Anyone else kind of excited about our D-line?

[ConceptCoop]

Lawrence was double teamed half as much as Hardy was last year, yet had the same number of sacks. I'll let myself be excited when we see a guy command double teams and still produce.

 

[Dalmations202]

Average is fine. We can win with average.

My problem is that Average is not fine for Superbowl teams. It is fine for teams making the playoffs, but not Superbowl teams.

I guess after 20 years -- mediocrity has become a good thing. I still remember the Manster, Harvey Martin, Too Tall, Haley, and even #1 overall pick Russell Maryland. They weren't average.

 

[Spectre]

I admit, our D-line is completely unproven. Our most experienced player is the Eagle we brought in. Our next most is Jack Crawford. Our most proven players are probably Tyrone Crawford followed by Demarcus Lawrence who has a total of one good season under his belt. But this D-line is freakishly young and athletic. Tapper might be the fastest DE in the league. Irving is a freak. So is Gregory. I'm really looking forward to seeing what these guys can do. I'd almost rather see what a guy like Mayowa can do than get the usual 4 sacks from a guy like Jason Jones. This D-line has the potential to be absolutely awful. But they also have the potential to be very good and very exciting. I hope it goes the latter.

I have to admit, I am a lil excited to see this group. Seems it's whenever everybody is expecting our defense to fail that it comes together, and excels. I don't think you need many stars on a d to be good. They just have to click as a unit and let the criticisms fuel their fire.

 

[Denim Chicken]

My problem is that Average is not fine for Superbowl teams. It is fine for teams making the playoffs, but not Superbowl teams.

I guess after 20 years -- mediocrity has become a good thing. I still remember the Manster, Harvey Martin, Too Tall, Haley, and even #1 overall pick Russell Maryland. They weren't average.

I disagree. You can win the SB with an average defense if you have a elite offence.

New England had the 24th, 26th, 24th, & 20th ranked defense the years they won.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Lawrence was double teamed half as much as Hardy was last year, yet had the same number of sacks. I'll let myself be excited when we see a guy command double teams and still produce.

Valid and seldom mentioned points. People forget that teams game planned for hardy. Gregory, hayden, and lawrence not so much.

 

[tyke1doe]

We needed major help on the defensive line, and we only drafted two linemen?

 

[CowboyRoy]

I'd say Tapper is a better pass rusher than Mincey and is likely to get more than his 0 sacks of a year ago. Pencil Crawford in for the same as a year ago. Thornton might get a few. Lawrence in 12 games might be able to get to double digits or close, more if he gets his suspension dropped. Throw in a few from Jack Crawford, Gregory, Mayowa and maybe Collins.

To me, with 32 teams I put top 10 as good, 11 through 20 in average range and 21 through 32 as bad.

As far as being excited, I think there is more reason to be excited about the DL because we have a bunch of new bodies coming in. Getting rid of the guys we already know aren't going to be more than average at best like Mincey, Hayden and possibly McClain. Potential is easy to get excited by when you have been trotting out guys for several years that never really did it anywhere else.

You have to be joking me. Dont talk to me about some 4th round rookie you dont even know. The defense sucked in 2014 and it will suck now. The question is how much will it suck. Not a good situation. Im not interested in making the playoffs. Long term title contender is what we need. And then there is the whole Romo and overall health issue. You are projecting and betting that everything will go perfectly. It will not.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Valid and seldom mentioned points. People forget that teams game planned for hardy. Gregory, hayden, and lawrence not so much.

Only the guys that think we have a good line forget.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

You have to be joking me. Dont talk to me about some 4th round rookie you dont even know. The defense sucked in 2014 and it will suck now. The question is how much will it suck. Not a good situation. Im not interested in making the playoffs. Long term title contender is what we need. And then there is the whole Romo and overall health issue. You are projecting and betting that everything will go perfectly. It will not.

Guess you might as well not even watch the next couple years then....save yourself some grief.

 

[the_h0wey]

I admit, our D-line is completely unproven. Our most experienced player is the Eagle we brought in. Our next most is Jack Crawford. Our most proven players are probably Tyrone Crawford followed by Demarcus Lawrence who has a total of one good season under his belt. But this D-line is freakishly young and athletic. Tapper might be the fastest DE in the league. Irving is a freak. So is Gregory. I'm really looking forward to seeing what these guys can do. I'd almost rather see what a guy like Mayowa can do than get the usual 4 sacks from a guy like Jason Jones. This D-line has the potential to be absolutely awful. But they also have the potential to be very good and very exciting. I hope it goes the latter.

Be more excited after Week 4. I still think we will bring in a Veteran after roster cuts.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Only the guys that think we have a good line forget.

You keep saying people are calling this a good line...no one is.

And non one game planned for Hardy....like the couple of linemen said last year, you hit him in the mouth a few times and you don't hear from him the rest of the game.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Guess you might as well not even watch the next couple years then....save yourself some grief.

You should have told me that 20 years ago you could have saved me 20 years of grief!!!

 

[CowboyRoy]

You keep saying people are calling this a good line...no one is.

And non one game planned for Hardy....like the couple of linemen said last year, you hit him in the mouth a few times and you don't hear from him the rest of the game.

They suck

 

[benson]

One move that could have saved this line from absolute suckage was re-signing Hardy. Whether or not he's getting sacks, he's getting pressure and demanding double teams.

Our headcoach was too stupid to handle a player like that correctly and we squandered a golden opportunity to harness his potential.

 

[Denim Chicken]

One move that could have saved this line from absolute suckage was re-signing Hardy. Whether or not he's getting sacks, he's getting pressure and demanding double teams.

Our headcoach was too stupid to handle a player like that correctly and we squandered a golden opportunity to harness his potential.

Bad post is bad

 

[CCBoy]

If this youthful group can go relatively uninjured, they should at least be able to maintain a strong rotation well into the 4th quarters of games. Mix that in with the offense reaching top of league statuses, and a last place team schedule...things should be hugely interesting. I don't mind a cornerback who runs a similar time as did Scandrick when he arrived as well, and learning directly underneath that very same cornerback. I like Brown's addition as well, in the secondary.

 

[jnday]

I admit, our D-line is completely unproven. Our most experienced player is the Eagle we brought in. Our next most is Jack Crawford. Our most proven players are probably Tyrone Crawford followed by Demarcus Lawrence who has a total of one good season under his belt. But this D-line is freakishly young and athletic. Tapper might be the fastest DE in the league. Irving is a freak. So is Gregory. I'm really looking forward to seeing what these guys can do. I'd almost rather see what a guy like Mayowa can do than get the usual 4 sacks from a guy like Jason Jones. This D-line has the potential to be absolutely awful. But they also have the potential to be very good and very exciting. I hope it goes the latter.

Am I excited ? No, not at all. Actually I dread seeing them play the first four games and there was no significant upgrades to get me excited at all. They didn't resign the best pass rusher on the team. Other than watching the progress of Gregory, I am not looking forward to watching any of the defense unless they are sitting on the bench while the offense runs the ball down the defense's throat.

 

[Kevinicus]

I disagree. You can win the SB with an average defense if you have a elite offence.

New England had the 24th, 26th, 24th, & 20th ranked defense the years they won.

That's not true. According to PFR:

In 2001, they were 24th in yards, but 6th in points allowed, and top 8th in turnovers. (Offense was 19th in yds, 6th in points, and 13th in TOs)
In 2003, they were 7th in yards, 1st in points allowed, and 2nd in turnovers (Offense was 17th in yds, 12th in points, and 7th in TOs)
In 2004, they were 9th in yards, 2nd in points allowed, and 3rd in turnovers (Offense was 7th in yds, 4th in points, and 14th in TOs)
In 2014, they were 13th in yards, 8th in points allowed, and 13th in turnovers (Offense was 11th in yds, but 4th in points and 1st in TOs)

Top 8 in points all 4 years, Top 8 in TOs 3 years (top 15 all 4), and top 10 in yds twice (top 15 in 3).

 

[Denim Chicken]

That's not true. According to pff:

In 2001, they were 24th in yards, but 6th in points allowed, and top 8th in turnovers. (Offense was 19th in yds, 6th in points, and 13th in TOs)
In 2003, they were 7th in yards, 1st in points allowed, and 2nd in turnovers (Offense was 17th in yds, 12th in points, and 7th in TOs)
In 2004, they were 9th in yards, 2nd in points allowed, and 3rd in turnovers (Offense was 7th in yds, 4th in points, and 14th in TOs)
In 2014, they were 13th in yards, 8th in points allowed, and 13th in turnovers (Offense was 11th in yds, but 4th in points and 1st in TOs)

Top 8 in points all 4 years, Top 8 in TOs 3 years (top 15 all 4), and top 10 in yds twice (top 15 in 3).

After review, when looking at points allowed instead of total defense, you are correct. Though there are still examples of teams without top 10 defenses (in points allowed) winning the Championship. Greenbay, for instance, was 22nd in 2011 when they won.

 

[Kevinicus]

After review, when looking at points allowed instead of total defense, you are correct. Though there are still examples of teams without top 10 defenses (in points allowed) winning the Championship. Greenbay, for instance, was 22nd in 2011 when they won.

Yes, but they were number 1 in turnovers. Usually if a team is ranked poorly on defense and still has success like that, then there is one area (points or turnovers) that they excel in that makes up for the yards. Or in the case of the Giants, they got healthy at the right time and played much better defense in the playoffs than they did the season.