DC Parker meeting his new pass rusher Gary

[kramskoi]

And, that ain't a bad thing if you're comparing him to PRIME DLaw (the 25 sacks in 2 years version)...this guy has averaged 8 sacks the last 3 years - I'll take that from my Strong-Side EDGE. NOW, they have to get a running mate to pair with that from Weak-Side EDGE - most likely in the draft at this point UNLESS a sneaky trade is coming.

He had more sacks than D-law in 2025 (7.5 vs 7). Should've had 9.5 instead of 7.5...he lost two with his hands on the quarterback. He gets a lot of pressure and QB hits. Can have trouble finishing. But he's every bit as good as D-law is right now. Maybe even better returning to 3-4.

 

[deerhunter11]

Here's the thing....if he fails, I want him to fail because he just wasn't a good coordinator. I don't want him to fail because he doesn't have the players he wants.

I assume he has told the scouts what he looks for and what he needs. I assume there is some sort of pecking order. Last year we didn't bring in anyone outside that fit what Eberflus needed. Yes, he did a terrible job of trying to adjust....but it is like Parcells said back in the day: "if I am going to cook the meal, shouldn't I be able to buy the groceries?"

He should at least get two years....just like a head coach should probably get 3 years unless it is just ridiculously bad.

I totally agree good post, let the man pick the ingredients of his feast, let Parker build his defense and give him time to see it through. Succeed or fail good or bad.

 

[Asklesko]

CP's guys are mediocre and lame?

 

[Zekeats]

For the folks who don't understand the FA picks ups and trades, Christian Parker is getting HIS dudes for HIS scheme.

I'm anxious to see what the defensive roster looks like when he is done this summer.

Yeah, ok. He's getting who he wants, LMAO. You really believe this. And Im sure last years DC wanted Micah gone days before the season started and couldn't wait to get Kenny Clark in the door. LMAO, no wonder Jerry still makes good $$$

 

[Zekeats]

1:45 in the video

He looks like he came here for his retirement money

 

[kramskoi]

Bring back Clowney on a 2-year deal and sign Herbig from Pittsburgh to a 4-year contract and this defense looks a little bit better pretty quick at pass rusher. Then draft another young edge player, edge can improve here fast, this draft is loaded with talent at the position.

You'd have to do a trade for Herbig. If they were going to do that then I think they would've done it by now. The 3rd rounder from the 49ers might be something to use but I don't expect them to go after him.

Moreover...the problem with this is that TJ Watt is showing signs of slowing down at 31 (they extended him in 2025). He has fallen from an avg of 17.5 sacks per year to 12.5. Still good but might be eroding. Herbig is on a snap count and is clearly an ascending player. The Steelers may want to keep him around...so it might require a 1st to get him.

 

[kramskoi]

Spend the least the man has spent a lot of money, a lot of that is on his own players he's drafted, but he's spent money. You guys want him to break the bank every off season as if that's going to equate to a Superbowl win. Yes we need to add talent, but there's also a draft coming up, and FA isn't over!!!!!

Jones has no problem spending money. It's the timing and focus of the spending that's been the main problem.

 

[deerhunter11]

He had more sacks than D-law in 2025 (7.5 vs 7). Should've had 9.5 instead of 7.5...he lost two with his hands on the quarterback. He gets a lot of pressure and QB hits. Can have trouble finishing. But he's every bit as good as D-law is right now. Maybe even better returning to 3-4.

Absolutely, I am looking forward to seeing a happy and healthy Rashan Gary in a Dallas uniform next season, he will fit right in with his ol teammate Kenny Clark and Q and this new and improved defense. I like it.

 

[LouBrown]

There's nothing wrong with be cautious or even pessimistic at this point given 30+ years of failed seasons by the Cowboys.

I have said for years this team has a core problem that cannot be fixed easily or quickly.

That said, this is the first year in a long time that it at least it feels like they're trying something new. That in itself is worthy of a little optimism even if reality (no pun intended) fails to live up to it once the season starts.

They may not be signing or trading for star players, but I never cared about that. I want 11 players on defense that are reliable, do their jobs well, make few mistakes and tackle at contact point, not shoulder hit/slam or chase-tackle.

I think the fact that many of the decisions they have made on defense have been against the norm for them is a good sign.

Not because that in itself makes them better, but simply because the changes make it more possible that they will be.

I guess I don't really agree that they are trying something new. It is a different type of DC than they've generally hired but they are still wildly conservative in player acquisition. It doesn't feel any different to me.

Independent of whether or not Parker is a good DC, they aren't acquiring players. Doesn't matter if you or I were coaching this defense right now.

Also - not that it is the point of this discussion, but if the defense is good this year then Parker is going to be a head coach in 2027 lol.

 

[zrinkill]

I guess I don't really agree that they are trying something new. It is a different type of DC than they've generally hired but they are still wildly conservative in player acquisition. It doesn't feel any different to me.

Independent of whether or not Parker is a good DC, they aren't acquiring players. Doesn't matter if you or I were coaching this defense right now.

Also - not that it is the point of this discussion, but if the defense is good this year then Parker is going to be a head coach in 2027 lol.

I like the cut of this new guys jib.

 

[Mikexike]

I feel like Parker is a football genius. He truly is a football guy. When I have to Google the concepts he talks about, I know he is the right person for the job. I'm glad we got him as our DC.

Year 1 of his coaching will be fun to watch unfold; we will truly get to see what this team needs in 2027 with the right coaches finally.

 

[Mikexike]

We will find out what Gary's got when the pads come on, that is as simple as that. I just hope that Parker gets to build this defense the way he wants it, that way succeed or fail, he got to build this defense his way. Then we will know what Parker can do and what he can't. I am surprised that Dallas has not signed at least one free agent linebacker, however. I am hoping for the clown show of Ol Jerry to be a thing of the past with better more sound football related decisions being made overall.

I wonder if parker told them he wants a Rookie LB of his choice to run his defense for years to come and that's why walker and dean weren't that big of a lost to them in FA bidding....

 

[Reality]

I guess I don't really agree that they are trying something new. It is a different type of DC than they've generally hired but they are still wildly conservative in player acquisition. It doesn't feel any different to me.

Independent of whether or not Parker is a good DC, they aren't acquiring players. Doesn't matter if you or I were coaching this defense right now.

Also - not that it is the point of this discussion, but if the defense is good this year then Parker is going to be a head coach in 2027 lol.

I had a feeling this all came down to one thing with you .. sign star players or else nothing changed.

They had star players over the years on defense, most recently Parsons. With Parsons on the team, they still had a horrible defense.

Star players don't fix anything. If anything, they hurt the team because they prevent the team from fielding 11 solid players on the field at the same time.

Instead, you end up with 2 star players, a couple of used-to-be-star-players-that-one-season players, a few should-have-been-stars-but-never-were players and JAGs. They have done that over and over.

Those moves make fans who are obsessed with big names happy until the season arrives, then same results and fans blame the front office (which is true, but the front office gave them what they wanted).

Let's say they traded for Crosby or signed Hendrickson. Let's even say they played great. Then they got hurt. Can the rest of the team play well without them? Nope. All the money was spent on them.

I want 11 solid players on defense. Draft players should turn into splash players, you shouldn't have to sign them or trade for them on defense.

The bottom line is this defense was historically bad. You don't fix that by signing one star player. You don't fix it even in one off-season.

The best you can do is this ..

1) Get rid of any player who does not make you better on defense
2) Sign the solid free agents you can get
3) Trade for solid players if you cannot sign the ones you want
4) Draft solid players for the other positions you need and depth
5) Wait until cut-down days happen pre-season and grab veterans who were replaced by drafted players
6) Raid practice squads of other NFL teams once season starts

*) They did #1 and got rid of some players and will likely get rid of more before the season starts
*) They tried #2 but for whatever reason struggled to get the players they wanted
*) They then tried #3 but the Raiders wanted too much so they settled on Gary

#4, #5 and #6 have yet to happen.

If you're judging this team by the star players they sign in the off-season, then I can understand why you're disappointed.

I am not. They finally are doing what I have been saying they should do for years.

They may not be getting the players I want, but at least they're focusing on the entire defense, not quick-fixes that never work.

 

[LouBrown]

I had a feeling this all came down to one thing with you .. sign star players or else nothing changed.

Nope. Don't need to sign stars and I wouldn't get in bidding wars for players like Hendrickson. I'm fine with the Micah trade (even though the timing was stupid) and would have traded Diggs after his second year in the league.

But you have to pay for reliable players, and they have not done that at all this offseason. They are not reliable at any level of the defense and with the Osa trade, created another hole.

 

[ConstantReboot]

He still gets a lot of pressures and QB Hits (85th percentile of all edges). Very solid #2 pass rusher who is also very good against the run.

Rashard Gary may not get many sacks, but he generates a significant amount of pressure. I watched a few Green Bay games, and he always seemed to be in the backfield quite a bit. Compared to other free-agent defensive ends who signed big contracts, he appears to create pressure without relying on fancy stunts or blitzes. I think Parker’s people took that into consideration when they traded for him.

 

[Mikexike]

He looks like he came here for his retirement money

I will laugh so hard when this defense outperforms the GB defense IN 2026.

 

[Mikexike]

Nope. Don't need to sign stars and I wouldn't get in bidding wars for players like Hendrickson. I'm fine with the Micah trade (even though the timing was stupid) and would have traded Diggs after his second year in the league.

But you have to pay for reliable players, and they have not done that at all this offseason. They are not reliable at any level of the defense and with the Osa trade, created another hole.

who are these reliable players you speak of???

 

[ConstantReboot]

I had a feeling this all came down to one thing with you .. sign star players or else nothing changed.

They had star players over the years on defense, most recently Parsons. With Parsons on the team, they still had a horrible defense.

Star players don't fix anything. If anything, they hurt the team because they prevent the team from fielding 11 solid players on the field at the same time.

Instead, you end up with 2 star players, a couple of used-to-be-star-players-that-one-season players, a few should-have-been-stars-but-never-were players and JAGs. They have done that over and over.

Those moves make fans who are obsessed with big names happy until the season arrives, then same results and fans blame the front office (which is true, but the front office gave them what they wanted).

Let's say they traded for Crosby or signed Hendrickson. Let's even say they played great. Then they got hurt. Can the rest of the team play well without them? Nope. All the money was spent on them.

I want 11 solid players on defense. Draft players should turn into splash players, you shouldn't have to sign them or trade for them on defense.

The bottom line is this defense was historically bad. You don't fix that by signing one star player. You don't fix it even in one off-season.

The best you can do is this ..

1) Get rid of any player who does not make you better on defense
2) Sign the solid free agents you can get
3) Trade for solid players if you cannot sign the ones you want
4) Draft solid players for the other positions you need and depth
5) Wait until cut-down days happen pre-season and grab veterans who were replaced by drafted players
6) Raid practice squads of other NFL teams once season starts

*) They did #1 and got rid of some players and will likely get rid of more before the season starts
*) They tried #2 but for whatever reason struggled to get the players they wanted
*) They then tried #3 but the Raiders wanted too much so they settled on Gary

#4, #5 and #6 have yet to happen.

If you're judging this team by the star players they sign in the off-season, then I can understand why you're disappointed.

I am not. They finally are doing what I have been saying they should do for years.

They may not be getting the players I want, but at least they're focusing on the entire defense, not quick-fixes that never work.

Thanks for the dose of Reality—pun intended.

I agree with you here. It’s not as if the previous Super Bowl champions, the Eagles and the Seahawks, have stars all over the place. They don’t. They have role players throughout the roster.

They were built to play within a scheme and not rely on superstars. That’s why I wish we had traded for Josh Sweat rather than giving Osa that ridiculous contract and turning our defense into an attacking, Fangio-style scheme dependent on nickel alignment.

 

[gimmesix]

For the folks who don't understand the FA picks ups and trades, Christian Parker is getting HIS dudes for HIS scheme.

I'm anxious to see what the defensive roster looks like when he is done this summer.

Or not getting them. Before we traded for Gary, we tried to trade for Crosby and failed. We tried to sign three linebackers (Quay, Dean and Lloyd) and failed. He got his safeties, but that's about all.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I feel like Parker is a football genius. He truly is a football guy. When I have to Google the concepts he talks about, I know he is the right person for the job. I'm glad we got him as our DC.

Very fortunate to get him especially knowing Jerry but maybe it’s a Shotty influence.