well, but the rawness in both of our young CB's was pretty evident the last 2 games, the offseason is gonna be a big place for them to take the next step and turn into a real nice CB duo, the ball skills are the most impressive thing about both young CB's and I hope that they soon translate into more INT's. Ecstatic for our CB1 and CB2 next year

SCB: Jourdan Lewis (Multiple players, but main CB will be Orlando Scandrick): I could see Anthony Brown, Xavier Woods, and Scandrick taking this spot, but I'll say Scandrick for next year and Brown for future years, Scandrick can still be a useful piece, just not as a CB1 or 2, and he'll be supplanted for stretches by Anthony Brown, this is a little bit of a question mark for next year.

FS: Jeff Heath (Jeff Heath): For as much as we hated on Heath earlier this year, he has improved massively as the season has gone on, he's no longer a liability at safety, he's not a strength, but he's a decent safety with a penchant for big plays, I would like to upgrade here, but it isn't a big need. Heath made some nice coverage plays as the year went on, mostly because our secondary stopped leaving him out to dry, would like to see what he can do next year.

SS: Byron Jones (Xavier Woods): I'm not sure what we do with Byron, I'd put him back at CB, he could be a real nice CB, but I think that Xavier Woods runs away with this position out of camp, with Kavon Frazier playing the J.J Wilcox role. I'm extremely excited to see what Woods brings next year, he needs to learn to wrap up when he tackles, that was a problem coming out of college, and that showed up when he played this year, but he flashed WAY too much for me to not being extremely excited to see what he brings next year as the starter.

K: Dan Bailey (Dan Bailey): Get healthy Dan, he's not right still, we rushed him back from the groin, and it was still clearly impacting his kicks against Seattle, he'll be fine by next year though, not much else to say here except he's gonna take back that FG% record from Tucker next year

P: Chris Jones (Chris Jones): I mean come on, what needs to be said here?

KR/PR: Ryan Switzer (Ryan Switzer): Switzer's inexperience showed this year, he'll be better next year, he still flashed plenty as a returner to leave me satisfied with him there next year.

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