Some rookies do, that’s true… but not all. Look at Diggs last season. He improved throughout and by the end of the season, was playing his best ball, by far.
I don’t think as many guys hit that rookie wall these days because they pace the players with only so many padded practices, etc.
I really can’t see Parsons, Odighizuwa, Golston, Cox, and Bohanna not being a lot better in the second half of the season and into the playoffs. They will be, IMO.
Even other young guys like Anae and Wilson should continue improving as the year goes on. Anae especially. He basically didn’t play last season and he’ll get better even getting a few snaps here and there this season.
Also, Kazee and Hooker should get better as they get further and further away from their injuries. As they learn the defense and regain their confidence, I expect them to make more and more plays.
Kearse too, has been growing weekly as he gets to stretch his legs in a new, unique role that Quinn has formed for him.
And of course, the biggest thing is just everyone learning to play together and learning Quinn’s system and how he’s calling games.
Heck, even Quinn himself will grow and improve as he figures out exactly how he’s forming this defense. It is different than the defenses he ran at Seattle or Atlanta. He has branched out significantly from what he had been doing. He’s playing things very differently now. As he sees what is working, learns the skills of his new players and their strengths and weaknesses, his defense will become more efficient and have fewer mistakes.
I’ve been wrong before but I’m expecting a better defense as we go past the mid-point and towards the playoffs. I honestly expect some serious growth on that side of the ball, including more and more pressure on QB’s.
About the only thing that I expect to fall off some is the ridiculously torrid pace at which Diggs is intercepting the ball. That just can’t keep going at this rate, although I still think Diggs will get his hands on some more balls.
Anyway, yeah… I don’t think anybody is going to want to play the Dallas defense by the time the playoffs roll around.
