Cowboys Defensive Consistency Relies On Fixing the Secondary

[Coogiguy03]

LOL......Don't disagree at all.....just was trying to be kind on a Friday.

Much respect!!! Friday the 13th I wouldn't be too night evil may haunt you lol lol jk

 

[Coogiguy03]

The secondary doesn't matter if your Dfront can't affect the LOS.

You taught me that!!!

 

[dupree89]

damn it, POST OF THE MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks pal coog- I appreciate it

 

[Coogiguy03]

thanks pal coog- I appreciate it

You're welcome

 

[big dog cowboy]

thanks pal coog- I appreciate it

You're welcome

Get a room.

 

[starfan1]

I think the lack of pressure was more of an issue than the secondary.Don't get me wrong I believe they have regressed.They were never that good unless the front 7 was getting pressure. both of the overpaid stars (diggs and Bland ) can be exploited in coverage

Maybe theres some validity to the Eburflus system contributing but I didnt think they were much help under Zimmer either. Losing Micah hurt with the pressure aspect well see if they fix that

 

[Whirlwin]

It's really not. The DLine comes first. If you don't disrupt the LOS, your secondary won't matter.

The stuff Jerry has you believing is just amazing, and just so he can draft more CBs.

It has nothing to do with Jerry.
It’s my own regulation, you have to have both. They must work in unison
The cornerbacks have to hold up while the past rush is getting there
And the past rush has to get there so the cornerbacks don’t have to cover forever
If I was to choose, which one was more dominant

I would think it would be the skill of the coverage to allow lineman to get there so while they’re rushing, the quarterback, the quarterback can’t run our hand the ball off

How many times have we rushed the quarterback, and forgot to stop the run.

 

[dupree89]

Get a room.

 

[LysleE]

I would subscribe to the theory that a good DL and pass rush makes the secondary better.

 

[conner01]

Need a pass rush first to help make their jobs easier

We need help everywhere. We need an effective edge, much better LB’s, help at CB and a safety. The only way this works is if we fix a couple of those in FA

 

[75boyz]

IF the d line and linebackers are good to excellent, the back end does not need to be an all star cast.

 

[gtb1943]

IF the d line and linebackers are good to excellent, the back end does not need to be an all star cast.

Just competent would be a huge improvement

 

[75boyz]

I would subscribe to the theory that a good DL and pass rush makes the secondary better.

Beat me to it. I said the same.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Need a pass rush first to help make their jobs easier

We had high pressure rates in 2025 but never got home because the defensive backs couldn’t cover for more than two seconds. Maye, in some instances, had time to throw. They just didn’t have anyone open.

I would say that both pass rush and coverage are equally important.

 

[xwalker]

Obviously the previous group has aged/declined and some have been cut or probably not re-signed this offseason.
But the drop in play was so bad, I have to wonder if it was due to injuries to guys like Bland and a mix of MattE being stubborn on not adjusting to the players strengths last year.

People can hate on Diggs for a lot of reasons, but I think he did have a point about coverages and the wish for more man or match based coverages. No team runs more true man on man coverages anymore, even back to the Quinn days, but there are zone coverages that can act like man coverage. There's Man, zone, man match and zone match as the 4 basics.
https://throwdeeppublishing.com/blogs/news/dante-bartee-explains-basic-4-2-5-coverage-concepts

So, could we see a "bounce" back if Parker actually designs coverages to the personnel and not fit a square through a circle hole?

Diggs was declining due to injury and maybe the contract, but to be determined if Bland can get back to his old self and how much Revel can soak in his first true Training camp. Definitely need to stock up on a mix of depth/potential starters at corner.

Safety looks to be an unknown, with the hope Hooker could rebound with a change in DC. I think Wilson was just a step slower last year and not worth keeping. Thomas and Bell failed to show much promise last year but are still cheap to keep around.
Ideally, we go younger and more potential in a Downs level safety in the draft.
If not him, still a few other prospects, but at the trade down level IMO.

Could see Reed Blankenship as a "safe" FA to sort of cover for a retool of the safety position(s)

Richard Sherman said that if coaches had forced him to play the same style as Revis that he would have been mediocre in the NFL.

The same concept applies to Diggs. He functioned well in Quinn's defense but couldn't play in the Eberflus defense. Even at his physical peak, I don't think he would have been good with Eberflus as the DC.

 

[xwalker]

We had high pressure rates in 2025 but never got home because the defensive backs couldn’t cover for more than two seconds. Maye, in some instances, had time to throw. They just didn’t have anyone open.

I would say that both pass rush and coverage are equally important.

Also, the Cowboys DBs had to over-focus on stopping the run because their MLB could not shutdown the run even if PeeWee Herman was the RB.

 

[Cowboys5217]

Start with pass rush, and work your way out from there.

 

[kskboys]

It has nothing to do with Jerry.
It’s my own regulation, you have to have both. They must work in unison
The cornerbacks have to hold up while the past rush is getting there
And the past rush has to get there so the cornerbacks don’t have to cover forever
If I was to choose, which one was more dominant

I would think it would be the skill of the coverage to allow lineman to get there so while they’re rushing, the quarterback, the quarterback can’t run our hand the ball off

How many times have we rushed the quarterback, and forgot to stop the run.

Of course you need both, but that wasn't the statement. The DLine is monumentally more important than the secondary.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Also, the Cowboys DBs had to over-focus on stopping the run because their MLB could not shutdown the run even if PeeWee Herman was the RB.

Fixing that one single issue alone would improve the defense big time.

 

[kskboys]

Areas of the D that are on the worst shape on the team:

1. LB. There is no close 2nd. Not sure a team has ever had worse LBs.
2. S. As usual. This position has sucked for a long long time. Desperately needs fixing.

Everything else pales compared to these 2 positions.

3. CB, edge rusher, NT. Huge question marks at those 3. If we let Clark walk, we'd need a NT, and really could use a young one to rotate in anyway. Q and Osa play the same position, pretty much.

CB: Who knows. We desperately need Revel to be decent, same w/ Bland. We simply cannot afford to throw a 1st at CB.

Edge rusher: Even if Clowney comes back, he is aging and needs to be part of a rotation. And we desperately need EZ to take the next step.