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What are Dallas’ Free Agency Needs? Part One - Defensive Line

(This is the first in a series devoted to assessing the Cowboys needs heading into the free agency period and the 2005 draft.)

Although it is not official, it appears the Cowboys will start the 2005 season in a base 3-4 defensive scheme for the first time in team history. The change will entail some major shifts in player philosophy, since the 4-3 and 3-4 require different types of linemen.

The current version of the 4-3, which Dallas has run since 1989, is the “wide end” 4-3 developed by Jimmy Johnson at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Miami. Ideally, it calls for two stout defensive tackles who can tie up the offense’s inner trio of guards and a center. Outside, it allows for lighter, speedier ends, since the strong side end lines up over the offense’s tight end and the weakside end on the outside shoulder of the offense tackle. The Cowboys have drafted for speed from their ends. Tony Tolbert was a prototype in this system, a college outside linebacker who bulked up and put his hand down. Charles Haley, the most effective DE in the Johnson/Jones era, spent the early years of his career playing OLB for the 49ers.

The current Cowboys linemen are well suited to this scheme. The team played its biggest tackle, Leonardo Carson in guard/center gap. The other tackle, LaRoi Glover, is a speedy 282 lb. tackle. The reason to play Carson off the center is to command double-teams and leave Glover in one-on-one situations with guards, where his speed gives him an advantage. The starting ends, Greg Ellis and Marcellus Wiley, have weights in the 270s, and rely on speed and pursuit to make plays, thought Ellis was far more effective than Wiley last year.

While the old base 4-3 is a “one gap” system, that gives each linemen responsibility for one of the gaps on the offensive line on running plays, the 3-4 is a “two gap” system that gives the linemen increased duties. The nose tackle lines up directly over the center and is responsible for both guard/center gaps to either side of him. The ends typically line up directly over the offensive tackles and are responsible for the guard/tackle gaps to their inside and the tackle/tight end gaps to their outside. The linemen in this scheme have to be more stout against the run, absorb more double teams and keep linemen off the linebackers as much as possible. 3-4 nose tackles typically run in the 300 to 340 lb. range and ends in the 285-300 lb. range.

The shift to a 3-4 would make all the current Cowboys linemen poorer fits. Ellis, whose weight ranges anywhere from 271 to 277 to 281, depending on which source you consult, could succeed as a pass rushing end. When he was with the Giants, Parcells relied for many years on George Martin, a tall, rangy DE who excelled as a rusher. However, Ellis has already expressed misgivings about the system, saying he’s not sure he could handle the increased double teams.

Glover’s strength would allow him to play the nose at 282 lbs., and Parcells has remaked in the past that he thinks Glover could handle the job. However, moving him over center would negate his best quality, which is his speed rush. And even if these two succeeded, the Cowboys have no sure answer at the other end position. The release of Marcellus Wiley late Tuesday gives the Cowboys even fewer options.

The hole at LE has spurred a few rumors. One is that the Cowboys are interested in Denver DE Trevor Pryce, a 6′5″, 295 lb. rusher. Pryce comes with a caveat; the Broncos are also contemplating changing to at 3-4 scheme and word in the Denver press is that the Broncos are not sure Pryce could move inside and hold up against the run. Two more likely reasons why Denver is shopping him are his enormous contract and his poor health in 2004. Pryce will be 30 before the season starts and his best days may be behind him.

There is also the lure of rookie-to-be Marcus Spears from LSU. Spears was one of the stars of the Senior Bowl and got a long interview from Bill Parcells. Like Pryce, Spears is a 295 lb. end who appears to be a good fit for the 3-4.

The most persistent D-line rumor has the Cowboys pursing Jets’ DT Jason Ferguson. Ferguson played nose tackle for Parcells when he coached the Jets. Ferguson is coming off a career year and will be one of the more coveted defensive players when free agency starts on March 3rd.

Signing Ferguson could start a domino effect; if Ferguson is going to play the nose, where will Glover play? Glover has one of the biggest contracts on the team and it would not make sense to invest that much cap space in a part-time nose tackle, especially one who is so productive at one of the NFL’s most-sought after positions.

Given the poor fits on the current D-line, keep a close eye on Dallas’ early moves. The nose tackle position looks deep this free agency season and if one like Ferguson or the Bills’ Pat Williams is signed in the first days of free agency, beware. Dallas could then begin to shop some of their more valuable 4-3 line assets.

– Rafael Vela

Will Dallas Pay the Pryce?

Rumors have surfaced in the past week that the Cowboys are interested in Broncos DE Trevor Pryce, whom Denver is shopping. Denver is apparently seeking a third-round pick for the 6′5″, 295 lb. Pryce, who is coming off an injury-plagued 2004 that saw him start only two games.

Denver’s asking price complicates matters for the Cowboys, if they are in fact serious; they have no third round pick, having shipped it to the Texans for QB Drew Henson. Furthermore, the Denver Post notes that Pryce is being shopped because his cap number is close to $10 million, making his contract the biggest on the team. Moving him would free up cap space to sign other key Broncos unrestricted free agents.

From the Cowboys’ perspective, taking on Pryce’s current contract would eat up close to half of the team’s available cap space. The feeling here is that the Cowboys are interested in Pryce — so long as the Broncos cut him and the Cowboys can work out a new, more cap-friendly contract with him. Otherwise, they’ll look in another direction.

– Rafael Vela

Or Moss?

While Laveranues Coles is enticing, he’s apparently not the only top-shelf WR on the Cowboys’ radar. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported today that the Cowboys will likely enter the Randy Moss sweepstates. The Press noted that, “Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, who prides himself on handling difficult characters, will get into the sweepstakes for the controversial wide receiver along with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.”

The rumor seemingly clarifies an intriguing comment Jones made to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram on Friday, that he was “seriously considering” trading one of the Cowboys two #1 picks this year. Trading either the 11th or the 20th overall picks would obligate Jones to obtain a mini-bushel of picks or an impact player in return. Moss certainly fills the impact role.

One wonders, however if Jones is not still fighting his last battle. No recent pick has caused more consternation for Jones than passing up Moss with his #1 in 1998. One hopes Jerry is not trying to feed an obsession. He burned a lot of top picks trying to find a replacement for Charles Haley in the mid and late ’90s. He’s already burned two #1s trying to replace Michael Irvin with Joey Galloway.

– Rafael Vela

Catalytic Coles?

In one of his last statements to the press Bill Parcells mentioned the need to obtain a “catalytic player” for his offense this offseason, preferably at the receiver position. Two stories today make it clear this is not just idle talk. The Washington Post reported that WR Laveranues Coles would be released later this week and speculated that Dallas, Atlanta and Baltimore were likely destinations for the 27 year old, whom the Redskins paid a high first rounder (13th overall) to obtain just two years ago. Later in the day Washington was allegedly trying to backtrack; ESPN reported that the Redskins would try to trade Coles before cutting him loose, though Coles has allegedly agreed to return part of his signing bonus to facilitate his freedom.

Coles was drafted by the Jets when Bill Parcells was their head coach. The Cowboys would have as good a chance as any to sign Coles should he hit the market. Their medical staff will have to do its due diligence, however; one reason the Redskins are prepared to part ways with Coles is that he defied team wishes and did not have surgery on an injured big toe. The toe has apparently become arthritic. It remains to be seen if this will affect Coles, who is valued for his deep speed.

– Rafael Vela

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