DC: 20 Questions: Can Cowboys Defense Become Among NFL’s Top 10 Units?

[jobberone]

20 Questions: Can Cowboys Defense Become Among NFL’s Top 10 Units?
Monday, July 13, 2015 4:49 PM CDT
By DallasCowboys.com Report

Despite completing four weeks of OTAs and mini-camp practices, several things remain unsettled for the Cowboys. When the team reports to training camp on July 28 in Oxnard, Calif., several questions still need answers.

The staff writers at DallasCowboys.com – Rob Phillips, David Helman, Nick Eatman and Bryan Broaddus – will attempt to answer these questions before the start of training camp.

Today, the staff continues the series with a question concerning the Cowboys’ chances of having a Top 10 defense.

10) Can This Cowboys’ Defense Earn Top 10 Ranking?

Rob Phillips: Well, let’s look at it from a statistical standpoint. Last year the Cowboys ranked 19th in total defense, allowing 355.1 yards per game. The 10th-ranked defense was Seattle, allowing 339.8 yards per game. The Cowboys ranked 15th in points allowed (22.0 average); the 10th-ranked scoring defense was San Francisco (21.3 average). Based on the numbers, it won’t require a huge jump into the top 10. This year Rod Marinelli has a healthy Sean Lee and new talent for the secondary (Byron Jones, Corey White) and the defensive line (a healthy DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory, and Greg Hardy after his suspension). On paper, can the defense be 15 yards a game and one point stingier than last year? Sure they can.

Nick Eatman: This is one of those questions that has a better answer thanks to Friday’s ruling on Hardy’s suspension. And even if it gets dropped down again from four, it does appear as if the Cowboys will at least get three quarters of the season with one of the NFL’s best pass-rushers. That alone will help this defense. As for a Top 10 defense, rankings are tricky. It actually depends on the offense. And since I think this offense will be a Top 3 unit, then my answer is no. No, I don’t think this will be one of the 10 best defenses, statistically. And remember, the statistic that is generally used in this ranking is yards allowed. Go look at some of the best offenses each year, they typically have lower-ranked defenses. I think this Cowboys’ offense will again be good enough to establish leads in the second half. It happened in several games last year – Saints, Texans, Jaguars, Bears, at Eagles, at Commanders – to name a few. The Cowboys have some big leads and end up surrendering a few yards and points. Also, the more the Cowboys score on offense, the more they kick off and the more field it allows for opponents to move the ball. Don’t get me wrong, this defense will be better. And it will create even more turnovers, and will probably allow less points, which is all that matters. But in the overall ranking of Top 10 defense, I don’t see that in the Cowboys’ future. And that really isn’t a bad thing.

David Helman: If everything goes right for them, then yes I think this group has the potential to be top 10. That said, let’s examine what all has to “go right.” For starters, Sean Lee andRolando McClain need to enjoy healthy, productive seasons.Brandon Carr needs to play consistently up to the form he enjoyed down the last month of last year, and it wouldn’t hurt ifMorris Claiborne was able to contribute something after rehabbing his knee injury. DeMarcus Lawrence needs to blossom into the productive pass rusher he’s been billed to be, and, despite being a rookie, the Cowboys need Randy Gregory to add some meaningful contributions. With Greg Hardy free to play at least 12 games, he needs to live up to his Pro Bowl billing – despite the fact that he spent a year away from football. I don’t think it’s realistic to expect all of that stuff to happen, so I’m not sure I see a top 10 finish in the cards. But I do think the unit will take another step forward in Rod Marinelli’s second season.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...wboys-defense-become-among-nfl’s-top-10-units

 

[jobberone]

There are some links that may interest some as well as the above.

 

[JDSmith]

If everyone stays healthy and McClain actually makes it on the field I expect this team to be a top 5 defense in the Aikman's. They were 32 in 2013, 16 last year, and I feel like they have upgraded significantly on the line and with the return of Sean Lee. Beyond adding Hardy the play of Lawrence and Crawford improved throughout the season last year and I expect to see that continue. Hitchens was just a rookie last year, played all three LB positions and did very well, this year I expect him to continue to improve as well. With just those things, and the fact that Carr played much better the last month of the season, I feel like this D is poised to improve physically. Then add in the natural progression from being in the second year under Marinelli and I fully expect this D to become a much more dominant unit.

And that doesn't factor in anything from the rookies, simply because they are a complete unknown at this point.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If we are not a top 10 defense this year, we will be next year after another off season.

 

[jrumann59]

I think a top 15 this year is attainable anything above that is gravy. A lot of rookies on the starting D they take a while to get adjusted to the speed of the game.

 

[ShiningStar]

im never worried about the rank, lets get the W's. If the D is dominate and gets the opposing Os off the field, i dont care how they do it. Some teams are going to get theirs, but we have to stop when teh stopping is right. Now, i want the turn overs more than anything else. just doestn have to be sacks because we all saw what sacks used to get thsi team. 3rd and long for teh opponents and still get the first down. Get me the batted passes and get some interceptions. None of that get the interception and lose it. Just get it.

 

[xwalker]

im never worried about the rank, lets get the W's. If the D is dominate and gets the opposing Os off the field, i dont care how they do it. Some teams are going to get theirs, but we have to stop when teh stopping is right. Now, i want the turn overs more than anything else. just doestn have to be sacks because we all saw what sacks used to get thsi team. 3rd and long for teh opponents and still get the first down. Get me the batted passes and get some interceptions. None of that get the interception and lose it. Just get it.

Yes, I don't know about the ranking, but if this defense is not significantly better than last season, then something went seriously wrong.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

Yes, I don't know about the ranking, but if this defense is not significantly better than last season, then something went seriously wrong.

Agree. This is a defense that miraculously finished 7th in turnovers and 7th in pass defense last season with zero pass rush. I have a hard time believing they could do anything but get better with the additions they have made in the off season. If the Cowboys can get to the QB this year and do a better job against the run, they'll be a better defensive unit.

 

[burmafrd]

when a team gets a big lead they ease up and the other team gets garbage points and yards so the ranking can be very misleading.

Can the D get stops when it matters? THAT is what needs to be scrutinized as regards ranking D's. I have always thought that you cannot really judge a D in a vacuume. For example in 2003 we had the #1 D in the NFL as regards yards - but it was NOT the best D in the NFL or even really that close. As was shown in the Playoff Game- when it mattered we could not get it done. And when it ran up against a good QB and offense it was not all that. It was a very good D but certainly not the top D in the NFL.

 

[tyke1doe]

If everyone stays healthy and McClain actually makes it on the field I expect this team to be a top 5 defense in the Aikman's. They were 32 in 2013, 16 last year, and I feel like they have upgraded significantly on the line and with the return of Sean Lee. Beyond adding Hardy the play of Lawrence and Crawford improved throughout the season last year and I expect to see that continue. Hitchens was just a rookie last year, played all three LB positions and did very well, this year I expect him to continue to improve as well. With just those things, and the fact that Carr played much better the last month of the season, I feel like this D is poised to improve physically. Then add in the natural progression from being in the second year under Marinelli and I fully expect this D to become a much more dominant unit.

And that doesn't factor in anything from the rookies, simply because they are a complete unknown at this point.

In the Aikman's?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't know if they will be ranked top 10. It goes off of yards allowed and while I don't really think that's indicative of a good defense, it's how they rank them. Points allowed is a better indicator to me. I think we can improve there.

 

[Slashar00]

In the Aikman's?

I believe he means Aikman's efficiency ratings.

http://www.aikman.com/AikmanEfficiencyRatings.aspx

 

[StarBoyz83]

It's possible. Biggest question is the lb core.

 

[JDSmith]

I believe he means Aikman's efficiency ratings.

http://www.aikman.com/AikmanEfficiencyRatings.aspx

Correct. Marinelli himself has said that the only ratings he values are the Aikman efficiency ratings and turnovers.

We will excel in both this year.

 

[gmoney112]

Agree. This is a defense that miraculously finished 7th in turnovers and 7th in pass defense last season with zero pass rush. I have a hard time believing they could do anything but get better with the additions they have made in the off season. If the Cowboys can get to the QB this year and do a better job against the run, they'll be a better defensive unit.

I'm pretty sure we were like #2 in turnovers forced. That's pretty incredible.

 

[Section446]

It all depends on how healthy we can stay (Lee), and how much our young guys can contribute (Jones and Gregory).

 

[JDSmith]

I'm pretty sure we were like #2 in turnovers forced. That's pretty incredible.

They were. Only Houston was better on the list I saw.

 

[kramskoi]

If we are not a top 10 defense this year, we will be next year after another off season.

I think if they are not at least a top 10 defense, then any real chance at a Superbowl becomes nebulous. That first half of the schedule is no cakewalk. If we are honest as fans, then we need to see a better defense than last year...I would say appreciably better, especially if the running game takes a step back.

 

[Doomsday]

I am not sure the secondary is good enough for them to move into the top 10.

 

[ShiningStar]

I think if they are not at least a top 10 defense, then any real chance at a Superbowl becomes nebulous. That first half of the schedule is no cakewalk. If we are honest as fans, then we need to see a better defense than last year...I would say appreciably better, especially if the running game takes a step back.

thats the thing, the RB game mgiht sep back but the defensive line might go up, and we dont know what the water level will be for the new year, whos tops, whos bottom, there are so many in the middle of the pack. Keep in mind our defense last year was 1 year removed from one of the worst. We did average , and good enough to go deep in the playoffs. So it wont really matter statistically what we do, stats dont win games. We can however make some tweaks and hopefully get more out of players and new players this year.