2017 defense vs 2016 defense

[TheHerd]

I think you forgot Demontre Moore as a player added.

Yes, left out Moore. Another suspension guy. Also another "has potential but we'll see" guy. Can we please hit on one of these?

 

[dmq]

Big difference is that Crawford, Scandrick and Lawrence are healthy. Also Collins going into his second year. We lost some experience on the back end, but hopefully we can weather the storm early on.

 

[jday]

Yes, left out Moore. Another suspension guy. Also another "has potential but we'll see" guy. Can we please hit on one of these?

In limited action in preseason he looked good, but admittedly, many times that was against the 2nd/3rd string offensive lineman, so we will see.

 

[JPostSam]

I don't see any difference this year, however I do see a few pieces that could lead to improvement in 2018.

this. the defense is still being built.

 

[Derinyar]

Seems better at all position groups.

Collins is the same physical player he was last year, but there's a very reasonable chance that he's improved this year. We can hope the same for a lot of the younger guys on the roster, Mayowa/Irving come to mind. Smith is going to be an interesting one to look at over the first half of the season, if he keeps progressing the way he has been there's very little chance that Hitchens gets his job back. If Smith stagnates where he is right now Hitchens probably does get his job back. I could easily see several of the starters in the DBs change as the season goes. It feels like Carroll could get replaced by either Chido or Lewis and Heath could get replaced by Frazier or Woods. Right now I'd probably say its a litlte worse across the board, but has upward trajectory, which I don't think it would have as much of if they had kept the same players.

 

[ConstantReboot]

The secondary is not better yet. I'm sorry for all the flack Carr took around hear the dude is not awful. He also has always done a number on OBJ.

Didn't he give up that lone TD to OBJ in the 2nd game?

 

[Doomsday101]

2016 compared to 2017? No idea but about to find out. I think there is more potential with 2017 but they have to go out and prove it on the field. Starting unit really has not had many snaps as a full unit so again hard to know what this defense can or can't do but about to find out vs a team who has always played the Cowboys hard.

 

[xwalker]

Collins is the same physical player he was last year, but there's a very reasonable chance that he's improved this year. We can hope the same for a lot of the younger guys on the roster, Mayowa/Irving come to mind. Smith is going to be an interesting one to look at over the first half of the season, if he keeps progressing the way he has been there's very little chance that Hitchens gets his job back. If Smith stagnates where he is right now Hitchens probably does get his job back. I could easily see several of the starters in the DBs change as the season goes. It feels like Carroll could get replaced by either Chido or Lewis and Heath could get replaced by Frazier or Woods. Right now I'd probably say its a litlte worse across the board, but has upward trajectory, which I don't think it would have as much of if they had kept the same players.

CB
Scandrick - Looks significantly better. Not 100% last year.

Brown - Now in 2nd year after multiple starts as a rookie.

Carroll - How does he compare to Carr?

Depth - High upside players Awuzie and Lewis.

Safety
Jones - 2nd year as starter at FS.

Heath - Played a lot of snaps last season and multiple years scheme. More athletic than Church.

Depth - High upside with Woods

 

[ConceptCoop]

The defense is about the same. We have a young secondary that will take some time to develop. The Dline is about the same, maybe a smidgen better. The linebackers are about the same, when you factor in hitchens injury and wilsons eventual suspension.

I can't quite agree. I think the secondary will be a step or two behind what it was last year. I think in time it could end up being better, but Chido and Lewis will need time. People seem to underestimate how well Claiborne and Church played last year.

DL: Slightly better
LB: Wash
DB: Worse

 

[Doomsday]

The secondary is not better yet. I'm sorry for all the flack Carr took around hear the dude is not awful. He also has always done a number on OBJ.

He was solid in coverage, but rarely if ever made big plays. We have to get some turnovers out of the secondary.

 

[Montanalo]

This is really an interesting topic. if you think about it in terms of "core" players -- those players you want to retain long-term and build around -- at the beginning of 2016, you might likely point to Sean Lee and possibly, Byron Jones as the only true defensive core players. I am not saying the rest of the players from 2016 were JAGs. Rather, I would describe the rest of the defense collectively as average, meaning, the remaining players were fully replaceable if someone better came along. Heading into 2017, I would argue that we can add Collins to the core group and possibly Jaylon Smith (although, I acknowledge he hasn't played a down or proven anything yet other than he is incredibly resilient and determined). I also believe that the Awuzie and Lewis have the potential to be better than average, but only time will tell.

On balance, I think we are slightly better than 2016 with the opportunity to improve as the year goes on... fire away, I'll start ducking

 

[Aven8]

Didn't he give up that lone TD to OBJ in the 2nd game?

Well he was on that highlight tape that has been shown over and over and over and over......but he has held him in check. He did the same with DJax.

 

[darthseinfeld]

This is an interesting topic. It's really hard to tell what we will be. Jack Crawford was not a loss in my humble opinion. He was the epitome of JAG. Terrell McClain was a loss, but I am intrigued by Price at the 1 tech. Bigger can be better. I think we will be better at end than we have been in several years.

Our DL could be very good if other teams allow us to substitute. If not we could be exposed as these guys are not good at everything. T. Crawford might be a Swiss Army knife who can do a little bit of everything but isn't that good at anything.

Our LB corps are pretty thin, but we won't play 3 lb on every down so we might be ok, to very good if Smith is close to healthy.

I have no idea what to expect from our DBs. My best guess is that we will be hit and miss early on and tougher to pass against as the season progresses.

I think Paea could cancel out the loss of McClain. We should be able to get similar production

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

The secondary is not better yet. I'm sorry for all the flack Carr took around hear the dude is not awful. He also has always done a number on OBJ.

Healthy OScan, a full seasoned ABrown, athletic and skilled rookies Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis, Nolan Carroll who the staff wanted. More fleXability for dime packages. Myself better.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I can't quite agree. I think the secondary will be a step or two behind what it was last year. I think in time it could end up being better, but Chido and Lewis will need time. People seem to underestimate how well Claiborne and Church played last year.

DL: Slightly better
LB: Wash
DB: Worse

Not even close.

 

[ConceptCoop]

Not even close.

We're starting 2016's 3rd string SS and Carroll is garbage. There's potential for the unit to be better, but I expect it to take some time. I think Chido and Lewis will be very solid, if not studs. Just not in 2017.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I can't quite agree. I think the secondary will be a step or two behind what it was last year. I think in time it could end up being better, but Chido and Lewis will need time. People seem to underestimate how well Claiborne and Church played last year.

DL: Slightly better
LB: Wash
DB: Worse

We actually agree coop lol.

 

[ConceptCoop]

We actually agree coop lol.

My bad.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

We're starting 2016's 3rd string SS and Carroll is garbage. There's potential for the unit to be better, but I expect it to take some time. I think Chido and Lewis will be very solid, if not studs. Just not in 2017.

Disagree.

 

[ConceptCoop]

Disagree.

I hope you're right! Those two contributing right away would be huge.