ESPN: Cowboys' secondary revamp won't happen all at once

[Pants]

start the rookies, baptism by fire is fine with me...if so, the second half of the season will look pretty spiffy back there

 

[fredp22]

I havent seen anybody comment that "they dont know how we will get by" over our losses in the secondary. If fact I've seen the opposite where people seem more excited about our additions than the people they replaced. While it may take them a year to gel the saving in cap space and uptick in talent could turn this injury prone, average, overpaid group into a strength with youth. The draft was strong in that area and I applaud the Cowboys for picking this time to address it.
I dont agree with the article- I feel the DL is more of a question and will see more changes (as in new people) than the secondary.

 

[big dog cowboy]

@toddarcher: The Cowboys drafted Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, Xavier Woods and Marquez White in the spring in hopes of revamping their secondary over the next few years.

Next few years? I don't think that is the plan at all.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I'll bet most members here at The Zone don't seriously expect success immediately from the Cowboys revamped secondary this year. It just wouldn't make sense to expect all of the necessary adjustments to come together and bring us instant success. The many technical factors involved simply make great results too indefinite to predict in advance. I'm guessing most of us are fairly hopeful of finding success no later than midseason or at least, to show fairly satisfactory results by then. Remaining competitive in the Eastern Division would likely make it necessary.

Most reasonable members don't seriously expect .......

 

[LocimusPrime]

I think our secondary will get its baptism vs. Giants (ODB, Marshall and Sheppard).

That's a tough trio!

 

[LocimusPrime]

http://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/201...econdary-rankings-reflect-units-inexperience/

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Can't keep but 5 maybe 6 CBs.

1. Scandrick
2. Brown
3. Carroll
4. Awuzie
5. Lewis
6. White

I see no reason why we can't keep them all

 

[jobberone]

I've got 6 at DE and 4DT's.

Charlton, Irving(susp), Lawrence, Mayowa, Moore, Tapper at DE.

Collins, Thornton, Crawford, and either Paea or Ivey at DT.

Given Irving's suspension, that's 9 defensive linemen counting against the opening day 53.

After the top three LB's, Lee, Smith, Hitchens, I'm not sure who stays or goes, but I sure don't see any reason for more than 6. Where's the talent? Where's the reason?

That's 15 between those two groups.

Add in 10 defensive backs - four safeties and 6 corners for me, and that brings you to 25.

And that's not even considering that they could go "light" at TE or WR offensively and end up with less than 25 players on that side of the ball.

One more thing, who's "Dixon"?

Brain fart or spell checker I guess. Should be Woods although injuries will pick one of those is my guess.

That may be the right numbers although we're both likely to be a tad wrong due to injury which we have none. But the core for us both are the same so us two geniuses are on top of it.

 

[jobberone]

1. Scandrick
2. Brown
3. Carroll
4. Awuzie
5. Lewis
6. White

I see no reason why we can't keep them all

You may be right. It's just a numbers game. Take an extra here and it's one fewer somewhere else though.

 

[gimmesix]

I'll bet most members here at The Zone don't seriously expect success immediately from the Cowboys revamped secondary this year. It just wouldn't make sense to expect all of the necessary adjustments to come together and bring us instant success. The many technical factors involved simply make great results too indefinite to predict in advance. I'm guessing most of us are fairly hopeful of finding success no later than midseason or at least, to show fairly satisfactory results by then. Remaining competitive in the Eastern Division would likely make it necessary.

If Scandrick is healthy and he and Brown start, I really don't see any drop-off. In fact, a healthy Scandrick is better than Carr or Claiborne. So really the question at corner will be whether Carr/Claiborne, Brown and Scandrick is better nickel combo than Scandrick, Brown and Carroll/Awusie/Lewis.

Then there's safety, where the immediate fate will depend on Heath. Heath shouldn't really need any adjustment time so the question with him will be whether he is as good or better than Church was.

There are definitely questions with this group, but because of the veterans, and I'm including Brown in that group, I don't think it will take them long to come together ... unless Scandrick just isn't the same and Heath is a poor starter, in which case we'll have to rely on the rookies even if they are not fully ready yet.

 

[StarBoyz83]

I think our secondary will get its baptism vs. Giants (ODB, Marshall and Sheppard).

Not buying that offense until I see it do something. They were trash last season.

 

[gimmesix]

I'd go 6 CB's and 4 S's. I don't think they drafted 3 cornerbacks just to turn around and cut one of them, they're sincere about revamping their cornerback group.

And, given how little base 4-3 defense is played, I see neither the reason, nor the talent there to keep anything more than 6 at that position.

That would give them 9 defensive linemen at the least, even if they didn't go "short" at a position or two offensively. Factor in Irving's four-game suspension, and they can essentially start the season with 10 DL.

Late-round players get cut all the time. I don't see White making it. I've got Scandrick, Brown, Carroll, Awusie and Lewis at corner and Jones, Heath, Woods, Frazier and Blanton at safety.

Blanton has starting experience and is very good on special teams. White will have to prove he is better on special teams than one of the bottom two safeties to earn a spot.

 

[jobberone]

If Scandrick is healthy and he and Brown start, I really don't see any drop-off. In fact, a healthy Scandrick is better than Carr or Claiborne. So really the question at corner will be whether Carr/Claiborne, Brown and Scandrick is better nickel combo than Scandrick, Brown and Carroll/Awusie/Lewis.

Then there's safety, where the immediate fate will depend on Heath. Heath shouldn't really need any adjustment time so the question with him will be whether he is as good or better than Church was.

There are definitely questions with this group, but because of the veterans, and I'm including Brown in that group, I don't think it will take them long to come together ... unless Scandrick just isn't the same and Heath is a poor starter, in which case we'll have to rely on the rookies even if they are not fully ready yet.

I'm not worried unless we lose vets. Rookies get burned. I think some of these guys will make some plays, too.

 

[Stash]

Brain fart or spell checker I guess. Should be Woods although injuries will pick one of those is my guess.

That may be the right numbers although we're both likely to be a tad wrong due to injury which we have none. But the core for us both are the same so us two geniuses are on top of it.

 

[Hardline]

I would feel more comfortable with these rookie defensive backs if this defense had a pass rush.

 

[gimmesix]

Not buying that offense until I see it do something. They were trash last season.

A lot of that had to do with Eli and the line, and the Giants really didn't fix the line. Eli was sacked only 21 times last year but a lot of that had to do with the Giant's quick-passing scheme.

 

[jobberone]

Late-round players get cut all the time. I don't see White making it. I've got Scandrick, Brown, Carroll, Awusie and Lewis at corner and Jones, Heath, Woods, Frazier and Blanton at safety.

Blanton has starting experience and is very good on special teams. White will have to prove he is better on special teams than one of the bottom two safeties to earn a spot.

Blanton is the wild card there now, too, IMO as well. He could surprise. People, and I'm trying not to include myself, are writing off Frazier, Blanton, and even Showers over Woods. I have to admit I'm excited over the depth of this team. We haven't had this kind of depth in a long time even though I might be wrong about some of the rookies.

Look at WR; TE, OL for sure. LB even. We have depth at DL just no edge rusher for now. This is a talented roster IMO. Another reason I think we win the East. Only places I'm worried is backup C, maybe swing tackle....not much, and backup QB. And I think those are adequately covered.

 

[jobberone]

I would feel more comfortable with these rookie defensive backs if this defense had a pass rush.

Huge key! That and takeaways for this defense. We should have ball control although I think they should open that up a tad for certain games and teams.

 

[Stash]

Late-round players get cut all the time. I don't see White making it. I've got Scandrick, Brown, Carroll, Awusie and Lewis at corner and Jones, Heath, Woods, Frazier and Blanton at safety.

Blanton has starting experience and is very good on special teams. White will have to prove he is better on special teams than one of the bottom two safeties to earn a spot.

That's cool. We'll see.

I've seen nor heard anything to indicate Blanton is a factor.

And his one year deal vs White's 4-year rookie contract is a big strike against him, as is Awuzie's versatility to play safety.

Until I hear otherwise, Blanton is a non-factor for me.

 

[gimmesix]

Blanton is the wild card there now, too, IMO as well. He could surprise. People, and I'm trying not to include myself, are writing off Frazier, Blanton, and even Showers over Woods. I have to admit I'm excited over the depth of this team. We haven't had this kind of depth in a long time even though I might be wrong about some of the rookies.

Look at WR; TE, OL for sure. LB even. We have depth at DL just no edge rusher for now. This is a talented roster IMO. Another reason I think we win the East. Only places I'm worried is backup C, maybe swing tackle....not much, and backup QB. And I think those are adequately covered.

I'll admit that I don't have much hope for Showers. Tough transition.