Recap: ESPN Top DTs and RBs - Cowboys a no show

[Rockport]

I worry about OT and LB too, and they support the run games both ways. But sad to see we don't have anyone in the top 10, honorable mention, or even dropped off from last year on their lists. I know they're just sports media hype lists, but if this team has a so-so season, or even a bad season, it's from this right here. #1 weakness last few years no matter how much talent we had at other positions was definitely the ability to stop the run, and now has become the ability to run the ball. Team has games that you think it might be fixed, but it always gets them in the end, especially in the Playoffs when they face the best teams. Until they prove they are tough enough to deliver on this, my expectations will remain low.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...hes-scouts-make-their-picks-defensive-tackles

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...-coaches-scouts-make-their-picks-best-rushers

Execs, coaches, scouts rank NFL's top 10 defensive tackles for 2025​

Same for the RB’s. That’s not good.

 

[kskboys]

I worry about OT and LB too, and they support the run games both ways. But sad to see we don't have anyone in the top 10, honorable mention, or even dropped off from last year on their lists. I know they're just sports media hype lists, but if this team has a so-so season, or even a bad season, it's from this right here. #1 weakness last few years no matter how much talent we had at other positions was definitely the ability to stop the run, and now has become the ability to run the ball. Team has games that you think it might be fixed, but it always gets them in the end, especially in the Playoffs when they face the best teams. Until they prove they are tough enough to deliver on this, my expectations will remain low.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...hes-scouts-make-their-picks-defensive-tackles

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...-coaches-scouts-make-their-picks-best-rushers

No tish Terlock.

 

[kskboys]

I hear that, and actually something I thought of when posting that. It’s a good point. The LBs can’t thrive if DT is bad.

What I meant was there are more candidates to surprise/overachieve at LB than DT. There’s longshot lottery tickets at DT much more than LB.

Really, in the end, this DT room is so bad (even without injury) as it stands, the rest of it doesn’t much matter. That’s probably mostly where I was going with that.

W/ Sanborn, Lufu, Murray, Overshown, and Shemar, we MIGHT come out of it w/ 3 serviceable LBs. Can't say the same for DT.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

They're a no show at Safety too. Probably a no show at LB too.

But don't worry. Brian Schottenheimer plays music at practice. He's a culture guy.

Texans almost have 4 safeties better than both of us. Woof

 

[kskboys]

Texans almost have 4 safeties better than both of us. Woof

Correction. Texans have 4 S's more than us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Acceptablename]

this is why the pickens trade didn't make sense. the DTs suck. the RBs suck. this is not a superbowl ready team. and we have a one year rental at WR.... stupid.

I loved the trade. It gives the defense more time off the field

 

[DeaconMoss]

Execs, coaches, scouts rank NFL's top 10 defensive tackles for 2025​

Same for the RB’s. That’s not good.

So that means you will be gone by week 7 this year? 4 weeks early?

 

[kskboys]

They at least tried to fix the DT position a little but they have ignored the RB, passing on several opportunities to upgrade.

Noticed Barkley recently admitted he did not hear from the Cowboys or Commanders before signing with the Eagles. It appears he's taking it personally (lol)

They did more for RB taking a 5th rounder.

 

[kskboys]

this is why the pickens trade didn't make sense. the DTs suck. the RBs suck. this is not a superbowl ready team. and we have a one year rental at WR.... stupid.

X a zillion.

Same thing happened w/ Amari. We spent major resources and paid him a fortune. And we were NOT an Amari away from a title. Just more wasted resources.

Oh, and to those who spewed that there was no one in that draft as good as Amari: DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, AJ Brown, Terry McLaurin. The Amari trade was simply stupid. Bandaid.

 

[VaqueroTD]

They're a no show at Safety too. Probably a no show at LB too.

But don't worry. Brian Schottenheimer plays music at practice. He's a culture guy.

Long ways from the Woody-Roy Williams days when we had the #1 safety duo. Watching those two take out receivers was what got me through the 5-11 Campo seasons. LOL

Cowboys seem to be getting a free pass on how bad their drafts have been lately. Very few of those top safeties were drafted in the first round.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

They did more for RB taking a 5th rounder.

I'm about over the last 2-3 years.......drafting Mazi and signing Osa. They at least tried to put quality into the DT position but RB......not so much

 

[VaqueroTD]

Cowboys finally have someone on the list, Micah at #3 on edge rushers. Myles and TJ Watt above him which is probably fair. I'm not sure Crosby doesn't deserve to be ranked higher too. Micah is by far the best pure pass rusher on the list.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...uts-2025-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings

Here is the schedule on positions.

Positive that CeeDee will be on the list. Probably Tyler Smith too? Not sure if anyone else makes it. Possibly Dak.

We will roll out one position per day over 11 days. The schedule: running backs (Monday), defensive tackles (Tuesday), edge rushers (Wednesday), safeties (Thursday), tight ends (Friday), interior offensive linemen (Saturday), offensive tackles (Sunday), quarterbacks (July 14), off-ball linebackers (July 15), wide receivers (July 16), cornerbacks (July 17).

3. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys​

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 6
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 3

The numbers say Parsons has a compelling case for No. 1.

His 126 pressures and 31.0% pass-rush win rate since 2023 lead the NFL. He has done this despite facing a 31.5% double-team rate in 2024, highest among edge rushers on this list. He generated a league-high 19.1% pressure rate last season and led the Cowboys with a 24.2% pressure share, the eighth-highest clip in the NFL. His pass rush win rate of 25.3% ranked second overall.


And, oh yeah, Parsons is the second player in NFL history to produce 12 or more sacks in each of his first four pro seasons (White is the other).

He has done all this as a hybrid off-ball linebacker who transitioned to a pure pass-rushing role. His speed and bend are obvious, but he does more than that.

"He does it with counter moves and the ability to finish," an NFC personnel evaluator said. "He rarely misses when he's within arm's reach of the quarterback. His run defense needs work, though."

Added an NFL personnel director: "Explosiveness, motor, violence, can align inside and beat [interior offensive linemen] with first-step quickness. He's such a tone-setter that everyone else feeds off his energy."

 

[kskboys]

I'm about over the last 2-3 years.......drafting Mazi and signing Osa. They at least tried to put quality into the DT position but RB......not so much

Sort of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2nd tier types to be sure, but yeah, at least a little effort.

The RB thingie makes no sense. Apparently stupid Jerry is buying into that ludicrous idea that RBs don't matter and they can be found late in the draft. Just dumb. After watching the super bowl, I don't see how anyone can still believe that.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I loved the trade. It gives the defense more time off the field

this is such a meaningless talking point for those who are uninformed.

2024, average TOP for dallas was 29.16.
vs. the top team, philly that was 32.

that's a total of 3 minutes. if the defense falls apart because of 3 minutes. then this defense sucks to begin with.

by comparison, Tenn was 9th with 30:31 and they sucked. miami was 4th and they sucked.

secondly, the defense is also responsible for TOP. because they have to GET OFF the field. if they are not able to get off the field, then it contributes to the other team TOP. i.e. against GB in playoffs. GB had possession first. they took 8 minutes off the clock and scored a TD. you can't blame offense for that. against NO last year, their first 6 drives were TDs of 75 yards or more.

defense bears as much responsibility on TOP if not more.

and you need a running game to have a better TOP. assuming a 65% completion rate, 35% of pass plays stop the clock and about another 20% stop the clock with WRs going out of bounce.

 

[kskboys]

Cowboys finally have someone on the list, Micah at #3 on edge rushers. Myles and TJ Watt above him which is probably fair. I'm not sure Crosby doesn't deserve to be ranked higher too. Micah is by far the best pure pass rusher on the list.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...uts-2025-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings

Here is the schedule on positions.

Positive that CeeDee will be on the list. Probably Tyler Smith too? Not sure if anyone else makes it. Possibly Dak.

Tough one. Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson, Trey Hendrickson, Aidan Hutchinson, all beasts and mostly better vs the run. I would not say he's the best pass rusher on the list, Myles Garrett is the best D player in the NFL and also the best pass rusher. Micah is in the conversation for 2nd.

 

[kskboys]

this is such a meaningless talking point for those who are uninformed.

2024, average TOP for dallas was 29.16.
vs. the top team, philly that was 32.

that's a total of 3 minutes. if the defense falls apart because of 3 minutes. then this defense sucks to begin with.

by comparison, Tenn was 9th with 30:31 and they sucked. miami was 4th and they sucked.

secondly, the defense is also responsible for TOP. because they have to GET OFF the field. if they are not able to get off the field, then it contributes to the other team. i.e. against GB in playoffs. GB had possession first. they took 8 minutes off the clock and scored a TD. you can't blame offense for that. against NO last year, their first 6 drives were TDs of 75 yards or more.

defense bears as much responsibility on TOP if not more.

and you need a running game to have a better TOP. assuming a 65% completion rate, 35% of pass plays stop the clock and about another 20% stop the clock with WRs going out of bounce.

3 minutes is a world of difference when you're talking averages. And winning TOP is only part of the battle, the game has a lot more facets than that, which makes pointing out teams w/ good TOP who don't win is meaningless.

Completely agree that D is a big part of it. TOP has to do w/ all facets of your team.

The high flying O's that ignore TOP lose. ATL lost to NE in the super bowl for purely that reason. ATL's D couldn't have stopped me and you from scoring in the 4th qtr. SF keeps not winning super bowls even w/ their perennial stellar D due to ignoring TOP on O.

TOP is an important part of the equation. To say it's irrelevent, or on the flip side to say it's everything, is silly.

 

[kskboys]

I loved the trade. It gives the defense more time off the field

Nope. High flying downfield O's puts the D on the field more. SF is proof of that.

 

[mcmvp]

3 minutes is a world of difference when you're talking averages. And winning TOP is only part of the battle, the game has a lot more facets than that, which makes pointing out teams w/ good TOP who don't win is meaningless.

Completely agree that D is a big part of it. TOP has to do w/ all facets of your team.

The high flying O's that ignore TOP lose. ATL lost to NE in the super bowl for purely that reason. ATL's D couldn't have stopped me and you from scoring in the 4th qtr. SF keeps not winning super bowls even w/ their perennial stellar D due to ignoring TOP on O.

TOP is an important part of the equation. To say it's irrelevent, or on the flip side to say it's everything, is silly.

It really is. The average NFL drive is 2:45…so the Eagles are averaging a little more than one more offensive possession per game. That’s not a small advantage…it’s quite large

 

[kskboys]

It really is. The average NFL drive is 2:45…so the Eagles are averaging a little more than one more offensive possession per game. That’s not a small advantage…it’s quite large

And it's not about averages anyway. Philly won a super bowl on the strength of a great D and a ball control O that helped tremendously to keep that D fresh.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

3 minutes is a world of difference when you're talking averages. And winning TOP is only part of the battle, the game has a lot more facets than that, which makes pointing out teams w/ good TOP who don't win is meaningless.

Completely agree that D is a big part of it. TOP has to do w/ all facets of your team.

The high flying O's that ignore TOP lose. ATL lost to NE in the super bowl for purely that reason. ATL's D couldn't have stopped me and you from scoring in the 4th qtr. SF keeps not winning super bowls even w/ their perennial stellar D due to ignoring TOP on O.

TOP is an important part of the equation. To say it's irrelevent, or on the flip side to say it's everything, is silly.

I 100% agree that there is a lot of facets to the game. my point was the TOP is not the only reason we win or lose and that there are different aspects contributing to it.

I get it. the anti-dak contingency wants to put the entire onus on offense and then by default Dak and thus they can find another way to dump on Dak. that's their end goal. the facts are that defense bears as much responsibility to that.

and I am not defending Dak, since I strongly feel he has to elevate his game in post season. for whatever reason the whole team just pouts in post season and feels overwhelmed and panics.

and to your point, passing game is not the way to win TOP. running game is the best way to control the clock. but again, his point was to find another way to blame Dak for everything. so simple minded and highly uninformed.

so in retrospective. I didn't mean it to come across as TOP is irrelevant. but its not end all be all and there are multiple contributing factors to it, least of which is passing game.