News: How good can the Cowboys defense be in 2017?

[CCBoy]

How good can the Cowboys defense be in 2017?
https://www.fanragsports.com/nfl/cowboys/good-can-cowboys-defense-2017/



The Cowboys need the likes of Tyrone Crawford and DeMarcus Lawrence to stay healthy and play up to the level they’ve each shown at various points. Young players Taco Charlton and Charles Tapper have to meet the potential the team believes they have, and David Irving and Maliek Collins need to live up to the flashes they showed last season. If all that happens, the Cowboys will have a defensive front that can put the heat on quarterbacks.

On the back end, only two of the top six defensive backs from the 2016 team will return in 2017. The remaining positions, two of the top three corners and two of the top three safeties, will be filled by players with a greater penchant than their predecessors for making plays on the ball. Three rookies, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis and Xavier Woods, free agent acquisition Nolan Carroll and former reserves Jeff Heath and Anthony Brown will compete for those roles.

These changes, along with the infusion of a potentially healthy Jaylon Smith at linebacker, set the ceiling for the Cowboys defense extremely high. If the players on the defensive line play to their potential, there’s no reason why this Cowboys defense can’t be one of the top-10 units in the league, making the Cowboys one of the most complete teams in the NFL...

 

[Pants]

One word: development

If the kids can learn and develop while learning, not only can the defense be good, they can be very good...especially if Smith & Tapper can have an impact...if D.Wilson can get on the field as a starter with Lee and Smith, the LB corp could be pretty good and hopefully take some pressure off of the young OL and DB's

 

[CCBoy]

One word: development

If the kids can learn and develop while learning, not only can the defense be good, they can be very good...especially if Smith & Tapper can have an impact...if D.Wilson can get on the field as a starter with Lee and Smith, the LB corp could be pretty good and hopefully take some pressure off of the young OL and DB's

The linebackers will be a very strong group, with the addition of Smith...but the most important element for this side of the ball's development, is getting a top run defensive pass rush.

The team fields a first round, second round, and two third round candidates for outside pressure. This is without considerations of another second rounder, Gregory.

This group has to grow into a consistence source of pressure...

 

[risco]

At this point, it's simply hmmm for me.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I really don't know with the DLine and secondary. Thy gave to prove themselves and I'd like to see some statistical improvement i.e. Sacks, hurries, tackles for losses, ints.

Yes, people say stars are everything....but isn't it funny that most HOFers, probowlers, and all pros have great stats.

 

[cowboyblue22]

I will say the hype train is at full throttle

 

[big dog cowboy]

Potential to be a top 10 unit.

I feel light years better about that group than the one who faced Rodgers last January.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I hope for the best! They gotta prove themselves. On a side note, Jaylon is making some side cash in Wylie

 

[xwalker]

How good can the Cowboys defense be in 2017?
https://www.fanragsports.com/nfl/cowboys/good-can-cowboys-defense-2017/



The Cowboys need the likes of Tyrone Crawford and DeMarcus Lawrence to stay healthy and play up to the level they’ve each shown at various points. Young players Taco Charlton and Charles Tapper have to meet the potential the team believes they have, and David Irving and Maliek Collins need to live up to the flashes they showed last season. If all that happens, the Cowboys will have a defensive front that can put the heat on quarterbacks.

On the back end, only two of the top six defensive backs from the 2016 team will return in 2017. The remaining positions, two of the top three corners and two of the top three safeties, will be filled by players with a greater penchant than their predecessors for making plays on the ball. Three rookies, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis and Xavier Woods, free agent acquisition Nolan Carroll and former reserves Jeff Heath and Anthony Brown will compete for those roles.

These changes, along with the infusion of a potentially healthy Jaylon Smith at linebacker, set the ceiling for the Cowboys defense extremely high. If the players on the defensive line play to their potential, there’s no reason why this Cowboys defense can’t be one of the top-10 units in the league, making the Cowboys one of the most complete teams in the NFL...

Long term much better, IMO.

Short term = ???

NFL teams rarely make that many changes in one season to a specific area of the team (DB). There is some definite risk with that many new players at DB.

 

[CCBoy]

Long term much better, IMO.

Short term = ???

NFL teams rarely make that many changes in one season to a specific area of the team (DB). There is some definite risk with that many new players at DB.

There are three veteran corners and the same with safety...right?

 

[Hardline]

They could be anywhere between 1st and 32nd.

 

[CCBoy]

They could be anywhere between 1st and 32nd.

Now, that's taking the safe route...

 

[xwalker]

There are three veteran corners and the same with safety...right?

Good point; although, many are either new to the team or new to a starting position.

Scandrick - Long term Cowboys CB. Not 100% in 2016 after returning from blown ACL in 2015. Hopefully he is 100% now.
Brown - 2nd year player.
Carroll - Veteran, but new to the Cowboys.

Jones - 3rd year veteran, 2nd year at Safety.
Heath - Long term Cowboys backup Safety, now projected starter.
Blanton - Veteran, new to Cowboys.
Frazier - 2nd year player, but minimal snaps on defense in 2016.

Awuzie - Rookie
Lewis - Rookie
Woods - Rookie

 

[CCBoy]

Good point; although, many are either new to the team or new to a starting position.

Scandrick - Long term Cowboys CB. Not 100% in 2016 after returning from blown ACL in 2015. Hopefully he is 100% now.
Brown - 2nd year player.
Carroll - Veteran, but new to the Cowboys.

Jones - 3rd year veteran, 2nd year at Safety.
Heath - Long term Cowboys backup Safety, now projected starter.
Blanton - Veteran, new to Cowboys.
Frazier - 2nd year player, but minimal snaps on defense in 2016.

Awuzie - Rookie
Lewis - Rookie
Woods - Rookie

What really catches my eyes, beyond the play making strength of the 'rooks,' is that both Scandrick and Brown have run 4.3. Paint this fan impressed by that fact.

 

[Knotamus]

What really favors this young defense, is the style of defense Marenilli deploys. Most forget, but prob are already aware.. so this is just a reminder: Marenilli's defense is not complicated and relies more on the player to perform, rather than confuse the opponent via complex schemes. That said, I feel like Dallas did a great job acquiring above average talent to replace former starters on defense. I'll reserve predictions until I actually see more, but I truely feel are defense will be better even if they are young/rookies.

 

[waving monkey]

When Greg Jackson joined the staff the secondary looked like a different DB corps.
We have good teachers on our staff now. They are the big influence on this good talent
we are acquiring.
Marinelli
Matt Eberflus
Baker,Jackson
teachers

 

[Teague31]

Chips and Lewis are huge upgrades over Carr and Mo. add in addition by subtraction with the losses of church and JJ and the hopeful emergence of Jaylon and the defense will be much better than a year ago. Still not ready to call it an elite unit but it's trending in that direction

 

[CF74]

So many guys coming off injury/surgery that it might be mid to late season before they peak. Plus all the young guns coming in, hopefully the offense can keep us in the race...

 

[MileyDancer]

LOL @ charging people $40 when you haven't even played a single NFL snap.

 

[CCBoy]

DeMarcus Lawrence:


...Unfortunately, injuries and off the field issues have also made things difficult for Lawrence as well. A right foot fracture early in his first training camp stunted his growth and kept him out until Week 9 of his rookie campaign. As one would expect, the injury put a major delay in his production. Due largely to that missed time, he finished the season without a sack.The 2014 playoffs, however, gave fans a glimpse of the talent that the organization saw on draft day. Lawrence recorded two sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in two games. One of those sacks effectively sealed the home win over the Detroit Lions.

One might think that would be a catalyst to a great 2015. Instead, Lawrence got off to a slow start, recording just one sack in his first eight games. The light came on in the second half, however, as Lawrence put up a streak of seven games with at least a sack. Even though the Cowboys suffered a miserable year, Lawrence was a bright spot. He led the team with eight sacks and added 31 quarterback pressures, good enough for second.

One might think that would be a catalyst to a great 2016. Instead, Lawrence needed offseason back surgery, then doubled down on the disappointment with a four game suspension. As a result, 2016 was essentially a throw away year. Lawrence appeared in just nine games, registering just one sack. Another tweak to his back forced him out of the final three regular season games plus the playoff loss. Another back surgery was performed this off season.

http://thelandryhat.com/2017/06/04/dallas-cowboys-defensive-end-bust/


I add this, to point towards what injury and missed time due to suspensions have cost the defensive line for Dallas.

Get the defensive line healthy, and replace Gregory with just drafted Taco Charlton, and the Cowboys can rotate enough to encourage health. Match this with a functional unit now...and up front should prove to be much more active this season.

Now get officials to call flagrant holding penalties on opposing offensive linemen...