How many players away from a legit championship level D?

[ghst187]

3.

Run stuffing DT. This is a much improved position from years past. But we still are vulnerable up the middle.
MLB. LVE is garbage
Free Safety. Still need a ballhawk and somebody who can tackle

this 100%

 

[JoeKing]

The D is there if the offense will do their part.

 

[TheHerd]

Question.. Who is this team that has a championship level D you speak of?

Dallas can defend as good as anyone in this league RIGHT NOW.

Patriots? Cardinals? Bills? All those are certainly light years ahead of us. We let up 25 yard plays at a near record setting level.

 

[CATCH17]

Patriots? Cardinals? Bills? All those are certainly light years ahead of us. We let up 25 yard plays at a near record setting level.

Cardinals can’t stop the run.

The other 2 are AFC teams so they can battle it over there.

 

[MoistMayonnaise]

So who is going to compile all this and send it to Jerry? If no one volonteers I can wrap it in a PDF and forward.

 

[TheHerd]

Cardinals can’t stop the run.

The other 2 are AFC teams so they can battle it over there.

Cardinals are amazing enough against the pass that their run D isn't a real problem.

 

[CATCH17]

Cardinals are amazing enough against the pass that their run D isn't a real problem.

And we’re amazing at creating turnovers and keeping point totals reasonable.

We play good solid defense and we have a lot of guys capable of making huge plays in a game and it only gets better from here with the health of Gregory & Lawrence.

 

[TheHerd]

And we’re amazing at creating turnovers and keeping point totals reasonable.

We play good solid defense and we have a lot of guys capable of making huge plays in a game and it only gets better from here with the health of Gregory & Lawrence.

If we're completely healthy, after adding Hill and Galimore, and maybe I'm with you. I just don't like the big plays. Too easy sometimes for teams too flare a TE screen and get 25. LVE.

 

[MapleLeaf]

We need another LB. I’m not sure whether I’d prefer a thumper or an athletic sideline to sideline LB to go with Parsons. Cox might be the sideline to sideline type that’s good in coverage. I hate that he got injured. We also need a big run stuffing DT. I hope Bohanna can be that. He’s only a rookie and hopefully will develop into a force. Time will tell.

This would be my #1 need for the defence. We need a complement for Parsons when he lines us as LB. I see us mostly in 2 LB sets. This player would swing in to work with Cox when Parsons heads to the D-line to do his magic.

Having three LBs for a dual LB sets is what we need. If we can have either Cox or new guy take on the QB duties on defence, this will free up Micah to do his thing.

 

[BourbonBalz]

This would be my #1 need for the defence. We need a complement for Parsons when he lines us as LB. I see us mostly in 2 LB sets. This player would swing in to work with Cox when Parsons heads to the D-line to do his magic.

Having three LBs for a dual LB sets is what we need. If we can have either Cox or new guy take on the QB duties on defence, this will free up Micah to do his thing.

Yeah, like I posted in this thread, I’d love a Rolondo McClain type (without the drug issues LOL) but those guys are pretty hard to find.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

So in other words the players we have need to play better next year. Bohanna the space eater. Joseph opposite of Diggs. Wilson or Brown at FS. And Cox as the three down LB that can do it all.


If the young guns step up their game, next year, we're a championship defense.

 

[Clove]

Parsons and Diggs are play-makers, we need one more on defense, whether on the line, the linebacking area or DB area.

 

[xwalker]

Let's assume, Dan Quinn doesn't leave for another HC position. What is still needed to transform this defense into championship level?

Although the scheme has changed, let's go look back at the legion of boom personnel in Seattle where Quinn was their DC:

DE-Avril, Bennett (Gregory, DLaw if both are back are comparable, think DLaw can kick inside as well)
DT-McDaniel, Mebane (more space eater run players then pass rushers, Osa fits, need for another one)

LB-Wagner, Wright, Smith (1 superstar, 1 good linebacker who can play all the spots, need that 2nd LB)

CB-Sherman, Maxwell (We have Diggs who is a ballhawk like Sherman, jury is out if we have our other starting corner on the roster, keep in mind we are more of a man press scheme now)

S-Earl Thomas, Chancellor (I believe Kearse is a similar player to Cam, can do it all inside the box, yes, we need a legit FS and doesn't have to be as good as Earl.

Based this comparison, summary of what I believe is needed to make this D into championship level:

-Need to resign both Gregory and Kearse. Figure out how to also retain DLaw.
-Find another quality space eater for the interior of the DL
-Draft a quality LB who can play next to Parsons, but also has the ability to multiple LB positions
-Need another star DB and a quality role player, doesn't matter which position

2 key pieces at LB/DB and a few good role players

They already have the players if everyone gets and stays healthy.

A championship defense does not mean an All-Pro at all positions.

Go look at the early nineties rosters.

They didn't have All-Pro types at all positions on defense.

I think the 93 defense only had 3 players that ever made 1st team All-Pro.

Look at the Chiefs Super Bowl winning defensive roster:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/2019_roster.htm

Yes DT Chris Jones is a great player but would you take him over Micah Parsons if you had that option?

 

[75boyz]

Defenses rarely carry a team. QBs do.

Dallas has a defense that’s as good as anyone’s. Whatever we lack defensively we more than makeup with playmaking.

I believe Dallas has a "good enough" to win a trophy NFL type defense this year.

Dallas's returning injured will make their unit as good as any.

Tampa's fully healthy front 7 is excellent but I don't think their secondary is all that.

Hot runs by the SB d-lines of the Giants in '07 or '11 is kinda the type of pass rush impact I'm dying to see from this Dallas group once they've all returned.

If the secondary can continue playing good opportunistic coverage and Parsons can keep being Parsons, the only thing missing would be a strong and consistent pass rush to make these previously mentioned things happen.

It all starts up front.

They have enough to get the job done this year.

jmo

 

[Fredbeard]

They already have the players if everyone gets and stays healthy.

A championship defense does not mean an All-Pro at all positions.

Go look at the early nineties rosters.

They didn't have All-Pro types at all positions on defense.

I think the 93 defense only had 3 players that ever made 1st team All-Pro.

Look at the Chiefs Super Bowl winning defensive roster:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/2019_roster.htm

Yes DT Chris Jones is a great player but would you take him over Micah Parsons if you had that option?

If I'm remembering correctly wasn't the cowboys defense in the early 90s called the " no name defense"

 

[Daillest88]

They need another LB and S and possibly CB. I'm tempted to mention DT but Gallimore/Hill could be the answer

Honestly I wanna see more of Wilson and kearse together. Defense looked great with those 2 back there.

LB , CB(till Joseph proves himself and DT (hill and gallimore and Osa still have time to prove that this season.

 

[plasticman]

Zero.

We got that by the end of December barring further injuries.

Two Pro Bowl level DE's that can get to the QB

At least three young highly drafted solid DT's that are only going to get better over the next several seasons.

A generational, almost certain future HOFer LB with the power of a D-lineman and the speed of a DB.

CB's that include a league leading ball hawk with a couple potential ones that go into their 2nd season next year.

Three or four physical safeties that also make some big plays.

A DC that hasn't even begun to explore the possibilities of the starting defensive line healthy for the first time, not to mention his use of Parsons.

Believe it or not, this team has a defense that no one has seen until next Sunday.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Let's assume, Dan Quinn doesn't leave for another HC position. What is still needed to transform this defense into championship level?

Although the scheme has changed, let's go look back at the legion of boom personnel in Seattle where Quinn was their DC:

DE-Avril, Bennett (Gregory, DLaw if both are back are comparable, think DLaw can kick inside as well)
DT-McDaniel, Mebane (more space eater run players then pass rushers, Osa fits, need for another one)

LB-Wagner, Wright, Smith (1 superstar, 1 good linebacker who can play all the spots, need that 2nd LB)

CB-Sherman, Maxwell (We have Diggs who is a ballhawk like Sherman, jury is out if we have our other starting corner on the roster, keep in mind we are more of a man press scheme now)

S-Earl Thomas, Chancellor (I believe Kearse is a similar player to Cam, can do it all inside the box, yes, we need a legit FS and doesn't have to be as good as Earl.

Based this comparison, summary of what I believe is needed to make this D into championship level:

-Need to resign both Gregory and Kearse. Figure out how to also retain DLaw.
-Find another quality space eater for the interior of the DL
-Draft a quality LB who can play next to Parsons, but also has the ability to multiple LB positions
-Need another star DB and a quality role player, doesn't matter which position

2 key pieces at LB/DB and a few good role players

Good breakdown, I think you named it. Need interior DL, another LB to pair with Parsons, and a starting caliber CB opposite Diggs.

I think we are probably 1-2 years away from having a defense that can truly contend for a championship.

 

[Cowboyny]

They already have the players if everyone gets and stays healthy.

A championship defense does not mean an All-Pro at all positions.

Go look at the early nineties rosters.

They didn't have All-Pro types at all positions on defense.

I think the 93 defense only had 3 players that ever made 1st team All-Pro.

Look at the Chiefs Super Bowl winning defensive roster:
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/2019_roster.htm

Yes DT Chris Jones is a great player but would you take him over Micah Parsons if you had that option?

I still believe we need to upgrade a few spots, now they don't have to be stars, but better role players. Think Quinn has done a tremendous job with bringing in a more modern scheme and winning with a mash unit up front.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

DT, FS, and Lb.