Cowboys quietly upgraded every group on defense

[Alexander]

What you aren't accounting for in evaluating the DT's is that you now have a glut of DE's, some of whom will be getting significant amount of playing time at DT. You could have proven players like Hardy or Mincey getting DT reps in passing situations.

That is a possibility, but more than likely only on third downs and obvious passing situations. I can see a NASCAR package or two, but it is not going to be a full blown practice. We still have to wait until Hardy is fully available to boot.

 

[Future]

Yes and no. Durant got hurt too much and it depended on what Carter you would get week to week. That said, Brinkley, Gachkar and Rivers cannot come close to their talent and ability. Unless the Minnesota kid is a revelation, it is significantly weaker, even with Lee coming back, briefly before getting hurt again.

Yea, true. I guess the ceiling was higher for last year's group, but they didn't consistently reach it.

 

[Macnalty]

On the linebackers
Sean Lee's return brings a pro bowl caliber player back to the defense. A healthier and more in shape McClain is an upgrade as well. Carter was in and out of the starting lineup last year, and Durant was injured early on. The Cowboys drafted a linebacker in the 4th to shore up the depth of the position. Sean Lee is a huge upgrade to Carter, and Durant played 324 snaps last year. Carter didn't play well, he had some key plays, but that doesn't make him a consistent linebacker, which is why he sat on the bench most of the year, despite coming in as a starter.

On the 1 Technique
One day, people will learn that they don't want a 330 lbs guy there. That your expectation of that position is NOT what Marinelli is looking for.

On whether or not these moves were quiet
I do think they were quiet. I don't think much noise is being made about most of these players and what they bring to this defense. I think you'll start hearing a lot more people talk about this defense after Hardy's first game back, maybe even before then.

How do you have so much energy this early in the morning, I need some of that coffee blend. You seem to be on a roll and frankly this is getting close to a dead horse so lets agree to disagree, just to keep things legit remember Marinelli does not walk on water and is still human so expect a hiccup or two as just being normal.

 

[Galian Beast]

How do you have so much energy this early in the morning, I need some of that coffee blend. You seem to be on a roll and frankly this is getting close to a dead horse so lets agree to disagree, just to keep things legit remember Marinelli does not walk on water and is still human so expect a hiccup or two as just being normal.

He's been putting together these defensive lines for over a decade now... Never with the road grader nose tackle everyone is so obsessed with. Tampa Bay and Chicago.... Look them up. Top defenses... no road grader.

 

[Alexander]

just to keep things legit remember Marinelli does not walk on water and is still human so expect a hiccup or two as just being normal.

That is what I do not always understand.

Marinelli may be considered a rain maker, but what is the harm in making his job even easier by adding talent?

He does not value the position, but he also did not value safeties in Chicago either and it killed them every year.

 

[ThreeandOut]

That is a possibility, but more than likely only on third downs and obvious passing situations. I can see a NASCAR package or two, but it is not going to be a full blown practice. We still have to wait until Hardy is fully available to boot.

I think it's a possibility in any situation where you're in a nickle defense, which is more often than not in today's NFL. Plus don't discount a Gardner or Russell moving to DT. Maranelli had proven that he can turn DE's into pretty good 3 technique DT's (Hatcher, Crawford).

 

[Galian Beast]

That is what I do not always understand.

Marinelli may be considered a rain maker, but what is the harm in making his job even easier by adding talent?

He does not value the position, but he also did not value safeties in Chicago either and it killed them every year.

It killed them every year?

4th in points allowed in 2010
14th in points allowed in 2011
3rd in points allowed in 2012

Average ranking 7th.

Sure killed them...

 

[Future]

Wait, what exactly was quiet about the defensive changes? Greg Hardy was about the noisiest FA signing of the year, Randy Gregory was a pretty loud draft pick, and we took a corner in the first round lol

 

[Galian Beast]

Wait, what exactly was quiet about the defensive changes? Greg Hardy was about the noisiest FA signing of the year, Randy Gregory was a pretty loud draft pick, and we took a corner in the first round lol

No one is equating any of that with a wildly different defense this year. And Greg Hardy wasn't the noisiest FA signing this year. It barely registered a blip despite the circumstances. Greg Hardy was signed well into free agency, and no one really cared about the signing. Especially with many people thinking (wrongly) that he will miss most of the season.

 

[Eddie]

Not really sure we can count on Sean "Glass" Lee.

 

[Galian Beast]

Yes and no. Durant got hurt too much and it depended on what Carter you would get week to week. That said, Brinkley, Gachkar and Rivers cannot come close to their talent and ability. Unless the Minnesota kid is a revelation, it is significantly weaker, even with Lee coming back, briefly before getting hurt again.

Brinkley was brought in to be a two down replacement for McClain if we could not get him resigned.
Gachkar was brought in specifically for special teams.
Rivers was brought in as a camp body and likely doesn't even make the team.

Would you take

A.
Sean Lee - McClain - Hitchens - Wilson

B.
Carter - McClain - Hitchens

A downgrade? Really?

 

[visionary]

How do you have so much energy this early in the morning, I need some of that coffee blend. You seem to be on a roll and frankly this is getting close to a dead horse so lets agree to disagree, just to keep things legit remember Marinelli does not walk on water and is still human so expect a hiccup or two as just being normal.

Maybe he lives in Bangladesh where it is evening time right now

 

[visionary]

DT 1t and good FS play have been ignored unfortunately

 

[USMarineVet]

If these were quiet signings then I'd hate to be around when we finally make some noise.

 

[tyke1doe]

Secondary - Only added one player, but it was first rounder Byron Jones. And as I've said, I think there is real potential to get some investment back from a returning Morris Claiborne, especially in a reduced role, with an improved pass rush.

Linebacker - Not only did they draft a linebacker fairly high, but the return of Sean Lee is like adding a pro bowl player in the off-season.

Defensive line - Defensive line was the greatest weakness on this defense last year, and is why people are still overlooking the Dallas defense now. We signed Pro Bowler Greg Hardy, who I think we can all be more confident about not missing more than 2 games now. We didn't just stop there, but we also drafted first round talent Randy Gregory, and Ryan Russell in the 5th round.

We can?

 

[Galian Beast]

We can?

Yeah we can. I don't forsee Doty allowing more than a 2 game suspension after the contempt brief the NFLPA just filed.

 

[tyke1doe]

Yeah we can. I don't forsee Doty allowing more than a 2 game suspension after the contempt brief the NFLPA just filed.

I'm predicting no more than two either, but I don't feel confident about it at all.

 

[erod]

Secondary - Only added one player, but it was first rounder Byron Jones. And as I've said, I think there is real potential to get some investment back from a returning Morris Claiborne, especially in a reduced role, with an improved pass rush.

Linebacker - Not only did they draft a linebacker fairly high, but the return of Sean Lee is like adding a pro bowl player in the off-season.

Defensive line - Defensive line was the greatest weakness on this defense last year, and is why people are still overlooking the Dallas defense now. We signed Pro Bowler Greg Hardy, who I think we can all be more confident about not missing more than 2 games now. We didn't just stop there, but we also drafted first round talent Randy Gregory, and Ryan Russell in the 5th round.

We could easily have 6 (out of 11) new starters on defense this year, and people think we still have the same defense as last year? Have fun with that. I'm including a healthy Terrell McClain as a replacement for Hayden.

Our Nickel which is the package we're in the most, could look like this


Scandrick - Claiborne - Jones - Wilcox - Carr

Lee* - McClain* (though there are thoughts he wouldn't be in the nickel)

Gregory^ - Lawrence* - Crawford* - Hardy*

* - Clear pro bowl potential
^ - Clear defensive rookie of the year potential

This is an excellent point, and it doesn't even take into account the hopeful unknowns like Whaley and Gardner.

And you know what really has me optimistic?

Sir Rod Marinelli. What ever this thing can do, he'll get that plus 10 percent more.

 

[Galian Beast]

I'm predicting no more than two either, but I don't feel confident about it at all.

I'm pretty confident about it. My biggest worry was the weight of the suspension and the potential of Henderson to be a rubber stamp, which might force a settlement.

It doesn't look like the NFLPA is looking for any settlements.

 

[jazzcat22]

Every "group", yes, technically.

The middle of the defense, mainly defensive tackle and safety has been untouched or even weaker by attrition (if you think Brent counts).

They still look like they prefer building outside in, which I do not necessarily agree with.

One thing all sports have in common....build from the middle out on defense. Strength comes from the middle.