What will it take for Dallas to have the most dominating Defense in the League? - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Roughneck · 06-02-2004

I think most people here would agree with the fact that, while the Cowboys' Defense was ranked #1, Dallas did not have the best Defense in the NFL last season. I'd probably give the nod to New England. However even if you do believe that statistics prove everything and that the Cowboys' Defense was indeed the best last year, you can contribute too. I ask you, "How do the Cowboys make sure they keep that ranking?"

Aside from the continued development of our young players (RW, Newman, etc.) and the experienced leadership of our veterans (Woodie, Coakley, etc.), I think we are still 3 or 4 moves away from being at the top.

First off, and most importantly, we have to get somebody opposite of #41 who can play the CB position and play it well. Edwards was an unbelievably weak link in last year's Defense and I'm only too happy to see him go. I would love if Hunter could fill this role, as it would save Jones and Parcells from going out and trying to sign a Veteran CB. I just don't know if Pete is ready to handle such a large role yet.

Secondly, we must get some depth in our LB corp. Face it, Dallas is a couple of injuries away from having the heart of the Defense ripped out and jumped on. James stepping up and proving to be the player we all know he is capable of being will help, but I'd like to see Jones and Parcells go pick up 1 or 2 other LBs this summer. No need to get a Big Name (i.e. Gildon), lunch-and-pale type of guys will do just fine.

Finally, how about a proven DT that we can setup across from Glover? I like Willie Blade and would be thrilled if he could lock down the other starting spot but I just don't think it is going to happen. Give me even a journeyman DT who can hold his own and I'll give you one hell of a front four with Ellis, Wiley (rejuvenated, of course), Glover, and said DT.

I also think that Roy moving over to SS, his natural position, would help tremendously. Allowing RW to creep up to the line on a regular basis would scare the **** out of any QB and allow him to cause all sorts of havoc/mayhem. The Problem is that move doesn't seem likely until Woodie decides to ride into the sunset. Luckily, I think Keith Davis is going to be given every opportunity to cement himself as a fixture at FS during training camp. If he proves himself worthy, the Cowboys could be set at Safety for years to come.

Hostile · 06-02-2004

I think we could get there if we added say Albert Haynesworth and Ty Law to the current defense. We need to be able to stuff the run, harass the QB, and force turnovers. Roy Williams needs to play strong safety. Bradie James needs to see more plays especially on passing downs.

I think we need 40+ sacks to even be considered.

I think we need 20+ interceptions and 15+ fumble recoveries.

I think we need to hold opponents under 15 points per game.

Those things could make us a dominant defense.

BadKarma · 06-02-2004

I agree. We need guys who can collapse the pocket. We need pass rushers, like a Haley type end. We also need guys who can force turnovers, whether its interceptions or through fumbles.

cowboysfan31 · 06-02-2004

I think something that would really help this defense become more dominant would be to experiment in the 3-4. I know Parcells said that we will but if the 3-4 could be our base for about 30% of the plays it would drastically improve. We could use someone like Shaun Smith, Leonardo Carson, or Willie Blade as the NT then go with Glover as one DE and let Wiley and Ellis alternate at the other. In the LB corp I would keep Nguyen and Singleton as the middle backers, bring in James for Coakley and let Darrell Lee or Kalen Thornton be the 4th backer. The DL would maintain a decent output but the 4th backer would really improve sacks, tfl and stats of that nature.

blindzebra · 06-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboysfan31

I think something that would really help this defense become more dominant would be to experiment in the 3-4. I know Parcells said that we will but if the 3-4 could be our base for about 30% of the plays it would drastically improve. We could use someone like Shaun Smith, Leonardo Carson, or Willie Blade as the NT then go with Glover as one DE and let Wiley and Ellis alternate at the other. In the LB corp I would keep Nguyen and Singleton as the middle backers, bring in James for Coakley and let Darrell Lee or Kalen Thornton be the 4th backer. The DL would maintain a decent output but the 4th backer would really improve sacks, tfl and stats of that nature.

Teams would kill us running the football if we went 3-4. We are not big enough in our front 7.

blindzebra · 06-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

I think we could get there if we added say Albert Haynesworth and Ty Law to the current defense. We need to be able to stuff the run, harass the QB, and force turnovers. Roy Williams needs to play strong safety. Bradie James needs to see more plays especially on passing downs.

I think we need 40+ sacks to even be considered.

I think we need 20+ interceptions and 15+ fumble recoveries.

I think we need to hold opponents under 15 points per game.

Those things could make us a dominant defense.

Ellis moving to RE should help.

I'm thinking Ellis 10-12 sacks, Glover 8-10, Wiley 6-8, with another 8-10 from Blade, Carson, Ogbogu and Coleman. That's 32-40 from the DL with another 10-15
coming from blitzes.

INTs and fumbles would be helped by the rush and if our offense can score more, letting Zimmer gamble more on D.

cowboysfan31 · 06-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by blindzebra

Teams would kill us running the football if we went 3-4. We are not big enough in our front 7.

I think that we could have success against the run in the 3-4 as well. We don't have anyone Ted Washington's size to plug up the middle but the 3 I mentioned all have adequate size and strength to play NT. Glover surely has enough size for a 3-4 end and both Wiley and Ellis have decent size for the position as well. If they don't we can always use Kenyon Coleman. In the LBs the only one that may be undersized out of the ones I named was Nguyen. I was hoping that Fowler could have stayed with the team because he could have helped but Nguyen does have the speed to play the run even in the 3-4 and should be fine. Also with the way we use our safties I don't think that we'd be running a huge risk in the running game.

**BrAinPaiNt** · 06-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

I think we could get there if we added say Albert Haynesworth and Ty Law to the current defense. We need to be able to stuff the run, harass the QB, and force turnovers. Roy Williams needs to play strong safety. Bradie James needs to see more plays especially on passing downs.

I think we need 40+ sacks to even be considered.

I think we need 20+ interceptions and 15+ fumble recoveries.

I think we need to hold opponents under 15 points per game.

Those things could make us a dominant defense.

BP sends Hos a cyber slap for mentioning the name Alberta Haynesworth....Just so no to Alberta Hos...Just say No....or you will receive a nice brown flaming baggie on your doorstep one morning.

**MichaelWinicki** · 06-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

BP sends Hos a cyber slap for mentioning the name Alberta Haynesworth....Just so no to Alberta Hos...Just say No....or you will receive a nice brown flaming baggie on your doorstep one morning.

Brain, I think Hos has been spending too much time over at Nor's house.

hockix · 06-02-2004

If we want to have a dominent defense this year we would need to get:

Gildon (I'm not sure the spelling) alternate with Singleton.
Trade for Mackenzie or Law.
And get a real FS (why not Hunter), playing Williams only as SS.

A good DT would help, but we can't have everything.

That would be a pretty good defense.

Doomsday101 · 06-02-2004

Cowboys just need a solid pass rush and that will take some pressure off the CB and it will help create the much needed turnovers.

Hostile · 06-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

BP sends Hos a cyber slap for mentioning the name Alberta Haynesworth....Just so no to Alberta Hos...Just say No....or you will receive a nice brown flaming baggie on your doorstep one morning.

It was a big DT who has been rumored to be available. Daryl Gardener has already agreed to go to the Bengals. Couldn't use him and couldn't come up with another name at DT.

Hostile · 06-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Brain, I think Hos has been spending too much time over at Nor's house.

Oh sure, kick me in the nads.

**MichaelWinicki** · 06-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

Oh sure, kick me in the nads.

I was kidding Hos!

Plus I think Brain's over there all the time anyway, so there isn't enough time for you.

Chocolate Lab · 06-02-2004

Wiley needs to step up and play like he did a few years ago.

Blade, Stewart, Brooks, and Carson need to continue improving. Especially Blade -- if he can play like he did the 1st half of the season all year, we'll be in great shape. Stewart needs to play like he did early in the season as well.

Coleman's play on the field need to catch up to his physical talent.

And Bradie James needs to see the field some.

Basically, both the play and the depth of our front seven needs to continue to improve, and I think it will. I think that Coleman and two of the young DTs will really come on this year. Just having higher quality second-line players to give the starters more rest will be a huge help.