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

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"?


I think you are pretty close in your analysis although they tend to go heavy on the DL because of rotation. I'm not sure how that will affect things there. I think they only keep two of Thornton, Paea and Ivy, but I don't have any idea which two it will be. I can't see them keeping all 3.
 
I may be in the minority, but I expect this group of defensive backs to play better than they did last year. The one caveat to that is Carroll. I don't know anything about him. But they did pay him a chunk of money.
 
I would like to see ELI picked off every drive. There, I fixed it for him.

He delivers ball too quickly and has enough good receivers that it's unlikely. Let's just hope he screws up enough for us to win.
 
Yeah, I'd say that's a safe bet -- that's quite a wrecking crew right there that NY has assembled! It'll present a challenge for sure.

I'm not worried about our CBs...it's our safeties that frighten me. We don't have a strong safety anymore...Heath is ok as your dime ....Jones is a borderline bust already...Wouldn't shock me if we are starting 2 new safeties in 2018...:rolleyes:
 
I'm not worried about our CBs...it's our safeties that frighten me. We don't have a strong safety anymore...Heath is ok as your dime ....Jones is a borderline bust already...Wouldn't shock me if we are starting 2 new safeties in 2018...:rolleyes:

We'll see how Jones progresses this year. I'm hoping he blossoms more than he has thus far but if not, maybe Frazier or Xavier Woods will be there, waiting to take up the slack if they're able.

I'm not nearly as down on Jones as some here since he's still young yet, so we'll see what he's able to get done this year. Here's hoping either he or someone else steps up if he's not cutting it. I'm also hoping a better surrounding cast might help.
 
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i think that the secondary will be ok at the start of the season. they will give up a few yards for sure. college players are more ready to play in there first year in the nfl then in years past. college teams throw more now so corners are ready to handle passing games in nfl in there first year now. as recent as the last two seasons rookies have made a huge impact with a lot of there teams. brown did real well for us last year in his first year and he was a sixth round draft pick.
 
We'll see how Jones progresses this year. I'm hoping he blossoms more than he has thus far but if not, maybe Frazier or Xavier Woods will be there, waiting to take up the slack if they're able.

I'm not nearly as down on Jones as some here since he's still young yet, so we'll see what he's able to get done this year. Here's hoping either he or someone else steps up if he's not cutting it. I'm also hoping a better surrounding cast might help.

Go back and watch the playoff game vs GB...Jones was being targeted...and rightfully so. He can't cover...and is completely lost in zone coverage. He's slow to diagnosis plays...and is always slow to react. Part of me thinks he's trying to bait someone into INTs...problem is...he is so slow in recovering..that he is just asking to get beat...repeatedly. I think the guy thinks he's better than he really is. Just stick to whoever he is supposed to cover...asking him to QB this secondary is gonna be a circus I'm afraid. The guy can't get himself into position...let a lone call out a coverage switch. yet...here we are...getting ready to put this added responsibility on him. He's either gonna sink or swim. We'll see.:rolleyes:
 
Go back and watch the playoff game vs GB...Jones was being targeted...and rightfully so. He can't cover...and is completely lost in zone coverage. He's slow to diagnosis plays...and is always slow to react. Part of me thinks he's trying to bait someone into INTs...problem is...he is so slow in recovering..that he is just asking to get beat...repeatedly. I think the guy thinks he's better than he really is. Just stick to whoever he is supposed to cover...asking him to QB this secondary is gonna be a circus I'm afraid. The guy can't get himself into position...let a lone call out a coverage switch. yet...here we are...getting ready to put this added responsibility on him. He's either gonna sink or swim. We'll see.:rolleyes:

I have the same opinion on jones as you do. that last play where he let the wr run right pass him was just unreal. if jones keeps up with him we beat greenbay in ot.
 
I may be in the minority, but I expect this group of defensive backs to play better than they did last year. The one caveat to that is Carroll. I don't know anything about him. But they did pay him a chunk of money.
From what I understand ,the dude isn't brain dead, I expect to see more than ' flashes of effort' on his part as he's well aware there's gonna be life after football( as they all should embrace that fact) and put forth the required effort needed to promote longevity in his current endeavor!
(Blah,blah,blah,,,ya,I'm excited for this TEAM and what's getting put together)
 
I have the same opinion on jones as you do. that last play where he let the wr run right pass him was just unreal. if jones keeps up with him we beat greenbay in ot.

Go back and watch that game if you can...He was doing that the entire game...GB's TEs just killed us that game. He is to the defense...what Doug Free was to our offense...Progress stopper.:rolleyes:
 
Feels like we've been revamping the secondary for 20 years.
More like 20 Weeks, that said i think Byron Jones best and most natural position is a back-up RCB who could eventually develop into a Pro Bowll replacement type Cover Corner via DeWayne Thomas Jags/Cromartie type on the Right side of the Defense.
 
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More like 20 Weeks, that said i think Byron Jones best and most natural position is a back-up RCB who could eventually develop into a Pro Bowll replacement type Cover Corner via DeWayne Thomas Jags/Cromartie type on the Right side of the Defense.
There's nothing Pro Bowl about Byron Jones, the guy is afraid of INT's.
 
Go back and watch the playoff game vs GB...Jones was being targeted...and rightfully so. He can't cover...and is completely lost in zone coverage. He's slow to diagnosis plays...and is always slow to react. Part of me thinks he's trying to bait someone into INTs...problem is...he is so slow in recovering..that he is just asking to get beat...repeatedly. I think the guy thinks he's better than he really is. Just stick to whoever he is supposed to cover...asking him to QB this secondary is gonna be a circus I'm afraid. The guy can't get himself into position...let a lone call out a coverage switch. yet...here we are...getting ready to put this added responsibility on him. He's either gonna sink or swim. We'll see.:rolleyes:

I'll have a looksee but if he's as bad as you say, I'm pretty sure the secondary coaches will pick up on it sooner than I'd be likely to. There are others in waiting who'll be more than happy to take over for him if he's not cutting it. It should be fairly obvious if he's getting picked on. The staffers will see it on film, if not on the field and make whatever corrections they deem necessary, although he'll likely get the benefit of the doubt until it's obvious that a personnel change is called for. The competition there this year in TC should bring the best out in all of 'em. For guys like Xavier and Awuzie, it'd take a while before they're ready to step up into such a role. For Blanton or Frazier, perhaps not as long if a change is warranted.
 
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The secondary wasn't nearly as bad as people thought. The problem was and still is the defensive line. Anybody is going to get spanked when opposing qbs have centuries to throw the ball.
 
If we can get some pressure they will be fine. Can't ask them to cover more than 4 or 5 seconds
 

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