A Lot of Ifs Riding on Edge

[DuncanIso]

If you check my history, I've always said DLaw was seriously underrated.

The best play any player has made in the past 10 years was DLawn beating three blockers for a TFL on a RB at the goal line.

Dude was good..

Hated to see him walk, but it was the best move for him.

 

[kskboys]

Pointless even discussing parsons around here because this is the only place in the world of NFL social media, let alone actual professional journalism where Micah is not considered elite and gets treated like a scrub.

Too much “I hate my ex girlfriend (sniffle)”

Five year history of PFF above.

Or, this is the only place who grades him objectively w/o turning to homer love!!!!

 

[kskboys]

I’m sure you said that about Tank as well.

He was disliked here also, for a lot of the same reasons.

Not true. He was disliked due to holding the team hostage and refusing to get needed surgery.

 

[kskboys]

This is the one place that actually deconstructs the fake media narratives surrounding Michael to market the game to the average fan.

We see the whole picture involving the whole player, not just the fluff promoted by BSPN et al.

There's actually a very good reason for it, and it's not even close to what you're trying to imply.

Not remotely close.

 

[xwalker]

No, it wasn't even remotely the same. Gotta pay more attention to the type of acquisitions. Thompson/Locke/Durant/Gary/Bullocks/Winters are all proven NFL players. Name one D acquisition from last offseason that you can say that about.

I thought Dante Fowler Jr. would be a good rotational pass rusher.
- Apparently he played through multiple injuries last season but I still expected him to flash. He had 10 sacks the previous season.

 

[xwalker]

Not true. He was disliked due to holding the team hostage and refusing to get needed surgery.

Disliked because of the Hot Boyz ordeal...

 

[xwalker]

Just my title alone would make some readers want to nose dive off the proverbial cliff.

But please.

Don't jump.

We've got problems at edge again.

But don't worry. The proverbial Chicken Littles should step away from the ledge. We've got everything under control.

Or do we?

In the right scheme, if the right players stay healthy, with the right players taking the right leaps, we could be surprisingly good in '26.

That's a lot of ifs.

Rudyard Kipling would be proud.

On the other hand, if things don't go well, we could be surprisingly bad.

Gary is consistently average, but he's new to this scheme. He's solid, but hasn't been special.

A lot hinges on the development of Ezeiruaku, who was good versus the run but didn't make it home as much as we'd like. He did generate a lot of pressures for a rookie, which indicates he may take a decent jump in year two if he can stay healthy.

Fingers crossed.

Lawrence could be better than we imagined. Or he could struggle like most rookies do. We shall see.

Knock on wood.

Houston is what he is, undersized, but otherwise high motor who sometimes gets beaten because of his size. He's decent at rushing the passer but has been historically streaky.

We can hope

Sam Williams, meh.

Wish us luck.

At least we have a better coach.

You never know. The ball could bounce our way.

Or maybe it's a fumble.

Inside is the new outside.

Parker expects the IDL to shutdown inside runs and some C gap depending on the play.

Get offenses in 3rd and medium to long without wearing down the LBs.
-Then generate pass rush from anywhere.

This scheme changes everything we think we know about defensive football.
- Much of the differences are subtle but result in big changes to player roles.
- Some QBs will struggle against it even if the Cowboys are just average in their execution of the scheme.

Imagine if you move a great hitting but older short stop tp 1st base.
- It makes his role easier to execute.

 

[kskboys]

Disliked because of the Hot Boyz ordeal...

That too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[stuckindc]

Just my title alone would make some readers want to nose dive off the proverbial cliff.

But please.

Don't jump.

We've got problems at edge again.

But don't worry. The proverbial Chicken Littles should step away from the ledge. We've got everything under control.

Or do we?

In the right scheme, if the right players stay healthy, with the right players taking the right leaps, we could be surprisingly good in '26.

That's a lot of ifs.

Rudyard Kipling would be proud.

On the other hand, if things don't go well, we could be surprisingly bad.

Gary is consistently average, but he's new to this scheme. He's solid, but hasn't been special.

A lot hinges on the development of Ezeiruaku, who was good versus the run but didn't make it home as much as we'd like. He did generate a lot of pressures for a rookie, which indicates he may take a decent jump in year two if he can stay healthy.

Fingers crossed.

Lawrence could be better than we imagined. Or he could struggle like most rookies do. We shall see.

Knock on wood.

Houston is what he is, undersized, but otherwise high motor who sometimes gets beaten because of his size. He's decent at rushing the passer but has been historically streaky.

We can hope

Sam Williams, meh.

Wish us luck.

At least we have a better coach.

You never know. The ball could bounce our way.

Or maybe it's a fumble.

Don’t forget the middle of the DLine, those dudes aren’t scrubs

 

[fivetwos]

Excellent post.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
The lack of actual NFL starting level talent from last year's defense has caused several here to over rate the actual impact that the new replacements will provide. While upgrades no doubt, it won't be these huge positional impacts some here are making them out to be.
A middle of the road end of year type of defensive group would still be a reach imo. Anything better than that is a success and an over achievement in my book.
But I guess that's why they play the games.

Yeah but we have Caleb.

Everything is beautiful. Paulie’s gonna make me,

 

[Kwyn]

Or, this is the only place who grades him objectively w/o turning to homer love!!!!

That’s jsut it. It’s the homerism that makes us have to hate him,

“He’s not here anymore so he sucks” is an ultimate homer flex.

 

[Kwyn]

Nothing makes The Zone more angry than Hot Boyzzz, Clear Eye View and The Edge Podcast

You can suck at your job but still be kinda ok but if you check one of those three boxes? Straight to Siberia!

 

[75boyz]

Yeah but we have Caleb.

Everything is beautiful. Paulie’s gonna make me,

Yeah,
IF but an NFCCG while I'm still above ground...
And I genuinely wonder how Parker's current celebrity status will be effected IF the end of year defensive onfield product is not quite the turnaround that many here expect.

Well, it's the Cowboys so It should be entertaining at least.
So there's that.

 

[gimmesix]

Agree on needing quality.

After seeing and evaluating the new defense they can address what's working or not and make further moves.

I like to see the FO make measured patient moves before over-extending

I'm a little more on the strike now side of things. Waiting can mean you lose the chance to sign a player. I also believe how you be better as a team is by making players earn their positions instead of giving it to them because you have no other options. I think Gary has earned the expectation of being a starter by his success in the league. I don't think any other OLB/DE we have has done that. I would prefer we have a veteran who has shown what he can do, even if that player is not quite what he once was, and make the young players show they deserve snaps over him.

 

[shabazz]

I'm a little more on the strike now side of things. Waiting can mean you lose the chance to sign a player. I also believe how you be better as a team is by making players earn their positions instead of giving it to them because you have no other options. I think Gary has earned the expectation of being a starter by his success in the league. I don't think any other OLB/DE we have has done that. I would prefer we have a veteran who has shown what he can do, even if that player is not quite what he once was, and make the young players show they deserve snaps over him.

Im never against signing a high quality player.......its the guy that drinks Johnny Walker Blue that needs to go all in, lol

 

[gimmesix]

Im never against signing a high quality player.......its the guy that drinks Johnny Walker Blue that needs to go all in, lol

Yeah, it's not going to happen so I know I'm speaking to the wall.

 

[DarkVader33]

Pro Football Focus.

Pretty much the only thing going that actually tries to measure performance

Everything else we see is just a content creator using ChatGTP to create an AI inforgraphic with a prompt like “rank all top WR Pairs (edge rusher/guard combo, etc)”, which is basically what sports “opinion” has become.


Run Defense Grades

Parsons
2021: 59.9
2022: 73.2
2023: 68.1
2024: 65.5
2025: 72.6

Tank
2021: 90.1
2022: 92.2
2023: 92.4
2024: 62.4
2025: 85.0

Clark
2021: 54.7
2022: 53.0
2023: 61.2
2024: 57.1
2025: 53.7

I go by the eye test. I don’t know how the grade, but we saw too many runs go right by Micah. And he disappeared in big games and at the end of all seasons. And before you claim that I’m calling Micah a scrub, I think he can be elite. But IMO, the cowboys used him incorrectly and he was more interested in sacks. Put him at LB and move him around including on the line at times and he would possibly be considered one of the greatest ever.

 

[DarkVader33]

I’m sure you said that about Tank as well.

He was disliked here also, for a lot of the same reasons.

Just so you know, I wasn’t one of them. Lol

 

[kskboys]

I go by the eye test. I don’t know how the grade, but we saw too many runs go right by Micah. And he disappeared in big games and at the end of all seasons. And before you claim that I’m calling Micah a scrub, I think he can be elite. But IMO, the cowboys used him incorrectly and he was more interested in sacks. Put him at LB and move him around including on the line at times and he would possibly be considered one of the greatest ever.

Amen.

 

[kskboys]

That’s jsut it. It’s the homerism that makes us have to hate him,

“He’s not here anymore so he sucks” is an ultimate homer flex.

Yeah, I just don't pay attention to that flak. The homer/hater fight is beyond stupid.