Biggest question mark can this defense improve their run def?

[Cowboyny]

Here is the problem in a nutshell. Dont get me wrong I like the kid out of BC and do think he will be a player, however this defense looks to be built similar to the Quinn defenses we just had. It is built to play from ahead. All pass rush with run D an after thought. Problem is I dont think this team will be playing from ahead very often. I dont like the offense any better. You want to run the ball to keep the defense off the field? Opponents will stack the box and make Dak beat them from the pocket. We all know how that ususlly ends.

Dak has proven to be solid in the passing game when he has had the weapons. We have no receivers that scare anyone expect Lamb, our LT remains a huge question mark and they didn't bring in any competition.

 

[thunderpimp91]

You say they did nothing without any proof they did nothing they got players they got coaching staffs we've got a schedule to play but yet we have five months between now and then to put it together and then play some games how could you say they did nothing and not know if these players are actually going to workout or not in this system... Do you guys understand that right you're judging everything by a lack of names or names but they need to get through some of these camps otas training camp and just start working through the ingredients to try to make a gourmet meal we'll figure that out once we see the product on the field they'll know it i'm pretty sure when they go into preseason and all these scrimmages and camps and start seeing these guys play they'll have a better idea of what they might need to improve..

Still don't get it I mean you guys have a list like a shopping list and it has to have specific names on it or you think it's a disaster how about like Greenlaw I just saw that the other day everyone's like man we should have brought that linebacker in because we shouldn't have brought sandbar in oh man now the dudes got something torn and he's probably going to miss most of the season we saw this at the trade deadline last year how many receivers change teams and you said we all should get one most of them did nothing absolutely nothing to help their team get better I mean you guys live on these names on the back of the jerseys why don't we let this coaching staff we're picking these players out to draft and free ages let's see what they can do with them...

Then why are we here talking about anything? I mean aren't all 32 teams acquiring players that coaches pick to fit within their schemes? By this logic we should all not discuss anything as everyone is on a level playing field from NYG to KC. Its simply not true. We have tape on Kenneth Murray, we have tape on Elam and Sanburn, etc. We for the most part know what these guys can and cant do. Not to say they cant see year to year growth, or benefit from a new scheme, but its unlikely anyone acquired this offseason will look drastically different from their previous tape. Gotta disagree with you here BB.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Those teams have game changing interior players that can wreck a game, we could of drafted our own this yr, but decided they don't have enough resources along their OL. You don't need 5 1st rd picks up front, that is what coaching is for.

See you are taking this pretty hard...........so we will what happens.
But the same could said for the resources already invested in the DLine......
Even you said, they were never going draft a DT 12th overall to rotate and/or play behind Mazi. Shoot, their first target was a WR.......

 

[Cowboyny]

See you are taking this pretty hard...........so we will what happens.
But the same could said for the resources already invested in the DLine......
Even you said, they were never going draft a DT 12th overall to rotate and/or play behind Mazi. Shoot, their first target was a WR.......

Both Harmon/Grant had abilities to play multiple positions and were strong run defenders, Walker Nolen was another.

 

[RS12]

Dak has proven to be solid in the passing game when he has had the weapons. We have no receivers that scare anyone expect Lamb, our LT remains a huge question mark and they didn't bring in any competition.

We will have to agree to disagee on this. My premise stands that the defense as constructed is designed to play from ahead. I just dont see that happening often this year.

 

[slick325]

I'm hoping this FO was right about picking Mazi Smith in the 1st round of the 2023 draft and we see him make a huge leap in year 3. That will go a long way in answering the OPs question about the run defense.

We will know a lot about the lines in TC. The interior of the line looks to be a huge strength with Tyler Smith, Beebe, and Tyler Booker. If Mazi Smith can do well against them consistently, either he has made a leap or Dallas fans need to be concerned about the interior of the OL. Lol

 

[Pass2Run]

We will have to agree to disagee on this. My premise stands that the defense as constructed is designed to play from ahead. I just dont see that happening often this year.

This is true. We prioritize one over the other.

One thing we've done well at lately is take aways. Sacks help too.

The problem is the inherent consistency involved with doing that as your strategy. Take aways can come in spurts. But the same goes for teams with strong middle lines.

We can talk about the run all we want. It's making a bit of a resurgence, with the league's recent talent pool and balance between positions, there's been a slight shift towards the league having better running game talent.

Fact is, though, it's still a passing league.

You need a QB to win.

That's why having an elite pass rush makes sense. If you were to have one or the other, run vs pass defense, you'd go with pass... Otherwise good QBs will demoralize your team.

 

[75boyz]

First line defensive personnel is a no. Now this does precede me seeing if Toia will be allowed any meaningful snaps. But the Fowler, Mazi, Odiggy, Parsons group are a cumulative negative run unit.

At the second level is Liafau who is avg. but needs instinct improvement and not just speed. Over shown would be a plus but as to when is his return limits him to a question mark. Sanborn and Murray are jags and not plus run defenders. If James is inserted into some kinda hybrid Kearse type role he is a little too light in the *** and will mostly get blown up.

Third level is pretty slim pickings on tackling corner backs as business decision Diggs health is still uncertain and Bland/Elam adequate at best.
Thomas and Bell are decent/possibly plus run safety defenders as is Wilson although Wilson has lost a step.
Hooker more plus side on coverage, not so much as a run defender.

So yeah,
my overall outlook is negative towards run stopping.
AGAIN.

 

[McKDaddy]

T.O.P offense should help with this,

yes, it might mask the problem.

 

[McKDaddy]

How many times have they tried to throw a late rd pick at this position? It hasn't worked.

I kinda don't want it to work now as it would only embolden them to ignore real talent.

 

[Cowboyny]

I'm hoping this FO was right about picking Mazi Smith in the 1st round of the 2023 draft and we see him make a huge leap in year 3. That will go a long way in answering the OPs question about the run defense.

We will know a lot about the lines in TC. The interior of the line looks to be a huge strength with Tyler Smith, Beebe, and Tyler Booker. If Mazi Smith can do well against them consistently, either he has made a leap or Dallas fans need to be concerned about the interior of the OL. Lol

OL’s success will hinge on if they get better tackle play

 

[big dog cowboy]

On paper, one can make the case the DE's, DT's and LB's are better this year.

 

[75boyz]

Here is the problem in a nutshell. Dont get me wrong I like the kid out of BC and do think he will be a player, however this defense looks to be built similar to the Quinn defenses we just had. It is built to play from ahead. All pass rush with run D an after thought. Problem is I dont think this team will be playing from ahead very often. I dont like the offense any better. You want to run the ball to keep the defense off the field? Opponents will stack the box and make Dak beat them from the pocket. We all know how that ususlly ends.

This.
Exactly this.

 

[Blackrain]

Well we have some people coming back from injuries not that they're exactly run stoppers I think a lot of this is going to hinge on whether Mazi steps up and starts to play like a first round draft pick..

We picked a nose tackle at the end of the draft who knows he might be a surprise.
In my opinion we did a little but we didn't do enough and we will know soon enough when our defensive line has to go against our offensive line.

Hey maybe we can go sign Jonathan hankins again he gave us pretty good value as a run stopper
I think he's at least younger than Linville Joseph that guy's got to be getting close to 40

 

[darthseinfeld]

-Cowboys Defense was 29th against the run last season
-Tied for the most rushing td's given up
-Dead last in red zone defense

Overshown out indefinitely, team lost their three top run defenders in DLaw, Golston and Kendricks. Murray who they traded for is on his third team in as many years, Sanborn is a former undrafted fa. Turner/Thomas are former 1st rd busts.

In a draft that was loaded at the DT position, they use a 7th rd pick at the position.

Tell me, how this run defense will improve? On paper they got much worse!

They are counting on Smiths play to keep improving. People will scoff at that, but his play got incrementally better over the season and the run defense did as well.

 

[DuncanIso]

I really depends on the scheme. Zimmer and Quinn seemed to play run on the way to the QB with more of an attacking the pass game scheme. If tehy go to a more read and react tehy might but that means you need people that can stand their ground and then get off blocks.

Our DEs don’t hold the edge for the C gaps well.

They want sacks.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

-Cowboys Defense was 29th against the run last season
-Tied for the most rushing td's given up
-Dead last in red zone defense

Overshown out indefinitely, team lost their three top run defenders in DLaw, Golston and Kendricks. Murray who they traded for is on his third team in as many years, Sanborn is a former undrafted fa. Turner/Thomas are former 1st rd busts.

In a draft that was loaded at the DT position, they use a 7th rd pick at the position.

Tell me, how this run defense will improve? On paper they got much worse!

this was to the point....the cowboys have no idea how to build a championship team. and the coach showed he is over his head, by the reports that he was pounding the table for Booker!!! a RG for gawd's sake.

there were defensive players that would have improved this team.

in the meantime, Eagles, who won the superbowl. whose defense destroyed mahomes. who were #1 defense in the league, spend their first 5 picks on defense.

its going to be another long year. defense sucking. everyone blaming offense and Dak, just because we are not outscoring everyone, while the defense is giving up about 28 points a game.
and somebody on this thread is going to say I am defending Dak!!! because they are clueless