Can we rebuild defense before Dak is done?

[Diehardblues]

Impossible to tell w/ this OLE' Defense. We should be good enough on O to make a super bowl run if we can form a top 5 D.

Even a Top 10 caliber defense would be a huge improvement . I think anything in top half if our offense is Top 10 could make us playoff caliber again even if not SB caliber.

Which I think a one year total turn around on defense might be asking too much. Improving from historically worse to average to above average might be about all we can hope for in one season. And should make us more competitive .

 

[Kwyn]

You're willing to give Dak six more years, even if we stay mediocre? That's why teams should draft at QB more often, 16 years for a QB that doesn't contribute in the the playoffs on a mediocre team is as foolish as keeping Jason Garrett as Head Coach for 10 years, at some point.

I didn’t want to extend him last time. I just expect that Jerry is going to keep Dak until Dak decides to retire.

Maybe Stephen will feel differently but after next season, i think we’ll see another few years added.

 

[Diehardblues]

I didn’t want to extend him last time. I just expect that Jerry is going to keep Dak until Dak decides to retire.

Maybe Stephen will feel differently but after next season, i think we’ll see another few years added.

We’ll see. In 2 years Dak will be 35 for 2028 season.

It may depend on if we make any kind of push in playoffs in 26 or 27.

If we are sitting here in 2028 after 4 consecutive missed playoffs ,more frustration and disappointment might be difficult to sell extending Prescott again.

 

[kskboys]

Getting QW was an amazing get and although not the pass rusher Micah is, dominant in his own right. DQ had nothing but success while he was here outside of the GB debacle. My point is with the right mix and coaching it can turn around quickly in this league.

Agree.

However, Jerry has to be smart enough to acquire 5-7 new starters on D that must be at least average starters.

Q is actually even more effective that Parsons. Now we just need talent around him. We desperately need EZ to pan out.

 

[kskboys]

Looks like Cowboys are going to give Overshown the opportunity at least one more season. He showed too much promise 2 years ago before horrific injury which could turn out to be too much to overcome.

And if Bland can recover from foot injuries the same could imply . It would certainly reduce as much talent as we need to insert on defense . He and Revel could be our starting CB. Then focus on Safety in draft with 1st round. And 2nd 1st round pick edge rusher and or LB.

Certainly agree on Clark. Williams should be enough to build around. And let’s resign Clowney.

That all looks more promising than what we have. And possibly enough to begin the rebuild if we hit on draft picks . Maybe find whatever we don’t in draft in FA. Like more LB and another Safety.

Yes, but will Jerry be willing to restructure around 5 contracts? The downside to that is that in 3-4 years, those salaries will hit and it will be time to tear it down. Since Jerry is not smart enough to accept that, not sure it's feasible.

 

[kskboys]

You're willing to give Dak six more years, even if we stay mediocre? That's why teams should draft at QB more often, 16 years for a QB that doesn't contribute in the the playoffs on a mediocre team is as foolish as keeping Jason Garrett as Head Coach for 10 years, at some point.

Not up to us. Since Jerry covets his own players, he seldom lets anyone walk, unless of course they offend his fragile psyche.

 

[kskboys]

If they let go of Clark just to save the salary it was monumentally dumb to ask for him instead of an additional day two pick.

I never really understood including Clark. I do not want to let him go, but if we don't it's another salary to restructue.

What I'm terrified of is that Jerry is dumb enough to play Q at NT and not have a real NT. That has been his MO from the start, as he apparently doesn't understand the position and what it means to a D.

 

[Diehardblues]

Yes, but will Jerry be willing to restructure around 5 contracts? The downside to that is that in 3-4 years, those salaries will hit and it will be time to tear it down. Since Jerry is not smart enough to accept that, not sure it's feasible.

Yep

The defense rebuild must come together by 2027 cause without making a push in playoffs again before current Prescott contract expires could be difficult for Jethro selling another extension at age 35.

And basis of my thread. Can we get this total defensive rebuild done to make deeper push in playoffs before current Prescott contract is done.

 

[kskboys]

Yep

The defense rebuild must come together by 2027 cause without making a push in playoffs again before current Prescott contract expires could be difficult for Jethro selling another extension at age 35.

And basis of my thread. Can we get this total defensive rebuild done to make deeper push in playoffs before current Prescott contract is done.

We have a good enough O. So, the question now is if Jerry is willing to sacrifice future winning to build us into a contender for the next 2-3 years. That is what a real GM would do.

 

[fivetwos]

Yep

The defense rebuild must come together by 2027 cause without making a push in playoffs again before current Prescott contract expires could be difficult for Jethro selling another extension at age 35.

And basis of my thread. Can we get this total defensive rebuild done to make deeper push in playoffs before current Prescott contract is done.

It really is a great question.

I don’t even care if they don’t actually win it all…just be good enough to have a real shot. I’m not so sure that’s been the case since at least 2016, arguably/probably more like 2007.

The 2014 defense wasn’t nearly good enough, and don’t get me started on how hollow MMs 12 win teams were.

They can start by continuing to make better decisions. I have a very hard time believing that there’s anything other than a day by day plan in place when you have a roster that includes two first round guards, three 20m a year DTs, and possibly two 30m a year WRs, with severe weaknesses abound elsewhere.

 

[slick325]

Short answer is yes. The FO has to be willing to change their strategy as it pertains to free agency as well as who they retain with large extensions on their own roster.

Dumpster diving in latter weeks of FA and solely relying on the ability to draft land quality starters strictly through the draft has not worked.

Recently, they have ventured back into using trades of premium draft capital to land talent. That gave them Pickens and Q. Williams so I approve of the moves. But, they use mid to lower round picks on the likes of Murray, Trey Lance, Joe Milton III, Mingo, Logan Wilson, etc., who have been less than impressive or helpful in achieving on field success.

They need to be aggressive in the early part of free agency to land plus starters on defense. Get back to hitting on their 1st round players especially on defense and gamble less in round 2 on players coming off of injury or character issues causing them to drop in the draft. Also, continue to go after proven players on defense via trades. Defense can be fixed quicker than we all would guess.

 

[VaqueroTD]

No.

Marinelli rebuilt it for a brief period while we still had healthy linebackers.

Quinn rebuilt it for a few years.

Dak had his chances. Maybe not the elite defenses, but he has had some that could win him games.

 

[Whirlwin]

New England did it but Dallas isn’t New England

This defensive coordinator, I swear we have the talent last guy just sucked that bad

 

[quickccc]

Dallas doesn't need a total rebuild, just better pieces in key positions, particularly linebackers who can meet runners in the hole, oppose to watching RBs come out of the hole and then try to make a tackle in the 2nd level.

Ball hawk safety who can high point the football in the air and not in the box safeties looking clueless in single safety high coverage.

Solid edge who can keep contain on run defense and have more than a speed rush move when trying to get to the QB.

These moves wouldn't get this defense in the top 5 in the NFL per say but they'll definitely be better than Bottom 5 in the league which is inexcusable.

- we need CBs .. major question per Bland's foot issues (is it chronic ?)

- Diggs is gone, and jury is out on ACL recovering Revel

- there's no slot/3rd here since loss of Jourdan Lewis

- the LB unit is in shabbles with Marist still not consistent & Overshown not reliable to stay available - per major durability issues

- i agree with the safety role - as the Jones have been very neglective in their cheap as possible approach, and it has shown Big TIme.

- Donovan Eze will be a solid pro but are we gonna count on Rent -a- Year journeyman Clowney again ?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Considering we likely have six more years of Dak

Noooooooooo. He won't be haunting us that many more years.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I don’t take him at his word. Do you?

Actions speak louder than words. We’ll see.

I do because something is different this off season and many people are saying it too.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Clark is most likely gone. We're not going to pay him 21 mil.

There was never any intention to pay him that much.

He will redo his deal or get traded.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I didn’t want to extend him last time. I just expect that Jerry is going to keep Dak until Dak decides to retire.

Maybe Stephen will feel differently but after next season, i think we’ll see another few years added.

I think if Jerry continues to sign "project" QBs...you're right. He'll likely make sure we don't have a legit QB to take over.

 

[big dog cowboy]

What I'm terrified of is that Jerry is dumb enough to play Q at NT

Jerry isn't the HC or DC.

 

[Captain-Crash]

Why not? For years, they tried to dumb down the offense for him. How many coaches lost their jobs because they couldn't carry him? sheesh. He's the best.........I hope we can draft a couple of number one offensive linemen and running backs, and trade up for a number 1 wide receiver.