Dallas Cowboys: Are Tapper and Collins Enough?

The Dallas Cowboys neglected their defensive line in the first two rounds of the draft, waiting for the 3^rd and 4^th to make DL picks. Are they enough for a desperate DL?

I believe, “hold the fort” was the phrase given by the Dallas Cowboys front office when asked about the troubling status of the 2016 defensive line. The Dallas Cowboys’ single biggest need entering the 2016 NFL Draft was finding pass-rushers (preferably from the DE position), yet the Cowboys waited until the third round to address it with a pick.

Maliek Collins, defensive tackle, was the Cowboys’ selection in the third round. The former Nebraska Cornhusker who was deemed by many as a “reach”, was happily selected by the Cowboys brass with multiple ESPN-friendly players still available.

To make the situation even more questionable, Collins is a player with very little statistical success, only accruing 2.5 sacks in his 2015 season. But as Pro Football Focus points out, Collins was the 11^th ranked inside player in the draft class, earning a +45 score (28.4 run-stopping and 21.1 pass rushing).

Maliek Collins didn’t wow anyone with pure sack and tackle numbers, but he blew scouts away by winning battles and hurrying the QB (some of the most hurries in all of college football over the past 2 seasons). He gets knocked to the ground far too often, but for anyone who follows advanced statistics, he’s seen as a big-time player in the 3^rd round.

In the fourth round, the Dallas Cowboys selected defensive end, Charles Tapper. Tapper, the former Oklahoma Sooner, similarly lacked the gaudy sack numbers Cowboys Nation was salivating for. But closer inspection shows this Belle of the NFL Combine Ball, is more than just a freak athlete and workout warrior.

It’s true that Tapper ran an eye popping 4.5 40-yard dash, has mammoth hands, excellent strength, and weighs in at 275lbs. But Tapper also scored well to scouts at Oklahoma. The Sooner scheme has long been known to stifle defensive linemen production and that certainly appears the case here.

More from Dallas Cowboys

• West coast, Texas coast, burnt toast: Cowboys don’t need more runs
• Brandin Cooks will change the way defenses play the Dallas Cowboys
• Why the Dallas Cowboys defensive X-Factor is EDGE Sam Williams
• Dallas Cowboys: 3 head coach options if McCarthy fails in 2023
• Dallas Cowboys: Is CB Jourdan Lewis a tradeable asset?

Despite collecting seven sacks in four games, Tapper was limited by his assignments at Oklahoma. Yet, he executed his unglamorous duties and earned good scores from scouts in both the running and pass rushing parts of his game.

With the four-game suspensions of defensive ends, DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory, both players could find themselves with significant roles (if not starting roles) early in the season.

DT Maliek Collins projects best as a 3-technique under tackle in the Cowboys system. The Dallas Cowboys’ current under tackle, Tyrone Crawford, may be asked to make a move back to defensive end to start the season.

Related Story: Explaining the Techniques

Collins will struggle against the run early in his NFL career, but appears to have the pass-rushing skills to make up for his run-stopping deficiencies. Keep in mind, Crawford wasn’t very strong against the run anyway, only scoring a 41.3 score (PFF) against the run, rating him as one of the worst interior linemen in that category.

Charles Tapper, as his 40-time indicates, is lightning fast and rose to fame by chasing down WR Amari Cooper in the open field. He appears to have the lean and edge speed to be able to turn the corner as a right defensive end. His explosiveness is questionable (and far behind that of Gregory and Lawrence) but his strength and athleticism is unquestioned.

Tapper will be an instant impact player by running stunts and games. If used correctly, he should be able to exceed most expectations and help fill the void left by the suspended, bong-hitting bookends.

It’s difficult to say whether or not Tapper and Collins are truly enough to “hold the fort” but they are much more likeable then once thought.

Next: Is Zeke Better than Emmitt?

Regardless, this is what the Dallas Cowboys have and other options appear nonexistent. The defensive flexibility and ball control offense will be key in the Cowboys’ success the first four + weeks of the season and Tapper and Collins will simply have to be enough.