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Marinelli..... Keep being special!

                It was a time not so long ago when Jason Hatcher had a pro bowl season with 11 sacks. Hatcher was probably the last dominate pass rusher for the Dallas Cowboys. Since joining the team in 2013 Rob Marinelli has been the leader of the “JAG” (Just A Guy) committee, when it comes to pass rushers. He’s had some solid linemen, but none has been special. That probably will not change much this upcoming season.
                Drafting Taco Charlton was taking a position of need. Was he the best player available at his position? Only time will tell. Can he step in week one and be the pass rusher the Cowboys hope he can be? We will just have to wait in see. There are many questions surrounding Charlton, and he play was have to answer them. The consensus is that Charlton is a very talented but inconsistent player. He has shown flashes of being special at the collegiate level. The problem with that is if you’re inconsistent in college, you may struggle in the pros. The players are better and the grind is that much harder. It’s unfortunate but Charlton will be carrying a very larger burden of expectations that he may not be able to live up too. Luckily, for him he may not have to!
                This 2017 group of defensive linemen may be the best group that Marinelli has had. With the additions of Charlton and Tapper, this unit should be more athletic than ever. David Irving came into his own last year. Irving won the Tampa Bay game all by himself, with the pressure he was able to generate in the second half. Throw in a healthy Demarcus Lawrence; the pass rush may be revitalized in Dallas.
                What Rob Marinelli has shown above all is the ability to get the most out of his down linemen. I mention Hatcher having a career year in 2013; the only season in his career, he had double-digit sacks. Since 2013 the Cowboys have been lead in sacks by Jermey Mincey (6 sacks, 2014) Demarcus Lawrence (8 sacks 2015) and Benson Mayowa (6 sacks 2016). Lawrence the only player with expectations to be a legit pass rusher. Over the same span of time, the Cowboys received contributions of seven and five sacks from guys like George Selvie and Henry Melton, remember them! To say that it has been a “lunch pail” approach to the defensive line is an understatement. The Cowboys hadn’t addressed the issues with the pass rush and it has hurt them in two playoff games against the Packers. With the addition of talent, Marinelli may be able to work his magic and solve those issues.
                Tapper and Charlton are younger and more athletic than Minecy and Melton. Charlton could have similar production to that of Jason Hatcher, when he was with the Cowboys. With Tapper’s speed alone, he should be able to generate a solid pass rush that at the very least will help create opportunities for the other linemen. With a rotation of Benson Mayowa, David Irving, Tryone Crawford, and Jack Crawford, Marinelli should be able to make some sweet lemonade from these lemons. The juice just may be worth the squeeze!
               

                

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