Dallas D Going Forward

[TheHerd]

Marinelli might as well just rush 2 and drop everybody in coverage on passing downs.

What's amazing/alarming is how wide open the Wash receivers were even when we were dropping 8 in coverage.

 

[LocimusPrime]

By now we should realize that tank is a good #2 DE, and we need a super hoss DE, a Charles haley- Reggie white type.

Heck I'd settle for a Julius Peppers or Kerrigan type right now

 

[LocimusPrime]

For this offseason, I hope we get Demarcus ware, Julius peppers, and Lorenzo Alexander AND draft 2-3 DEs. I think this could be accomplished for around 18-22 million a year ( romo's salary), and if it does cost a little more just make it work.

These seasoned vets can hold down the fort while the young guys either develop or bust.

 

[JohnsKey19]

The problem is that when the do bring an extra rusher is does not seem to help. Since they don't focus on blitzing, they are not good at it.

They might as well just rush a couple of DL and replace the others with DBs on passing downs.

This is why I mentioned in another post to experiment with pressure packages in these next 5 weeks of practice and games. We're doing absolutely nothing to force incompletions and/or hurried throws.

The occasional and completely telegraphed slot blitz from Scandrick ain't cutting it. We had some success flooding the A gap on blitzes earlier in the season but haven't seen it in over a month.

 

[JohnsKey19]

By now we should realize that tank is a good #2 DE, and we need a super hoss DE, a Charles haley- Reggie white type.

Heck I'd settle for a Julius Peppers or Kerrigan type right now

They're gonna have to get lucky in free agency for immediate help. They should still draft a pass rusher to develop.

 

[bayeslife]

I still feel this D is going to keep us from making any kind of playoff run this year. Heck, the D we rolled out there yesterday could likely make us go one-and-done.

We aren't 10-1 by accident. Who is going to beat Dallas in the first round?

 

[SDCowboy]

We aren't 10-1 by accident. Who is going to beat Dallas in the first round?

We can't always count on our offense also being our defense. Eventually that's more than likely going to catch up to us.

 

[theebs]

it sounds foolish even asking but I wonder if they would ever just rush 2 in a situation like yesterday.

instead of rushing 3, maybe put another linebacker on the field and stand him up at the line and with each snap drop him about 7 yard in the direct middle of the field.

its foolish I know, but yesterday they had 5 blocking 3 and our guys were doing a good job actually but no chance to get home. So why not stand up the lineman and then with each snap drop one of the different lineman into a zone. Maybe it would take away one or two of those simple completions to crowder.

I mean I know its foolish to rush two, but the inside guy was getting tripled at times and had no chance...so why not drop him now and then.

 

[Bluefin]

By now we should realize that tank is a good #2 DE, and we need a super hoss DE, a Charles haley- Reggie white type.

Due to suspensions and injuries, the DL has been playing players out of position all season.

Tyrone Crawford had to move to LDE and DeMarcus Lawrence had to move to RDE when he returned.

They can play those spots, but it isn't ideal. The Cowboys need a legit edge rusher at RDE in the worst way and all bets are off if we will ever see Randy Gregory play for us again.

Ryan Davis hasn't impressed so far and is only a one year band aid at DE. RFA signing Benson Mayowa has also been disappointing and may find it tough to make the roster next year without stepping his game up. Jack Crawford has a good motor, but is only a utility player and is also scheduled to become a free agent.

Terrell McClain is finally healthy and showing to be a good player on the inside, but will likely command a higher salary in free agency than Dallas can afford.

Cedric Thornton was paid to be the starting NT in free agency and should only get better, even though he's been playing behind incumbent McClain this season. Reserve David Irving is a flash player who should only see more snaps as the season progresses. Rookie Maliek Collins is expected to be a future starter on the inside and has comfortably transitioned to the scheme right out of the box.

Rookie Charles Tapper has spent the season on IR, so he remains a mystery at this point and we have 6-6, 290 pound Zach Moore on the Practice Squad.

This is what the 2017 DL depth chart looks like.

RDE: Benson Mayowa, Charles Tapper
NT: Cedric Thornton
UT: Tyrone Crawford, Maliek Collins, David Irving
LDE: DeMarcus Lawrence, Zach Moore

Free agents: DT Terrell McClain, DE Ryan Davis, DL Jack Crawford

Suspended: DE Randy Gregory

 

[Teague31]

I feel jaylon comes back I think we can stand pat at LB this offseason. Same at DT. I would try to bring back McClain on a cheap deal and move T Craw back inside. That would set the tackle rotation. End is a dumpster fire. DLaw is the best of the bunch and is an average player at best (he was awful yesterday). 2-3 new bodies need to be added to the end rotation .

The secondary is a hot mess too. I would let Carr and church walk and try being back mo and wilcox on the cheap. MO's injury history is going to drive his price way way down. Then you need at least 3 new members for the secondary.

Bottom line, a TON of resources needs to be devoted to the D. Assuming we see cap savings from Romo leaving I would immediately extend Martin and then put every other penny into the defense

 

[haleyrules]

Washington put up a ton of yards on us yesterday and most of it was passing. It seems as though we havev a decent run defense for the most part. Much better run defense than we displayed against the Giants in the opening game.

I think the difference between the Washington game and our prior games were a depleted defensive back corps. Unless we get key players back and they play well, we will probably begin to see a lot of 4 wide personnel.

Anthony Brown has played exceptionally well for a rookie. The problem is that now he is having to play as if he is the #1 CB on the team frequently. That's a lot to ask from a rookie.

We have been really lucky on the injury front. Hopefully we will get a healthy Mo back for the playoff run and Church, Wilcox and Scandrick all get well.


Whoever is coaching up these defensive backs needs a big time raise.

The club is dying for a passrush...that would greatly improve the secondary.

 

[haleyrules]

By now we should realize that tank is a good #2 DE, and we need a super hoss DE, a Charles haley- Reggie white type.

Heck I'd settle for a Julius Peppers or Kerrigan type right now

Agreed. This defense will kill the team in the end. No way to win a SB with what is going on with this Defense.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

By now we should realize that tank is a good #2 DE, and we need a super hoss DE, a Charles haley- Reggie white type.

Heck I'd settle for a Julius Peppers or Kerrigan type right now

Heck id even settle for a Shante Carver type

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Marinelli has obviously forgotten more about football in 20 seconds than I will ever dream of knowing. But man...can we at least TRY to create pressure? The 3-4 man rush ain't cuttin' it. At all. I get the bend but don't break strategy has helped us to 10-1, but I'm looking towards a 1-and-done playoff scenario. If we allow Wilson, Ryan or even Cousins to play with a clean pocket the ENTIRE game in the playoffs, its night-night Cowboys.

Could be one & done.

But they were NEVER behind Washington yesterday.

Just something to think about.

 

[TheSkaven]

The two biggest problems on the defense is a lack of talent at DE, which isn't going to be fixed this season and the injuries in the secondary, which may.

I agree, for the most part. We go to war with who we have now on defense, especially on the line. But what about changing up the scheme? What we are doing now is not working. As I wrote in another thread, 505 yards of offense given up yesterday and the Commanders only punted ONCE the entire game.

I would like to see Marinelli blitz more, and I don't mean just another linebacker. He has been afraid to do so - could be his lack of confidence in the secondary or could be that it's just not how he runs his scheme. But with how bad the defense is playing there's not much to lose - I would love to see some creative blitz packages to create some pressure on the quarterback and try to force some turnovers, even at the expense of some big plays.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Agreed. This defense will kill the team in the end. No way to win a SB with what is going on with this Defense.

Indy won a SB with a defense like this.

Probably even a worse defense vs. the run than Dallas.

There's not one team in the NFL that's going to blow the doors off this Cowboys team... Not one.

They may sneak out a victory over Dallas but they aren't laying some sorta whooping on them.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I agree, for the most part. We go to war with who we have now on defense, especially on the line. But what about changing up the scheme? What we are doing now is not working. As I wrote in another thread, 505 yards of offense given up yesterday and the Commanders only punted ONCE the entire game.

I would like to see Marinelli blitz more, and I don't mean just another linebacker. He has been afraid to do so - could be his lack of confidence in the secondary or could be that it's just not how he runs his scheme. But with how bad the defense is playing there's not much to lose - I would love to see some creative blitz packages to create some pressure on the quarterback and try to force some turnovers, even at the expense of some big plays.

Blitzing isn't going to work.

You've got too many guys in the secondary that have little or no experience.

You saw the broken coverage on Jackson... How would you like 3 or 4 of those in a game?

I'd get over the butt-hurt of giving up 500 yards and focus on the Cowboys limiting the Commanders to 6 points through 3 quarters and never trailing them.

 

[bayeslife]

We can't always count on our offense also being our defense. Eventually that's more than likely going to catch up to us.

10 wins in a row is not a big enough sample size for you? At what point is it supposed to magically catch up?

We need to realize that while the defense is subpar, the Cowboys of 2016 can win without them.

 

[Hawkeye19]

The Cowboys would not have 10 wins without Brown. They are incredibly lucky that he has been so good as a rookie.

The pass rush is going to be a big problem at some point. I don't think they even sacked the Washington QB.

Marinelli might as well just rush 2 and drop everybody in coverage on passing downs.

No sacks-- but they did "affect the passer" on a number of occasions. Kirk got hit about 8 times yesterday.

 

[Everson24]

If we're causing this many problems for our opposition this year, I salivate to think of what might come if we draft an elite DE in 2017. Of course, two would be even better . . . perhaps one via the draft and yet another through veteran free agency -- we'd be a holy terror to our opposition.

I really wish we had made a run at JPP this year. He would make our D look a whole lot better.