Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys‘ 2014 season was mostly viewed as a success, but there were plenty of holes to fill following the heartbreaking loss to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. The defensive line was one position that needed support and desperately. The Cowboys were 28th in the NFL with just 28 sacks in 2014, only six more than sack leader Justin Houston had on his own. Needless to say, the guys on the roster weren’t cutting it.
In addition to signing Greg Hardy, drafting a top-10 talent in the second round was the second step in rebuilding the pass rush. That player would be Randy Gregory.
Gregory fell drastically in the draft due to character issues, falling into Jerry Jones‘ lap at No. 60 overall. Needing pass rushers and willing to take a chance on Gregory, the Cowboys snagged him before another team could benefit from his fall. With Hardy, Demarcus Lawrence, Jeremy Mincey and Gregory, the Cowboys have done a great job of rebuilding the defensive line.
Although it would seem obvious that Gregory would start right away, that’s not necessarily the case. He’ll have to fight his way into the starting pass rush rotation, even with Hardy suspended for an extended period of time. Gregory showed great potential at Nebraska, but he’s not the most polished pass rusher. He doesn’t have the moves that Hardy does nor the power that Lawrence possesses, but he has the ability to be an elite pass rusher in this league.
To start, Gregory’s path to becoming a starter will be easier in the absence of Hardy. He’ll likely battle Mincey to start opposite Lawrence at defensive end, with Tyrone Crawford and Terrell McClain likely the other starters on the line. Having a bevy of pass rushers is always a plus, allowing Rod Marinelli to rotate guys in and out, keeping them fresh.
Upon Hardy’s arrival, we should see plenty of this defensive line: Lawrence, Crawford, Hardy and Gregory. If I’m a quarterback, that’s not a defensive line I’d be happy to see. Hardy has experience moving inside, and he has the size and power to hold up against the run at defensive tackle as well. That would be Dallas’ best defensive line, as long as Gregory is able to hold his own in the NFL.
With Marinelli on his side, Gregory has the assets and coaching to right the ship and become a great defensive end in the NFL. We saw what Marinelli did with a depleted defense in 2014. He gets the most out of every guy, and Gregory will be no different. Look for the former Cornhusker to crack the starting lineup early in the season. He could approach double-digit sacks in his rookie season if healthy, especially with the help he has on the defensive line.
