News: Archer: Dallas Cowboys' defensive makeover will bring needed competition

ChuckA1 said:

So, the article is about competition and Stephen has to say he thinks the 2020 players are better than their record? He constantly steps on the darn message!

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You durn tootin' he does.

ultron said:

Dan Quinn has already done more for this defense than Mike Nolan would’ve done in 10 years

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Yeah. You are right. Nolan was so detached from the game, he couldn't bring in minions.

Cowfan75 said:

Scrubs pushing other scrubs doesn't equate to a culture change.

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But what the Cowboys are doing DOES!

Cowfan75 said:

Scrubs pushing other scrubs doesn't equate to a culture change.

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Pull out some of your scouting reports and let's just see about the scrubs...

The players that were drafted, are not your "run of the mill" players. They will come into camp with attitude, gratitude, and fierceness. The acquisitioned players are fighters, so, I don't see training camp being the same. My opinion is that, this team has made a step in the right direction, as far as defense philosophy and acquisitions. Too many Dallas players, are just satisfied being on the team, and getting acknowledged. Coverage, tackling, and play recognition; will be better.

The Cowboys have brought in free agents, including defensive ends Carlos Watkins and Brent Urban and safeties Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee and Jayron Kearse. The draft brought in LB Micah Parsons (first round), CB Kelvin Joseph (second), DT Osa Odighizuwa (third), DE Chauncey Golston (third), CB Nahshon Wright (third), LB Jabril Cox (fourth) and CB Israel Mukuamu (seventh).

- Watkins gonna have to make a very strong showing in camp to make 53 roster; never had a good read on him on a DL that was dead last in run defense.
- i expect Urban and Osa Odighizuwa to get very much of the playing time shoring up the interior run defense; dunno how much Bohanna will be spotted.
- Frankly i'm not hearing anyone rile up or make impressions of Gholston; will he the most unsong, unheralded player outta this ?
- If Wright is gonna be a 3rd rd pick, i'd expect him as a 3rd CB, but not sure a CB that lengthy and leggy is idea for slot duty - surely would not expect him inactive.

- i fully expect Parson- Cox to find a role and contribute much on the field - whether starting or heavily spotting in various packages ,..
- Israel Muke is gonna find it hard to make this team first year as a converted CB turn S, imo. but what if he balls out in entire camp ?
- i'm betting team gives Joseph every bit chance to start Game 1 (over Brown) .. if not by some mid-point of the season.
- is Kearse this year's version of Dorian Thompson ?.. special teams core player-dime package role; last spot Kearse vs Israel Muke.?

CCBoy said:

Pull out some of your scouting reports and let's just see about the scrubs...

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Got 'em right in front of me, Jerry.

Cowfan75 said:

Got 'em right in front of me, Jerry.

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For a conversation starter, then...I'm NOT Jerry.

I was surprised at the draft, but not disappointed. This linebacker group may now be the most talented and deep group that the Cowboys ever had, for linebackers. There's this fans first real observation.

Following along...this is more of a real discussion:

One of the Cowboys top priorities this offseason was to upgrade their defensive front. In order to do that they brought free agent DTs Brent Urban and Carlos Watkins and added a couple more via the NFL Draft in Osa Odighizuwa and Quinton Bohana. Those additions, plus Trysten Hill and Neville Gallimore, gives Dallas options to deploy in the trenches, and it’s hard to predict with any kind of accuracy who will emerge as the starters.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...five-most-intriguing-position-battles-in-2021

CCBoy said:

For a conversation starter, then...I'm NOT Jerry.

I was surprised at the draft, but not disappointed. This linebacker group may now be the most talented and deep group that the Cowboys ever had, for linebackers. There's this fans first real observation.

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All eyes will be on the Cowboys linebackers once offseason practices start getting underway. This will be one position battle that all of Cowboys Nation will be tuning into to see how things play out. Right now, it’s a free-for-all as to who will emerge as the Cowboys starters for the 2021 season. With Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox entering the mix as draft picks and Keanu Neal as a free agent addition, both Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch have been put on notice that their starting jobs are far from guaranteed.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...five-most-intriguing-position-battles-in-2021

CCBoy said:

For a conversation starter, then...I'm NOT Jerry.

I was surprised at the draft, but not disappointed. This linebacker group may now be the most talented and deep group that the Cowboys ever had, for linebackers. There's this fans first real observation.

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The good news is there is only "up" for a historically awful defense.

Cowfan75 said:

The good news is there is only "up" for a historically awful defense.

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Wasn't really expecting either a valid discussion or a point of view beyond stereotype with a tacked on insult about the Cowboys.

stilltheguru said:

Bringing in bodies doesnt change culture lol. Attitude and game does.

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They appear to have put an emphasis on drafting players that play with an edge with regards to attitude.

Garrett had an extreme aversion to "edgy" players. Greg Hardy actually had a good season with Dallas but Garrett hated him because Hardy was not a Sean Lee or Jason Witten type personality.

It was actually the right approach at the beginning of Garrett's tenure as HC because Wade had lost control of players like Ratliff; however, most great teams have a few players that are always on edge.
- Erik Williams and Charles Haley were integral to the 3 Super Bowl wins in the Jerry era in large part due to the extreme intensity of their personalities.
- Haley was a master of irritating people including his own teammates and coaches.
- Erik Williams set the tone for the entire team. People were legitimately in fear of him.

75boyz said:

Yep,
I believe Quinn influenced McCarthy on this. I seem to remember a couple of specific instances last year where the veteran was given favoritism at a position and it proved costly.
I believe Quinn picked this up from Carroll and even had a competition day of the practice week where spots were earned not given while coaching in Seattle.

Furthermore,
Carroll so believed in you practice how you play and earn your snaps in that way that he saw Wilson was a far superior QB to Flynn, in whom he had signed as a free agent with guaranteed money, but he and the FO bit the bullett on that short contract mistake and the rest is history.

What did Romo say?
A meritocracy.

I guess we'll see. I have my doubts even with McCheese's version of player over scheme at this point so we will see if contract money, draft position or being a vet out trumps practice performance at a lot of positions.

We'll see.

My opinion.

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New coaching staffs lean towards veteran players.

New coaching staff with no real offseason definitely lean towards veteran players.

Nolan obviously had issues getting buy-in from players which is the #1 job of coaches.

Having said that, the deck was stacked against him.
- Changing to his style of defense with players that had been in the Marinelli style defense was a big challenge in year 1.
- Doing it with no real off-season was basically an impossible task.

CCBoy said:

Wasn't really expecting either a valid discussion or a point of view beyond stereotype with a tacked on insult about the Cowboys.

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Who cares what you expected? Why have you wasted our time by commenting to me in the first place?

xwalker said:

New coaching staffs lean towards veteran players.

New coaching staff with no real offseason definitely lean towards veteran players.

Nolan obviously had issues getting buy-in from players which is the #1 job of coaches.

Having said that, the deck was stacked against him.
- Changing to his style of defense with players that had been in the Marinelli style defense was a big challenge in year 1.
- Doing it with no real off-season was basically an impossible task.

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All valid points. But while I'm still not confident in a manufactured pass rush from the existing personnel, my bigger concern is that there is no room for even a 1 or 2 game learning curve for the scheme transition to take place.

Guess they will hit the ground running with opening up against the champs and see where they're at.

stilltheguru said:

Bringing in bodies doesnt change culture lol. Attitude and game does.

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This is true very much true this is exactly why I like what Quinn did going to get some of his guys to instill the culture of how he wants that defense run. If you just throw bodies in there with no connection to the DC or HC you not going to get the right results. Last year we were just throwing names at the board hoping they'd stick.