Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones and Head Coach Jason Garrett’s new hire, Rob Ryan, certainly had a classic “up and down” season. At times Ryan’s defense looked very good, at other times they played adequate, and towards the end of the year they struggled (to put it nicely). The good news is that the defense as a whole played significantly better in 2011 than they did in 2010. Moreover, they played much better without the addition of any high-priced free agents or high-round draft choices (more on Bruce Carter later). The bad news is that because of the ongoing salary cap issues and the consequent inability to pay expensive free agents, they have more needs than they can expect to fill in one draft.

Expect to see the Cowboys brain trust to draft at least a few players in the early rounds that fit Rob Ryan’s scheme.

Click on the link to begin reading an evaluation of the Dallas Cowboys’ Front 5.

Spoiler Alert: Most of you will not like what I have to say about Anthony Spencer.

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DeMarcus Ware might be the best in the world at getting to the quarterback. Mr. QB Killa wasn’t half the QB killa that Ware has been since he came into the league. In addition, off the field, Ware is a class act — adopting children and such. However, since he doesn’t scream and yell, folks like Sapp will always accuse him of being a poor leader. Tony Romo has had the exact same tag slapped on him by Sapp for precisely the same reasons. But, constant vocalization has never been the requirement of a leader. Not to mention, Sapp never played with either player. How does he know? Anything he’s been told off the record is one sided hearsay. (more…)

However, in a 3-4, outside linebackers are asked to do a lot more than just put their hand in the dirt and rush the passer; they must be able to set the edge against the run and have fluid enough hips, so they can drop back into pass-coverage and shadow a tight end, or follow a running back out into the flat.

The elite outside linebackers can do it all. They aren’t a one-trick pony that can rush the passer, but disappear in the running game. They’re dominant players that must be accounted for every snap they are on the field.

5. Shaun Phillips

Phillips does everything an outside linebacker needs to do, and does it well. He can get to the quarterback – not a double-digit sack player, but he’ll create pressure; he can set the edge against the run, and slide out into the flat and cover a running back or tight end. What sets Phillips apart from most other outside linebackers, are the plays he makes that go unnoticed. Phillips batted down four passes at the line of scrimmage in ’09 and had an astounding seven forced fumbles credited to his name.

4. Elvis Dumervil

I’ve contradicted myself by putting Dumervil on this list. His 5’11”, 248lb frame is not suited for dominating offensive tackles at the point of attack. Dumervil is much better suited to using his speed and agility to get around tackles and make plays in the backfield, which is what he did in ’09 to the tune of 17 sacks, leading the NFL. What Dumervil lacks in defending the run, he makes up for with pure pass-rushing ability, which is why he has forced himself onto this list.

3. James Harrison

Harrison is getting up there in age (32), but is still an effective pass-rusher and excels at clogging rushing lanes. Whether or not a back runs his way, Harrison will find a way to track the runner down and give them a hit to remember. He isn’t nicknamed ‘Silverback’ for nothing. Harrison’s not exactly nimble in pass coverage, however, it will take a long time for this deficiency to wear thin on fans, after that interception he returned 100+ yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl 43.

2. LaMarr Woodley

Woodley has some of the biggest and strongest legs in the NFL – including lineman. He’s a phenomenal pass-rusher, who uses great leverage to get underneath a tackle’s pad level, and then use his brute strength to drive them back into the quarterback. Playing on the strongside of the Steelers’ defense – and opposite to James Harrison – Woodley has to deal with a lot of plays being run directly at him. Due to his great strength and ability to shed would-be-blockers, though, running backs seldom find the open field. Woodley is also rather competent in pass coverage; regularly slipping out into the flat and shadowing a back or tight end with relative success.

1. DeMarcus Ware

Without a doubt, DeMarcus Ware is the best 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. His repertoire of pass-rushing moves is second to none. Couple that with his freakish athleticism and ability to track down plays from the back-end, and there is no other outside linebacker in the game that has as big of an impact. Ware rarely drops into coverage, but when he does, he’s fluid enough to run with a tight end up the field and contest the catch. Ware did have a bit of a drop-off in his number of sacks last season (11), but still led the league in quarterback pressures with 56; 20 more than the next player Tamba Haili (Kansas City Chiefs), proving that Ware is still a dominant and consistent pass-rusher.

(On the fringe: Anthony Spencer (DAL) and Clay Matthews (GB)).

Martin Long

You can follow me on twitter @TLH_Long