What the Dallas front 7 should look like

Training camp 2012 is just weeks away and now the discussions can heat up about how this rebuilt defense is going to shape up.

Here is what we expect to see depth chart wise in week 1.

RDE: Jason Hatcher
NT: Jay Ratliff
LDE: Marcus Spears

ROLB: DeMarcus Ware
MILB: Dan Connor
MOLB: Sean Lee
LOLB:Anthony Spencer

RCB: Morris Claiborne
FS: Brodney Pool
SS: Gerald Sensabaugh
LCB: Brandon Carr

The problem areas are Spears, Spencer and Pool, they are average to below average players. I suggest that by the end of the season, each of those players should be replaced by their backups.

Sean Lissemore for Spears.  He was rated as one of the most effective defensive players in 2011 especially vs the run, his quickness helped him generate pressure on the QB. Spears has fallen into a 2-down run stuffer who does not finish plays when in position to make the play missing far too many tackles.

Kyle Wilbur for Spencer. We've heard it before, Spencer needs to become a more consistent rusher to take pressure off of Ware. He's been a starter since 2009, 3 seasons to make his mark.  He is a solid run defender and a average pass rusher. He is not a bad player but he is not part of the solution to get Dallas' defense to the top of the league confirmed by the news that the Cowboys will not sign Spencer to a long-term deal this year.  Wilbur should bring a situational pass rush opposite Ware fans have been screaming for initially and aslong as he is adequate vs the run, should take over that job.

Barry Church or Matt Johnson for Brodney Pool or even Sensabaugh too at safety. Dallas enters 2012 with average play again projected from the safety spot however I feel this year could be different. They have options unlike in previous years although I wrote prior to last season that Barry Church would be starting over Sensabaugh by seasons end. Then Jerry Jones decided to overpay and extend Sensabaugh for six years and $25 million dollars.  I feel Pool will quickly showcase his poor range in coverage and just not make enough plays to warrant keeping Church, Johnson on the bench. I would prefer Johnson over Church for the free safety spot although the safety position is almost interchangable these days. Church is a more physical tackler especially in run support and not known to be a playmaker in coverage while Johnson was known to be one during his time at Eastern Washington.  People talk about training camp battles, I'm focusing on this one because Pool seems destined to lose playing time quickly.

An interesting side note is middle inside linebacker, Dan Connor vs Bruce Carter. I feel that Rob Ryan is going to trust the job to Connor at first but the explosiveness capabilities of Carter at blitzing and coverage will give him the knod long-term. Carter impressed the coaches in mini-camp and seemed to show the Cowboys the skills that made him a 2nd round pick in 2011. He needs to stay healthy and continue that progress to earn more playing time. I feel that initially Dallas will start Connor on 1st and 2nd down while Carter will take the nickel linebacker role.

I am interested to see how Rob Ryan and Co. respond to having Tyrone Crawford & Josh Brent as depth on the line. Ratliff wore down as the season went along and Kenyon Coleman along with Spears are merely average players not providing the pass rush the line needs to do to help Ware.