Fowler, Lve and Hooker could be the key for our D

RandyOh

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,107
Reaction score
2,958
Golston, Odighizuwa, and Gaillimore stepping up and breaking out as players are the key to the defense becoming great. If the Dline is great, everyone else's job on defense gets much easier and plays are made.
 

xwalker

Well-Known Member
Messages
56,925
Reaction score
64,361
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
I listened to a podcast from Skywalker this morning discussing these 3 veterans being the key for this year's defense:

-Fowler is a former top 3 pick that netted him a big contract after a breakout season with the Rams, where many considered him a draft bust with the Jags. Quinn recruited him to Florida, then to the Falcons, but was fired after 5 games in a covid season where he didn't get much time to work with him.

-Both Lve/Hooker have injury histories, where at the moment the team doesn't have any quality, proven backup behind them. Both have flashed early in their careers, but have failed to match that prior production.

Hooker's snaps were limited last season by design and he played more down, but this yr, he is expected to fill the centerfielder role, which is very important in Quinn's scheme. Has legitimate instincts and is a far better tackler then Kazee, but can he make it through an entire season? Looks like Wilson would fill in if he misses any time.

We all know the story about Lve, terrific rookie season, but hasn't looked the same since that neck injury against Philly a few years ago. He is a little more stiff these days, but still can be an effective player. His role is pretty much to take on blockers, so Parsons can chase. He isn't just a two down player as he can cover somewhat and has the ability to play all linebacker spots, which is important if Quinn wants to continue to use Parsons as a chess piece.

I think the 'key' with these 3 players is having backup options.

All 3 have had 1 or more terrific seasons, but all 3 have had injury issues.

Fowler
- Fowler has not missed a huge amount of games, but he played at less than 100% for significant portions of the past 2 seasons.
- In reviewing his game footage, his play declined when he was playing through an injury in 2020.
- In 2021 he was a starter before missing 2 games and a non-starter after he returned. Being a non-starter actually appeared to help him.

Hooker
- He has missed 30 of 81 possible regular season games.
- He played 15 games in 2021 which is the most games active for him in a season.

Vander Esch
- He has missed 13 of 65 possible regular season games.
 

xwalker

Well-Known Member
Messages
56,925
Reaction score
64,361
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
I listened to a podcast from Skywalker this morning discussing these 3 veterans being the key for this year's defense:

-Fowler is a former top 3 pick that netted him a big contract after a breakout season with the Rams, where many considered him a draft bust with the Jags. Quinn recruited him to Florida, then to the Falcons, but was fired after 5 games in a covid season where he didn't get much time to work with him.

-Both Lve/Hooker have injury histories, where at the moment the team doesn't have any quality, proven backup behind them. Both have flashed early in their careers, but have failed to match that prior production.

Hooker's snaps were limited last season by design and he played more down, but this yr, he is expected to fill the centerfielder role, which is very important in Quinn's scheme. Has legitimate instincts and is a far better tackler then Kazee, but can he make it through an entire season? Looks like Wilson would fill in if he misses any time.

We all know the story about Lve, terrific rookie season, but hasn't looked the same since that neck injury against Philly a few years ago. He is a little more stiff these days, but still can be an effective player. His role is pretty much to take on blockers, so Parsons can chase. He isn't just a two down player as he can cover somewhat and has the ability to play all linebacker spots, which is important if Quinn wants to continue to use Parsons as a chess piece.

Alternatives if one of these 3 players is injured:

FS: Wilson can play FS or SS.

Run-Downs LB: Quinn has other alignments such a a 5-man DL with Parsons as the 1 true LB on the field and 3 Safeties with Kearse as a pseudo LB.

DE: Multiple options. Fowler is a good role player but they're not depending on him.
 

Pass2Run

Well-Known Member
Messages
10,870
Reaction score
12,220
Let's hope not.

I think our defensive success hinges on a few things:

  1. The health of Diggs and Parsons.
  2. The development of our 2021 draft class as a whole, particularly our pass rushers.
  3. The development of Kelvin Joseph
  4. A clear cut winner from the LB group during camp battles.
  5. Key veteran additions
  6. Takeaway mentality
Still think they need to add another veteran lb

Same. I think they are holding onto the Hitchens wildcard in their back pocket, as Rob Phillips put it.

At least we pretty much know what we get with him. Outplays his athleticism. Student mentality. Plus, he's a great locker room guy.

I don't believe in Malik hooker like alot of you. Even when he was healthy he wasn't some elite ball hawk in indy.

He was apparently over-drafted there. Maybe I'm missing something, but it doesn't seem like he's playing at a pro bowl, first round talent for our team.

Am I missing something here? To me, he's just another rotational safety, like we've always had.


Dallas defense will rock this year, and be the #1 defense in the NFL. :popcorn:

I can definitely see us in the top five in several categories.

Gregory who?
 
Last edited:

baltcowboy

Well-Known Member
Messages
14,838
Reaction score
16,638
I think the Cowboys expect Damone Clark to play and have a major impact on the defense by week 10. I get the impression that the coaching staff sees a 3 down middle linebacker with Clark. It looks like watching highlights from LSU he has pass rushing ability as well. Voch and Cavanaugh think he is a good pick but they seem to favor Dean over Clark. I guess they love watching small, slow linebackers playing with a loaded front 7.:huh:
 

Stash

Staff member
Messages
78,331
Reaction score
102,213
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
Alternatives if one of these 3 players is injured:

FS: Wilson can play FS or SS.

Run-Downs LB: Quinn has other alignments such a a 5-man DL with Parsons as the 1 true LB on the field and 3 Safeties with Kearse as a pseudo LB.

DE: Multiple options. Fowler is a good role player but they're not depending on him.

I don’t think Wilson can play FS.
 

Stash

Staff member
Messages
78,331
Reaction score
102,213
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
I'm going to go way out on a limb and suggest that Parsons, Diggs, and Lawrence are the keys to the Cowboys defense. If you are looking for additional firepower on defense I would say that Osa, Cox, and Joseph are more of a key.

I expect those three 2nd year players to improve significantly from their rookie seasons and when you really think about it, wouldn't last seasons defensive draft yield far more potential?

Fowler was a bust whose fortunes magically improved when he signed with the Rams and played next to Aaron Donald for a season. That was his only double digit sack season. His other five seasons average out to less than 5 sacks a season. Take that one season out and he's practically had a career as a a non-factor.

LVE could revive his career if he can stay healthy.....a very big "if". I am very hopeful he can persevere and contribute to the team but I wouldn't call him a key.

I don't know why Hooker would be a key. Ironically, the Cowboys were considered extremely weak at the safety position prior to the 2021 season. Halfway through that season Wilson was almost an afterthought. Kearse played great. the team has some young prospects from last season and this one as well . It would be great for Hooker to breakout in 2022 but it's not a necessity when the team still has Kearse and Wilson..

Actually, all things considered, if you wanted to point at a specific position and claim it is a key to the Cowboys success on defense, it would absolutely have to be at defensive tackle.

Considering the way in which teams successfully attacked the Cowboys last season, the first order of business has to be stopping the run down the middle. No matter how hard LVE plays, he's not going to do much if the DT's can't slow the RB's down.

It would be entirely reasonable to claim that Osa, Gallimore, Bohanna, Ridgeway, Trystan Hill, and Carlos Watkins, as a DT unit will be the key this coming season.

I think the one key for the defense - as you mentioned - is the play at defensive tackle in stopping the run.
 

Established1971

fiveandcounting
Messages
5,505
Reaction score
4,107
people are really dug in here for disrespect of LVE, its gotten to the point where the dislike outweighs the objective observations. Its cool to dislike LVE now
 

Cowboyny

Well-Known Member
Messages
15,491
Reaction score
18,860
Alternatives if one of these 3 players is injured:

FS: Wilson can play FS or SS.

Run-Downs LB: Quinn has other alignments such a a 5-man DL with Parsons as the 1 true LB on the field and 3 Safeties with Kearse as a pseudo LB.

DE: Multiple options. Fowler is a good role player but they're not depending on him.
I would like another veteran LB signed, think they can get by at the other 2 spots if injuries occur, but worry about the linebacker position.
 

mkelly71

Member
Messages
135
Reaction score
0
I do uber driving in Alaska and gave a ride to Lve dad last week. He was up here to go polar bear hunting I guess he has a cabin. We had a very conversation. He said this is the first year Lve is completely healthy and is primed for a big year. I guess they had a multiple year deal from Pittsburgh over the summer. Pittsburgh ended up signing someone else and took deal off the table. I feel we are lucky to still have him
 

stilltheguru

Well-Known Member
Messages
14,698
Reaction score
13,536
I think our defensive success hinges on a few things:

  1. The health of Diggs and Parsons.
  2. The development of our 2021 draft class as a whole, particularly our pass rushers.
  3. The development of Kelvin Joseph
  4. A clear cut winner from the LB group during camp battles.
  5. Key veteran additions
  6. Takeaway mentality


Same. I think they are holding onto the Hitchens wildcard in their back pocket, as Rob Phillips put it.

At least we pretty much know what we get with him. Outplays his athleticism. Student mentality. Plus, he's a great locker room guy.



He was apparently over-drafted there. Maybe I'm missing something, but it doesn't seem like he's playing at a pro bowl, first round talent for our team.

Am I missing something here? To me, he's just another rotational safety, like we've always had.





I can definitely see us in the top five in several categories.

Gregory who?
He was a former first rounder and around here that means alot to posters even though the tape says ehhhhh. If we play single high he's better than Wilson at fs. If we played 2 high Wilson is easily better imo.
 
Top