2016-17 Dallas Defense will be improved and good enough

[Verdict]

The 2016-17 Dallas defense will be ......"Improved, and good enough". I was listening to Sirius MFL Radio yesterday and they were talking to Pete Carroll about his Seattle defense and one of the players that he drafted who he was very excited about. It was a run stuffing defensive tackle who he said was drafted to stop the run. He said Seattle had made its living by stopping the run inside, and that "It all starts with that". In fact he said that although he will have limited pass rush ability at first, he was worth the pick because of his ability to stop the run alone. Wow, what a statement.

I think this Dallas defense will be much better than in year's past in part because the defensive backs won't have to cover all day long. It's not just a function of time to throw, it is also a function that more pressure will be put on opposing QBs up the middle, which is the greatest form of pressure to create turnovers in the form of INTs.

Thornton is a massive upgrade over Hayden as a run defender and will command double teams. The value of that can't be overstated. We have enough reasonably talented defensive linemen to stay fresh and bring it on more of a consistent, full game basis. Hayden not only did not command double teams, but he was really no factor in defending the running game. I really think we will do a much better job controlling the defensive line of scrimmage. That will help keep our linebackers "clean" to go to the ball and make plays. The increased pressure in opposing QB's faces will create opportunities for INTs.

I think that this year, if we stay healthy and on the field, that we will flirt with being a top 10 defense. We have Scandrick back, who is our best corner. We have replaced our weakest link on the DL with a very strong point of attack player. Both of those two will make a huge impact.

Our acquisition of Collins and Tapper will also pay dividends this year. Both will bring talent to the position that can't be understated. Their athletic ability will make us better. They won't be all pros as rookies, but they will flash some potential and make some splash plays, which we haven't really seen in some time. The arrow is finally pointing up on defense.

The biggest question mark I see on defense is at MLB. If McClain shows up to play this defense could be very good. If he shows up with his head in the ditch, and out of shape, then that his the biggest chance of holding us back this year. We HAVE to have above average MLB play this year, if it takes moving Lee back to get it.

 

[LocimusPrime]

To answer the thead, dallas defense will be average.

I personally think that DE is a greater concern than MLB. At mlb you can substitue hitchens or lee or any of the other 5-6 lb or get justin durant in. Doesnt matter that much. But at DE you got straight up junky, unproven, udfa, practice squad homies, or dudes dealing with suspensions and or recovering from off season surgeries. Just not very impressive. Eli isnt scared of our DEs, i doubt any qb is.

 

[rockj7]

Average
Alot of Questions need to be asked
1.) Did Crazy ( Greg Hardy) Help D Law break out last year?
2.) Can T Crawford bounce back from injury?
3.) Is Gregory going to step up or is he really a 3-4 OLB playing out of position in a 4-3 at DE
4.) How many games will Lee and McClain play?
5.) How many interceptions will O Scan Mo and Carr get
6.) Will church play like he did in 2014 or will he be what he was last year?
7.) How will they rotate fresh D linemen when offenses go no huddle?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

We all should know how the NFL works by now. You go in expecting the worst of a unit and then that unit ends up being far better than expected.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Average
Alot of Questions need to be asked
1.) Did Crazy ( Greg Hardy) Help D Law break out last year?
2.) Can T Crawford bounce back from injury?
3.) Is Gregory going to step up or is he really a 3-4 OLB playing out of position in a 4-3 at DE
4.) How many games will Lee and McClain play?
5.) How many interceptions will O Scan Mo and Carr get
6.) Will church play like he did in 2014 or will he be what he was last year?
7.) How will they rotate fresh D linemen when offenses go no huddle?

8.) How will Oscan recover from injury? Will he be the same or slower?
9.) Will Sean Lee play an entire season?

 

[DogFace]

I agree. We will be top 10. Put it in 3 inch headlines.

Last year we lost our best corner and finished, what 17th? What can't be understated was how bad our offense was and the number of three and outs they had forcing the D back on the field. I don't think the D was as bad as many do.
The lack of turnovers was obviously a problem. A small part of that is luck/probability and it will be on our side this year.

Thorton is also a major upgrade as op said. Along with a better Jones.

 

[JoeKing]

... no worse than they were in 2014. Rookies step up to make real contributions. Jones settles in at safety and OScan's comeback at CB... instant improvements.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Better than last year but nothing to brag about.

 

[Sydla]

Average. Unless somehow they find a pass rush. If they can do that and improve upon their paltry number of 31 next year to say in the low 40s in sacks, then they have a chance at being a Top 10 defense.

If that doesn't happen, I expect in the low teens.

And FWIW, in terms of the more advanced stats from Football Outsiders, we were ranked in the low teens in 2015. In fact, according to their weighted defense DVOA ranking, we were actually better in 2015 than 2014.

 

[John813]

The defense overall was ok last year. some of the games that turned into blowouts were due to them being gassed in the second half after the offense was pathetic the entire game.

We need to force more turnovers and pressure the QB. That's the #1 and 2 priority IMO. Hopefully Jones can be a difference maker at safety. Maybe Carr can luck into an interception or two. One would be fine. lol

Think Lawrence can turn into a good DE. Need to hope we see the 2014(healthy) T. Crawford and we can get some decent pass rush out of the rest of the ends.

 

[jazzcat22]

You go into a season expecting your players to stay healthy. I mean, you know there will be injuries. And I know it's always...IF THEY STAY HEALTHY....but that goes even for Brady and the Cheatriots, and Rodgers and the Packers...
So I take it as, Lee stays healthy, Mo, Tony, Dez, etc. Injuries happen.....so you can't say we will be bad, or suck based on an injury that has not happened....So based on that....
Our D should be better for several reasons. As we do have a better D roster and depth. Could it be better, yes, but I would bet Seattle would say they could be better also, Denver, yes they would say it too.

So in 2013, we had a very bad defense, and a lot of injuries, no one expected it to be that bad. no one thought we would be great either. But certainly better than 2012 season, when we finished 24th with yet another injury plagued season.

2013, 26th, gave up 432 points on 1094 plays and 6645 yards. 6.1 yards per play. Injuries galore yet again.

Then the running attack of 2014, to help the defense.
2014, 15th, gave up 352 points, on 978 plays and 5681 yards. 5.8 yards per play. With injuries too. That is 116 less defensive plays, and 80 less points, 964 less yards, so per game, 7.25 plays, 5 points, 60 yards. With no pass rush, and 1 cheated play away from the NFCC game, or one fumble away too.

2015, 16th, gave up 374 points, on 997 plays and 5567 yards. 5.6 yards per play. With Major injuries at key positions. No QB, no WR, No CB [Scandrick] no RB to fear, though McFadden did fine overall.
Numbers were about the same on D, but couldn't close out games. So based on no offense helping the defense, can one say the defense played better given what they had to work with.

Now to 2016, we have the RB again, we have the OL, we have Dez & Tony. The D has better players, and even our pass rush, even in the 1st 4 games will be better than 2014. Then we get DLaw and Gregory to improve upon that. Better run stuffers. A true FS in Jones. Scandrick is back. I say based on all that, this defense will be improved.

 

[jazzcat22]

The defense overall was ok last year. some of the games that turned into blowouts were due to them being gassed in the second half after the offense was pathetic the entire game.

We need to force more turnovers and pressure the QB. That's the #1 and 2 priority IMO. Hopefully Jones can be a difference maker at safety. Maybe Carr can luck into an interception or two. One would be fine. lol

Think Lawrence can turn into a good DE. Need to hope we see the 2014(healthy) T. Crawford and we can get some decent pass rush out of the rest of the ends.

Yes the D held their own last year given they had no help, for obvious reasons from the O. Too many games they had nothing left to keep teams from scoring or getting big plays.
losses last year, by points, 11, but was up on Atlanta 28-0, then 2nd half it all changed., lost by 6 in OT, as D gave up a big play, lost by 24 to NE, after staying with them in the 1st half.
Lost by 7, 1, 6, the OT play again to the Eagles, lost by 4, 19 when Romo got re-injured, by 21 to GB, by 3, 10, then 11 when we didn't care.

 

[dfense]

Haden was no star on the Dline, but to call him a non factor in the run game is incorrect.

 

[Sydla]

Haden was no star on the Dline, but to call him a non factor in the run game is incorrect.

He was close to a non-factor. We weren't a very good run stopping defense last year and he was a big part of that. In the second Eagles game, if I recall, he got pancaked twice on key short yardage plays.

Thornton is a massive step up from Hayden.

 

[CowboyRoy]

The 2016-17 Dallas defense will be ......"Improved, and good enough". I was listening to Sirius MFL Radio yesterday and they were talking to Pete Carroll about his Seattle defense and one of the players that he drafted who he was very excited about. It was a run stuffing defensive tackle who he said was drafted to stop the run. He said Seattle had made its living by stopping the run inside, and that "It all starts with that". In fact he said that although he will have limited pass rush ability at first, he was worth the pick because of his ability to stop the run alone. Wow, what a statement.

I think this Dallas defense will be much better than in year's past in part because the defensive backs won't have to cover all day long. It's not just a function of time to throw, it is also a function that more pressure will be put on opposing QBs up the middle, which is the greatest form of pressure to create turnovers in the form of INTs.

Thornton is a massive upgrade over Hayden as a run defender and will command double teams. The value of that can't be overstated. We have enough reasonably talented defensive linemen to stay fresh and bring it on more of a consistent, full game basis. Hayden not only did not command double teams, but he was really no factor in defending the running game. I really think we will do a much better job controlling the defensive line of scrimmage. That will help keep our linebackers "clean" to go to the ball and make plays. The increased pressure in opposing QB's faces will create opportunities for INTs.

I think that this year, if we stay healthy and on the field, that we will flirt with being a top 10 defense. We have Scandrick back, who is our best corner. We have replaced our weakest link on the DL with a very strong point of attack player. Both of those two will make a huge impact.

Our acquisition of Collins and Tapper will also pay dividends this year. Both will bring talent to the position that can't be understated. Their athletic ability will make us better. They won't be all pros as rookies, but they will flash some potential and make some splash plays, which we haven't really seen in some time. The arrow is finally pointing up on defense.

The biggest question mark I see on defense is at MLB. If McClain shows up to play this defense could be very good. If he shows up with his head in the ditch, and out of shape, then that his the biggest chance of holding us back this year. We HAVE to have above average MLB play this year, if it takes moving Lee back to get it.

 

[tyke1doe]

So we're trusting our middle to Thornton and the rookie Collins, and we didn't invest our second round pick on a defensive player who is going to start, but one who may never play, and we're going to be better?

Oh, I forgot, we drafted Zeke, and he plays defense.

 

[erod]

Basically, this is the same 2014 defense, plus Cedric Thornton, Byron Jones, Sean Lee, Benson Mayowa, Maliek Collins, Charles Tapper, David Irving, and Morris Claiborne. Lost are Jeremy Mincey, George Selvie, and Nick Hayden.

Do I have that right?

 

[LocimusPrime]

Basically, this is the same 2014 defense, plus Cedric Thornton, Byron Jones, Sean Lee, Benson Mayowa, Maliek Collins, Charles Tapper, David Irving, and Morris Claiborne. Lost are Jeremy Mincey, George Selvie, and Nick Hayden.

Do I have that right?

Close..very close. Lost are also Bruce carter, Henry Melton, Justin durant, sterling moore, and bw Webb.

 

[waldoputty]

The 2016-17 Dallas defense will be ......"Improved, and good enough". I was listening to Sirius MFL Radio yesterday and they were talking to Pete Carroll about his Seattle defense and one of the players that he drafted who he was very excited about. It was a run stuffing defensive tackle who he said was drafted to stop the run. He said Seattle had made its living by stopping the run inside, and that "It all starts with that". In fact he said that although he will have limited pass rush ability at first, he was worth the pick because of his ability to stop the run alone. Wow, what a statement.

I think this Dallas defense will be much better than in year's past in part because the defensive backs won't have to cover all day long. It's not just a function of time to throw, it is also a function that more pressure will be put on opposing QBs up the middle, which is the greatest form of pressure to create turnovers in the form of INTs.

Thornton is a massive upgrade over Hayden as a run defender and will command double teams. The value of that can't be overstated. We have enough reasonably talented defensive linemen to stay fresh and bring it on more of a consistent, full game basis. Hayden not only did not command double teams, but he was really no factor in defending the running game. I really think we will do a much better job controlling the defensive line of scrimmage. That will help keep our linebackers "clean" to go to the ball and make plays. The increased pressure in opposing QB's faces will create opportunities for INTs.

I think that this year, if we stay healthy and on the field, that we will flirt with being a top 10 defense. We have Scandrick back, who is our best corner. We have replaced our weakest link on the DL with a very strong point of attack player. Both of those two will make a huge impact.

Our acquisition of Collins and Tapper will also pay dividends this year. Both will bring talent to the position that can't be understated. Their athletic ability will make us better. They won't be all pros as rookies, but they will flash some potential and make some splash plays, which we haven't really seen in some time. The arrow is finally pointing up on defense.

The biggest question mark I see on defense is at MLB. If McClain shows up to play this defense could be very good. If he shows up with his head in the ditch, and out of shape, then that his the biggest chance of holding us back this year. We HAVE to have above average MLB play this year, if it takes moving Lee back to get it.

Losing Hardy is a big deal.
Marinelli said Hardy got Lawrence a lot of 1-on-1's.
Unless the DTs (Thornton>Hayden, rookie Collins) provide consistent good push up the middle, our DL may have serious issues.
Still, it is substantially better than 2014.
Mayowa, Irving, Thornton, more Lawrence, Collins etc. are a lot more talent than 2014.
I am not going to count Tapper, Russell

Gregory is the wild card that can make a big difference.
ASSUMING he is not banned for additional violations, I am thinking we should move him to LB because of his weight.
We did not do Ware any favors going from OLB to RDE.

 

[percyhoward]

In terms of the more advanced stats from Football Outsiders, we were ranked in the low teens in 2015. In fact, according to their weighted defense DVOA ranking, we were actually better in 2015 than 2014.

That's because strength of schedule factors into DVOA. The schedule of offenses we faced last year ranked 6th-most difficult. That's after facing offenses that ranked an average of 30th in 2014.