CFZ A review of our defense

[12+88=7]

A little better.

Last year Brown and Lewis were the #2 and #3 CBs. This year they are #4 and #5 respectively.

That's a big improvement.

The new league year is 4 days old and Dallas has done great work so far. Why do some need instant gratification so badly? Patience.

 

[Verdict]

Good review but to me this defense consistently can’t get off the field in critical situations against teams that can run and tires out later in the year

Give me Hankins and Robinson to rotate at 1T. Both should be pretty cheap so absolutely no reason we can’t do it

That would look pretty strong “on paper”.

 

[DanA]

The more I think about it the more we must sign a 1T in free agency. Even if we signed the best player on the market we could still go DT 1st round.

 

[Rayman70]

still need 2 draft a cb.

 

[cnuball21]

Right now I think we have a really strong defense with only a couple of holes. Assuming a starting 11:

LDE: D-Law 1:?? 3T: Odigizuwa RDE: Parsons
MIKE:LVE WILL:Kearse
LCB:Gilmore SCB: Bland RCB:Diggs
SS: Wilson FS: Hooker
​

We have good players across the starting entire starting 11 except 1-tech. I have four “blue chip” players and 6 “good” players that I think are all well above NFL average starters. It’s a smaller defense though so to me it’s critical we find a 1-tech that can push the pocket allowing our LB/safeties a free run to the ball, and stopping the QB from stepping up into the pocket so our good edge rushers can get home.

In rotation we have:
DE: Armstrong, Williams
DE/DT: Golston
LB: Clarke
SCB: Lewis
NB: Mukuamu

• The DE’s rotate in and are good enough to free up Micah to play some linebacker. Armstrong has 8.5 sacks and I’d expect Williams to improve from last years 4 sacks. He’s probably the player on the roster with the most upside.
• I see Golston playing a lot of passing downs at DT and then run downs at DE. He was pretty good late last season.
• Clarke will push LVE for the starting MIKE position. He didn’t have a pre-season but seemed to be a starter when he got healthy. At the very least he’ll play as the 2nd LB when we aren’t using Kearse as a hybrid WILL.
• Lewis is most likely to play slot if any of the CB’s are out (Bland shifting to outside corner).
• Mukuamu I thought was great last season and should have a Byron Jones (rookie year) type TE covering role. He could also play some CB against bigger recievers.

Backups:

• DT: Bohanna, Gallimore
• LB: Cox, Harper, Jackson
• SS: Bell
• CB: Wright, Joseph, Goodwin

These guys are likely to make the roster and mostly with special team roles. The two exceptions are Bohanna and Gallimore who won’t play ST. Bohanna improved last year but is still just okay as a 1T, Gallimore’s move to 1T was a complete bust, he needs to drop the weight back down and shift back to 3T where he was showing promise (before last season). Wright looked better this season, and I thought was okay starting at CB when Brown was injured (better than Joseph), he could play a role on defense as cover but Mukuamu was better and there’s no way he’s beating out Gilmore or Diggs.

Overall, I think we’ve got a fantastic defense short of the 1-tech position. Unfortunately there’s not a lot out there in free agency. Brookers, Hankins, and Gaines are about the best of them, all are just solid rather than good players.

In the draft I think offense is the main focus but a bit more LB depth couldn’t hurt, maybe a safety capable of playing single high with a CB longer term. Maybe a guy like Mazi Smith in the 2nd? It’s pretty slim pickings at DT this year.

Hankins made a world of difference last year. Bring him back and hopefully big Bo takes another step forward. Add in a another mid / late round NT and I’m feeling good about the D.

It’ll be a rock solid group, but our playoff success doesn’t change unless we upgrade our weapons on O.

 

[cnuball21]

Watkins is also severely underrated…dude is rock solid against the run. I’d bring him AND Hanks back if possible.

 

[morasp]

Last year our defense was good enough in the playoffs but it would be nice if they could take it up a notch. In the divisional round last year The eagles held the Giants to 7 points the Bengals held the Bills to 10 points and the 49ers held us to 12 points. We did hold the the 49ers to 19 which should have been good enough and the Chiefs did give up 20 to jags but they had a better offense than us. I think our offense can be better next year but it's unlikely they will be as good as the Chiefs were. If a playmaker falls to them in the draft that's clearly the best value they should take him, just like when Lamb fell us and when Zack Martin was the pick. The defense does look good on paper but they should always be looking to get better.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Last year Brown and Lewis were the #2 and #3 CBs. This year they are #4 and #5 respectively.

That's a big improvement.

The new league year is 4 days old and Dallas has done great work so far. Why do some need instant gratification so badly? Patience.

onky difference is brown for Gilmore. Our biggest issue on D which is the run game has not been addressed.

 

[lukemartin79]

Id like to know that too. Plus a late first round draft pick at that. If there was a stud DT, he wouldn't still be on the board by the time Dallas picks. They signed their LB, LVE - no way they are signing Wager too.

What 1st round DT though? There has to be one worthy of taking.

I could still get on board with Wagner (I’d be thrilled) but it’s a luxury and seems unlikely. I don’t think we need Fowler if Williams progresses. We have four plus Golston as a hybrid.

 

[Calvin2Tony2Emmitt2Julius]

With Wagner, and Hankins, or a similar style player, and another solid run stuffing DT, this defense will allow Dak to JUST drive the bus!

And THAT will be just fine with me

 

[Mind_Liberator]

Unless dudes like Gallimore, Golston and OO step up big time, I don’t see how DT isn’t still a problem.

They are likely going with hope, and maybe a draft pick, as a solution….and I’m not trying to whine about it….I’m saying it strongly appears to be the DT plan yet again.

And we will probably lose in the second round again…but hey, double digit wins!!

Getting beat is one thing. Getting beat year after year by what fans see but management cannot is getting a bit frustrating.

I can't see DQ being complacement in the management room. He knows what he needs for his scheme to excel. Cap boy probably loves the knowledge that Dan Quinn emanates. I'd expect them to give these coaches what they are asking for, for the most part.

Don't you guys feel like the social media pressure on the Joneses is actually kind of starting to work, and maybe we aren't perpetually doomed?? I'm fully open to the reality that this is straight up wishful thinking by me though lol so don't hold back!

 

[beware_d-ware]

This defense is championship caliber IMO. It may seem like a stretch to say that, but we held Tom Brady to 13 points and Kyle Shanahan's offense to 19 points. You can win it all with those kinds of performances.