Here's why I think we will have a top 10 defense this year

[TwentyOne]

Because someone thinks he will have a top-10 defense this year they are saying he's already a HOFer? LMAO

Naming him HOF is as exaggerated as hoping our defense will be a top 10 one.

There is nothing to laugh about. Especially not because its in general not respectful and so not the way you should treat people.

 

[thunderpimp91]

So if this defense ends the year ranked 20th are we going to keep the same energy and say CP underperformed and we need to consider upgrading the defensive coaching staff?

Or at that time are we going to have a more honest conversation about the talent level of the defense?

We’ve upgraded the roster for sure, but if this is a top 10 unit CP deserves massive credit and probably gets HC looks.

 

[kskboys]

Based on what? And what is this very good sense of what this defense is? How will they perform?

Q/Clark/Thompson/Locke/Winters/Gary/Ogboner are all proven NFL players. That's 7 upgrades. More if any of the rooks pan out. There is simply no way that anyone can't see this, it's blatantly obvious.

 

[kskboys]

I know...it's ok

Well, that's good my little sugar plum, great that it's OK.

 

[jazzcat22]

This year is tough, mainly because they play the nfc west teams. Sea Just won the SB.
Rams are picked to win SB this year. SF and ARizona usually beat dallas recently regardless of their records.
The AFC div is Houstons div ? Houston is usually a tough game ,and Indy might be good again.

All a wait and see.
Who had Seattle winning the SB last year, let alone even making the playoffs.

If fans on here say, wait and see about how Dallas does on the field. The same can be said about all teams.
Conjecture if teams will be favorites for this or that is fine based on past years. But all can change quickly.

As who had NE going from 4-12 to making it to the SB.

 

[charron]

Just jumping from almost last to somewhere around 15-18 would be huge. Yes no doubt they will improve but saying they will be top 10 is a little too optimistic. Reality is the young guys including Parker have a lot to learn about this level. Parker has never called a defense live, that is no small feat. To be hot in the action and make the right call under pressure. I expect him to do ok but still have his flaws which he will learn from. Same thing with many of the young players from the drafted rookies to the young or lesser experienced guys they aquired. And there are still depth questions especially at LB.

 

[JBS]

Q/Clark/Thompson/Locke/Winters/Gary/Ogboner are all proven NFL players. That's 7 upgrades. More if any of the rooks pan out. There is simply no way that anyone can't see this, it's blatantly obvious.

Ok. So how good will the defense be?

 

[kskboys]

Ok. So how good will the defense be?

I'm guessing around 20th. Could be higher, but that depends on the rooks.

 

[kskboys]

All a wait and see.
Who had Seattle winning the SB last year, let alone even making the playoffs.

If fans on here say, wait and see about how Dallas does on the field. The same can be said about all teams.
Conjecture if teams will be favorites for this or that is fine based on past years. But all can change quickly.

As who had NE going from 4-12 to making it to the SB.

Playoffs, almost everyone. Got squeaked out of the playoffs in 2025 at 10-7. O and D both ranked 14th. They were obviously a team on the rise. And Darnold had already broken out in MINNY, so it was easy to see the upgrade at QB from Geno Smith. Young talent everywhere that comes from sucking for a few years.

Super bowl: No one.

 

[big dog cowboy]

No he wasn't...he was just tired.

 

[KingCorcoran]

But also a DC. A good DC can still coach without Michael. Michael saw the writing on the wall and bailed, because he's selfish like that.

Trading him was a solid move. The mistake was letting DLaw slip away because he was a solid player. I always knew he was underrated around here. And he was.

How is Micah Parsons selfish? He decided he wanted to play in the NFL and was told, “OK, here’s the only team you can play for and for five years, regardless of how well you play, this is how much money you make, take it or leave it”. He had no say in the agreement that stipulated those terms. Do fans ever rail against that system? Ever? They never do. When an NFL player gives an owner a “take or leave it” scenario fans brand them as selfish, disloyal, not wanting to win, and other vile descriptions. Many fans act like the player taking control of his own future is an affront to them personally.

The NFL players’ CBA, like all CBAs, is a double edged sword. It cuts both ways. NFL ownership groups and NFL players have one thing very much in common. They both want as much money as they can get. If fans don’t like it they should turn off the TV, stop buying absurdly expensive plastic cups of warm beer, and logo keys chains.

 

[kskboys]

How is Micah Parsons selfish? He decided he wanted to play in the NFL and was told, “OK, here’s the only team you can play for and for five years, regardless of how well you play, this is how much money you make, take it or leave it”. He had no say in the agreement that stipulated those terms. Do fans ever rail against that system? Ever? They never do. When an NFL player gives an owner a “take or leave it” scenario fans brand them as selfish, disloyal, not wanting to win, and other vile descriptions. Many fans act like the player taking control of his own future is an affront to them personally.

The NFL players’ CBA, like all CBAs, is a double edged sword. It cuts both ways. NFL ownership groups and NFL players have one thing very much in common. They both want as much money as they can get. If fans don’t like it they should turn off the TV, stop buying absurdly expensive plastic cups of warm beer, and logo keys chains.

Poor little millionaires.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

Your logic breaks down when one realizes that Matt Eberbum has called more plays than Parker in the NFL. I doubt anyone here wants to bring back the experienced Matt Eberbum.

Agree. Why would we want him back? We have obvious HOFer and Bill Bellichick 2.0 right here in our laps with C.P......as evidenced by the OTA's and press conference he's had.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

Well, that's good my little sugar plum, great that it's OK.

Uhhhh....no judge here, but not interested.

Not there's anything wrong with that....u do u.

 

[Sydla]

I think Dallas finishes with a top-10 defense in PPG THIS season. Not next year... not two years from now. This year.

I know that I'm guilty of wearing rose-colored glasses, but remember, we've seen this level of transformation before.

In 2020, Dallas finished 28th in scoring defense. One year later, after replacing Mike Nolan with Dan Quinn and drafting Micah Parsons, they jumped all the way to 7th.

I'm not saying Caleb Downs is Micah Parsons. They're different players at different positions. But I do think Downs has the potential to have the same kind of transformational effect on the communication and confidence of the defense. I think Downs has the potential to make more of an overall defensive identity impact than Parsons did.

The bigger reason for my optimism, though, is Christian Parker.

Personally, I think the gap between Eberflus and Parker is every bit as large as the gap between Nolan and Quinn. In fact, I think it may be larger. I thought Eberflus was that bad. Last year's defense wasn't just lacking talent. It lacked identity, communication, and any sense that players were being put in a position to succeed.

Also, Parker isn't inheriting the exact same roster as last year. Dallas added Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, Jaishawn Barham, Devin Moore, LT Overton, and made several trades that should make a very visible difference. To me, that's actually a more complete defensive makeover than what we saw going into 2021.

Will they be the No. 1 defense? Probably not. But I don't think a jump into the top 10 is nearly as unrealistic as many people think. If Parker is the coach I believe he is, Downs is as good as the early reports suggest, and this front seven plays to its potential, I think Dallas surprises a lot of people this season.

What do you guys think? Am I overly optimistic, or is a top-10 defense actually within reach?

Unlikely.

But if we can improve to say the 12-17 range, and if the offense is as good, we can compete for the division.

 

[BoyzBlaster]

The Cowboys would have to shave at least 9 points off last seasons ppg to sniff the top ten. Not unprecedented but I could only see two teams in the last ten years that pulled that off.

The Jets went from 32nd in 21 to 2nd in 22 reducing their ppg by 11. The Chargers went from 28th in 16 to 1st in 17 with a 9.4 reduction in ppg. A few teams had 7-8 point improvements in ppg but it is rare.

In 21 the Cowboys improved their ppg from 20 by 8.4 but they also lead the league in takeaways.

Not impossible to make the jump this season but everything would have to go right so I'd say it's improbable.

But.... That's why they play the games!

That's a great point about the takeaway in 21.

 

[ratkinson]

Who cares?
They're no longer on the team.

 

[kskboys]

Uhhhh....no judge here, but not interested.

Not there's anything wrong with that....u do u.

Holy Larry, what are you referring to? You are weird!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SlingBoy]

If our D can just be ranked in the teens, this team would be formidable with the Offense that we already have. Watch, with our luck as Cowboy fans the D will come back strong this year and the Offense will be off or have major player(s) hurt.

 

[JBS]

I'm guessing around 20th. Could be higher, but that depends on the rooks.

I’ll say they’re better than that