ESPN: Cowboys' front seven ranked 32nd in NFL

[GimmeTheBall!]

Our front seven on paper isn't impressive. But I'm optimistic about this unit. It's a much cheaper unit and cannot be much worse than last years bunch.

I will agree it's a much more inexpensive unit than last year's.

 

[jday]

They haven't been given a chance to use your eyes against anything yet. Every year is a new year. I'm not writing off my Boys until they've given me a reason too. First things first: coache em up, opening day, get to Thanksgiving, then holla back. Other than that ... I aint trying to hear that crystal ball crap.

I'm not writing them off. Any given Sunday, right. But I'm not delusional either. There are alot of questions looming over the unit...but I can't wait for them to start answering like most of us.

 

[jday]

Good post.

I'm fine with having an underdog defense. We'll be better than that, and improve as the year progresses. Those who take us lightly will be disappointed.

Our secondary will be more experienced, and won't have to cover as long because we'll finally have a pass rush. The front seven will be more cohesive, and won't consist of the neighborhood kids. And the offense should be able to run some clock.

Getting weary of playing games this early on paper. Anxious to see them for real.

I'm absolutely with you...cannot wait to see what we really have. And you may be right, we might see improvement across the board for guy's that were here last year. But when you play that card you also have to take in consideration that the Cowboys competitors may have improved with experience, as well which can make that argument a wash. But here's hoping anyway.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

If the season started right now, probably.
Hope we find some wings and make a jump. We have some potential players.
And playing hard cost you nothing, that should account something.... assuming they play hard.

 

[Hoofbite]

These kinds of rankings are an effort in futility. How does anyone know what the Dallas Cowboys DL will look like in 2014 until after the season? It's impossible so commenting on these rankings is mind numbing. I know, I just did it.

Nobody knows what they'll look like in 2014 but I doubt the author's intent was to predict the future.

Simply saying where each team stacks up relative to the rest of the league based on last year's performance and what they have or haven't done to change that.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Rankings are not from ESPN, FWIW.

It's hard to argue. The most proven pass rusher is Selvie and the LBs are shaky without Lee.

Lots of young players with very little time to have shown much. In a "show me" league Dallas has far too many unknowns.

Let us not forget that Lee played like a rookie on many plays last year.
His contributions to this team are way overly estimated. Yes, he could prove my statement wrong but I don't think he can remain healthy to prove much of anything.
Lee is our Mike Sherrard of the defense.

 

[Hoofbite]

If we were ranked number 1 I'd feel the same way I do now. Until they play rankings mean nothing at all. I'm very optimistic about things turning around for us this year. I love the underdog role.

If they were ranked #1 it would have been because the defense was great last year.

In that case, I would feel a hell of lot better about the defense than I do right now.

 

[5Stars]

Let us not forget that Lee played like a rookie on many plays last year.
His contributions to this team are way overly estimated. Yes, he could prove my statement wrong but I don't think he can remain healthy to prove much of anything.
Lee is our Mike Sherrard of the defense.

Another poster that dogs the Cowboys but says "he could prove me wrong", or "I hope I'm wrong"....

Negative...

 

[Hoofbite]

Whoops, I just started a thread using the original article before I saw this.

But Tanier is the best guy out there writing about football, and everyone ought to be aware of his stuff.

Thanks for the heads up.

I may take a look back at some of previous stuff.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Another poster that dogs the Cowboys but says "he could prove me wrong", or "I hope I'm wrong"....

Negative...

Yeah. Deal wif it. I hope i did not ruin your whole day.

If Pollyanna news does it for you there is always DCW at your favorite newsstand.

Enjoy your highlight clips of Lee. That may be it for his career. But "he could prove me wrong."

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I can't argue the point that they're the 32nd ranked front seven heading into training camp.

They are what they are until proven otherwise.

 

[Ashwynn]

I remember there was a point when we use to be considered to have one of the best front 7's in the league with Spears, Hatcher, Ware, Spencer, Ratliff, Bruce and Lee. That wasn't long ago.

I've stated that I think our front 7 will be better than people think this year. But as it stands, its hard to argue against anyone ranking us last in the NFL. Its not even debatable actually. But I am excited to see how some of our guys like Crawford and D-Law perform. We're more so last ranked based on the uncertainty's of our front 7.

well, for all the name recognition of Spears, Hatcher, Ware, Spencer, Ratliff, Bruce and Lee and the laudatory rankings we received in years past, how many playoff did that vaunted D net us? Any championships thrown in there for good measure?

Let's roll with the no names and see if we are any better. Cant be worse and if we are, does it really matter how far the worst defense in the league falls if we fall off at all. I am excited, but cautiously so. I'll watch and see just like last year and the years before. This time if we end up at 8-8 or worse, I wont be disappointed. If we've improved, I can enjoy the ride.

Point is rankings are not part of the game, its whats someone not playing the game thinks. Who cares. Before Babe Ruth set the world on fire, no one had ever heard of him. Gotta start somewhere and 2014 Dallas D is as good a place as any for the next up and comer or the next Bruce Carter! Only time will tell us if this is a good D or not. Time to play football!!!

 

[5Stars]

Yeah. Deal wif it. I hope i did not ruin your whole day.

If Pollyanna news does it for you there is always DCW at your favorite newsstand.

Enjoy your highlight clips of Lee. That may be it for his career. But "he could prove me wrong."

I don't get the newspaper. I'm dislakies and cannot read letters. Only you can prove yourself wrong.

 

[casmith07]

Best article ever written, 10/10 would read again.

 

[visionary]

I can't argue the point that they're the 32nd ranked front seven heading into training camp.

They are what they are until proven otherwise.

Yeah but our great secondary will provide many opportunities for coverage sacks

I can't wait

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Yeah but our great secondary will provide many opportunities for coverage sacks

I can't wait

Well when you have the like the worst Cowboy defense ever... and you get rid of your two best DL and your best LB is lost for the season...

You aren't going to get (or deserve) much luv from fans or the media.

That being said I am looking forward to seeing how the kids perform. Some are going to be crap. I know that, you know that.

But some are going to be OK... better than the schlock that was here last season. And maybe, just maybe a couple will be good.

I'm a Yankees/Astros fan. And quite frankly I'm much more interested in watching the Stros because of the kids. I think they're a much more interesting team that will probably will 70 games than the Yankees who have nothing when it comes to youngsters and will probably end up winning several games more than the Astros.

I kinda feel the same about the Cowboy defense. I expect a clusterfudge from some of the different spots on the defense but others will probably prove much more competitive.

 

[visionary]

Well when you have the like the worst Cowboy defense ever... and you get rid of your two best DL and your best LB is lost for the season...

You aren't going to get (or deserve) much luv from fans or the media.

That being said I am looking forward to seeing how the kids perform. Some are going to be crap. I know that, you know that.

But some are going to be OK... better than the schlock that was here last season. And maybe, just maybe a couple will be good.

I'm a Yankees/Astros fan. And quite frankly I'm much more interested in watching the Stros because of the kids. I think they're a much more interesting team that will probably will 70 games than the Yankees who have nothing when it comes to youngsters and will probably end up winning several games more than the Astros.

I kinda feel the same about the Cowboy defense. I expect a clusterfudge from some of the different spots on the defense but others will probably prove much more competitive.

I agree and hope that you are correct

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I don't get the newspaper. I'm dislakies and cannot read letters. Only you can prove yourself wrong.

So what year did you gradiate from FB-Carrollton schools?

Are you that guy who played trombome in the school band and sold sandwiches before the foosball games?

 

[egn22]

If they were ranked #1 it would have been because the defense was great last year.

In that case, I would feel a hell of lot better about the defense than I do right now.

We've see this team fail to meet lofty expectations for years. I don't put stock in any rankings outside of wins/losses

 

[adbutcher]

I think this is right on, actually. Though, I do think 'shambles' probably isn't a fair estimation of the young depth we'll be counting on. They're all question marks, though. We were really bad last year, lost three of our best players, and added a bunch of unknowns with relatively limited upside (and two or three with actual significant upside potential). We had a truly awful defense last year, and it's easy to look at things on paper and say that the front 7 got worse.

Ditto with the ranking. It should be posted on every DL and LB Locker. We have some good ingredients imo but until they hit the field this year the skeptics will continue to use them as news fodder.

I still feel that we will shock some people, I cannot wait to watch it unfold.