ESPN: Trade for Joey Porter Jr. doesn't solve Cowboys' defensive woes

[DeaconMoss]

Revel has given up a QBR of 68 in 99 snaps. He has played well

2026 PFF Coverage Grade: 53.8 (ranking 68th–69th among qualified NFL cornerbacks). Bottom 1/3 of the position. Not well.

 

[darthseinfeld]

2026 PFF Coverage Grade: 53.8 (ranking 68th–69th among qualified NFL cornerbacks). Bottom 1/3 of the position. Not well.

And what is there criteria? Thats just un explained #. The actual stats show he has been effective when targeted

 

[cowboyec]

bull.
our secondary...except for downs and bland and revell...has been crapola.

 

[bsbellomy]

And what is there criteria? Thats just un explained #. The actual stats show he has been effective when targeted

Revel has not played well at all. I question someone's football intellect that thinks he has.

 

[plasticman]

These Cowboys defensive players are strangers to each other. They have played a total of three games together.

This is going to take patience. It will be a bumpy ride for half a season but when they become familiar with each other and turn into an actual team we should see vast improvement. The talent is definitely there.

 

[Kwyn]

You would have seen the exact same story if the trade had been for Maxx Crosby.

The defense is just not that talented. You don’t fix that with a single player.

 

[CWR]

If Parker's scheme doesn't improve, this defense is what it is, marginally better than last year. Don't like to be an instant results kind of person but Parker may just not be an NFL DC.

It shouldn't be all about his scheme. We've replaced 8 of 11 starters.

The results may look similar, but this is an almost entirely different defense.

 

[StarMan2112]

Well no ****.

 

[Nova]

Agree.

However, folks that think this is a year they are a true contender want to address edge first.

In 2027 this move will make more sense

Yeah if you could have had an edge that is clearly better, than do it. But like, get the good players when you can, and they got a pretty good one for cheap.

 

[shabazz]

Yeah if you could have had an edge that is clearly better, than do it. But like, get the good players when you can, and they got a pretty good one for cheap.

100%

Of course we need an edge but the pickings are beyond slim so shore up where you can

 

[erod]

Wow, what an unintelligent dolt McCoy is.

 

[BrassCowboy]

Funny, but I don't remember anyone saying he would solve this defenses problems.

He is only a piece

 

[Coogiguy03]

Doesn't solve it at all by any means, well until we add mad Max

 

[kskboys]

https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/50076456/redirected/truestreaming


Full Video

Absolutely, but that's what Jerry always does, trades for CBs and WRs. Because he's a really stupid follow the ball fan and has no idea how other positions affect those 2.

 

[ghst187]

You would have seen the exact same story if the trade had been for Maxx Crosby.

The defense is just not that talented. You don’t fix that with a single player.

I don’t think that many defenses are drastically more talented than ours honestly, I think the scheme and coaching matters more than anything. I mean CBs can’t touch WRs anymore without a PI flag so why pay big money for CBs? We have some proven talent up front but suddenly it’s average? That’s scheme and coaching. Then Barham and Downs are playing really well. I mean we can’t have 22 all pro players, no team can. Seattle wins the SB and one of their defense leaders was our castoff.
I really thought Parker would elevate us a lot more than he has. Both he and Schotty appear to be in way over their heads. IMO that problem is vastly outpacing the talent issues and represented with the losing record.

 

[Chuck 54]

No one player is going to fix the defense. But when you have a chance to pick up a top 10 player at his position, you improve your defense. You can only get players who are available, and even then, there are costs that are too high. Even if everyone in the secondary was healthy, this would still be a great deal, and Porter, Jr would still be our best CB.

 

[Kwyn]

I don’t think that many defenses are drastically more talented than ours honestly, I think the scheme and coaching matters more than anything. I mean CBs can’t touch WRs anymore without a PI flag so why pay big money for CBs? We have some proven talent up front but suddenly it’s average? That’s scheme and coaching. Then Barham and Downs are playing really well. I mean we can’t have 22 all pro players, no team can. Seattle wins the SB and one of their defense leaders was our castoff.
I really thought Parker would elevate us a lot more than he has. Both he and Schotty appear to be in way over their heads. IMO that problem is vastly outpacing the talent issues and represented with the losing record.

Our team does not have 22 all-pros.
it’s likely we end up with none at all.

There’s a blindness about our talent simply because it’s easier, and more comforting, to blame coaching because coaches can be replaced much more easily than players.

 

[ghst187]

Our team does not have 22 all-pros.
it’s likely we end up with none at all.

There’s a blindness about our talent simply because it’s easier, and more comforting, to blame coaching because coaches can be replaced much more easily than players.

Not with Jerry running things. He will hang on to coaches long past proven failure…over players. Garrett, Wilson, flus….and he’s going to do it again with this crew bc he wants to prove any success is his genius and not Jimmys.
The most probowlers on any defense last year was Philly with 4, Denver, Seattle, and Houston had 3 each. Players with a probowl selection currently on Dallas defense: FIVE:
• Von Miller (edge/OLB)
• Quinnen Williams (DT)
• Kenny Clark (DT)
• DaRon Bland (CB)
• Rashan Gary (edge/OLB)

And now we have Porter who almost certainly should’ve made one. And Downs may be playing close to that level.

Maybe Miller is past prime but I don’t buy the “we have no talent on defense” argument. Maybe constant scheme changes are part of the problem and talent fit and/or we need some time in the new scheme but in this era there are zero teams with 11 probowlers on defense, and zero with even half that, yet some defenses still don’t give up 30 points per game.

 

[Kwyn]

Not with Jerry running things. He will hang on to coaches long past proven failure…over players. Garrett, Wilson, flus….and he’s going to do it again with this crew bc he wants to prove any success is his genius and not Jimmys.
The most probowlers on any defense last year was Philly with 4, Denver, Seattle, and Houston had 3 each. Players with a probowl selection currently on Dallas defense: FIVE:
• Von Miller (edge/OLB)
• Quinnen Williams (DT)
• Kenny Clark (DT)
• DaRon Bland (CB)
• Rashan Gary (edge/OLB)

And now we have Porter who almost certainly should’ve made one. And Downs may be playing close to that level.

Maybe Miller is past prime but I don’t buy the “we have no talent on defense” argument. Maybe constant scheme changes are part of the problem and talent fit and/or we need some time in the new scheme but in this era there are zero teams with 11 probowlers on defense, and zero with even half that, yet some defenses still don’t give up 30 points per game.

First, you said all-pro. Something very different from pro bowl.

Second, none of those players you mentioned will make even the pro bowl this year.

Claiming all-pro or even pro bowl talent because we have guys that once upon a time were at that level may feel good but it’s not being realistic about the quality of our players.

 

[kskboys]

If Parker's scheme doesn't improve, this defense is what it is, marginally better than last year. Don't like to be an instant results kind of person but Parker may just not be an NFL DC.

Better? For Bog's sake how in the world is this D better than last season? It's easily the same or worse, and that's w/ better talent.