Starting Positions on Defense

[xwalker]

it's a different animal in NFL than it is in college. The level of competition, techniques, strength, speed ratio, pace and nuisances of the game is just two worlds apart.
what you could get away with at Central Florida is a different matter in NFL.
it's a reason why he struggled so badly as a rookie beyond just Marinelli.

- Poe didn't play anything when he was in there - whether 1 tech or NT, he proved out of fumes the minute he lined up Game 1. The effort and motor just was never there.
Even the mediocre coaches there could not wait to get rid of him per mid season.
To show how much of a utter mess it was with 2020 coaches, Tomsula had Gallimore playing 1 tech, while Woods tried to play 3 tech.

- Hill even played some 1 tech his rookie year, whether per injury (ala Woods.. again) for lack of depth, but playing and excelling is two different things.
Marinelli (reluctantly?) activated and played him because he was running out of bodies

Marinelli had Hill practice and play preseason games only at 3tech.

When Hill played during the regular season, almost all snaps were at 1tech...

It's an odd way to get a rookie up to speed.

 

[xwalker]

Frankly the problem with hill is between the ears. We shall see if he has straightened out. A DT without discipline and doing his job is worthless.

That's a fan/media narrative.

Very few fans have actually studied the game footage or the All-22 coaches film. Most fans just parrot what other fans or media have said.

 

[Sydla]

That's a fan/media narrative.

Very few fans have actually studied the game footage or the All-22 coaches film. Most fans just parrot what other fans or media have said.

What's a fan narrative? He clearly had some maturity issues his rookie year which some said affected his play. He was sent home from a practice at one point (and there were other stories about him as a rookie). He apparently was better his 2nd year in terms of preparation and focus prior to getting injured.

 

[conner01]

DL may be gone no matter what considering his upcoming cap figures. If he shows he doesn't have much left, that'll limit his options and leverage.

Gallimore entered my mind as well, but he will get buried on the depth chart if he doesn't play well early on.

Either way....if most of these guys arent motivated this year, I dont know if they ever will be. I expect to see a fiery defense that plays as a unit....something we have been missing for a very long time.

It would cost too much to cut DL this year
But after this year that changes and unless he has a good year it could well be his last

 

[conner01]

That's a fan/media narrative.

Very few fans have actually studied the game footage or the All-22 coaches film. Most fans just parrot what other fans or media have said.

I’m sure you’ve watched
How did you see his play

 

[fivetwos]

It would cost too much to cut DL this year
But after this year that changes and unless he has a good year it could well be his last

Yep, meant after this year. My fault if not clear.

 

[Cowboyny]

Reportedly Mike Nolan was trying to convince Richards to stay as his DB coach, but as you can imagine Richard was probably bitter in not being considered as Cowboys new DC.
He's tried to gain a DC job instead of the same ole DB coach role but without success. Apparently he misses coaches too much to continue not coaching at all in some capacity.

What cannot happen with Trevor is coaches trying to have Diggs act like Lester Hayes that up close to the WR and expect him to run 50-60 yards hip to hip downfield.
The best coaches play to their players' skill set and strengths, not trying to make players into something that they are not.

If Diggs was a mess, it was probably because his 2020 coaches lead him to be a mess. I'm pretty sure like other defenders his head was spinning on a swivel,
and had to fight thru occasional shaky play and injuries. But even as a rookie, he never went into a shell with those struggles, and occasionally flashed the player and playmaker
the Cowboys thought he could be when he was drafted in 2nd round.

Quinn wants to have his defense to play fast, be instinctive and not be thinking too much. We are going to see a lot of press/bail technique from our outside corners in the cover 3. This will allow our corners to face the QB and make more plays on the football. Certainly, they will mix in some other coverages, even play some man at times, but Diggs is an ideal fit for the position in this scheme.

I really think for this team to have success, we are going to have to be like that Saint Defense several years ago, one of the better units taking the ball away. We have legitimate ball hawks now, more so then we have had in years. If you can only stop the run with some consistency, get teams into passing situations, the turnovers should come.

 

[quickccc]

Quinn wants to have his defense to play fast, be instinctive and not be thinking too much. We are going to see a lot of press/bail technique from our outside corners in the cover 3. This will allow our corners to face the QB and make more plays on the football. Certainly, they will mix in some other coverages, even play some man at times, but Diggs is an ideal fit for the position in this scheme.

I really think for this team to have success, we are going to have to be like that Saint Defense several years ago, one of the better units taking the ball away. We have legitimate ball hawks now, more so then we have had in years. If you can only stop the run with some consistency, get teams into passing situations, the turnovers should come.

+1
I totally agree.
With this supposedly being a zone oriented coverage scheme, i tend to think we'll see just as you described it.

Some press jam at the line - and then release with these CBs,. enough to disrupt and impede the WRs initial route, balance and timing at the line .
And then either release to the WR to 2nd level of defenders or under cut them in trail positions. while they expect safety coverage over the top.

Not only is that bend but don't break concept, but facing the QB, playing the ball in zone play, allows the ball hawks to jump some routes and passes for INTs, as well as
come up with some tipped INTs off overthrown, under-cut, or dropped passes.

- I'd like to mimic the Saints or Bucs defense when it comes to being able to halt and slow the run.
That starts upfront and it certainly with their interior. Just like it's gonna start with our own interior front.
Until i see some vast improvement vs run and we physically able to change how we play defense, it's ever a question mark.

 

[Cowboyny]

+1
I totally agree.
With this supposedly being a zone oriented coverage scheme, i tend to think we'll see just as you described it.

Some press jam at the line - and then release with these CBs,. enough to disrupt and impede the WRs initial route, balance and timing at the line .
And then either release to the WR to 2nd level of defenders or under cut them in trail positions. while they expect safety coverage over the top.

Not only is that bend but don't break concept, but facing the QB, playing the ball in zone play, allows the ball hawks to jump some routes and passes for INTs, as well as
come up with some tipped INTs off overthrown, under-cut, or dropped passes.

- I'd like to mimic the Saints or Bucs defense when it comes to being able to halt and slow the run.
That starts upfront and it certainly with their interior. Just like it's gonna start with our own interior front.
Until i see some vast improvement vs run and we physically able to change how we play defense, it's ever a question mark.

I believe the success of this defense will be how they defend the run. If they continue to struggle, it is going to be very difficult to get off the field. Have to get teams into obvious passing situations. When you look at all the upgrades throughout fa and the draft, it is clear the front office wants to fix this problem area. Scheme should be better, but we need some of these young players to step up right away.

 

[quickccc]

I believe the success of this defense will be how they defend the run. If they continue to struggle, it is going to be very difficult to get off the field. Have to get teams into obvious passing situations. When you look at all the upgrades throughout fa and the draft, it is clear the front office wants to fix this problem area. Scheme should be better, but we need some of these young players to step up right away.

With a new scheme and relying on so many rookies that will need some adjustment time to the NFL offenses and pace/conditioning of the game, i can see it taking some time for it to
eventually gel together.

A lot is gonna counted on an injury prone DLaw and LVE,.. still inexperienced Gregory, bargain cheap FA rotation type in Urban, ..a converted S turn LB, and rookies being broken into in
Parson, Cox, Bohanna, Osa, and Gholston, who are gonna have to adjust to Hybrid rotation on the run too.

The in-between guys (not rookies but still game limited experienced) such as Gallimore and Hill may end up being more of a welcome pleasant surprise plus.
Both struggled vs run but hopefully they vastly improve by leaps and bounds in their next incoming year.

 

[Redball Express]

Very few starting positions have a player that is "in ink" as the starter.
- All others are either in pencil or completely unknown.

DLaw, Gregory and Diggs are the only ones I would put in ink and the exact roles of DLaw/Gregory are unknown with the 4-3/3-4 hybrid defense.

• FS: Kazee but health is a big question mark.
• SS: Wilson looked decent but he'll be re-evaluated by the new DC.
• Outside CB: Diggs and either Brown or Joseph.
• Nickel CB: If Joseph gets the starting job on the outside, then Brown compete with Lewis.
  • Brown has always won the Nickel job over Lewis.
• Off Ball LB: 2 spots are up in the air between 4 players.
  • The hybrid defense makes it hard to predict exact roles.
• 4-man DE / 3-4 OLB: DLaw and Gregory.
• 3-4 DE: Urban at 3-4 DE is the only one close to being a certainty.
• 3tech DT: Could be 1 a several players. Hill or Gallimore most likely.
  • It is really 2 positions because they often play two 3techs on passing downs.
  • At least we know it will NOT be Crawford...
• 3-4 NT: Fans think Bohanna is a lock, however...
  • New Coordinators like to have have as many veterans on the field as possible.
  • More veterans speed up the learning curve for implementing the new scheme.
  • Don't be shocked if Trysten Hill gets the start.
  • Despite what fans believe, Hill is very strong.
  • On run plays, Hill got more attention from blockers than anyone last season.
  • He was often double-teamed even when playing 3tech or 3-4 DE.

I think our #1 pick starts at LBer. You left that off you list. Why?

 

[xwalker]

I think our #1 pick starts at LBer. You left that off you list. Why?

Off-ball LB...

 

[speedkilz88]

Gregory has mentioned that he's been getting Sam LB work in OTA's.

 

[Cowboyny]

With a new scheme and relying on so many rookies that will need some adjustment time to the NFL offenses and pace/conditioning of the game, i can see it taking some time for it to
eventually gel together.

A lot is gonna counted on an injury prone DLaw and LVE,.. still inexperienced Gregory, bargain cheap FA rotation type in Urban, ..a converted S turn LB, and rookies being broken into in
Parson, Cox, Bohanna, Osa, and Gholston, who are gonna have to adjust to Hybrid rotation on the run too.

The in-between guys (not rookies but still game limited experienced) such as Gallimore and Hill may end up being more of a welcome pleasant surprise plus.
Both struggled vs run but hopefully they vastly improve by leaps and bounds in their next incoming year.

We just need role players to do their job. Can Urban tie up multiple blockers to allow our linebackers to play more clean? Will he at least match Crawford's type of production a few years ago? What can we expect out of our DL rookies, they all were considered high end run players?

Definitely going to be growing pains, but the hope is as the season progresses they continue to get better with more experience.

 

[Verdict]

Marinielli had all players sign that contract. It was only publicized with regards to Hill because the media wanted to pile-on with regards to the fan narrative about Hill.

Team don't expect 2nd round pick to be starters in year 1. Hill was starting in year 2.

Marinelli said that effort was not an issue with Hill. The issue was that Hill was slow to adapt technique / play-style to meet Marinelli's requirements.

Hill had been taught was his original college coaches to play the run first with pass rushing as an afterthought.

Marinelli wanted the exact opposite.

Where have you been brother? You have been too quiet lately.

 

[gimmesix]

Trystan Hill haters won't like this.
Then again they never like anything.

Hill was having a decent start last season until his injury. I still have not seen much as to his recovery this year.

Hill is going to have to learn to stay low and keep his body square if he's going to play NT. He was part of that atrocious front against the run last year because he has a habit of coming out of his stance tall and allowing linemen to get into his body and turn him. This lets any double-team slough off him fast to get to the linebackers.

Frankly, if he plays like he did last year when he was out there, I don't see him making the team unless the rest of the DTs are just bad.

 

[CCBoy]

Tristen Hill seems likely to be a dicey decision for Dan Quinn and the staff to render. It may well depend largely upon how he performs in TC. He's on the bubble, from the looks of things. Let's see how his performance goes, once TC is in the books. His status is clearly undecided, at this time. We'll see.

Lol...here's the concept at play:

Organization of the defense is more intense this season and the talents of respective players are being managed to fit better in schemes.

From now to the start of the season. players need to start contributing in a noticeable way...as this set of coaches are proactive, but want to win some games, now.

 

[CCBoy]

https://sports.yahoo.com/dan-quinn-leighton-vander-esch-110748815.html



After the Cowboys declined to pick up their option on Leighton Vander Esch‘s contract for the 2022 season and drafted Micah Parsons in the first round, Vander Esch said he was not any more motivated than usual while getting ready for a contract year in Dallas.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was hired this year, so he hasn’t been around Vander Esch in previous offseasons. That may be why his read on how Vander Esch is preparing for the fall sounds quite different than the linebacker’s own assessment of his mindset.


We'll all see just how 'insightful' that this player is right now...I recall a previous linebacker, Bobby Carpenter, who was talented and naive in his own approach. Let's just see here.

 

[CCBoy]

The plan was to show different fronts so the QB wouldn’t know what’s coming as was often the valid complaint lobbed at the previous regime’s Cover 3 defense...

The drafting of Kentucky’s Quinton Bohanna, No. 98, is proof that new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is determined to keep with that tactic. Here is a look at the first true zero-tech NT ever drafted in the Will McClay regime, and the only player the Cowboys have who truly fits that odd-man front role.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/kentucky-dt-quinton-bohanna-plug-115808481.html

 

[CCBoy]

https://sports.yahoo.com/dan-quinn-leighton-vander-esch-110748815.html



After the Cowboys declined to pick up their option on Leighton Vander Esch‘s contract for the 2022 season and drafted Micah Parsons in the first round, Vander Esch said he was not any more motivated than usual while getting ready for a contract year in Dallas.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was hired this year, so he hasn’t been around Vander Esch in previous offseasons. That may be why his read on how Vander Esch is preparing for the fall sounds quite different than the linebacker’s own assessment of his mindset.


We'll all see just how 'insightful' that this player is right now...I recall a previous linebacker, Bobby Carpenter, who was talented and naive in his own approach. Let's just see here.

Bohana- My physicality just fits well with the system that coach Quinn wants to run on defense." Its clear the plan is to be big and hard to move on the defensive line and be fast and physical at LB. Let this deep LB group run and hit while the DL holds up blocks.

Vander Esch should fit in nicely as well as excell...finally, with the linebackers using their best talents aggressively.