Are we better off, the same, or worse now?

[Acceptablename]

After 30 years of this crap one must realize it’s silly to get excited. What have he won yet? Is Jerry still in charge? Do we have a coach that can out smart opponents. I liked the draft but year after year we never get anywhere.

So don't get up Mr. Bill.

U

 

[Bobhaze]

Of course better but I think there is too much positivity around the defense.

There are an awful lot of what-ifs, including the fact that the DC has never actually been a DC lol

As a fan base we are so desperate to return to being a winner, too many of our fans have already fitted 34 year old Chris Parker for a gold jacket.

Sometimes I think we are so used to being conditioned to believe what we’re being sold, coupled with wanting to win so bad, it can blind us to the potential problems that are there too.

I want Parker to be great. But I will wait until he actually is (with some tangible wins over time) before declaring him that.

 

[charron]

Better.

Just the change in coaching staff alone should help, but they also added almost an entirely new defense worth of players.

 

[ghst187]

Ditching flu for Parker = instant vastly better.

And yes we are vastly better on D with the personnel too. I think we will have a top S and top DT with some folks who can bend the edge. We also got at least one more quality starter at LB.
But all of them not being confused every snap about their assignments will be revelation.

 

[ShiningStar]

Better and thats not a debate. Its hard to be worse than last year, but give Jerry his due. He ddint waste time this off season like he usually does. He had a good FA, excellent draft, brought in a good DC. The trades have been good. Anyone arguing this is not doing it in good faith.


Best off season in a long time.

 

[stilltheguru]

Better 100 percent. We have a real defensive coach now. And no I don't care that this is his first year as a DC

 

[Cebrin]

After 30 years of this crap one must realize it’s silly to get excited. What have he won yet? Is Jerry still in charge? Do we have a coach that can out smart opponents. I liked the draft but year after year we never get anywhere.

 

[coult44]

Can’t see anybody in here suggesting we are worse off than last year

Fake news, but Anyone who does should be embarrassed to show up here any more

 

[coult44]

So what are you going to do, become a fan again once they win one?

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

Better off for sure, D couldn’t get any worse than last season,

 

[darealvelle]

Better

 

[RonWashington]

I had heard before the draft Pickens signed the tag now I’m hearing he hasn’t . I hope he’s not a camp distraction

 

[DallasInDC]

As a fan base we are so desperate to return to being a winner, too many of our fans have already fitted 34 year old Chris Parker for a gold jacket.

Sometimes I think we are so used to being conditioned to believe what we’re being sold, coupled with wanting to win so bad, it can blind us to the potential problems that are there too.

I want Parker to be great. But I will wait until he actually is (with some tangible wins over time) before declaring him that.

But does he have to be great or just better than Flus...which is probably not that big of a lift.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Safety is better. Everything else is tbd.

 

[CowboyChris]

I think it’s safe to say that just changing out the entire defensive staff, has to be an improvement

 

[ratkinson]

I think it’s legitimately historically impossible to be worse. Sleep well knowing that next season can’t be as bad.

I'll leave one eye open just in case.

 

[CowboyFanInLexKy]

I had heard before the draft Pickens signed the tag now I’m hearing he hasn’t. I hope he’s not a camp distraction

If you looked at the DC website, it was reported at 5PM (yesterday) that he did officially sign the tag. Not sure when he signed but yes, he is signed. I think Schefter got grilled for nothing....

 

[Aven8]

I just wish they had the same energy they had this offseason every year. They’ve had two throw away years in a row up until this one where they did absolutely nothing and had back to back terrible DC’s…..

 

[wecasa]

After 30 years of this crap one must realize it’s silly to get excited. What have he won yet? Is Jerry still in charge? Do we have a coach that can out smart opponents. I liked the draft but year after year we never get anywhere.

Amen to that. The one constant is Johnny walker Jerry and his band of misfit front office lackeys. Still have the pickens drama lurking in the wings. Unproven DC. Still issues with beating playoff quality defenses. Is guyton going to be the guy at LT. Is Steele going to be something other than a traffic cone at RT.

On paper, things look better.

But jerry is still jerry. Stephen is stephen. Thats why it's difficult to get excited until we as fans see this team on the field.

 

[Diehardblues]

On paper, there is zero doubt this team is better. But games aren’t played on paper of course.

It is very hard to just instantly go from a back to back non playoff team to a contender. With our 4th DC in 4 seasons, it will probably take some time to get these players, most of whom are young and/or new to the team, to get United.

Plus we have a rookie DC in Parker who looks like he’s going to be great with loads of potential. He just needs to show it on the field in real games.

Obviously we have upgraded defensively. No one would argue otherwise. Is it more talented than 2024 might be a better question which was a non playoff team as well.

My bigger concern is have we upgraded more than our divisional and conference opponents considered playoff contenders as well. And there’s always a surprise insurgent.

Right now it’s pretty easy to name 7 NFC teams ahead of us. That’s ultimately the bar at hand . But just because we have upgraded or improved doesn’t mean we have surpassed our closet competition.