Dallas Cowboys Game Tape Review: Defense

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

Tripp...in your opinion, how are our d-linemen playing in the 3-4 scheme? In the offseason, I saw teams give a high priority to retain their NTs (Wilfork in NE, Hampton in Pittsburgh, and Franklin in San Fran) and honestly I feel like we don't have a good 3-4 NT. I feel that Haynesworth doesn't fit the 3-4 scheme in general, and Kemo is not a good player for such important position. Also, how do you see Carriker/Daniels/Holliday playing in this scheme?

Our defensive line isn't great. Haynesworth is going to be neutralized as a great/dominant player being asked to do what we ask of him against the run. Against the pass, he will be himself. I don't think it was a coincidence that Dallas ran or threw quick screens whenever he entered the game.

Carriker is going to be our best DLman when he's healthy, but that's not going to be for 16 games. Golston is bad as a two-gap. Daniels is better for the scheme, but really, really plays like an old man out there. I think we could use Holliday more on regular downs and Haynesworth on passing downs. Holliday might be the best DE we have, if not Carriker.

Jarmon figures to get up to speed at some point. He could be the fresh blood we are looking for.

Regardless, we don't need a lot of DLmen. In our nickel package, we just need two. Teams like to spread us out more than we like to spread them out, so that limits the amount of DL on the field. If we keep Haynesworth in the fold, we will never have a problem on the defensive line. If we get rid of him, quality depth, even in a 2-4 front, becomes really scarce.

Defensive lineman just aren't a big part of this scheme, generally speaking. I doubt we draft a big nose tackle next year because it's all about the linebackers and corners and safeties. With that said, I don't like a lot of the defensive linemen we are playing, specifically, Daniels and Golston are weaknesses.