How bad do you expect this defense to be really?

[sureletsrace]

How bad?

I just don't see how our defense is going to be that bad. We have a few games against fairly weak offenses (Rams, Jaguars, Texans, Titans).

I'm not saying they are going to be great, or even good for that matter. I just don't see all the doom and gloom.

Selvie had a decent year last year rushing the passer. Mincey and Melton are both solid players. Scandrick is a very good CB. I like Church and Wilcox at the safety positions. Durant is solid and Bruce Carter could be a fantastic player as long as he sets his mind to it, the athleticism is there. Terrell McClain played on very good defenses in Baltimore. Carr, while ultimately not worth the big contract, isn't terrible.

We need a few players to step up and play really well, namely Morris Claiborne and Rolando McClain, as well as our D-Line depth.

This defense isn't nearly as devoid of talent as some are making it out to be, in my very humble opinion.

Not looking to start a war here, just wondering what all of you think of this 2014 defense.

 

[ZappaFrank]

Worse than last season. Where are the pressures and sacks coming from?

 

[Denim Chicken]

Ask me Monday.

 

[Corso]

I'd really like to see the true starters play before making random evaluations.
Having said that:
I seriously doubt they'll be world beaters though...

 

[DEA_dad]

Bad

 

[Craig]

I dont think theyll be worst in the league.

 

[pugilist]

32nd in yds allowed
21st in points allowed
12th in turnovers

something like that. improvement from last season, but still pretty dismal

this scheme is typically "bend don't break" and generate turnovers

 

[Crad|e]

umm.. who is going to sack the qb ever? we're weak to begin with.. add injury. Worst defense in the league is not out of the question. Wilcox and church are going to have to have probowl seasons for us to have a chance at not being last.

 

[theSHOW]

Looks like much of the board goes by what espn media wants you to believe. Well the Cowboys have plugged the depth problems pretty decently and have a stronger group of players this year. No big stars just 11 guys with a star on their helmet. I truly believe this defense will surprise pleasantly game 1 through game 16 and into the playoffs.

 

[noshame]

Tell me how fast Rod will make in game adjustments and I'll let you know, and please rod, ATTACK!!!!!!

 

[big dog cowboy]

They won't be great but will get better as more injured players return. We'll know my midseason where we stand more then now.

 

[ZappaFrank]

They won't be great but will get better as more injured players return. We'll know my midseason where we stand more then now.

You are making the dangerous assumption that no one gets hurt in the mean time.

 

[Idgit]

Last year we were awful overall, but there were fits and surges throughout the year. We started off a bit slow with the implementation of the new defense and a couple notable injuries from camp, but took the ball away well. After the first 4-5 games, we had that streak where we were playing a lot of single high and pressing the CBs and staring to took pretty good. From there, we won 5 of 7 until the injuries accumulated and we started logging lots and lots of snaps from street free agents.

This season, I expect we'll get more of our snaps from NFL-roster quality players. Albeit mediocre to bad ones. That's still an upgrade. We'll get fewer dynamic plays from playmakers like Hatcher and Lee. We'll have fewer gap control and run-fit errors. Hopefully, the S make fewer coverage mistakes. Hopefully--and we'll find this out real quick on Sunday--we'll be a lot less vulnerable to play action. We're still going to get beat a lot because many offensive players are just going to be better than our best athletes on defense. My hope, though, is that points are tough to come by and we'll still manage a lot of turnovers. I also hope we can be dominant enough offensively to put a lot of pressure on the other team's passing game for once.

Overall, I expect we'll be awful in terms of yardage given up. Bottom 12 or so in terms of points, and fairly good in terms of takeaways. We can win the East with that level of play if we're in the top 5 again in terms of offensive points/series, and we ought to be that productive with all the assets we've got on offense.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You are making the dangerous assumption that no one gets hurt in the mean time.

Livin' on the edge.

 

[Idgit]

Tell me how fast Rod will make in game adjustments and I'll let you know, and please rod, ATTACK!!!!!!

We're going to blitz a bit with Durant and McClain, and probably the CBs and S now and then, but I don't think we're going to get a steady diet of blitzing defense this year. Our pressure's going to have to come from the gaps, and it won't be great. We've got a little bit of a luxury in our secondary players (we actually do), but not enough to offset the mediocre pressure. I think it's going to have to do, though.

 

[snapper]

They will not be great, not even good, but they will have their moments. They have talent but unfortunately it is not reliable.

 

[StarBoyz83]

I dont see them getting out of the bottom 3 this year.

 

[rynochop]

im done predicting the nfl, romo could get hurt and be bottom five on offense, and d look like `85 bears

 

[Moderately_Askew]

I expect the defense to at least be average, which will significantly improve the overall record this year.

 

[Risen Star]

I would say the defense is legitimately in the embarrassment to the franchise category.