Are Cowboys Deficiencies able to be fixed this offseason?

[haleyrules]

I wish we could have kept Leary. No disrespect to Collins, but Ron Leary did a fine job job last year. I understand why we didn't, but still.....

Leary was the only significant loss of the off season.

 

[gmoney112]

GB lost a lot of talent, too. They're another team that rebuilds from the draft.

I don't consider the Giants a contender. They're a notch below the other teams you mention, though they did sweep us, so I guess that's all that matters. They overpaid for JPP, but otherwise I do like what they've done this offseason. They'll fill that RB role with a stud and have at least made motions towards fixing that OL in keeping Jerry and bringing in Fluker. They're still a cut below the best NFC teams in terms of talent, though.

The Cowboys won't be able to fix all of our deficiencies this offseason, but we've cleared the way to do it over the course of the next two years. We let a lot of average players walk, and we'll be able to fill a lot of those roles for this year, and put stop-gaps in everywhere else. We need playmakers on defense, though. So they either have to come off of the current roster (we've got a couple guys with that potential), or we need to be adding them as fast as we can. We still ought to be considered a legit NFC contender going into the season, though.

As of right now, I don't think we're a legit Conference contender. That could definitely change after the draft. This team vs. the Falcons right now, lawwwwwwd have mercy.

Agree with everything else, except Giants.

i said before the season last year, when it was cool to bash on the Giants spending, that the last half of the season that defense would be dangerous. Anyone looking at what they were doing could see they were building a team to stop the pass, and pass the ball on offense. What is it, like 80% of the time you win the passer rating differential battle you win the game?

If they can get some blocking, and Eli has a decent year, they'll definitely be a contender just for that reason alone. They also couldn't run the ball worth a crap last year either. They're my #2 in the East, #1 if we don't get it, and a playoff spot. Hopefully Eli goes full Eli, but if he just plays decently and they stay healthy they'll be in the playoffs.

 

[waving monkey]

The off-season up to this point has left a real sour taste in my mouth. Honestly though, as we approach the draft I'm having a hard time seeing it fall many ways that don't net us some good defensive players in the first two rounds. I really think as bitter of a pill as it's been to swallow, that we will retool in a way that will have the team in better shape.

Not better than if we'd retained a few players AND added through the draft, but better than we were last year. I really believe it. And that's before adding in wishing on the shooting stars that are Jaylon / Tapper / Irving.

I think with letting the secondary walk, retaining T Will (at an absolute bargain bin discount) was massive. Have faith

I was on board with letting the DB's walk but not till I puckered up a little bit. I don't think Irving is a wishing star growth is a reasonable expectation.
Now JSmith we have to see but he will play. Tapper we'll see.
The FA's were solid signs maybe JAGs but so were the guys that walked. I agree we'll be better with room to grow.

 

[Idgit]

As of right now, I don't think we're a legit Conference contender. That could definitely change after the draft. This team vs. the Falcons right now, lawwwwwwd have mercy.

Agree with everything else, except Giants.

i said before the season last year, when it was cool to bash on the Giants spending, that the last half of the season that defense would be dangerous. Anyone looking at what they were doing could see they were building a team to stop the pass, and pass the ball on offense. What is it, like 80% of the time you win the passer rating differential battle you win the game?

If they can get some blocking, and Eli has a decent year, they'll definitely be a contender just for that reason alone. They also couldn't run the ball worth a crap last year either. They're my #2 in the East, #1 if we don't get it, and a playoff spot. Hopefully Eli goes full Eli, but if he just plays decently and they stay healthy they'll be in the playoffs.

ATL was the team I didn't want to face in the playoffs, too. Then Green Bay. I still don't think any team blows out last year's Cowboys team.

This year, I expect a slightly more talented defense than we had last season. Though less experienced. So we'll probably see more big plays given up early on with the defensive side getting better as the season wears on. We still won't be good enough to consistently beat the best passing teams, so we'll either need to be lucky, or we'll have to add more talent. Honestly, I worry more about how long our OL will be a dominant unit. We're entering their prime years now.

The Giants have a great defense. But that OL was not good and that's a long fix in what's a bad draft to address it. We'll see how much better they get. They won a bunch of close games last year, but they were a beatable team in most of them. They definitely gave Dak trouble. I see them as a notch below the best conference teams with their offensive personnel issues, but I won't quibble. They swept us.

They are going to fix the RB position, too. Not looking forward to that.

 

[DogFace]

Yes

 

[Sandyf]

Have to disagree on a few things. Giants beat us by a total of 4 points, so to say that is a concern is much ado about nothing. One was Dak's first game, so if a veteran doesn't make a stupid move who knows what would happen. The defense with it flaws still ranked 13th last year. Fans keep forgetting about Jaylon Smith and Charles Tapper and sure we don't know if they will be good just as we don't know if any of the new draft picks will be any good, there is only hope until we see them play.

Frankly, wouldn't be surprised to see us only take one DL type in the draft and maybe not until our 3rd pick, it all depends on how the draft falls. The only position I worry about is CB since we only have three quality CBs currently although if Sherman is not traded by the end of the draft wouldn't surprise me to see us make a trade involving a pick in 2018 if we don't draft a couple of CBs.

Not really worried about safety as much as others, as Jones is far better than most believe, Heath is steady and reliable, Frazier will be a much better player this year, and I believe the coaching staff sees Showers making the team as a backup SS.

The draft always produces surprises so if we end up drafting 3 or even 4 offense guys, just wouldn't shock me. If a guy like Cam Robinson fell to 60, I would grab him and our offensive line would be even better than last year. What if Corey Davis fell to 28 with his speed and route running, it would make the offense almost unstoppable. Sure Stephen said we were going to take care of the defense in this draft, he just didn't say how.

 

[CowboyRoy]

As everyone knows, the Cowboys' biggest problem area is Pass Rush.
So far, it hasn't been addressed/improved this off-season/Free-agency.
To add to the problems, the Secondary is seeing some big changes/overhaul.
It remains to be seen if they can shore up the defense with the Draft.
If Dallas is unable to correct or address those problems sufficiently, we may find ourselves falling behind the other NFC contenders: Green Bay, Seattle, NY Giants, Atlanta, etc.
It remains to be seen if the other teams have sufficiently addressed their deficiencies too.
Green Bay: RB, CB, OLine
Seattle: OLine
NY Giants: Oline
Atlanta: Super Bowl Collapse Depression
Other Sleeper Teams, Saints (Defense), Carolina (OLine, CB), Cardinals (OLine, QB), Minnesota (OLine, WR)
Many of the top Contenders last season were affected by injuries, Seattle & GB (Secondary, OLine).
If they are able to avoid similar injuries next season, they will be at the top again.
The Giants are a solid OLine away from overtaking Dallas in the NFC East.
Dallas was fortunate in many ways last season by avoiding "Major" injuries to key players.
This season may or may not be different.
If we are unable to shore up our deficiencies and other teams are able to improve on theirs, 2017 could be a tough season. Especially since we play all the top teams with a 1st place Schedule.
If the offense stays relatively healthy and the Defense is able to improve slightly over last year, then we should be right in the thick of things.
Let's just hope enough is done to give us that shot.

I think its woefully overly optimistic to think that the Cowboys can fix a pass rush, and its secondary in one draft while drafting at the bottom of the first round. It would be a tough task if we were drafting in the top 5. That doesnt mean we wont be great this year. I would settle for getting the secondary set with a great corner and safety or two great corners.

 

[silver]

Tim Williams or Haason Reddick could make this defense a whole lot better at pressuring the passer.

 

[jazzcat22]

Have to disagree on a few things. Giants beat us by a total of 4 points, so to say that is a concern is much ado about nothing. One was Dak's first game, so if a veteran doesn't make a stupid move who knows what would happen. The defense with it flaws still ranked 13th last year. Fans keep forgetting about Jaylon Smith and Charles Tapper and sure we don't know if they will be good just as we don't know if any of the new draft picks will be any good, there is only hope until we see them play.

Frankly, wouldn't be surprised to see us only take one DL type in the draft and maybe not until our 3rd pick, it all depends on how the draft falls. The only position I worry about is CB since we only have three quality CBs currently although if Sherman is not traded by the end of the draft wouldn't surprise me to see us make a trade involving a pick in 2018 if we don't draft a couple of CBs.

Not really worried about safety as much as others, as Jones is far better than most believe, Heath is steady and reliable, Frazier will be a much better player this year, and I believe the coaching staff sees Showers making the team as a backup SS.

The draft always produces surprises so if we end up drafting 3 or even 4 offense guys, just wouldn't shock me. If a guy like Cam Robinson fell to 60, I would grab him and our offensive line would be even better than last year. What if Corey Davis fell to 28 with his speed and route running, it would make the offense almost unstoppable. Sure Stephen said we were going to take care of the defense in this draft, he just didn't say how.

I understand your thinking on the S's we have, but I think we need an impact play maker at SS if one is there to draft. I would feel better about that over those we have left on the roster. A CB is needed also, but to me, not as much as a SS.
Good post and agree, but we just see the CB / SS need a little different, but I won't complain a bit if we land a top CB over a SS.

I think the team will see what all the DL can do in TC, but will still draft a few, and only if one slips to us for the 1st 2 rounds. The thing is, they can go any direction at any position for BPA and they will not be wrong. I am sure I will change my mind a few times over the next few weeks too...LOL...

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

Everything about this season on defense hinges on unknowns.

If Tapper and Jaylon Smith are contributors, if they draft a couple guys who contribute in the D-line rotation and in the secondary, then this can be a better defense than last year's. And the offense should only be better than last year, not worse.

Depending on how the draft goes, how much they get out of guys like Tapper/Smith, how much guys like Irving progress or not, I could see this being an 8-8 team, or another team that has the first round bye locked up before the season is even over.

 

[KJJ]

We've been trying to fix our defensive deficiencies for years to no avail. No way are we going to fix all the deficiencies we have in one offseason. We currently have as many holes defensively as I've seen in years. We have pass rush and secondary issues, what else is new? Once you get past Lee and the potential of Irving and Anthony Brown we have virtually no talent defensively.

The secondary appears to be in shambles with the departures we've had. The player we added looks no better than the players we let go. If the offense has to carry the team next season and we suffer any significant injuries to Dak or Zeke we're likely looking at a rough season, unless we have a great defensive draft and the defense is a lot better than expected. I'm so frustrated with the defense having to try and fill the same holes every offseason.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Everything about this season on defense hinges on unknowns.

If Tapper and Jaylon Smith are contributors, if they draft a couple guys who contribute in the D-line rotation and in the secondary, then this can be a better defense than last year's. And the offense should only be better than last year, not worse.

Depending on how the draft goes, how much they get out of guys like Tapper/Smith, how much guys like Irving progress or not, I could see this being an 8-8 team, or another team that has the first round bye locked up before the season is even over.

I agree on the offense should simply from continuity and Dak and Zeke getting more into the offense. But the Oline has taken two hits. And although we have a great replacement for Leary our depth is much worse then it was last year. We cant handle injuries there like we did last year. And no guy this year will be as good as Free, even though he was nothing special. And then you have the injury problem in other areas. Those are not guarantees.

Two things that went very well last year for us that may not go well in 2017:

-Mild injuries
-last place schedule

 

[KJJ]

We're having to do a complete overhaul of the secondary having lost several starters. Scandrick is coming off a rough year with injuries and appears to be in decline and Nolan Carroll who we signed from Philly looks no better than the corners we allowed to walk. He certainly doesn't look like an upgrade. Replacing one JAG with another isn't going to get you anywhere. Looking at the holes we have in the secondary and along the DL is pretty alarming.

 

[ShiningStar]

I can say this, we have been replacing and rebuilding this defense for over 20 years. its going to be the best defense ever.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I think the Cowboys' defense will get (a lot?) worse until it gets better, 3 years rebuilding if we're lucky (although maybe only 2 years to be better than last year).

I couldn't disagree more with this post. You fall into the trap of looking at the number of players who left instead of the quality of the players who left. The Cowboys add 3 or 4 in this draft plus Tapper and Smith and they will be better than last year.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Nolan Carroll who we signed from Philly looks no better than the corners we allowed to walk.

Better zone corner.

Carroll > Carr all day.

 

[KJJ]

I couldn't disagree more with this post. You fall into the trap of looking at the number of players who left instead of the quality of the players who left. The Cowboys add 3 or 4 in this draft plus Tapper and Smith and they will be better than last year.

The players who left were JAGS which is why we allowed them to leave. Adding 3-4 players in this draft isn't going to fix or improve things unless they become quality players. We added Nolan Carroll and he looks like the same type of player we let go.

 

[ShiningStar]

Better zone corner.

Carroll > Carr all day.

thats where some fans are getting it wrong. we didnt slide Carr aside for another Jag to run the scheme. We did however slide Carr over for another player whos better at another scheme, but it needs to be shown if Carroll will be a jag as well. Hopefully in our new system he thrives. This is a new scheme for us tho. We have to see.

 

[KJJ]

Better zone corner.

Carroll > Carr all day.

We'll see how he fits on our defense but he certainly doesn't appear to be an upgrade over what we had. The Cowboys are Carroll's third team since 2010.

 

[Verdict]

Ironically we may have fixed the pass rush last year with Jaylon and Tapper, if they bot get healthy.