Defense needs five upgrades

[MrPhil]

In my opinion, the defense needs a complete overhaul and the best way to do that is to start from the line and build backwards. We have some really good guys in place to start with like Lee, Brown and Collins. If Jaylon comes back healthy then that is a bonus.

The most important task also seems to be the hardest -- get a pass rush.

After that, they need a ballhawk or two in the secondary. That we have nobody with more than 2 INTs is just pathetic.

 

[bsbellomy]

I don't think the Cowboys can go into 2017 under the assumption that D-Law is all of a sudden going to become a good DE. It might happen, but odds are against it.

He's averaged 3 sacks per season in a short career marred by injuries and suspension. The only time he has ever looks like an effective player is when they had a former All-Pro lining up opposite him drawing double teams.

They need to bring in competition because there is a very good chance D-Law is just never going to live up to his draft status.

I'm with you, I've all but given up on him. Think he's going into a contract season though right? That may help lol

 

[JeffInDC]

I don't think the Cowboys can go into 2017 under the assumption that D-Law is all of a sudden going to become a good DE. It might happen, but odds are against it.

He's averaged 3 sacks per season in a short career marred by injuries and suspension. The only time he has ever looks like an effective player is when they had a former All-Pro lining up opposite him drawing double teams.

They need to bring in competition because there is a very good chance D-Law is just never going to live up to his draft status.

He needs to drop the excessive amount of weight he's gained. He needs to play around 255-260 MAX.

 

[camaro69]

I don't think the Cowboys can go into 2017 under the assumption that D-Law is all of a sudden going to become a good DE. It might happen, but odds are against it.

He's averaged 3 sacks per season in a short career marred by injuries and suspension. The only time he has ever looks like an effective player is when they had a former All-Pro lining up opposite him drawing double teams.

They need to bring in competition because there is a very good chance D-Law is just never going to live up to his draft status.[/QUO
plus the guy has a bad back that may or may not require back surgery? Lee - Brown - Collins the rest or all jags

 

[speedkilz88]

He was a great all around safety-- he could definitely cover and he made some clutch INTs

BS, they kept him out of most coverages. He was a robber which is how he got picks that led to pro bowl invites over Darren Woodson who could actually cover.

 

[Philmonroe]

Green Bay took apart the number 1 defense the week before playing us with what some would say a great Dline and very good edge pressure, so I believe we are not as bad as most are lamenting two days after the loss. I also believe edge is a strength of this years draft, Myles Garrett Texas a&m being the top dog of course. Even at pick 28 we will be evaluating a better player at edge than we have currently on the team IMO. DB is also talent rich this year. We need to keep our fingers crossed that some of the QB's put on some great performances at the combine and Senior Bowl. If my crystal ball is still accurate we will have a talent available to us at pick 28 not sure what position other than it will not be QB/RB. What we saw from Zeke, Dak, and Dez is repeatable with this Oline staying somewhat intact(Leary leaving), but bet your bottom dollar the league took notice of how the Giants and Green Bay beat us.

Bold is funny. Outside of Giants, Minn and the first Eagles game who else really gave us problems with the league taking notice lol. We will be ok esp if the defense gets just a little bit more better.

 

[Hawkeye19]

BS, they kept him out of most coverages. He was a robber which is how he got picks that led to pro bowl invites over Darren Woodson who could actually cover.

Reading the QB, anticipating WR routes and making a play on the ball is part of coverage.

Yes he was a rover/robber but Lynch was a perfect fit for Marinelli's scheme. We don't have a safety close to his play making ability on this roster

 

[T-RO]

How many years before we learn the basics of football ?

Geesh. If Green Bay misses one of those 50 yard plus kicks...or one of Cook's toes is out of bounds...we win and you are celebrating how unbeatable we are.

 

[T-RO]

To answer more seriously, we need

1. a difference maker at DT and
2. Difference maker at DE
3. A really really good and experienced safety. I can accept either jones or Wilcox/church but not both
4. A real MLB
5. Healthy Lee all year again

Make these 5 upgrades and the defense has a shot

If we just sign some CBs as we are likely to do then it will be more of the same

No doubt we need to do more than replace CBs. I do think we could get some of the answers we need from within our current roster.

We never had a healthy Lawrence. Now will they be able to get his back fixed, I don't know. We've got two "red shirts" coming on.

 

[T-RO]

IMO-- we have a good young core on defense-- but we are short on impact players that force teams to account for them. You need disruptive speed players at all 3 layers of the D to really dominate. Currently-- we only have one catalytic, impact player (Sean Lee).

Jaylon Smith has the potential to be that kind of player if he hits his ceiling. Marinelli's D really takes off when you get a dominant edge rusher (Simeon Rice), a great 3 Tech (Sapp), a sideline to sideline LBer (Brooks), and a punishing safety who can cover (Lynch). Helpful to have corners that excel in zone coverage (Barber) too... we have more man to man type corners.

I had hopes that Jones could evolve into a great safety-- but he is looking average at best right now. Maybe he can rebound and round into form. With Lee and Smith at LBer we should be great there next year. Biggest need is edge rusher imo.... We need to draft a terror that commands a double team and strikes fear into QBs.

Agree on all points.

Maybe if we get a second or third round pick for Romo, we use it to trade up in the first round...maybe move up 10 slots. Get a true edge talent.

 

[T-RO]

I don't think the Cowboys can go into 2017 under the assumption that D-Law is all of a sudden going to become a good DE. It might happen, but odds are against it.

He's averaged 3 sacks per season in a short career marred by injuries and suspension. The only time he has ever looks like an effective player is when they had a former All-Pro lining up opposite him drawing double teams.

They need to bring in competition because there is a very good chance D-Law is just never going to live up to his draft status.

Don't think he's ever going to be elite, but he had 8 sacks in '15. There's no way to evaluate him based on this season. He was out...then hurt. We will need to upgrade around him, no doubt.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

If we can upgrade the defense at five positions Dallas can put a top-ten defense on the field in 2017 and take it all the way to a championship. Anyone making an objective analysis of the defense must concede this year's team didn't have the personnel to put the hard brakes on opposing offenses.

If we can be above average at 3 or 4 positions...and close to average at all the other positions...we can be a top ten defense.

Here is how it could happen:

- Demarcus Lawrence comes back with a healthy back and plays up to his abilities.
- Jaylon arrives with bang
- Scandrick returns to full health
- Byron Jones, maybe Irving jump to another level
- Anthony Brown and Maelik Collins go from rookie-OK to good...or even to great
- Charles Tapper arrives, contributes
- In a draft rich in corners and edge rushers...we grab a couple...or three
-We land an impact free agent, and maybe a backup corner.

other than Lee, every single position on the Def needs an upgrade. Most of your listed upgrades are dependent on injuries - that's a land mine.

 

[Elziegreat83]

Agree on all points.

Maybe if we get a second or third round pick for Romo, we use it to trade up in the first round...maybe move up 10 slots. Get a true edge talent.

that would be ideal. I just have a hard time imagining any team giving up that high of a pick for Romo. I guess anything is possible though considering brock osweiler got what he got. who knows...

 

[Playmaker247]

At this point its time to get a corner that can make a play. Idc if he get's beat but i just want someone who can cause a turnover. Really tired of these passive corners. I'm not saying we need a true shut down corner but someone like marcus peters.

 

[BoysWin]

If we can upgrade the defense at five positions Dallas can put a top-ten defense on the field in 2017 and take it all the way to a championship. Anyone making an objective analysis of the defense must concede this year's team didn't have the personnel to put the hard brakes on opposing offenses.

If we can be above average at 3 or 4 positions...and close to average at all the other positions...we can be a top ten defense.

Here is how it could happen:

- Demarcus Lawrence comes back with a healthy back and plays up to his abilities.
- Jaylon arrives with bang
- Scandrick returns to full health
- Byron Jones, maybe Irving jump to another level
- Anthony Brown and Maelik Collins go from rookie-OK to good...or even to great
- Charles Tapper arrives, contributes
- In a draft rich in corners and edge rushers...we grab a couple...or three
-We land an impact free agent, and maybe a backup corner.

Too Tall,Dutton, MANSTER, Harvey Martin. This is the DL that must be remade.

Irving, McClain, Collins, Gregory would had been a good start. We might only have a single piece in Collins. We need a lot more help upfront. Work the draft.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Let's get a better version of Jeff Heath. We would be set!

 

[Alohawg1]

We need a Dak and a Zeke for the defense next year.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Reading the QB, anticipating WR routes and making a play on the ball is part of coverage.

Yes he was a rover/robber but Lynch was a perfect fit for Marinelli's scheme. We don't have a safety close to his play making ability on this roster

TJ McDonald

 

[T-RO]

that would be ideal. I just have a hard time imagining any team giving up that high of a pick for Romo. I guess anything is possible though considering brock osweiler got what he got. who knows...

You don't think Romo could net a third round pick?

I concede he might not, but that's what I'm thinking. A three...maybe a two. We will need at least two interested trading options or nothing will push up the value.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Blokes, if you have high hopes to upgrade the D in the draft, good luck with a very low pick in every round.
Yes, upgrade the D for the future.
But get help in FA.