Biggest question mark can this defense improve their run def?

[conner01]

Add a legitimate #2 WR and this offense has a real chance. Still worried about both our tackles, especially in pass protection, they would determine how successful this offense would become if that receiver is acquired.

Agree. I too worry about OT. But a legit WR2 helps that some. Last year we held the ball a lot because only lamb could get open. Another threat there helps. Also getting Turpin involved in passing game some. With him it’s just about getting him the ball in space. It can be a 3 yard pass and let him work. Blue should be much more effective in dump off passes too. Get him in spsce and he’s a weapon. I don’t see him being super effective up the middle but in space he has speed and some wiggle to him. Hopefully Steele is back to form. I thought he played better late in the year. But run blocking is what he does best. An effective run game slows down those pass rushers, forces safeties up which helps recievers and controls the clock which helps the run defense some. That’s why I feel the offense is so important to our run defense. If we can run the ball, use plsy action and get better in the redzone that takes a lot of pressure off the run defense

 

[Cowboyny]

Agree. I too worry about OT. But a legit WR2 helps that some. Last year we held the ball a lot because only lamb could get open. Another threat there helps. Also getting Turpin involved in passing game some. With him it’s just about getting him the ball in space. It can be a 3 yard pass and let him work. Blue should be much more effective in dump off passes too. Get him in spsce and he’s a weapon. I don’t see him being super effective up the middle but in space he has speed and some wiggle to him. Hopefully Steele is back to form. I thought he played better late in the year. But run blocking is what he does best. An effective run game slows down those pass rushers, forces safeties up which helps recievers and controls the clock which helps the run defense some. That’s why I feel the offense is so important to our run defense. If we can run the ball, use plsy action and get better in the redzone that takes a lot of pressure off the run defense

If you remember Dak was throwing into tight windows for the majority of the season, nobody was getting open and he had to force many passes

 

[morat1959]

He has GOT to pick it up this year…..I give a LITTLE slack since they made him lose like 30+lbs his first year then gain it back his second….so maybe a year after that nonsense he can settle in and be more consistent, enough to be a decent starter at least. We will see, won’t hold my breath.

Can his get off be improved? He’s a tick behind every player on both sides of the ball. I didn’t see that improve throughout the season. Because if not, he’s a bust.

 

[fivetwos]

DT has been and remains a big problem. Not news.

They have used high draft picks…..(Mazi, Hill)

Mid rounders….(Osa, Golston)

Late rounders…(Ridgeway, Bohanna)

Cheap FA…(Urban, Watkins)

Couch guys that wanted no part of camp…(Hankins)

I’ve forgotten a couple I’m sure.

There’s only one thing they haven’t tried, which is spend legit money on a legit DT. They would rather get stomped in the playoffs than fix it. It’s a conscious choice and they choose the cheap route. The weakness is clear and obvious but they still refuse. Why? Because no one buys DT jerseys??

 

[JoeKing]

The thing is this run defense was so bad that it can improve a great deal and still not be good.

 

[xwalker]

-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!

Better play on offense would help the run defense...

 

[Blast From The Past]

On paper they got much worse!

Have you ever saw something go awry once it leaves the paper, perhaps something good? Cheer up with a new season upon the distant horizon. WE should at least be the same but hoping for middle of the pack on defense would be a step in the right direction.

 

[Gambit]

On the flip side you mention Liufau, but wasn't he drafted as the ideal Mike Zimmer LB? Should we expect some regression given that he will be in a new system?

He may, of course Parsons may regress or Mazi might break out. We just don't know. The bigger issue here is 3 DCs in as many years. Yes all similar yet vastly different in ways too.

talk....Why is an Eberflus defense better than Elam?

Not sure if you meant to pose the question of why is Everflus system better for Elam or not, seems to be what your asking. Bills had Elam playing a lot of zone, as I understand it the plan will be for him to play more man which he's better suited for. At least that's my hope.

A guy like Murray I really like, but the Cowboys have really missed the mark by not addressing the run game in the front four stronger than they did

I can't disagree wholly here. I will say that at some point there has to be trust in a coaching staff to develop, to quote Vich, what the he...is coaching for. If a Whitecotton and/or Eberflus think Mazi is capable then their experience vastly out weighs mine. He did okay better last year and it's a slower developing position to begin with.

That's the issue I have with the blind 'the coaches like him so he will be better with a new team' argument.

Id not say it's blind trust. I mean Whitecotton is regarded very highly as a DL coach and Eberflus the same as a DC. They've earned their skins and the opportunity to show if they are right.

Do I wish we would've grabbed a DT earlier, sure. But let's face it we just had too many needs.

I tend to take a more optimistic approach to things, it's not all gloom and doom. If Mazi plays well and yet our overall run D doesn't improve, that's not a knock on him. If Marist steps up and takes the MLB spot then we look pretty decent LB wise. Again in the very least we are not currently an injury away from Marquise Bell playing LB again. There is more depth, which when rebuilding matters.

I do Appreciate the respectful reply and discourse.

 

[thunderpimp91]

He may, of course Parsons may regress or Mazi might break out. We just don't know. The bigger issue here is 3 DCs in as many years. Yes all similar yet vastly different in ways too.



Not sure if you meant to pose the question of why is Everflus system better for Elam or not, seems to be what your asking. Bills had Elam playing a lot of zone, as I understand it the plan will be for him to play more man which he's better suited for. At least that's my hope.


I can't disagree wholly here. I will say that at some point there has to be trust in a coaching staff to develop, to quote Vich, what the he...is coaching for. If a Whitecotton and/or Eberflus think Mazi is capable then their experience vastly out weighs mine. He did okay better last year and it's a slower developing position to begin with.



Id not say it's blind trust. I mean Whitecotton is regarded very highly as a DL coach and Eberflus the same as a DC. They've earned their skins and the opportunity to show if they are right.

Do I wish we would've grabbed a DT earlier, sure. But let's face it we just had too many needs.

I tend to take a more optimistic approach to things, it's not all gloom and doom. If Mazi plays well and yet our overall run D doesn't improve, that's not a knock on him. If Marist steps up and takes the MLB spot then we look pretty decent LB wise. Again in the very least we are not currently an injury away from Marquise Bell playing LB again. There is more depth, which when rebuilding matters.

I do Appreciate the respectful reply and discourse.

We certainly will have to agree to disagree in some spots, but I absolutely appreciate the thought out responses! Those are the conversations I enjoy most until they go off the rails and into personal attacks around here.

Its certainly up in the air and we wont know for sure until the games actually start, but typically Eberflus is more of a zone coverage guy. Again its always possible that he mixes it up and adapts for the players he has in Dallas, but with so many question marks at CB due to health and bringing in a guy like Murray at LB who to me is the ideal cover 2 drop guy I'm anticipating a zone heavy scheme again. Thats certainly to be determined though and I would LOVE to be wrong here.

I don't want to come across as someone who hates the coaching staff either, I'm actually a fan of what they are trying to build, but I'm not expecting these guys to be miracle workers either. Whitecotton is probably one of the more exciting names you could have for a position coach. Eberflus I worry about how his past systems translate to the Cowboys current roster, but he certainly comes with some successes in his career. Offensively I really like Klayton Adams, but this will also be his first coordinator gig at this level so it comes with some question marks. Same with Conor Riley, but hes also a rookie coach at this level is your WR coach and even your HC. Its really going to be an interesting mix of experienced coaches with Cowboy experience vs new ideas coming in. Some of the guys we are really counting on development from (Mazi/Guyton/Tolbert/Luifau/etc) will probably take that step, but others wont and may even regress. That is simply where I'm hesitant on the Cowboys chances in 2025, just too many "if" players for it to all come together this year. Solid team in general, but I think their ceiling is going to be capped in what should be a roller coaster type of season.

 

[blueblood70]

yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!

 

[blueblood70]

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

All therein lies your problem no real true sports game has ever been played on paper a legitimate sports are actually played on a field or a court I don't know what home ice is but a hockey rink they literally are played with people moving around and actually playing the game and these people are called players and all these players are different than the players that were here last year and the coaching staff is different you know those are people too those are real people that's nothing to do with paper so paper opinions are about as good as toilet paper you got it I mean I don't understand all this in my opinion I think we're better automatically better coaching staff and you're trying to tell me That whatever you see with your eyes must be real and how you would have done it would have been different than a professional sports team full of actual professionals that do this for a living you'd think your ideas were better full?

Well I hope you had fun playing with your paper because that's not how this game is played and we'll find out during the regular season has nothing to do with names on the back of their jerseys either I hate to break it to you every years at one off it's always going to be different but it's kind of hard to get worse than 29 so you can keep wallowing in all this negativity and I'm going to keep coming back at you,Nothing is one or lost on paper or with the names on the back of their jerseys..

. I bet when the Eagles went and got Huff to do their pass rushing and replaced the guy they didn't want to pay Reddick,. Surely when they gave this dude three years at $17 million per year they thought they were getting better and Huff did nothing so maybe they should have kept Reddick.

Remember all those trades for the receivers in the middle of the year right around the trade deadline everyone said the Cowboys need one and Jerry never does anything you know not one of them impacted their team those trades meant nothing they didn't help a single bit look what Devante Adams did with the Jets nothing absolutely nothing diggs goes over to Buffalo and blows his knee out nothing I mean on paper that sure looked good but cooper then goes to replace diggs, you want to guess what happened absolutely nothing.. That's why I'm looking over at Washington bringing in Gallup and then Debo Samuels everyone thinks the names on the back of the jerseys are going to help did you actually see what they look like the last 3 years or even last year a lot of these free agents these paper guys these names on their jerseys don't always work out either...,

You just can't be playing paper football in the real world everything's gonna be different this year all this complaining whining and negative predictions is not gonna get anyone anywhere...