Outside of Maxx Crosby there aren't any truly pass rushers available, with the Raiders early success, he is most likely off the block. Could be the reason why Cowboys management pivoted in acquiring the high-end press corner. They still could add a mid-level type like a Josh Sweat, but probably would have to overpay. Point is, they isn't an elite edge rusher coming to save this defense.
As I mentioned, in another post Mike Pettine has worked with CP in the past while both of them in Green Bay. Matter of fact the Cowboys tried to hire him as a consultant onto CP's staff. His last stop was with the Vikings under Brain Flores, but he also was Rex Ryan's DC with the Jets:
Jets designed a defense around Darrell Revis with an average pass rush. They used a ton of simulated pressures. Not saying Porter is on the level as Revis, nor has to be, but this can work to generate more pressure and force the ball out more quickly.
right now the players are all over the place, I can't tell you how many times I have seen them to be in the wrong place and or get cooked.
add the injury issues in the secondary and it makes it bad.
I didn't expect us to be great, or good, but I didn't expect us to be this bad. this is year 3 and running that we have inept bottom feeding defense. how could that be? three years of drafting and FAs and we still suck real bad. I mean really bad. lets not forget the texans OL is pretty bad.
the LBs and secondary look lost. they are often caught flat footed (except for braham) ....somebody always gets open. the DL is not in sync with the back 7. the DEs can't generate pressure and can't tackle when they get there. how many times did the QB escape and extend plays.
part of the problem was run defense, which seemingly got better, but probably because teams are choosing to attack us in the air, rather than on the ground. although ravens had their way with us both ways, so did the giants kind of (perhaps even washington, although they didn't convert to scores).
run defense was seemingly better this past game, but secondary is so devastated, it didn't make a difference. how could recievers be so open all the time. nobody knew their assignment and some of them are just over matched. I saw steward get cooked a couple of times really bad, if not more.
we have to continue to be better at run defense. then put the other team in obvious passing situations, get our injured secondary back on the field and lets see how the pass rush is. just throwing another name at it is not going to fix the problem.
I also think the scheme needs tweaking. Q has been better in collapsing the pocket, as he is seemingly lining up or choosing a gap to attack and just gets after it. instad of standing up, diagnosing the play and then making a move, he is just attacking and that's what he is good at.