How Much Did We Improve on Defense?

[Pass2Run]

Compared to last year, how much did we improve?

If we have Christian Parker last year, we win at least two more games. Just on coaching alone.

We also got Gary, Lawrence, Ezeiruaku more experienced, Quinnen, Kenny Clark, Caleb Downs? Who even does that? We also got Overton, Barham, Jalen Thompson, Dee Winters, Overshown is coming back, we picked up Cobie Durant. And we have guys like Bell and Reddy.

Pinch me. I was ready to give up last year. This is looking like a new team.

And that's a good thing.

Maybe it's not yet complete, but that is indeed one heck of a rebuild.

Anyone sense one more trade coming before the season starts?

I do.

I give the off-season rebuild a solid A.

 

[youngjerryjones]

Let's break it down from the back-end:

FS/S - Large improvements with Locke and Thompson now available doesn't force us to rely on Hooker and we should have an All-Pro in Caleb Downs if all pans out or at very minimum pro-bowl caliber play

CB - Diggs/Revel were relied on/needed to early into the season. This led to Carson and others getting more reps - with Revel another year under his belt and the addition of Durant I'll consider it a slight upgrade. We were at a D- last year and now have gone to C+ with potential to go higher depending on Blands injury.

MLB - Don't need to say much, this was an F. Overshown was lacklustre. Dee Winters & Barham should take this to a C+.

Front 7 - Huge improvement...Q and Clark without Osa will benefit the run game. Gary replaces Clowney and we have EzE and now a 1st round edge.

Defense went from D- to C+ with potential to be a B-/B tier defence.

 

[Vtwin]

Time will tell, but it is encouraging that they finally seemed to be paying attention to defense building rule #1 and focused on strengthening right up the middle. Finally!

 

[Pass2Run]

Let's break it down from the back-end:

FS/S - Large improvements with Locke and Thompson now available doesn't force us to rely on Hooker and we should have an All-Pro in Caleb Downs if all pans out or at very minimum pro-bowl caliber play

CB - Diggs/Revel were relied on/needed to early into the season. This led to Carson and others getting more reps - with Revel another year under his belt and the addition of Durant I'll consider it a slight upgrade. We were at a D- last year and now have gone to C+ with potential to go higher depending on Blands injury.

MLB - Don't need to say much, this was an F. Overshown was lacklustre. Dee Winters & Barham should take this to a C+.

Front 7 - Huge improvement...Q and Clark without Osa will benefit the run game. Gary replaces Clowney and we have EzE and now a 1st round edge.

Defense went from D- to C+ with potential to be a B-/B tier defence.

Meh, if they're able to add a LB and maybe one more corner depth piece, we've got ourselves a defense.

Also, give Overshown a break. He wasn't even supposed to really play last year.

 

[Cowboys5217]

It should be better, but it's not going to be by how much most on this forum seem to think. I suspect it will be a mid 20s ranked defense by the end of the year. That is an improvement, but it will still be a below average defense.

 

[Pass2Run]

Time will tell, but it is encouraging that they finally seemed to be paying attention to defense building rule #1 and focused on strengthening right up the middle. Finally!

And all the new players excel at . . . stopping the run. Especially Gary, Snowden, Overton, Barham, Downs.

It's not the same defense, at all. So I give them A for their effort.

This actually has a chance to be a top 12 defense if they're able to stay healthy, imo. But they need a couple more pieces imo.

Maybe corner pans out with Carson, Bland, Revel. Two of the biggest question marks to me, even more than Overshown, are Revel and Bland.

 

[Havic]

I expect an up and down defense until late in the season when they start to gell as a unit.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Compared to last year, how much did we improve?

A lot. From crap to middle of the league or better. They won't give up anywhere close to the 500 points like they did last year.

 

[Cowfan75Lives]

We'll find out in a couple months. The only thing we know for sure is that we didn't get worse.

 

[stilltheguru]

That's an easy question. It depends on how good downs, Quentin amd Gary are.......to a slightly lesser degree Winters and overshown. If you high level play from those 5 were easily making the playoffs. Unfortunately Quinnen is the only sure thing though.

 

[youngjerryjones]

Meh, if they're able to add a LB and maybe one more corner depth piece, we've got ourselves a defense.

Also, give Overshown a break. He wasn't even supposed to really play last year.

What's the point of "giving him a break". At this point he's a flash in the pan and we haven't seen it yet since Mazi Smith fell on his leg.

This board acts like Overshown is a former All-Pro. He was here all last year, didn't even pop off the screen. I wouldn't count on him and he's fighting for his role in camp to be the starter at MLB.

 

[kskboys]

It should be better, but it's not going to be by how much most on this forum seem to think. I suspect it will be a mid 20s ranked defense by the end of the year. That is an improvement, but it will still be a below average defense.

Yeah, for it to be higher than 20th at least 2 of our rooks would have to play at a very high level. Maybe 3.

 

[kskboys]

That's an easy question. It depends on how good downs, Quentin amd Gary are.......to a slightly lesser degree Winters and overshown. If you high level play from those 5 were easily making the playoffs. Unfortunately Quinnen is the only sure thing though.

Q and Gary are good, we already know this. So is Thompson.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Is it fair to say we can see something as soon as game one?? I'm thinking more around game 4 or more, anything that looks good is an improvement

Love the additions that they made they're not all flashy but they were made with a plan and a purpose

 

[Pass2Run]

It should be better, but it's not going to be by how much most on this forum seem to think. I suspect it will be a mid 20s ranked defense by the end of the year. That is an improvement, but it will still be a below average defense.

I actually disagree. But we shall see. By the end of the season, mid to mid upper pack.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The only thing we know for sure is that we didn't get worse.

No we got better. Better players. Better coaches.

 

[Pass2Run]

Is it fair to say we can see something as soon as game one?? I'm thinking more around game 4 or more, anything that looks good is an improvement

Love the additions that they made they're not all flashy but they were made with a plan and a purpose

By game two, we should have an idea.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I suspect it will be a mid 20s ranked defense by the end of the year.

Mid 20's???

That is minimal better than last year.

Better recheck the roster.

 

[Pass2Run]

We'll find out in a couple months. The only thing we know for sure is that we didn't get worse.

It has never been worse than last year. So very difficult to get worse..

Just having a coach gets us two more games.

I see 11, maybe 12 wins in 2026.

 

[Pass2Run]

I expect an up and down defense until late in the season when they start to gell as a unit.

I'm looking at the mental makeup of this team, and it's just different. These players are just smarter processors from a thinking standpoint than players we've had in the past: students, self-starting learners. I think that bodes well for them to click as a unit early on. They have the potential to gel early... But we all know potential is just potential until it happens.

The other thing they have going for them is they have a leader as a coach, a guy who actually knows what he's doing and walks the walk.