Dallas Cowboys’ Offseason Review: Tyrone Crawford, MVP?

Following the infamous, Purge of 2014, where the Cowboys parted ways with future Hall of Famer, DeMarcus Ware and 2013 sack leader, Jason Hatcher, the Cowboys were expected to struggle defensively in 2014. Dubbed an breakout player by the now-departed Hatcher, Tyrone Crawford was given the pressure of leading a defensive line, void of recognizable talent.

The 3^rd year DE from Boise State was a player on the verge, and his versatility allowed him to play effectively at both the 3-technique DT spot and at the left defensive end spot. The most notable free agent acquisition of the Dallas Cowboys was former Marinelli protégé, Henry Melton. Melton was expected to resume his role at the 3-tech but his slow recovery forced Crawford more heavily into the DT rotation.

Playing both LDE and DT through most of the season, Crawford had his most successful season as a pro, and lived up to the expectations Jason Hatcher, Rod Marinelli, and Cowboys Nation, thrust upon him. Tyrone Crawford played so well he belongs in the Dallas Cowboys’ Defensive MVP conversation (which we will award next week).

Tyrone Crawford Years 1 & 2

The 3^rd year player out of Boise State was drafted in the 3^rd round of the 2012 draft. After an excellent rookie campaign with over 700 snaps, Craw was lost to injury the entirety of the 2013 season. With the departure of Ware and Hatcher, Crawford was expected to hit the ground running in 2014…and that, he did.

Grading Tyrone Crawford in 2014

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Breaking down film and grading each play is something that sounds easier in theory than it is in reality. It’s not always obvious what a particular player’s assignment is on every single play. He may have 1-gap responsibility on one play but 2-gap on another. Just because he’s the closest defender to the play, doesn’t mean it was his primary responsibility. Recognizing this obstacle (unknown assignments) is very important in player grading and something I try to be sure of before casting blame or praise.

In my film reviews this year I watched and re-watched in order to ascertain assignments and execution. Every game except for the Thanksgiving Day Beat-Down by the Eagles was reviewed and graded (I couldn’t bring myself to review that game). I used a -3 to a +3 scale for game grades and averaged those scores for final 2014 Player Grades.

Pro Football Focus (subscription required) is another resource that breaks down film and grades plays. If they are unsure on a particular assignment on a given play, they simply do not grade it. For final end-of-year scores, PFF adds it all up. As a result, there numbers are much higher than my averages, and are largely uncapped play to play. Because of this, I’ll try to apply some context to their grades (relative to the team and the players around the league).

When player evaluation is based on each play and not a post-game stat sheet, this process is very important, or one may misrepresent a player’s performance. With all of that said…

Tyrone Crawford was a man with multiple positions in 2014. He played extensive snaps at both LDE and DT, logging 643 snaps (2^nd on the defensive line, behind only RDE Jeremy Mincey). Many felt Craw was actually at his best when moving from position to position across the line.

Sep 28, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Tyrone Crawford (98) in game action against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat New Orleans 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

As a DE and DT, I graded Crawford with a score of 2.0 (the highest defensive line grade I gave this season). Crawford stood out as a very strong pass rusher from both spots (LDE and DT), an adequate run-stopper from the LDE, and a slightly below average run-stopper from the DT position (but again, it’s important to understand assignments and not fault him for something we perceive as his assignments when it may have been someone else’s).

Pro Football Focus loved his pass-rush skills even more than I did, giving him a score of 11.9 for his work rushing the passer. Crawford, who logged a clear majority of snaps from inside, was ranked according to fellow interior linemen and finished ranked #13 out of 81 DTs. In pass-rushing specifically, he was #8 in the NFL behind players like Gerald McCoy (#1), Aaron Donald (#5), and Henry Melton (#6).

"In a statistics obsessed world, it’s easy to overlook the performance of Tyrone Crawford in 2014."

After all, he collected only 3 sacks and 12 QB hits on over 600 snaps. Without gaudy stats, Crawford was still able to make a substantial difference on the Cowboys. He collected 29 QB hurries (including the playoffs) and was able to play multiple spots across the line (especially important when Henry Melton was lost for the season).

Without Ware or Hatcher on the Cowboys’ defensive line, opposing offenses focused on Crawford, and Crawford was still able to hold up well play-to-play. Again, it’s important to grade every snap rather than just the stat sheet, and I can honestly say Tyrone Crawford graded out very well in 2014.

Tyrone Crawford x-Factor

Crawford’s ability to play both the LDE and the 3 technique tackle effectively are extremely valuable to a re-building team. The Dallas Cowboys need to collect pass-rushers in the upcoming NFL draft. Whether they come from an edge spot or an interior spot remains to be seen, but with a versatile Tyrone Crawford, the Cowboys can select the best pass-rusher available and move Crawford to wherever they need him.

Tyrone Crawford Conclusion

Tyrone Crawford is under contract for 1 more season at under $900k – a bargain considering how important he is to the team. It’s extremely likely the Cowboys will part with DT Henry Melton after his injury-plagued 2014 season. Melton was great when healthy but at roughly $9M per season on his option, the Cowboys will opt for Crawford, a free agent pickup, or a rookie draft pick, to fill the role in the middle.

I liked Crawford more from the LDE spot than I did at the DT, but I like it best when he’s moving around snap to snap, catching offenses off-guard. Next season is a contract year for Crawford and I fully expect to see him take the next step and get those gaudy stats so many of us love to see.

Next: Five Things the Cowboys Need to be Champs

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