Defense could be good

[renny]

The Cowboys defense could be good even without Sean Lee. One, Rod Marinelli was D-line coach last year and never had the chance to coordinate the defense with Sean Lee. With all the injuries the last two years on defense, there are only a hand full of players who have played an extended time with Lee (Scandrick, Carter, and maybe Church). This defense will miss Lee, but not because of being together on the field. As good a player as Lee is the timing of his injury happened at a time that has given the team a chance to prepare in his absence. I really do believe the defense will play well even without Lee, better with Lee. However, Lee has missed time in the past but the timing of his latest injury will help going forward.

 

[Jerryrage]

From what I saw last year, the defense gave up. The had NFL records broke on them. Let's hope for something better this year.

 

[casmith07]

From what I saw last year, the defense gave up. The had NFL records broke on them. Let's hope for something better this year.

No, they just were not good.

 

[CCBoy]

Lol, Sir...know your men.

 

[rwill784]

The Cowboys defense could be good even without Sean Lee. One, Rod Marinelli was D-line coach last year and never had the chance to coordinate the defense with Sean Lee. With all the injuries the last two years on defense, there are only a hand full of players who have played an extended time with Lee (Scandrick, Carter, and maybe Church). This defense will miss Lee, but not because of being together on the field. As good a player as Lee is the timing of his injury happened at a time that has given the team a chance to prepare in his absence. I really do believe the defense will play well even without Lee, better with Lee. However, Lee has missed time in the past but the timing of his latest injury will help going forward.

Makes sence, im not a huge lee fan so ill save any bad talk but if McClain is ready to play we might not have to worry about the lb position. Rod during his stint with the bears only had one real d lineman that drew doubles and that was peppers. But lets be honest peppers was never carolina peppers his years in chicago. Rod made sugar out of crud with the exception of urlacher no one else on that team was a top tier or 1st round pick. They played disciplined and got better every year. Tillman, briggs, melton, ogunyale were basically made in that defense. Except for ogunyale was pretty decent in miami playing opposite to jason taylor.

They never had any great safeties his entire tenure nor did they ever have a high pick at the will backer position. No notable dts other than melton. Hes made better out of less, i believe we can at worst finish 15-20 in total d.

 

[jobberone]

I haven't seen any quit in this team for a long while. You can't play NFL football with scrubs.

 

[Nation]

The problem with the original post is that it assumes that the defense was good to start with and that there are ways they can get around losing Lee. The problem is they were very bad to start with even with Lee.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

For this defense to be good...

1. Melton will need to return to his previous form.
2. Lawrence will need to contribute immediately as a rookie.
3. McClain (the DT) will need to be at least an "average" #1.
4. Someone is going to need to provide "average" snaps at MLB.
5. Carter needs to play like he did 2 seasons ago.
6. Carr & Claiborne will need to improve their play greatly.
7. Don't need two good safeties, but two safeties that are toiling in the bottom rankings won't get the job done.
8. Selvie needs to prove that last season wasn't a fluke.
9. One of these DT's needs to show something: Bishop/Coleman/Okoye/Bass
10. Crawford need to show continued improvement.

A lotta ifs there.

I'd be thrilled with a defense that ranked 20th.

 

[Fredd]

the scheme last year, along with the lack of talent once the injury bug took over made the 2013 horrible....if the scheme is what they have professed (getting pressure from the down linemen and actually seeing that come to fruition), then the defense could be passable....I think it is realistic that this defense could be in the 16-24 range if all goes well and they stay healthy....the offense controlling the ball will help the defense statistically, but the rotation of young guys on the line hopefully will keep them fresh and able to push the pocket back....we find out if the DL can hold up soon...they will get some VERY good practice time in against a stout OLine, and I can't understate that enough...going up against what could be a very good OL should benefit the DL...not just DLawrence having to line-up against Ty in practice, but the entire unit....should be fun to watch

 

[daveferr33]

I haven't seen any quit in this team for a long while. You can't play NFL football with scrubs.

I think for the most part you are right.

But Chicago last season sure came close. Although I am not sure if that was "quit" rather than a "just not show up."

 

[casmith07]

I think for the most part you are right.

But Chicago last season sure came close. Although I am not sure if that was "quit" rather than a "just not show up."

Chicago was a terrible matchup for the scrubs we had.

 

[jobberone]

I think for the most part you are right.

But Chicago last season sure came close. Although I am not sure if that was "quit" rather than a "just not show up."

How about having their *** handed to them although not prepared/able to play them certainly applies. They were bad at times and sucked a lot.

 

[big dog cowboy]

For this defense to be good...

1. Melton will need to return to his previous form.
2. Lawrence will need to contribute immediately as a rookie.
3. McClain (the DT) will need to be at least an "average" #1.
4. Someone is going to need to provide "average" snaps at MLB.
5. Carter needs to play like he did 2 seasons ago.
6. Carr & Claiborne will need to improve their play greatly.
7. Don't need two good safeties, but two safeties that are toiling in the bottom rankings won't get the job done.
8. Selvie needs to prove that last season wasn't a fluke.
9. One of these DT's needs to show something: Bishop/Coleman/Okoye/Bass
10. Crawford need to show continued improvement.

A lotta ifs there.

I'd be thrilled with a defense that ranked 20th.

That's not so bad. I was afraid your list was going to be long.

If we have a 10 spot gain up to #22 that would have a big impact.

 

[jobberone]

the scheme last year, along with the lack of talent once the injury bug took over made the 2013 horrible....if the scheme is what they have professed (getting pressure from the down linemen and actually seeing that come to fruition), then the defense could be passable....I think it is realistic that this defense could be in the 16-24 range if all goes well and they stay healthy....the offense controlling the ball will help the defense statistically, but the rotation of young guys on the line hopefully will keep them fresh and able to push the pocket back....we find out if the DL can hold up soon...they will get some VERY good practice time in against a stout OLine, and I can't understate that enough...going up against what could be a very good OL should benefit the DL...not just DLawrence having to line-up against Ty in practice, but the entire unit....should be fun to watch

I agree mostly. I think this defense could actually be good but as @MichaelWinicki said a lot has to happen and it is a lot of IFs.

1. Not too worried about Melton with today's rehab of ACLs.
2. McClain will show up IMO
3. Lawrence is a big IF. He will flash good and bad as rookies do. Mincey and/or Wilson will have to help.
4. Selvie/Crawford/Bass can play the SDE well enough IMO. The rotation will be better but how much?
5. I agree someone will have to play the Mike well. Durant or McClain should be able to do that IMO
6. Carter is a question mark at Will
7. I think the Sam will be either Wilber or McClain and even possibly Durant
8. Someone like Holloman will have to play the Nickel well; this also includes Carter
9. The CBs will have to play better this year; they will but will it be enough....assuming they are healthy
10. The safety play will improve but see #9

My list is not much different than many others because the problems are well known although I think some players are less of a question mark, if at all, than others. The defense will be middle of the road IMO.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

That's not so bad. I was afraid your list was going to be long.

If we have a 10 spot gain up to #22 that would have a big impact.

Agreed BDC.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

From what I saw last year, the defense gave up. The had NFL records broke on them. Let's hope for something better this year.

I saw that in 2010... not last year.

They simply sucked last year.

Too many guys playing snaps who had no business playing in the NFL.

 

[Future]

I think for the most part you are right.

But Chicago last season sure came close. Although I am not sure if that was "quit" rather than a "just not show up."

Chicago, NO, and SD were all complete eggs.

 

[CCBoy]

I agree mostly. I think this defense could actually be good but as @MichaelWinicki said a lot has to happen and it is a lot of IFs.

1. Not too worried about Melton with today's rehab of ACLs.
2. McClain will show up IMO
3. Lawrence is a big IF. He will flash good and bad as rookies do. Mincey and/or Wilson will have to help.
4. Selvie/Crawford/Bass can play the SDE well enough IMO. The rotation will be better but how much?
5. I agree someone will have to play the Mike well. Durant or McClain should be able to do that IMO
6. Carter is a question mark at Will
7. I think the Sam will be either Wilber or McClain and even possibly Durant
8. Someone like Holloman will have to play the Nickel well; this also includes Carter
9. The CBs will have to play better this year; they will but will it be enough....assuming they are healthy
10. The safety play will improve but see #9

My list is not much different than many others because the problems are well known although I think some players are less of a question mark, if at all, than others. The defense will be middle of the road IMO.

If the defensive line meets the improved projection as you point out, then more than likely the linebacker positional unit will be up to grade as well. Give, even a slow reacting, this past season, Carter a second more to observe, and be 'clean,' and his game suddenly changes.

At a minimal, McClain will raise the stakes at middle linebacker. If he wins it, it will be because he returned to his own A game. To this fan, what that then means, is the middle of the field becomes much harder to traverse and there will be a toll levied for attempts at the Dallas territorial rights.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Too many guys playing snaps who had no business playing in the NFL.

Replacing those players with real NFL players instantly upgrades our defense. I love Marinelli but what did you really expect when we started signing free agents in November and not only put them on the roster but in actual games?

 

[KJJ]

The defense won't be "good" we can only hope it's improved.