State Of The Defense Address

[Verdict]

1. We don’t know what we will be this season, but at least we have enough influx of new players to have hope for the defense.

2. Parker’s ceiling? DC Savant with likely growing pains, but tools to learn on the job.

Parker’s floor? Promising coordinator who might not be quite ready, and not quite as many legit players as we think. Choppy water. I don’t believe he will be a complete failure. His floor is higher than Eberflus.

3. We still seem a bit thin in terms of proven talent at linebacker and edge. If the youngsters play well this defense could be pretty solid. If not this defense may be capped at 15 range.

4. I’m bullish on the defense. The maybe type of players seem to have a higher hit probability than years past.

5. I see this defense currently between 10-20. The closer we get to 10 the better chance we have of playoffs and making some noise when we get there.

Bonus side info. I think we are hoping for too much out of this draft class. If three of Downs, Lawrence, Basham, Moore and Overton hit we have bucked the odds successfully. Statistically that’s somewhat unlikely.

 

[Bobhaze]

Good stuff V. I like what we have on paper too. But paper is different than facing real opponents who want to win too.

Good defenses take a little time. We should be a lot better on defense in ‘26 but as you said we are depending on a lot of very young players. That usually takes longer than a year.

 

[MonsterD]

The defense was 31st in 2025. I expect better but to think of 10th or 15th best is sorta insane thinking for 1 year with a new group of players and unproven coordinator.

I think they can be around 25th or slightly better place.

 

[Tabascocat]

The good news is the defense can’t get worse

It looks to be an improvement with quite a few new bodies and a promising new coaching staff. Time will tell and I hope they can improve to at least #20 in the first year. It is a big stretch asking them to be middle of the pack right now.

 

[Havic]

My best guess is by mid season the unit will start coming together and be a good unit. So many new players and coaches, it will take time to adjust and I’m not expecting miracles right away

 

[JayFord]

Parker is new and so is this defense

My guess is that we come out weeks 1-4 and look like a top 10 unit until teams get film on us then we drop between 15-19 for the remainder of the season

And this isnt a bad thing….its a new defense with young players on it that are getting used to the NFL

 

[CowboyChris]

I think Barham will make a significant contribution this year!

 

[Ring6]

apparently we have a brutal schedule compared to other teams such as Detroit. but ya gotta beat the good teams so

 

[DC Cowboy]

My best guess is by mid season the unit will start coming together and be a good unit. So many new players and coaches, it will take time to adjust and I’m not expecting miracles right away

While i agree with you, hopefully going against our Offense every day will speed up the process.

 

[FaSho]

Just hope we can stop the run lol

 

[Whirlwin]

The good news is the defense can’t get worse

It looks to be an improvement with quite a few new bodies and a promising new coaching staff. Time will tell and I hope they can improve to at least #20 in the first year. It is a big stretch asking them to be middle of the pack right now.

The biggest thing we did, the defensive tackle position. We should be able to stop the run this season. And that alone is a huge improvement.

 

[baltcowboy]

1. We don’t know what we will be this season, but at least we have enough influx of new players to have hope for the defense.

2. Parker’s ceiling? DC Savant with likely growing pains, but tools to learn on the job.

Parker’s floor? Promising coordinator who might not be quite ready, and not quite as many legit players as we think. Choppy water. I don’t believe he will be a complete failure. His floor is higher than Eberflus.

3. We still seem a bit thin in terms of proven talent at linebacker and edge. If the youngsters play well this defense could be pretty solid. If not this defense may be capped at 15 range.

4. I’m bullish on the defense. The maybe type of players seem to have a higher hit probability than years past.

5. I see this defense currently between 10-20. The closer we get to 10 the better chance we have of playoffs and making some noise when we get there.

Bonus side info. I think we are hoping for too much out of this draft class. If three of Downs, Lawrence, Basham, Moore and Overton hit we have bucked the odds successfully. Statistically that’s somewhat unlikely.

Good post. I believe if we are going to have defense good enough to make the playoffs we need big seasons from 4 players. Quinnen, Gary, Overshown, and Bland have to be big players for us. If those guys play well the young guys will be able to tread water and develop naturally.

Parker’s scheme is going to take some time to get used to but we should see improvement as the season plays out. We have to be patient with Revel, EZ, Lawrence, Moore, and the Michigan kid.

 

[Proof]

The defense was 31st in 2025. I expect better but to think of 10th or 15th best is sorta insane thinking for 1 year with a new group of players and unproven coordinator.

I think they can be around 25th or slightly better place.

after giving micah the boot, they only had Q for 7 games. EZ had a torn labrum. Overshon was coming off serious injury. Just these three things improving organically can have a marked improvement. that's before the things you've mentioned, the addition of gary and winters and thompson. And most importantly getting rid of eberflus.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The defense was 31st in 2025. I expect better but to think of 10th or 15th best is sorta insane thinking for 1 year with a new group of players and unproven coordinator.

I think they can be around 25th or slightly better place.

I think the hope is top 15 by years end. Probably unfair to a first time coordinator but that’s the hope.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The biggest thing we did, the defensive tackle position. We should be able to stop the run this season. And that alone is a huge improvement.

Right. If they can bully offensive lines up front it’s gonna set the tone for the rest of the defense.

 

[Gambit]

Why do I get the sense that if Dallas ends up at 15, some of yall will see that as a failure?

 

[shabazz]

Why do I get the sense that if Dallas ends up at 15, some of yall will see that as a failure?

No way......15 would please me. And at least 90% here.

Throw in less penalties and better turnover ratio and I'll give you two slaps to the mouth to celebrate it

 

[shabazz]

Just hope we can stop the run lol

If our D Lineman would start putting the foil on, it would go a long way.





"Slapshot" reference

 

[Gambit]

No way......15 would please me. And at least 90% here.

Throw in less penalties and better turnover ratio and I'll give you two slaps to the mouth to celebrate it

Lol

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Why do I get the sense that if Dallas ends up at 15, some of yall will see that as a failure?

Yeah I mean it’s gonna be a select few. The same ones who were negative or pessimistic when we got Downs are gonna be the ones who complain if we get top 15….theres also a small crowd who want Leonard as DC too so they can’t wait to kill Parker.