Defense after 4 Games

[75boyz]

I want to be optimistic. But we all sat through that game, and Stroud of all ppl was tearing this D up. Texans have a bad OL and give up sacks and can't run the ball. Some of our 'improvement' could be attributed to a poor opponent. A good QB and OC will destroy us.

We will see the same thing every week (easy completions, long drives, 30 pts) until we get a pass rush.

Yep, I know it's bad when I go against my nature of skepticism to write optimistic posts all the while not considering the quality of the opponent.
Good call man.

 

[BigTx66]

It’s still really early in the season,
The next three primetime games,
On the world stage,
If Ravel can come back to the corner and bland go back to the nickel
Caleb Downs, that changes where he plays because he doesn’t have to help BLAND
And Joey Porter Junior he should be solid on his side
It’s the cliché. Does the front four help the back end?
Or does the back end, help the front?

We’re pretty balanced, that doesn’t mean we’re great on the back and front
I’m just saying we’re equally talented, we need each other
I’m having fun ,and liking what I’m seeing.
I’m disappointed about Baltimore still, because I know we could’ve won that game
But I think Coach took what he learned, and used it against Houston, we played to win, not scared

revel is terrible, healthy or not. Bland is just as bad, if not worse. it's sad to see that Bland has regressed as bad as he has, even though he got used by DK Metcalf several years ago when he was named all-pro. There is nothing to indicate these players are starting caliber db's, except for Jerry Jones' overhype mechanisms

 

[75boyz]

Add this to the practice list

My Gosh!
Me either.
AND I know DPI on last second Hail Mary's are rarely ever called but look at Bell and Bland in this pic.

Just wow.

 

[blueblood70]

Here’s the stat I’m interested in.
Average Scoring Drop: Dallas is giving up 5 fewer points per game early in 2026 compared to last year's opening month. They are improving. Fix the pass rush and they can be decent

Yeah but it's almost as if you're trying to figure out a photo finish in 100 yard dash it is that incremental that almost unnoticeable they need a lot of work..

Hopefully just hopefully 3 and 2 at the break I think I mean the break for them they get a 10 day break after the Buccaneers game I think that that's where people probably had this team in the first place but in the end they probably should be four and 1 They had them Ravens right there for the taking and really the Giants game I mean all these games they were winnable if the defense would just be a little bit better and they are not better enough I don't even know if that's proper English but that's the way I want to say it that is so incremental I can barely see it..

So the addition of JPJ maybe he gets more work Thursday night But you have to figure out between Revel and Bland and some of the other guys you just brought up something's gotta get fixed because now JPJ may take away one guy but the two other receivers can be running wild and they need to get number 13 yes Mr Downs overrated right now 'cause he's a rookie and it looked good game one but he needs to figure out in coverage where he supposed to be and help his reads I don't think they're there yet. where he supposed to be and help his reads I don't think they're there yet.

I could be wrong because I don't know what his assignments are supposed to be but maybe this whole being a full time nickel needs to stop and let him play some safety let him get downhill let him blitz let Bland back in the slot and then rebel back outside or one of these other guys but yeah there's some things that need to be fixed some of them might be small enough that over the 10 day break they can get a better plan for 13.

 

[BlindFaith]

I want to be optimistic. But we all sat through that game, and Stroud of all ppl was tearing this D up. Texans have a bad OL and give up sacks and can't run the ball. Some of our 'improvement' could be attributed to a poor opponent. A good QB and OC will destroy us.

We will see the same thing every week (easy completions, long drives, 30 pts) until we get a pass rush.

Houston is currently 5th in passing yards. And Collins missed the first 3 games.

They are 1 spot ahead of us.

 

[Vinnie2u]

How about Not attempting to kick 60-yard field goals with time on the clock. Puts the defense in a bad situation.

 

[Captain43Crash]

Stupid stats, anything can be construed how you want it to look. But of course you and some will gloat over this.

Bland was horrible yesterday. Because they would not throw JPJ's way. We should get Revel back and Durant, and Thompson will be back in a few weeks or so.

Let’s see what happens then.

I don’t think Revel is the answer. He doesn’t seem to have the agility, quickness, and change of direction to stay with NFL receivers.
Hopefully, that changes, but I’m not confident it will.

 

[blueblood70]

The defense is not forcing turnovers. That is a problem. No sacks, no turnovers = 30 points given up.

As for teh pass rush, It is not easy finding players to create pressures and sack from the outside. That's why trading Parsons was dumb. Now the Cowboys are starving for outside pressure and finding out how hard it is to get a players to do that for them.

If you thought the CBs were going to be any good this year, you ate the cheese again. Secondary was a weakness and the Cowboys knew it, which is why they kept 6 safeties and why they have downs playing in the slot. Getting Porter was a great move - if they can sign him long term.

they had sacks like 2-3 yesterday LMAO , lots of pressures as well this game the Washington game, and nearly 5 TOS against the NYG, sure not delivered on it but yes they have created fumbles i believe have 2 recovered,

Not Dumb they would nort have had the resources and cash to make the other moves IMHO.. parsons was part of the 2023 debacle and all games against offenses that neutraized him in LOSSES!!!

with this FO and roster keeping parsons changes a lot of these moves, that will pay off eventually, yes EZE/Mlew they need to do better but Gary the last two games ,has been the new TANK..we do need pressure from the other side.

Bring 13 on more blitzes make him more of safety and Overshown IMHO should be an OLB when he returns, he could help out there..

 

[jazzcat22]

Where was Bland burned so much? Please, name the plays.

The only 1 I recall was the 2nd and short play where he bit and they guy got him deep.

The TD was on Downs as Bland was expecting inside help. And even then, Bland was there.

There was the diving catch on the sidelines that probably should have ruled incomplete.

Which ones am I missing?

I saw RS getting beat like a drum. TEs hurt us yet again. Thats on the scheme. 4 weeks in a row we cant figure out how to cover a TE.

I seen Bland on the short end of the play 4 or 5 times. Giving up 1st downs every time.

 

[Reality]

Each game it seemed they improved a little bit in different areas.

Yesterday, in the 2nd half was much better. Run defense seems it improved overall this year. With the exception of the QB's running all over us. But they did kept Stroud in check a little better.

Pass defense still an issue. Still too many wide open receivers. Too many long plays downfield. And yesterday, there was too many near misses as well. Even though a few may have been caused by some finally much needed pressure. But I can't say that for sure.
Maybe someone with All 22 Access can take a look.

Still giving up too many points though.
TB & GB could help in not giving up that many points as both teams have not looked all that great. But you never know. And I still do not trust this defense yet.

But I feel some very slight encouragement. As I said, each week something has improved a little. And getting JPJ and getting some injured players back will only help.

This is what I warned people about during the off-season as many were setting their expectations too high.

With Parker being a first-time DC and the Cowboys defense coming off two historically bad seasons, we were going to be fortunate to have a defense ranked in the top half more so than top 10 in 2026.

I also said we should withhold judgement of Parker and the defense until the middle of the season when we will have a better idea of what they are after he's had time to refine his defensive system and scheme and the players have gotten comfortable in it and Parker has figured out which players fit each position the best.

I still don't know if Parker will be a good or great DC but for the first time in years there is at least hope for the Cowboys fielding a good defense.

 

[XXLMike]

Haters are more hilarious and ridiculous.

Don’t confuse fact givers and truth. seekers with haters.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

Cowboys have scored 122 points
Buffalo has scored the best at 127 points

But we have also allowed over 100 points scored
So it’s still about the defense
If we can get Ravel, healthy, and bland back to the nickel, that’s going to help
Then we can move Caleb around again

Do we not, based on points allowed, have the second worst ranked defense through 4 weeks? I looked at it last night and thought that was the case.

 

[XXLMike]

My Gosh!
Me either.
AND I know DPI on last second Hail Mary's are rarely ever called but look at Bell and Bland in this pic.

Just wow.

I’m not the least bit surprise- Our head coach doesn’t seem to be concerns with the small details.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

I seen Bland on the short end of the play 4 or 5 times. Giving up 1st downs every time.

It might help for him not to take the snap 12 yards off the line, but he often does. It’s like he’s afraid of getting beaten deep, so instead he gets beaten (and easily) underneath, and then gives up another 10+ YAC.

 

[xwalker]

I haven't broken down the game yet. How many snaps did Porter play? When he was in there how did Bland do? The thing about Collins is he's their Lamb, a 1000 yard receiver, and he's been out since the first game against the Bills.

Porter played 45% of defensive snaps.

Ameer Speed played 42%

Revel 13%

Steward (Nickel) 71%

 

[LouBrown]

Houston ranked 11th on passing yards this week. Cowboys were 10th.
Rushing they were 27th.
Without their Rush Defense, Cowboys would not have won.

Lmao what? This is utter nonsense.

 

[zrinkill]

Come on we kept Henry to under 100 yards
It’s the backend that needs to improve
To say we haven’t improved at all, is simply just not true

He is a Giants fan.

 

[xwalker]

It might help for him not to take the snap 12 yards off the line, but he often does. It’s like he’s afraid of getting beaten deep, so instead he gets beaten (and easily) underneath, and then gives up another 10+ YAC.

The theory of this defensive scheme is to give Safety help on the Field (wide) side.
- That is the side Bland plays.
- They didn't really do that because of limitations at Safety and because Amee Speed played 42% of the Boundry (short) side CB snaps.
- It didn't help that ReddyvSteward play 71% of snaps at NCB because Diwns had to play Safety full time.

Bland is the same guy that was an INT machine in Quinn's scheme
- That scheme was all out pass rush with run defense as a low priority.
- Bland also had a Safety over the top which let him play tighter in the short area.

It should help once Porter is playing 100% of snaps instead of 45%.

 

[tomokawan]

Call me when they stop giving up 30+ points. I am not giving them credit. They are not close to being an adequate defense. When you can only celebrate a defense making only a couple of stops per game or only giving up a field and not a touchdown every drive, that is no where near good enough.

 

[jazzcat22]

Don’t confuse fact givers and truth. seekers with haters.

Facts are many will always turn a positive into. a negative. You do it all the time.