A Quiet, Nasty Upgrade

xwalker

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Let’s understand one thing though....I wouldn’t say physical limitations are what hurt this defense last year. They had no idea what their assignments were and they looked like they didn’t even have any confidence in what they were playing. So until I see this unit actually play smart and know what they’re doing? I can’t say anything is fixed.

Both.

I agree that they had enough physical talent to have been much better; however, due to injuries they did end up with some physical limitations in some areas.

The #1 issue was definitely busted assignments; however, having CB Daryl Worley isolated in coverage on OBJ at the goal-line was a pure physical limitation.

Away from the endzone, Worley is a guy than can play zone or man-under and use physicality and good technique to be "good enough" to get a team though a few games as the #2 CB; however, he had no chance when matched up against OBJ with zero help.

The #1 issue with Mike Nolan was not really his scheme. It was that he couldn't get buy-in from the players and his staff couldn't get them to the point of knowing their assignments.

Nolan has an argument on the sideline with Sean Lee...
- He clashed with the normally easy going Brandon Carr.

Poe knew his assignments but was just too fat. When rested he looked good for a couple of plays, but would then just start leaning on OL due to being gassed.

Jaylon was the worst in terms of being completely clueless in Nolan's defense.

Offenses would repeatedly force him to make a decision on staying inside or getting outside vs the run, and Jaylon made the wrong decision about 99% of the time.
- He would end up in no-man's land between inside or outside and was a non-factor regardless of whether the RB stayed inside or cut to the outside on Jaylon's side.

Jaylon has enough physical ability to be OK.
- He'll never be what he was in college, but very few off-ball LBs in the NFL have ever had that level of athletic ability.
- Dan Quinn and his coaching staff have to figure out how to use Jaylon or they have to bench him. They can't win if he plays like last season.
 

xwalker

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Woody was a LB in college converted to a S by design.

Cox would have to get better at getting off blocks, his toughest challenge, to be converted to S but at his size, I'd like to see it. Be in the vein of Atwater and Fulcher. Freight train S's.

Darren Woodson elite physical ability even as compared to top NFL Safeties past and present.

Some seasons he moved down to Nickel CB when they were in Nickel and was better at NCB than any CB the Cowboys have had at that position in the past decade.

He had the ability to be an elite FS, SS or NCB and probably could have beaten out Dixon Edwards if they had wanted him to play LB.
 

stilltheguru

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Quote yourself and me in the same post if you want me to know which reply that you are referencing.
Lol who do you think you're talking to? Check your alerts. Dline thread. Humor me how Hill was our best dline player before he got hurt. Need a good Sunday laugh
 

Beaker42

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I think the plan will have Cox/Lve as our coverage linebackers, Parsons/Jaylon more as the run/box players and Neal to do a mixture of them both.
LVE as a coverage backer? Nope. Cox/Parsons as cover LB’s and Smith/LVE on run downs.
 

Cowboyny

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LVE as a coverage backer? Nope. Cox/Parsons as cover LB’s and Smith/LVE on run downs.
Lve was the team's best coverage linebacker prior to last season. He has the length and balls skills. Parsons is going to be a more downhill player at least in yr 1 as he needs development in that area. Neal will also factor in as think Jaylon is the one who comes off the field the most.
 

Hawkeye19

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Jaylon was the worst in terms of being completely clueless in Nolan's defense.

- Dan Quinn and his coaching staff have to figure out how to use Jaylon or they have to bench him. They can't win if he plays like last season.

This.

I am hoping a return to a more familiar scheme benefits Jaylon, but I think he is gone after this season.

Not only was he unable to understand his assignments last year— when confronted with his poor play, he told the media to “watch the tape” ergo he believes he is ACTUALLY PLAYING GOOD BALL!

Hopefully competition and a clear role brings out the best in Jaylon. At least we have better options to put on the field if we need to bench him this year
 

CCBoy

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We may see them line up showing one thing, and they move into another look. Depending the offensive look. Or once the offense is set, change it up.

Could they flip between S & LB right before the snap?
Flexibility and forcing an opponent will improve. That means more turn-overs and sacks as well.
 

atlantacowboy

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What kind of impact are rookies going to realistically have?

Our biggest potential upgrade is Dan Quinn’s scheme. Not the 20 & 21 year olds.




The key to Dallas being good again:

1. Oline and Zeke need to be great

2. Keep the defense off the field and when they are on it make offenses drive down the field and earn points and don’t give up big plays.

3. Dak needs to pass less. The offense needs to look more like a machine and less of a freestyle Dak show that can’t beat decent teams.

I don't even think you can depend on Quinn to turn the worst defense in cowboy history into something respectable in his first year playing mostly with players he inherited. We need another draft to address the DL.
 

CATCH17

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I don't even think you can depend on Quinn to turn the worst defense in cowboy history into something respectable in his first year playing mostly with players he inherited. We need another draft to address the DL.

I do.

I think there is a style of play in the NFL that any team can play and put out a decent defense.

Just play soft coverage and make teams settle for field goals.. Bend don't break.

They may still be a trash defense on the field but I think the stat geeks will say our defense is much improved if Quinn plays this way.

We just need to cut out the big plays and that can be done fairly easy IMO.
 

atlantacowboy

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I do.

I think there is a style of play in the NFL that any team can play and put out a decent defense.

Just play soft coverage and make teams settle for field goals.. Bend don't break.

They may still be a trash defense on the field but I think the stat geeks will say our defense is much improved if Quinn plays this way.

We just need to cut out the big plays and that can be done fairly easy IMO.

If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it. "Bend don't break" is a cliche not a defense. My expectations are tempered. I see a lot of rookies and castoffs. Maybe a miracle will occur and they will come together into a cohesive unit.
 

CATCH17

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If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it. "Bend don't break" is a cliche not a defense. My expectations are tempered. I see a lot of rookies and castoffs. Maybe a miracle will occur and they will come together into a cohesive unit.

Most teams are doing that.

Only the foolish teams play man to man a lot.

NFL Defense is just a lot of soft zone coverage these days. Play off and make QB's play with patience and not give up big plays.

You can sit in a cover 3 defense and make the QB either constantly check it down or take some risky throws down the seems and I think that is what we will do.

FS will sit deep.

Corners will have 1 job.. Don't let the WR get behind you.

SS and OLB will cover underneath the corners.

So QB's will just have to constantly check down or make risky throws down the seams if they are feeling feisty.
 

Coogiguy03

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On passing downs, we can now deploy Neal and Cox instead of Lee/Smith.

We stand to see stickier coverage on TEs and RBs than we have seen in a loooong time. Of course this may directly result in more PBUs and INTs at LBer— but here is what excites me even more if Neal and Cox are successful:

No more easy throws to the flats or the soft parts of the zone. With Cox/Neal patrolling at LBer— QBs will be forced to make more difficult throws elsewhere, or fit balls into tighter windows. Or simply hold onto the ball a tick longer

More pressure. More sacks. More INTs. More fumbles.

For too long QBs have been able to make easy reads and throws to RBs and TEs....that can potentially change now with Cox and Neal as our nickel backers.

tenor.gif

Lee???
 

CowboyRoy

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If people think the Cowboys are going to rely on rookies next season they are sadly mistaken. There will come a time where they will get Jaylon off the field on passing downs but that time is no time soon. Parsons is probably the only guy I can see them relying on this year as far as rookies go. Then depending on how the season goes we may see more reps to the rookies .
I think Joseph starts. If he doesn’t why draft him?
 

TheMarathonContinues

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I think Joseph starts. If he doesn’t why draft him?
I think for the future. He will get reps but I do not see him starting. I can't see him starting over Lewis or Diggs...I think Anthony Brown will be our slot corner honestly...its early this is just how I see it....if Lewis is the slot then I can see possible more time for Joseph.
 

CowboyRoy

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I think for the future. He will get reps but I do not see him starting. I can't see him starting over Lewis or Diggs...I think Anthony Brown will be our slot corner honestly...its early this is just how I see it....if Lewis is the slot then I can see possible more time for Joseph.
Diggs is the other side. It’s either brown or Joseph. They started diggs last year with no offseason. I’ll bet Joseph starts by at least the 3rd week if not first.
 

TheMarathonContinues

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Diggs is the other side. It’s either brown or Joseph. They started diggs last year with no offseason. I’ll bet Joseph starts by at least the 3rd week if not first.
They did but they went into camp and based on reports Diggs was their best cornerback. If Joseph comes out of camp as the best corner then I can see that but he's more raw than Diggs is.
 

CowboyRoy

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They did but they went into camp and based on reports Diggs was their best cornerback. If Joseph comes out of camp as the best corner then I can see that but he's more raw than Diggs is.

I’ll take that bet. I’ll say by game #3 if not first game.
 
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