That rookie Vander Esch has totally revamped the Dallas defense
You know one thing that Dallas does well..they draft good, we have to give them credit despite Garrett
Prescott..Zeke and now the missing piece ..Vander Esch ( reminds me of a young Urlacher..a white dude that tackles hard )
The future is getting better for Cowboys
Well, Vander Esch is the first defensive player to make an immediate impact as a rookie. Demarcus Lawrence took two seasons to develop. Randy Gregory, a first round talent with a tenth round mindset (yes, I know there aren’t ten rounds in the NFL talent) was a second round pick who nearly cost Dallas the game last night. Taco Charlton hasn’t made much of an impact.
Dallas has done better with their offensive picks. Obviously Zeke and Dak, but Pro Bowl offensive lineman Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and Travis Frederick (hope he makes it back on the field somehow), and even La’el Collins, who after being projected as a first round pick, went undrafted.
And their first round pick at WR in future drafts, Amari Cooper, looks pretty good as well.
Dallas has the pulse on Boise State players, though: Demarcus Lawrence, Pro Bowl defensive end; Tyrone Crawford, starting defensive lineman; Leighton Vander Esch, starting Mike linebacker; Kellen Moore, back up QB...Orlando Scandrick, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, was the nickel cornerback for Dallas for many years and a Boise State Bronco as well.
Didn't the Saints win the SB that year? I'm sure that the Saints wouldn't mind if history repeats. This was a great game. I'm a HUGE fan of defensive football. I love it when every inch is earned on the football field. This was a hard fought game and a BIG win for the Cowboys.
Yep, I love a hard fought, defensive game. And yes, that was the year New Orleans won it all. Dallas was 11-5 and the third seed, and beat Philly in the wild card game. I absolutely thought they would go into Minnesota and win, but no one on Dallas remembered to block Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards and got crushed. NO won the Super Bowl after advancing in the infamous Bountygate game where Favre stupidly threw a pick when the Vikings were in field goal range.
And I agree, the Saints would love a repeat of that season, result wise, this year.
What do the Cowboys do with Sean Lee? No way I'd take Vander Esch off the field. Looks like Lee will be a cap casualty at the end of the year.
Sean Lee is one of the most underrated defensive players in the NFL, and a game changer, but he can’t stay healthy. He always has an hamstring injury. So, most likely he will be a cap casualty. And unless you’re the New England Patriots, th Los Angeles Rams have shown the current NFL model; if you have a dynamic QB on a rookie deal, you surround him with talent on both sides of the ball; the Rams got Brandin Cooks on offense, and on defense, got Suh, and traded for Marcus Peters and Aquib Talib...not to mention re-signing Aaron Donald. And they tried to make a move for Khalil Mack for a one year mercenary deal.
And while by no means would I consider Dak Prescott and elite QB, various analytics have shown that he is currently the BEST value at QB in the NFL when considering production and cap hit (remember, Prescott is on a 4th round pick rookie contract versus Goff’s overall #1 pick).
Having said all that, Lee is slated to return in Dallas next game, and it’ll be interesting to see Lee, Vander Esch, and Jaylon Smith on the field together (sorry, Damien Wilson)...all FAST and speedy linebackers.