Biggest question mark can this defense improve their run def?

[Gameover]

More bodies at linebacker
More bodies upfront
No matter what happens, cows will have a different look

 

[kskboys]

Nope.

Next question.

 

[Cowboyny]

The best way to stop the run with the team we have is to light up the scoreboard. We don’t have the players to stop a team running all day. So force them to stop running by scoring TD’s. Get better on offense in the red zone, run well and control the clock. You have what you have and there is no big stud DT you can go get. Fibd anither recieved who can take some pressure of Lamb. There will be WR’s out there to get. Only chance of a DT is an older expensive vet getting cut and I don’t know of any in that position

I understand your thinking, but they have to get more explosive on offense to make it work. Blue helps, but not enough. They were the worst red zone offenses in the entire league, to play this way, that has to change.

 

[Cowboyny]

I'm hoping the 341 lb. Samoan does the job. Super strong but he is a rookie.

I like the player, but relying on a late run rookie hasn't paid off in the past. Really liked Ridgway a few years ago and they ended up releasing him.

 

[Cowboyny]

It's too late now, but they should have traded Micah for two or three mature players instead of they have him here.

Make sure to feed him milk.

Parsons opens up the entire defense with all the attention he gets, without him, they will struggle to create consistent pressure.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

They were the worst red zone offenses in the entire league, to play this way, that has to change.

Remember, Rush was our QB most of last season, but we still desperately need a quality #2 WR.

 

[Cowboyny]

this control the football stuff and putting entire onus on offense. most good teams average about 32 minutes of TOP...give or take a few minutes. you know how? their defenses are also able to get off the field and give the ball back to the offense. they have low 1st down conversion rate. they have low 3rd down conversion rate. its not just on the offense.

We have seen it first hand when you have an offense that controls the clock, forces teams to play catch up. The formula worked in Dak's rookie year with an average defense, but they do not have the players on offense to be able to match that team.

 

[Cowboyny]

Remember, Rush was our QB most of last season, but we still desperately need a quality #2 WR.

They were dead last with Dak, it was an issue all season long. Like the run defense, took a deep dive why. Too many negative plays: poor runs, penalties, sacks, etc. They had the least amount of rushing TD's in the entire league. Yes, they need a true #2 WR, but also a run game that can actually score TD's, I am hoping the running back room has gotten better.

 

[Cowboyny]

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

Been saying the same thing and get a similar response. Either you revert back to Dak's rookie season controlling the football or you FIX the RUN DEFENSE!

 

[shabazz]

-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!

Last season I was debating several members here about the LB Corp.

Their position was that the LB Corp was an area of strength......just like you, I'm not seeing a real upgrade here.....not on paper, at least

 

[Cowboyny]

Last season I was debating several members here about the LB Corp.

Their position was that the LB Corp was an area of strength......just like you, I'm not seeing a real upgrade here.....not on paper, at least

Defense looks a like 2 seasons ago, where they had a tremendous pass rush, but teams just ran down their throats with success. People need to be reminded, go back to that GB playoff loss, this is basically the same defense as that day.

 

[shabazz]

Defense looks a like 2 seasons ago, where they had a tremendous pass rush, but teams just ran down their throats with success. People need to be reminded, go back to that GB playoff loss, this is basically the same defense as that day.

Eberflus is starting to have the rude awakening that this FO devalues the defensive interior line and addresses repairs to that and LB by throwing Jags at the problem

Nick Vigil is the perfect example of what Eberflus is to expect.

They love them some over the hill players like Kendricks and Vigil just to name a few

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Yes, they need a true #2 WR, but also a run game that can actually score TD's, I am hoping the running back room has gotten better.

IDK man.......
RB room ........ 5th rounder and group of low-tier guys. I'm not sure any from this group would be a full-time starter for another team.
WR room..........running this back with no upgrades so far

Let's put it this way, for us to come close to reaching the postseason, we will need at least 2, maybe 3 unexpected players from both rooms to play at an ALL-PRO/Pro-Bowl level. Long odds right there

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

We have seen it first hand when you have an offense that controls the clock, forces teams to play catch up. The formula worked in Dak's rookie year with an average defense, but they do not have the players on offense to be able to match that team.

Defense wi s championships.
Offense sells jerseys

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Eberflus is starting to have the rude awakening that this FO devalues the defensive interior line and addresses repairs to that and LB by throwing Jags at the problem

IDK Shab.......I get a sense that Schotty and Eberflus have the FO's 100% support to fix the run issues on BOTH sides of the ball. They paid Fowlers the most money given to a free agent since Greg Hardy. They extended Osa for over $20M, although he struggles as a run defender. I don't think either of these signings happens w/o Eberflus' blessings.

 

[Acceptablename]

I like the player, but relying on a late run rookie hasn't paid off in the past. Really liked Ridgway a few years ago and they ended up releasing him.

I think Ridgeway was rubbing people wrong. I liked him too. I do like the Samoan the more I watched his YouTube highlights. And yes I realize highlights don't tell you much but they damn sure show potential.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Defense looks a like 2 seasons ago, where they had a tremendous pass rush, but teams just ran down their throats with success. People need to be reminded, go back to that GB playoff loss, this is basically the same defense as that day.

Quinn vs Eberflus? Coaching can make a difference ...........

 

[Hawkeye0202]

I think Ridgeway was rubbing people wrong. I liked him too. I do like the Samoan the more I watched his YouTube highlights. And yes I realize highlights don't tell you much but they damn sure show potential.

+1 and let's not forget they also added Solomon Thomas....

 

[Bobhaze]

Like every off-season, until the regular season is played, none of us knows how good or not good we will be. At this point we can only speculate based on the info we have.

There are several ways to look at whether or not the Cowboys defense will greatly improve next year against the run:

• HOPE - looking at the players drafted and acquired through FA, can give hope that those new acquisitions will immediately make this defense better. All fans have some level of hope to varying degrees. It’s just what we as fans (fanatics) do.
• WE CAN’T GET MUCH WORSE - last year’s defense was just awful against the run, finishing 29th. It’s hard to get much worse so the odds are decent that with better health and some player additions, improvement happens.
• LUCK - since the DTs we added are 7th round long shots, maybe we get lucky and one of them comes out of nowhere to be an instant upgrade. The odds are long but it’s not impossible.

The things stacked against us regarding improvement are there also:

• NEW SCHEME AND COORDINATOR - Matt Eberflous is the 3rd defensive coordinator in three years and the 9th defensive coordinator since 2000. It’s hard to have a new DC just step in and get instant results.
• HISTORY - the Cowboys have not been good against the run in a very long time. Most teams with great run defense have sunk some high draft capital in several DTs that have hit for them. (The eaglets have two first round DTs in last 5 years, 1 a top 10 pick) JJ and SJ have rarely seemed committed to run defense.
• BAD LUCK - we’ve had our share. Other than Parsons and Osa, maybe Overshown (but hurt all the time) the Cowboys have not had good luck drafting run defenders taken early. Mazi, Taco, Trysten Hill were first or second round busts. Luck has not been great on run defense in recent drafts.

Can we be significantly better against the run next year? Yes. Better meaning “fixed”? Probably going to take more than one year.

 

[Creeper]

Good question, and here is what I am reading from fans:

1. If the DT position wasn't so deep in this draft Toia may have been drafted earlier than the 7th round.
2. Eberflus. The coaches are going to make everyone player like they have never played in their entire lives.
3. We're going to sign Hankins, or someone like him to shore up the middle of the defense.
4. Mazi is going to improve.
5. We re-sign Odighizuwa.

There are probably others, but this is all nonsense. The Cowboys did not do much to improve the run defense and coaching alone is not going to solve the problem.

However, I do think they have the potential to be better because is Sam Williams comes back healthy, I think he is a better run defender than anyone the Cowboys have last year. He is not great, just better. I also think Kneeland has the potential to show improvement and he is better against the run than rushing the passer. If the two ends can get some containment I think the run defense could be better.

This does not solve the problems in the middle of the DL. I don't expect Mazi to play a lot better. I wish he would be I don't expect it. If Mazi doesn't love football there isn't much hope we will see him improve. We just cannot expect much from the two rookies, Justin Rogers, or the cheap free agents we signed.