2011 Giants D-Line (41 sacks) vs 2015 Dallas Cowboys (?)

[Apollo Creed]

The Giants won a Super Bowl in 2011 largely because of a Dez Bryant finger-tip but also, and for the point of this thread - because they were able to overcome a negative point differential by having a defensive line that could change a game.

There is a reason pass rushers are paid a premium - sacks and pressure are game changing catalytic, drive killing plays. In that season they had 48 as a defense with 41 from their D-Line. Throw in 15 forced fumbles and your mediocre team and quarterback suddenly get more opportunities, stifle great offenses, and prove that an average team can win the Super Bowl with an elite pass rush.

JPP - 16.5
Osi - 9
Tuck - 5
Kiwanuka - 3.5 (21 from the NASCAR package guys)
Tollefson - 5
Canty - 4
Joseph - 2

With all that said, I expect a lot of them from our guys next year and our team isn't average and reliant on luck like that Giants team. We just got a whole lot better in this department. I'm guessing we put up 36 sacks next year just up front alone. Can't wait to see what Rod does with his version of the Nascar package in passing situations. Imagine Hardy, Gregory, Lawrence and Mincey on the field at the same time - with Lee and McClain hovering right behind them! That's ******* stout my friend.

Hardy - 10 (in 10 games - he'll be playing to prove a point and for a contract (expect Murray-like production)
Gregory - 6 (Wanted to say 16.5 because he has JPP like potential, and a chip on his shoulder like Hardy)
Lawrence - 8 (I expect him to come into his own and really thrive during the absence of Hardy)
Mincey - 5 (he'll put up numbers but lose reps b/c of Hardy & Gregory)
Crawford - 4 (Has potential to 6-8)
McClain - 2
Hayden - 1 (thousand)

 

[JBS]

Hardy could be too high...
Too high on gregory
Too high on mincey
Too low on Crawford

My thoughts

 

[Jstopper]

@Apollo Creed you have your years mixed up bro. The dez fingertip came in 2012. They had already won the superbowl the year before that.

 

[Apollo Creed]

@Apollo Creed you have your years mixed up bro. The dez fingertip came in 2012. They had already won the superbowl the year before that.

You're right. My bad. Those 8-8 years kind of were a blur to me. Point still remains they won because of that great d-line.

Those monsters in your sig have a higher ceiling than that Giants squad did IMHO.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

1 is too many for Hayden.

 

[sureletsrace]

I think Lawrence will surprise sine people this year.

He's flying WAY under the radar with the addition of Hardy and Gregory.

 

[Jstopper]

You're right. My bad. Those 8-8 years kind of were a blur to me. Point still remains they won because of that great d-line.

Those monsters in your sig have a higher ceiling than that Giants squad did IMHO.

damn skippy. I project 44 sacks on the season for this group.
Hardy 10
Lawrence 10
Crawford 8
Mincey 6
Gregory 6
T. McClain 2
Hayden 2
Not to mention the linebackers and secondaries

 

[BIGDen]

@Apollo Creed you have your years mixed up bro. The dez fingertip came in 2012. They had already won the superbowl the year before that.

Exactly. The play that gave them the division was Miles Austin bending his route and not being where Romo led him for the game winner. Our pathetic D blew like a 12 point lead with less than 6 minutes left in the game. Romo threw 4 tds and 0 ints and lost. Then the Niners punt returner Kyle Williams gave away the game to the vagiants by fumbling 2 punt returns. Gift after gift for the '07 and '11 vagiants teams. We get the Dez call and cap penalties for league-approved contracts. Ughh.

 

[Vanilla2]

82 at least.

 

[Apollo Creed]

@Apollo Creed you have your years mixed up bro. The dez fingertip came in 2012. They had already won the superbowl the year before that.

What makes it even worse is - apparently I was there. Smh. http://cowboyszone.com/threads/our-home-crowd-is-pathetic.225740/#post-4308370

 

[Nation]

Tough to set expectations without knowing where Hardy's suspension will come in at

 

[Apollo Creed]

Tough to set expectations without knowing where Hardy's suspension will come in at

I was assuming a max 6 minimum 2. Figure he'll get double digits no matter where it ends up because he's not only playing with a chip on his shoulder, he's got his eye on a big contract, and has been locked up like a caged animal ready to destroy QBs.

90% of his game is motor and ridiculous effort - I have no doubt he'll be bringing it every single snap.

 

[Everson24]

Exactly. The play that gave them the division was Miles Austin bending his route and not being where Romo led him for the game winner. Our pathetic D blew like a 12 point lead with less than 6 minutes left in the game. Romo threw 4 tds and 0 ints and lost. Then the Niners punt returner Kyle Williams gave away the game to the vagiants by fumbling 2 punt returns. Gift after gift for the '07 and '11 vagiants teams. We get the Dez call and cap penalties for league-approved contracts. Ughh.

Not to mention the terrible " forward progress non-fumble" by Ahmad Bradshaw late in the forth quarter in the NFC Championship game. Theball came out just as we was hit. If the refs call it right the Niners kick the gimmie FG and they go to the Super Bowl against NE. The Giants are either extremely lucky or some shady stuff is going on behind the scenes. I vote for the latter.

 

[Manster68]

My goal for this Cowboys defense is to be ranked between 10-15 overall (from 19 last season) with 40 sacks (28 sacks last season).

I do not think that is unreasonable.

 

[gimmesix]

1 is too many for Hayden.

I don't know ... if the ends are constantly getting pressure, Hayden might accidentally bump into a QB who had to step up to avoid the outside rushers and Crawford.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I don't know ... if the ends are constantly getting pressure, Hayden might accidentally bump into a QB who had to step up to avoid the outside rushers and Crawford.

No doubt. I expect Crawford to have a big year as a result of this as well.

 

[CyberB0b]

Extremely optimistic, IMO.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Extremely optimistic, IMO.

Hardy averages about a sack a game. I have him between 8-12 pending the suspension.

You mean to tell me Gregory, Mincey, Lawrence and Crawford can't account for 20-24 between the four of them?

 

[Jenky]

1 is too many for Hayden.

lol

 

[CyberB0b]

Hardy averages about a sack a game. I have him between 8-12 pending the suspension.

You mean to tell me Gregory, Mincey, Lawrence and Crawford can't account for 20-24 between the four of them?

Hardy doesn't average a sack a game. Not even at his peak. In order for this scenario to work, you will need career seasons from everyone you listed. Not saying it is impossible, but it is definitely optimistic.