Anyone else really excited about our defense?

[Chocolate Lab]

I hesitate to move Carp inside since he was doing somewhat ok at the end of the year.

I can see that, but Parcells for one thought he was an inside guy. Now I criticized Parcells plenty, but the old man hadn't completely lost his mind.

And Wade's ILBs will be closer in some ways to the 43 OLB Carpenter played at Ohio State. Plus, he'd get to use his rush ability even inside because Wade likes to blitz his ILBs a lot, too.

But even if Carpenter stays outside -- which I'm fine with, and might even be better as inside guys are usually easier to find -- I still could see Burnett, a draft pick, or who knows, even Randall Godfrey taking Bradie's spot. I just am afraid he's a step too slow in all directions to do what he'll need to do there. I don't care what LB position you play, TEs and FBs shouldn't be able to abuse you athletically.

 

[cowboyz]

Ouch. I remember John Madden saying that our defense "was the most impressive thing he had seen during preseason."

they weren't just impressive in preseason, they were dominating for a stretch, than got exposed by sean payton and it just went downhill.

even the 1st game against philly and the giants, the defense still played well and kept the cowboys in the game. at that time it was the offense that was blowing chunks.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'm not excited about Bradie James having a starting position and I'm not excited about our best pass-rusher other than Ware coming off a major injury.

I want to see us blitz and I want to see it work, but if you don't have the players to make it work, I'm not sure the results will be too exciting.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

for those knocking Carp as a pass-rusher, *COUGH* theogt *COUGH* you might want to check out his Senior year and look at some of his measurables

10 sacks, 6.88 3-cone drill, 4.65 40, 4.31 short-shuttle

there's a reason we drafted Carp to play OLB and had him practicing as a DE later in the year

 

[kTXe]

I've been excited about our defense going into the season for the last several years, and have been disappointed every time. So, I should learn to temper my expectations.






...but I haven't. I can't wait to see what these guys can do.

 

[Deputy493]

I am not going to get too excited about our D until I see it on the field.

I made the mistake last off season of looking at our D and thinking it was by far the strength of our team and had the personnel to be downright dominating......they were far from it.

I am looking forward to seeing how this D plays under Wade's more aggressive style of running the 3-4.

 

[Mansta54]

I'm hyped! Our D is gonna be extremely good this year. Finally, our talent will be used properly....

 

[cowboyed]

I am stoked about the new coaching direction on defense. I do not doubt our defense will end up performing more to its abilities now.

 

[lspain1]

The jury is still very much out on our defense. I will reserve judgement until we see a very different product on the field. We have question marks in the secondary and at LB. Maybe we can discover a pass rush somewhere. I also bought into the hype last year. I want Phillips & Co. to make a big improvement, but I'll wait to see the product before I buy it.

 

[lostinomiya]

From what people have said and from all the draft picks we have plowed into defense i have expected it to be good...but it has disappointed - especially the pass rush.

wade phillips's magic, a pass rusher, an upgrade over b.james maybe, a good free safety performance (may be Watkins), spears and canty and hatcher coming on alot....we need these but for now our defense is still something more a hope than an expectation

 

[fanfromvirginia]

As much as I am excited about Jason Garrett unleashing Tony Romo, and utilizing T.O.

I am even more excited for what the new coaching staff has in store for our young defensive talent. I think this team has the potential to be the best defense in the league, especially if we sign Ken Hamlin.

There isn't a player on the defense that I don't see improving vastly under Phillips. I honestly don't know which player I'm most excited about.

In no order though this is my top 5

Roy Williams
Chris Canty
Marcus Spears
Greg Ellis
Kevin Burnett

I would like to sneak Bobby Carpenter in there too.

I'm in. Fired up.

 

[eduncan22]

I'm hyped! Our D is gonna be extremely good this year. Finally, our talent will be used properly....

Until they fix our #24 ranked secondary, nothing is going to change.

 

[STSINAZ]

I THINK for sure we get another hybrid in the draft....

 

[tomson75]

Until they fix our #24 ranked secondary, nothing is going to change.

Ok, I'll bite...

How exactly does one "rank" a secondary? Seriously.

Last time I checked, secondaries are on the field with 6-7 other football players at the same time. Just a hunch, but I would think that those other players may have some influence on what is going on on the field of play. For example: When we "rush" four or five guys, but first tell them to wait on the play to develop before they actually make an attempt to get after the QB, thusly giving the opposition roughly 10 seconds to find an open reciever...I would think that might have a negative influence on the "ranking" of our secondary. I could be wrong though.

BTW, Got a link to this #24 ranking?

 

[CF74]

I made the mistake last off season of looking at our D and thinking it was by far the strength of our team and had the personnel to be downright dominating......they were far from it.

We started off the season doing very well and then tanked at the end. Nobody's asking or speculating what happened. Did other teams figure us out and adjust? what in hades happened?

 

[fanfromvirginia]

We started off the season doing very well and then tanked at the end. Nobody's asking or speculating what happened. Did other teams figure us out and adjust? what in hades happened?

You haven't seen any asking or speculating about the collapse of our D on this board? Are you kidding? I think I remember seeing some here or there...

 

[CF74]

You haven't seen any asking or speculating about the collapse of our D on this board? Are you kidding? I think I remember seeing some here or there...

Ohh? what did they say?

 

[cowboyed]

We started off the season doing very well and then tanked at the end. Nobody's asking or speculating what happened. Did other teams figure us out and adjust? what in hades happened?

What is more disturbing is we have been second half tanking it throughout the entire Parcells era. Wade doesn't have that history so perhaps we can effect a turnaround.

 

[eduncan22]

Ok, I'll bite...

How exactly does one "rank" a secondary? Seriously.

Last time I checked, secondaries are on the field with 6-7 other football players at the same time. Just a hunch, but I would think that those other players may have some influence on what is going on on the field of play. For example: When we "rush" four or five guys, but first tell them to wait on the play to develop before they actually make an attempt to get after the QB, thusly giving the opposition roughly 10 seconds to find an open reciever...I would think that might have a negative influence on the "ranking" of our secondary. I could be wrong though.

BTW, Got a link to this #24 ranking?

Divide total yards passing by total games played.

3506 / 16 = 219.1

We were just better than Detroit, worse than the Commanders.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/statistics?stat=teampass&pos=def&league=nfl&year=2006&season=2

 

[big dog cowboy]

I've been excited about our defense going into the season for the last several years, and have been disappointed every time. So, I should learn to temper my expectations.

Tons of people in that same situation so don't feel alone.