How Much Did We Improve on Defense?

NeathBlue said:
If it only improves to an average, middle of the road unit, then that should add minimum 4-5 wins… assuming the rest of the team performs like it did last season.
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that's the part that I don't see, I'm hoping we can be consistent. Just seems like when one part is doing good, the other isn't
 
NeathBlue said:
If it only improves to an average, middle of the road unit, then that should add minimum 4-5 wins… assuming the rest of the team performs like it did last season.
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Agreed.

We don’t need spectacular, we need consistent. If you look at the better defenses around the league, that’s what you see.

Defenses where all 11 players know their role and their responsibilities. Not only their own, but what their teammates are doing as well.

By doing so, you make nothing easy for your opponents and make them earn everything.

Seattle won the Super Bowl with that kind of defense. Look at any of their numbers, they weren’t ‘flashy’, but they were consistent. Where they were supposed to be, always. Making the tackle, always. Executing the assignment, always. That’s the key.

Vic Fangio’s defenses are the same way, and I expect no different from Christian Parker. It all starts with the fundamentals.

Just having them do that will make a huge difference from last year.
 
Stash said:
Agreed.

We don’t need spectacular, we need consistent. If you look at the better defenses around the league, that’s what you see.

Defenses where all 11 players know their role and their responsibilities. Not only their own, but what their teammates are doing as well.

By doing so, you make nothing easy for your opponents and make them earn everything.

Seattle won the Super Bowl with that kind of defense. Look at any of their numbers, they weren’t ‘flashy’, but they were consistent. Where they were supposed to be, always. Making the tackle, always. Executing the assignment, always. That’s the key.

Vic Fangio’s defenses are the same way, and I expect no different from Christian Parker. It all starts with the fundamentals.

Just having them do that will make a huge difference from last year.
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Good stuff.

"While the D proved strong everywhere in 2025, most vital to making McDonald's scheme work was the play of the Dline, which allowed SEA to often stay in 4 man fronts and still get needed pressure. Leonard Williams again played at an elite level while Jarran Reed had another solid year and 2nd year tackle Byron Murphy II had a breakout season, giving SEA a stout interior. FA DLaw was better than advertised to lead the pass rush corps, which also got solid contributions from Nwosu and Derrick Hall."

Sacks are nice, but having a super bowl type D is not about counting sacks. SEA was 7th in sacks w/ no player having more than 7. You need pressure all the way across the DLine. One high sack guy, which Jerry seems to prefer, is simply way too easy to chip and double in the playoffs.

Funny how DLaw was very good w/ great DT play in front of him, not to mention that DT play went a long way in keeping him on the field.
 
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kskboys said:
You base your conclusion on one player?

Q is as good a DT as Micah is a DE. Prolly better.

Do you really not see the dawgs we've added? I mean, we got some football players here. Soft is simply not even an option.
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Right. For all the good Michael did rushing the passer, he negated it by over playing the pass and giving up the run.

Addition by subtraction. Maybe you can do that when you have a good overall run defense. But we couldn't afford one because Michael was going to cost too much.
 
kskboys said:
Underrating of DT's: Often
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you mean the industry is underrating DTs?

If Quennin was a better DT than Micah is an edge, then wouldn’t he have more all pros?

They aren’t in direct competition for the award.

Quennin is one of the best DTs in the league, in the top five, and I’m glad to have him, but pretty much everyone who is not a Cowboy fan would have Parsons in the tier one group of edges.

Micah: 4 all pro in 5 years

Chris Jones: 6 in 10 years
Cam Heyward: 6 in 15 years
Jeffrey Simmons: 3 in 8 years
Dexter Lawrence: 2 in 8 years
Deforest Buckner: 2 in 11 years

Quennin is a one time winner alongside Jarrett, Madabuike, Carter and Allen
 
kskboys said:
Oh, and let's dig a little deeper:

Q:
Pass rushing: 7.5
Run stopping 9

Micah:
Pass rushing: 9
Run stopping: 2

Now think about that.
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What are those numbers even supposed to mean?

Your personal grading system?
 
Stash said:
Agreed.

We don’t need spectacular, we need consistent. If you look at the better defenses around the league, that’s what you see.

Defenses where all 11 players know their role and their responsibilities. Not only their own, but what their teammates are doing as well.

By doing so, you make nothing easy for your opponents and make them earn everything.

Seattle won the Super Bowl with that kind of defense. Look at any of their numbers, they weren’t ‘flashy’, but they were consistent. Where they were supposed to be, always. Making the tackle, always. Executing the assignment, always. That’s the key.

Vic Fangio’s defenses are the same way, and I expect no different from Christian Parker. It all starts with the fundamentals.

Just having them do that will make a huge difference from last year.
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Good, balanced comment. Thanks
 
CT Dal Fan said:
Overshown was coming in cold off a knee injury with no offseason, no training camp, only a few practices, and joined a crap-tastic defense that had no direction.

He's going to be a lot better this season.
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This is hopium at this point with no proof - just admit that?
 
Stash said:
Agreed.

We don’t need spectacular, we need consistent. If you look at the better defenses around the league, that’s what you see.

Defenses where all 11 players know their role and their responsibilities. Not only their own, but what their teammates are doing as well.

By doing so, you make nothing easy for your opponents and make them earn everything.

Seattle won the Super Bowl with that kind of defense. Look at any of their numbers, they weren’t ‘flashy’, but they were consistent. Where they were supposed to be, always. Making the tackle, always. Executing the assignment, always. That’s the key.

Vic Fangio’s defenses are the same way, and I expect no different from Christian Parker. It all starts with the fundamentals.

Just having them do that will make a huge difference from last year.
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This is so true and (side comment) my ONLY criticism of Dak.

He plays SO well and then SO bad. If you just total the stats he's pretty good. But if you look at WHERE the stats happen....it gets a little muddy.

Oh sorry...back to defense.
 
HungryLion said:
Here’s what the cowboys did improve from last year: (not counting coaching which I discussed in other posts)

Both safety spots.

Thompson and Downs and Locke will be SIGNIFICANTLY better than the slop we have had at safety for years.

Corner has potential to be better. Bland is still bland (hopefully healthier). I think Revel WILL be better than what Diggs was since his injuries and Cobie Durant is solid.

Linebacker is better. Winters is an upgrade. Overshown is an upgrade IF he can stay healthy.
I like Barham but he’s a rookie so we shall see.

OLB- it all depends on Eze and Lawrence. We really need Eze to take a year 2 jump. Lawrence I like a lot as a prospect. But he’s a rookie and it takes time for rookie edge rushers except for the best of best prospects.

Gary is a solid run defender and ok pass rusher. Not much of an upgrade from Clowney.

DL is basically the same, post Quinnen trade from last year.
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I have to wonder if they still bring back, as the fake Jerry Jones calls him, Jebedon Clownsey. I mean, why not?
 
Pass2Run said:
I have to wonder if they still bring back, as the fake Jerry Jones calls him, Jebedon Clownsey. I mean, why not?
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I thought they would honestly. I wonder if Parker doesn’t think he’s a fit.

Or maybe they want to wait until after week 1 so his contract isn’t guaranteed.
 
Kwyn said:
you mean the industry is underrating DTs?

If Quennin was a better DT than Micah is an edge, then wouldn’t he have more all pros?

They aren’t in direct competition for the award.

Quennin is one of the best DTs in the league, in the top five, and I’m glad to have him, but pretty much everyone who is not a Cowboy fan would have Parsons in the tier one group of edges.

Micah: 4 all pro in 5 years

Chris Jones: 6 in 10 years
Cam Heyward: 6 in 15 years
Jeffrey Simmons: 3 in 8 years
Dexter Lawrence: 2 in 8 years
Deforest Buckner: 2 in 11 years

Quennin is a one time winner alongside Jarrett, Madabuike, Carter and Allen
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Yes, they've done it for ages.

There are only so many all pro slots. And you may not have noticed, but players on bad teams just don't get accolades. Very few exceptions.

I think rating a player strictly on all pros is an inaccurate way to rate players. It's never about just one stat.
 
kskboys said:
More accurate than counting all pros.
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Your personal ratings, that you just made up, are not a more accurate indicator of performance than all pros awards.

That’s simply ridiculous.

Next up: Hall of Fame is nothing compared to the Hall of kskboys
 
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