Anyone else kind of excited about our D-line?

[Denim Chicken]

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.

Good work. Checks out. I was going to bring up New Orleans who was 18th in PPG, but after checking they were #1 in takeaways.

I will just have to hope Rod can get this crew back to where they were in 2014 in regards to turnovers.

 

[BAT]

You sure seem to think the one player you named is going to be worth it. How is that any different? What makes you think a DT is gonna be the difference maker?

Well the difference in my scenarios versus yours is twofold: 1) Your examples had serious off field issues that affects their on field productivity (Suh, Hardy, etc.) and 2) the other players you mentioned were signed to big money was not backed by production (Carr, Crawford, etc.).

Mo Wilkerson is closer to signing a Reggie White, Deion Sanders, Demarcus Ware, etc. Not only is his production at its highest level but he has an outstanding work ethic and teamwork - a true RKG. And the 3 tech must be the most catalytic player in a Marinelli defense, this is the lynchpin position for this defense to be successful. So yes, I do believe Wilkerson can certainly be a difference maker on this team, on and off the field.

 

[ChooChoo73]

I have no excitement in the line. Sean Lee and Scandrick only two players on defense that are watchable to me. The line sucks.

 

[Chuck 54]

I'm excited because going back to DWare, we have always put too much emphasis on the outside and ignored the middle. Who knows what numbers Ware would have put up if he hadn't always been running wide and behind QBs who had plenty of room to step up. We never had effective DEs in the 3-4, and we've never had effective DTs since moving back to the 4-3.

If Crawford and McClain are healthy this year, we may run out 4 guys (Crawford, Thornton, McClain, and Collins) who are all better than anyone who played DT last year. Pressure up the middle is what rushes the QB, moves him off his spot, changes Windows, cuts the field in half when the QB leaves the pocket, and helps DEs get some cheap sacks.

The DE position will be problematic even after the suspensions, but I'm very excited about our DTs.

 

[endersdragon]

I think Crawford, D-Law, and Thorton are all top 10 at their positions. The question for me is can someone else take the 4th spot on the line? Collins and Gregory seem like the most likely candidates but we need 1 more guy to solidify our line as a line like a chain is as strong as it's weakest link

 

[BAT]

I think Crawford, D-Law, and Thorton are all top 10 at their positions. The question for me is can someone else take the 4th spot on the line? Collins and Gregory seem like the most likely candidates but we need 1 more guy to solidify our line as a line like a chain is as strong as it's weakest link

If you have 3 out of 4 DL who are top 10 at their positions then there is something seriously wrong. The production does not add up.

 

[JPostSam]

it's better than last year. by how much, we don't know yet.

 

[BAT]

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.

Elite kicker. Never forget the kicker. Seriously, NE's post season D was better than their regular season. Bill seems to coach them up better in the post season. His guys don't make a lot of mistakes.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I have no excitement in the line. Sean Lee and Scandrick only two players on defense that are watchable to me. The line sucks.

lol. And people are complaining we should have taken a defensive player with pick #34 (who helps now). If it sucks, won't matter who we drafted.

 

[DTown214]

When the drug addicts return, sure.

 

[LocimusPrime]

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

If you have 3 out of 4 DL who are top 10 at their positions then there is something seriously wrong. The production does not add up.

Right again! If we have 3 dlineman who are all top 10 players, our line would be powerful. Pressures and sacks galore.

 

[RJ_MacReady]

I'm excited about Collins, Mayowa and Thornton. I'm also interested to see if Irving will get snaps at SDE.

 

[dcowboysfan76]

Keep in mind the Cowboys are trying to be like Seattle

 

[endersdragon]

If you have 3 out of 4 DL who are top 10 at their positions then there is something seriously wrong. The production does not add up.

Thorton is brand new (to us), DLaw didn't really emerge until the end of last year when the Cowboys production stated going up. Crawford is just undervalued

 

[ChooChoo73]

lol. And people are complaining we should have taken a defensive player with pick #34 (who helps now). If it sucks, won't matter who we drafted.

I think it's hilarious for those that advocated so heavily for Zeke at 4 and then are up in arms about taking an injured player at 34 who can't help the defense now. The whole Cowboys Break crew sounded that way. My question is if it's so critical that they needed the immediate impact defensive player at, then where were you at 4. I'm at peace with Zeke now because I have no choice but to those ticked about 34 I just have to lol. Hilarious.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I think it's hilarious for those that advocated so heavily for Zeke at 4 and then are up in arms about taking an injured player at 34 who can't help the defense now. The whole Cowboys Break crew sounded that way. My question is if it's so critical that they needed the immediate impact defensive player at, then where were you at 4. I'm at peace with Zeke now because I have no choice but to those ticked about 34 I just have to lol. Hilarious.

Right on.

 

[BAT]

Thorton is brand new (to us), DLaw didn't really emerge until the end of last year when the Cowboys production stated going up. Crawford is just undervalued

I'm not the one who said they were top 10 at their positions. Undervalued or not, the production still does not add up to your assertion.

 

[casmith07]

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'm pretty excited. Lots of young talent that will hopefully be underrated.

 

[Risen Star]

I have no excitement in the line. Sean Lee and Scandrick only two players on defense that are watchable to me. The line sucks.

Disagree. It may not be the strength of the team but it certainly doesn't suck. Lawrence, Gregory, Crawford, Thornton, Collins and Tapper are all quality players.

 

[endersdragon]

I'm not the one who said they were top 10 at their positions. Undervalued or not, the production still does not add up to your assertion.

Did you miss the fact that one of the players wasn't on our team last year and therefore couldn't have had any production for our team last year?