Do we know how good the D will be this year? I think not.

[cobra]

Preseason makes it hard to gauge how good a unit will look in regular season because on never knows what a coach is doing. As SilverBear showed, the defense numbers looks good. I think watching them on television shows that they looked good for the most part. The short passing game has looked weak. But overall, it looks like a defense that could be a SB-contending defense (the offense is a different story).

But here is the thing: we still haven't seen the defense. Spears, a big part, hasn't played yet. Fergy, another huge part, hasn't played yet. We are still learning the 3-4, so it isn't clicking perfectly yet. With each game and practice, the players will get more comfortable. So we don't have all the players out there yet that will make this defense good and the guy don't fully feel comfortable with the d yet..... but we are already looking this good.

There's more: we are running the 3-4 defense on times when we wouldn't run it in the regular season. Many times during the preseason games, we were in the 3-4 even though we would normally be in a nickel... but we are still looking this good.

And more: we haven't fully unveiled our blitz packages. Parcells has noted he isn't going to unveil his blitz packages until the regular season. So we have been getting pressure on the quarterback with our base defense without showing our big blitz packages.... but we are still looking this good.

By mid-season, assuming all the key parts are healthy and comfortable.....
.... how good can this D be?

 

[smashmouth]

Preseason makes it hard to gauge how good a unit will look in regular season because on never knows what a coach is doing. As SilverBear showed, the defense numbers looks good. I think watching them on television shows that they looked good for the most part. The short passing game has looked weak. But overall, it looks like a defense that could be a SB-contending defense (the offense is a different story).

But here is the thing: we still haven't seen the defense. Spears, a big part, hasn't played yet. Fergy, another huge part, hasn't played yet. We are still learning the 3-4, so it isn't clicking perfectly yet. With each game and practice, the players will get more comfortable. So we don't have all the players out there yet that will make this defense good and the guy don't fully feel comfortable with the d yet..... but we are already looking this good.

There's more: we are running the 3-4 defense on times when we wouldn't run it in the regular season. Many times during the preseason games, we were in the 3-4 even though we would normally be in a nickel... but we are still looking this good.

And more: we haven't fully unveiled our blitz packages. Parcells has noted he isn't going to unveil his blitz packages until the regular season. So we have been getting pressure on the quarterback with our base defense without showing our big blitz packages.... but we are still looking this good.

By mid-season, assuming all the key parts are healthy and comfortable.....
.... how good can this D be?

You are right on all points. Imagin the 3-4 by the 4th game with Spears/Ferguson/Coleman-Ellis & Linebackers Ware/Dat/James/Burnette &

Secondary Henry/Newman/Davis/Roy Williams - at any point you can slip
Glover in for Ferg or one of the End positions ( Don't think BP wont line Glover

and Ferguson up in the 3-4 at the same time, I'll almost bet that will happen)
and they can move Singleton and Thornton in at any point at LB'r, not to

mention our Nickel. In nickel we could go with Ware/Ferguson-Spears/Glover/Ellis - LB- Dat/Burnette - Secondary -

Henry/Glenn/Newman/Williams/Davis.

So this Defense could be superbowl calliber depending on how quick they gel, and if you can keep RW close to that line terrorizing the field.

 

[Hollywood Henderson]

If & when Spears & Fergy are healthy its going to be VERY good!

It will also do something we haven't seen here in Dallas in a decade or more...
KILL QB's and make turnovers while making offenses FEAR US!

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

Preseason makes it hard to gauge how good a unit will look in regular season because on never knows what a coach is doing. As SilverBear showed, the defense numbers looks good. I think watching them on television shows that they looked good for the most part. The short passing game has looked weak. But overall, it looks like a defense that could be a SB-contending defense (the offense is a different story).

But here is the thing: we still haven't seen the defense. Spears, a big part, hasn't played yet. Fergy, another huge part, hasn't played yet. We are still learning the 3-4, so it isn't clicking perfectly yet. With each game and practice, the players will get more comfortable. So we don't have all the players out there yet that will make this defense good and the guy don't fully feel comfortable with the d yet..... but we are already looking this good.

There's more: we are running the 3-4 defense on times when we wouldn't run it in the regular season. Many times during the preseason games, we were in the 3-4 even though we would normally be in a nickel... but we are still looking this good.

And more: we haven't fully unveiled our blitz packages. Parcells has noted he isn't going to unveil his blitz packages until the regular season. So we have been getting pressure on the quarterback with our base defense without showing our big blitz packages.... but we are still looking this good.

By mid-season, assuming all the key parts are healthy and comfortable.....
.... how good can this D be?

I think you're right. It's very impressive what the defense has managed in preseason without two guys who are supposed to be their main linemen. It will only get better when they get back. And the offensive line is of course missing the guy who was supposed to be the MVP and not always looking dominant, but pretty good considering what they're missing. Preseason gives me an optimistic mindset even with three of our main players missing it so far. I can't wait for the regular season. Go Cowboys! :starspin

 

[cobra]

Good point about our nickel. I can't think of a team with a better nickel package across the board.

 

[mwmilsted]

From what BP said at his news conference today, it doesn't look to good for La'Roi Glover as a NT. Said Glover was pushed around a lot during the game.
If Fergusonan't get healthy, the 3-4 defense is in big trouble.

 

[Banned_n_austin]

I think our defense is a top 5 defense. Our corners are solid and more importantly experienced. The inexperience lies on the defensive front, but inexperience isn't as important to the front as it is to the secondary IMO.

We've improved our secondary greatly IMO as well as the pass rush. You can't look at this defense and not see some major improvements.

I could care less about the scheme being implimented. It's about the talent that we've acquired. We've improved so much and have depth that should give our defense rest when needed.

We're improved on defense - much improved. This D WILL gel early.

It's up to the offense to do their part.

 

[morasp]

What I saw against Houston was guys stepping up when they needed to. When the texans were inside the 30, Roy takled the running back from behind for a loss. When Carr threw it into the end zone, Newman Jumped up picked it out of the air and the neatest part was he made a play that not many CBs could make look easy.