Here's why I think we will have a top 10 defense this year

[cowboyec]

caleb downs on the back.
Q up front.
thats reason enough for me.
☆

 

[conner01]

I don’t know about top 10 but I think we will be much better. If we are in top half of the league that’s a huge improvement

 

[Tangle_Foot]

Just jumping from almost last to somewhere around 15-18 would be huge. Yes no doubt they will improve but saying they will be top 10 is a little too optimistic. Reality is the young guys including Parker have a lot to learn about this level. Parker has never called a defense live, that is no small feat. To be hot in the action and make the right call under pressure. I expect him to do ok but still have his flaws which he will learn from. Same thing with many of the young players from the drafted rookies to the young or lesser experienced guys they aquired. And there are still depth questions especially at LB.

That's too pragmatic, I'm not sure we are equipped to deal with that around here

Well done sir

 

[Cowboys5217]

Wishful thinking. Prepare yourselves for a mid 20s ranked defense at best. That would be an improvement, but still likely mean no playoffs.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Who cares?
They're no longer on the team.

Don't look at me. I'm not the one who brought up his name.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Wishful thinking. Prepare yourselves for a mid 20s ranked defense at best.

Prepared to be disappointed. Your prediction will be wrong.

 

[ratkinson]

Don't look at me. I'm not the one who brought up his name.

When did I do that?

 

[Rockport]

Last time I checked, the GM is not out on the field.

Or on the sidelines.

 

[ChuckA1]

At least you are honest about your rose-colored glasses.
I say they finish No. 15 (I have rose-colored glasses as well) and we struggle to 9-8.

I think if this year's defense is top 15 or better, the Cowboys' win-loss record will be better than 9-8.

 

[KingCorcoran]

Last time I checked, the GM is not out on the field.

Everyone is grateful for that.

 

[TheMightyVanHalen]

Naming him HOF is as exaggerated as hoping our defense will be a top 10 one.

There is nothing to laugh about. Especially not because its in general not respectful and so not the way you should treat people.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I think if this year's defense is top 15 or better, the Cowboys' win-loss record will be better than 9-8.

I'd be over the moon at 10-7.

But our mantra and tao are "even if our defence is average we can get into the playoffs."
Defences win games, but anyone who believes we go from worst to average and can do well is reaching a bit too high.
Me, I am good with a 2-year building of our defence, but I don't expect riches in 2026 just because Christian Parker (his image soon to be on 20-dollar bills and on Mount Rushmore) is at the helm.

 

[DarkVader33]

When did I do that?

I can see you two looking into each others eyes dreamily.

Just kidding

 

[ratkinson]

I can see you two looking into each others eyes dreamily.

Just kidding

Lol!

 

[kskboys]

I'd be over the moon at 10-7.

But our mantra and tao are "even if our defence is average we can get into the playoffs."
Defences win games, but anyone who believes we go from worst to average and can do well is reaching a bit too high.
Me, I am good with a 2-year building of our defence, but I don't expect riches in 2026 just because Christian Parker (his image soon to be on 20-dollar bills and on Mount Rushmore) is at the helm.

Unless you examine the players we've acquired, then it's not.

 

[TwentyOne]

Isnt that great about this forum?

See, in your case you need only 1 emoticon to let people know everything about you that they need to know.

And because its anonymous you dont even have to feel ashamed of yourself and who you have become.

 

[Stash]

I think Dallas finishes with a top-10 defense in PPG THIS season. Not next year... not two years from now. This year.

I know that I'm guilty of wearing rose-colored glasses, but remember, we've seen this level of transformation before.

In 2020, Dallas finished 28th in scoring defense. One year later, after replacing Mike Nolan with Dan Quinn and drafting Micah Parsons, they jumped all the way to 7th.

I'm not saying Caleb Downs is Micah Parsons. They're different players at different positions. But I do think Downs has the potential to have the same kind of transformational effect on the communication and confidence of the defense. I think Downs has the potential to make more of an overall defensive identity impact than Parsons did.

The bigger reason for my optimism, though, is Christian Parker.

Personally, I think the gap between Eberflus and Parker is every bit as large as the gap between Nolan and Quinn. In fact, I think it may be larger. I thought Eberflus was that bad. Last year's defense wasn't just lacking talent. It lacked identity, communication, and any sense that players were being put in a position to succeed.

Also, Parker isn't inheriting the exact same roster as last year. Dallas added Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Jaishawn Barham, Devin Moore, LT Overton, and made several trades that should make a very visible difference. To me, that's actually a more complete defensive makeover than what we saw going into 2021.

Will they be the No. 1 defense? Probably not. But I don't think a jump into the top 10 is nearly as unrealistic as many people think. If Parker is the coach I believe he is, Downs is as good as the early reports suggest, and this front seven plays to its potential, I think Dallas surprises a lot of people this season.

What do you guys think? Am I overly optimistic, or is a top-10 defense actually within reach?

I’m on board.

Maybe I’m wearing the glasses and drinking the kool-aid too, but this is the most positive and optimistic I’ve felt about this team in years.

I think we have collectively assembled a heck of a staff - on both sides of the ball.

Specifically on defense, we’ve stopped adding retreads and aging coordinators with outdated schemes.

Instead, we have up-and-comers who have learned under the best.

On the personnel side, we’ve drafted, signed, and traded for upgrades at every level.

And I truly believe that the players are going to be taught on a level they’ve never received before. That’s going to result in a smarter, better prepared, more solid defense.

What you’re going to see is a defense that fights you for every single yard on the field. And when you do make a play, they’re going to be in position to tackle you and limit that yardage.

No longer are we got to see fundamental breakdowns and guys running wide open down the field. That left with Eberflus.

Top 10 is optimistic, but not out of the question.

History shows us that it can and does happen.

I see no reason it can’t be us.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I don't expect riches in 2026 just because Christian Parker (his image soon to be on 20-dollar bills and on Mount Rushmore) is at the helm.

Not sure what your idea of riches but there is no question every part of the defense has been big time upgraded. Coaches, DL, LB and 2ndary. The performance will be significantly better than last year's historically horrible defense.

 

[Aven8]

that's wishful thinking but since we're talking about 2021....Bills defense was #1 in yards and points and still gave up a lot of points to the Chiefs in the playoffs, and exited before the AFC Championship game.

So it's not even enough sometimes to have a Top 1 defense much less a Top 10 if you're predicting our defense to settle in that range.

We’ve have plenty of in season defenses here that appeared top notch only for them to collapse in the playoffs.

 

[TheMightyVanHalen]

Isnt that great about this forum?

See, in your case you need only 1 emoticon to let people know everything about you that they need to know.

And because its anonymous you dont even have to feel ashamed of yourself and who you have become.

Coming from a person who talks crap about Dak all the time trying to tell me to be nice around here. LMAO! Hypocrite!