The offense was the biggest problem in 2017.
Better performance from the Swing Tackle(s) could easily have resulted in two more wins.
They can't win consistently with the status of the WRs in 2017.
People don't seem to realize just how difficult it had to be to design/call plays for that set of receiving options.
- Dez - Slow. Very limited route tree. Can't run option routes consistently.
- Witten - OK if the WRs are good and fast but with a slow #1 WR it's a bad combination.
- TWill- Not a deep ball WR but struggles when he is too close to the QB because he needs time to see the ball.
- Beasley - Great in the short area but not a threat past 10 yards.
- more Beasley - DBs have a big length advantage and can reach around/over him on intermediate/deep routes.
- Butler - One trick pony. Good catching the deep ball but mentally similar to Dez otherwise.
The following excludes Butler because he didn't play a high number of snaps:
- With Witten/Beasley restricted to the short area, they needed big play threats somewhere.
- Dez/TWill not big play threats.
- Dez is now slow which made it easy for defenses to give extra attention to the short area.
- TWill is actually good on intermediate routes but that makes them even more predictable.
- All receivers (WRs/TEs) extremely predictable because of their limitations.
The defense played reasonably well, especially starting about 5 games from the end when Awuzie became the starting LCB and Scandrick got injured around that time which made Lewis the starting RCB. Woods played slot-CB in those games and they were using Frazier vs Run and Jones vs Pass at SS (70% Jones, 30% Frazier).
They were without Irving for much of that time but still managed OK. They were down to about the 6th option as the 2nd DT. Datone Jones was signed and immediately played quite well; although, he learned the hard way that when you play in Green Bay you can get by things (holding) that will get called every time if you play for the Cowboys. He did display an obvious difference in how he had been coached. He was very focused on tying up blocker to allow others to succeed as pass rushers.
LB was good when Hitchens/Lee/Jaylon were at their healthiest.
At 1-tech Price played decent but got injured not too long after Paea retired.
In 2018:
Taco should be much better. He appeared to be getting more comfortable later in the season.
DLaw is still here.
Collins/Irving likely the starting DTs with Price and a run plugger possibly from the draft. Datone Jones can play both DT/DE.
Crawford has been better than people think. The fact that he is a bit overpaid does not mean that he can't play.
They replaced Hitchens with Thomas. He has started games and is probably a better fit here in the 4-3.
Jaylon should be better. He improved significantly over the season.
Wilson has been OK at SLB for the 15% of snaps they use and SLB.
That gives them 3 players Lee/Thomas/Jaylon for 2 spots. The odd man odd /can compete at SLB.
CB looks better than it has in a long time. It looked good already but if they really move Jones to CB that just makes them even deeper.
Awuzie/Lewis/Woods were the starters the final 4/5 games.
Brown still played a significant number of snaps as they would give him a couple of series in place of both Awuzie and Lewis as well as the Dime package.
Safety is a bit odd.
They managed last season with Heath at FS and Jones/Frazier at SS.
Woods will likely get a chance to complete at Safety. He played some snaps at Safety last season but primarily at slot-CB.
Summary:
They look OK at most of the starting spots on defense.
Safety is a question mark but Woods might be an answer.
LB OK for starters but need depth and future starter replacements.
DL OK. Adding a run-plugging 4th DT shouldn't be difficult in either FA or with a mid-round pick.
Draft Picks will improve the talent level but there is not a must-have at any position on defense.
