2016-17 Dallas Defense will be improved and good enough

[Scandri100]

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

crazy to think that durant was actually solid...why is he unsigned? he makes us a much better defense.

 

[waving monkey]

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?

sounds better to me

 

[waving monkey]

By mid season we should be a top ten defense. We will be a top five offense.
Thats the play offs.

 

[dewby]

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.

practice squad homies. lmao

 

[rwalters31]

I don't understand why people seem the pass rush HAS to come from the defensive ends. If you look at the really good defensive teams the interior pressure is above average getting pressure and sacks from the inside as well as outside. Often times the defensive ends on strong defensive teams end up getting a lot of sacks when the pocket collapses from the inside out.

This is the best description of a good DL. Some one who understands that the interior of the line makes the DEs look great. Pushing the OL back into the QB/RB causes in completions and turn overs.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

We were a good defense last season with lesser talent and a horrible offense . It will be even better this year.

 

[Alexander]

I don't understand why people seem the pass rush HAS to come from the defensive ends. If you look at the really good defensive teams the interior pressure is above average getting pressure and sacks from the inside as well as outside. Often times the defensive ends on strong defensive teams end up getting a lot of sacks when the pocket collapses from the inside out.

This was a point before the draft when every one stated they had to take an end high. Sure, you want that feared edge presence. But you have to have interior pressure too. Hatcher provided that in previous years. Crawford didn't last year. That is why the Collins pick is way more important than most acknowledge. If he is what Marinelli believes he is, it will be a huge addition.

 

[waldoputty]

Except Thornton has 4 career sacks in 4 years and is known primarily for his run-stopping abilities.

But other than that, yeah sure he's completely and totally just a cheaper Suh.

The math from the stats I can find.
The difference between Hayden and Thornton is 1 sack and 12 pressures.
The difference between Suh and Crawford (torn rotator cuff) is 3 sacks and 28 pressures

With Thornton, you are making up ~40% of the difference between Suh and Crawford who tore his rotator cuff in game 2.
That gap may narrow with a healthy Crawford so one could 'expect' 50-60%.
Stats can vary with in different systems, but Thornton takes a double team and generated 60% of the stats Crawford did.
Hidden in the stats - Thornton probably got double teamed reasonably often but Hayden probably never did.

Thornton cost $4 million - seems like a cost-effective way to upgrade the DL.
Would I prefer Olivier Vernon with his 81 pressures and 7.5 sacks?
Of course, but he costs $20 million.

Thornton in 2014 when he was not injured: 739 snaps, 4 penalties, 1 sack, 2 QB hits, 17 QB hurries, 2 batted passes, 48 tackles, 10 assisted, 7 missed tackles, 36 stops, 1 forced fumble, 1 safety
Crawford pressures 2015 despite torn rotator cuff early in season: 3 sacks and 29 quarterback pressures
Hayden pressures 2015: 5
Suh pressures 2015: 6 sacks and 57 pressures

 

[Verdict]

This was a point before the draft when every one stated they had to take an end high. Sure, you want that feared edge presence. But you have to have interior pressure too. Hatcher provided that in previous years. Crawford didn't last year. That is why the Collins pick is way more important than most acknowledge. If he is what Marinelli believes he is, it will be a huge addition.

I agree with your post. I think that between Thornton, Collins and a healthy Crawford we will have a "good enough" interior line this year, and have much better interior defensive line play than we had last year.

I was glad to see the team use good judgment and not force a DE pick based on a perceived need. We got great value in Tapper by letting the draft come to us, and he could very easily out perform higher drafted DEs.

We got a "hoss" interior DL in the draft in Collins (which was the strength of this draft) and added Thornton, which should benefit the entire defense.

 

[Alexander]

I agree with your post. I think that between Thornton, Collins and a healthy Crawford we will have a "good enough" interior line this year, and have much better interior defensive line play than we had last year.

I was glad to see the team use good judgment and not force a DE pick based on a perceived need. We got great value in Tapper by letting the draft come to us, and he could very easily out perform higher drafted DEs.

We got a "hoss" interior DL in the draft in Collins (which was the strength of this draft) and added Thornton, which should benefit the entire defense.

I am not going to say that we played it perfectly and "let the draft fall to us" with Tapper.

Hard to pretend it worked out just as planned with a 4th round pick. You can barely say that with a 2nd or even 3rd rounder.

 

[CCBoy]

I'm liking what I see up front. This group really has the potential to grow into a pretty tough and in your face group. I am looking forward to this and the next few seasons here.

The Cowboys linebacker group is pretty solid, and when the newly drafted Smith joins the group, this could be a deal maker for Marrinelli's group. The linebackers work into what should be the strengths...the defensive line and secondary. They should become pretty dominating for a linebacker group, if the middle is strong.

I'm thinking that this secondary still has the chance to be strong.