After each game there are “hot topics” that help get us through the next game, and one of those topics has been the supposed move of Tyrone Crawford to DE.
I mentioned this very topic myself immediately after the game:
I do like what the Cowboys had at defensive tackle with Terrell McClain and Maliek Collins, they gave a nice push up the middle and did a nice job against the run in the 2nd half. This may be the combo the Cowboys go with moving forward. Crawford has been a complete bust at the 3-tech. So much so, he was was kicked out to DE where he was able to get a sack. Maybe that woke him up?
I’m not as hopeful that the move back to DE will help the pass rush, but at this point what can you do with a player making $9 million a year, your highest paid defensive lineman to top it off.
For me, I think the Cowboys are doing all they can do to get some sort of value for Crawford. Typically when a player is moved from position-to-position it’s almost a deathblow of sorts, you’re not a master of your craft.
Jason Garrett who rarely ever calls out a player, made a statement about Crawford following the Giants game:
“I thought he was tough sitting in against the run at times. I thought he affected the quarterback at times. But he needs to be a more productive player for us. We need to get more out of our defensive line as we go forward.”
Against the Redskins, Crawford was again ineffective at DT, so much so, they bumped him out to DE. Surprisingly, he recorded a sack at the end of the game.
Can we really think Crawford will turn it on at DE? History is not on his side.
As a rookie, Crawford played DE in the 3-4 and did not record a sack. Then in 2013, the Cowboys moved to the 4-3 defense under Monte Kiffin, but he sustained an achilles injury that ended his season before it began.
His stats are not impressive, not for someone you are paying $45 million dollars, he’s had 9 sacks since 2012.
To me Crawford is a rotational player, he is not an impact player like DeMarcus Ware or even Anthony Spencer. We over paid Crawford and now they’re moving him around the line, the next step could be the door if he continues to under perform, simple as that. This defense needs a pass rush, we need pass rushers. We have one guy in Demarcus Lawrence, who should be able to haul in a contract that Crawford received at the minimum.
We’ll see what Crawford does at DE, but I’m not holding my breath, but I am praying he proves me completely wrong and menaces QBs.
What do you think? Will moving Crawford help the defense, will he provide a pass rush?
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