Why Do These Players Work on the Dallas Cowboys? The Role of Pass-Rush Specialist
The common trend amongst these three players is that they are largely considered 3-4 outside linebackers specializing in rushing the passer. While the days of the 3-4 defense are gone in Dallas, the need for edge players are far from gone.
They would provide insurance in case a pass-rusher doesn’t fall (just like we saw last year).
DeMarcus Ware and Julius Peppers are both at the very end of their illustrious careers. Their best days are long gone and if they joined a team like the Cowboys they would have to be placed on a play count that rendered them part-time players.
Alex Okafor, on the other hand, is a player on the rise.
Okafor is also similarly built to play OLB in a 3-4 defense only he’s going to be looking for more of a fulltime gig. Either way, gap assignments and roles are more important than whether the defense is a 3-4 or a 4-3. If a player like Okafor is signed, you can bet Rod Marinelli will find a way to effectively get him on the field fulltime and play to his strengths in the process.
Any of these three players would join a deep Dallas defensive line rotation. Most importantly, they wouldn’t prevent the Dallas Cowboys from drafting a defensive end early in the draft. They would provide insurance in case a pass-rusher doesn’t fall (just like we saw last year).
The Dallas Cowboys need to find a right defensive end to rush the passer but with so few (actually, none) 4-3 RDEs on the market, the Cowboys may need to get creative.
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So don’t let “fit” within the scheme bog you down and distract you from the primary role these players would be asked to play. Because the role is what they’re familiar with – rushing the passer. And that’s a role the Dallas Cowboys desperately need need to address — BEFORE the draft.