I'm excited about our future defense

[BTX]

Ware,Lee,Carter,Carr,Claiborne,a fresh looking Ratliff,Hopefully Church can recover from his injury and be that hard hitting SS we have longed for. I hope we resign Spencer .

 

[TheSport78]

We need a safety and defensive line help, especially at end...

 

[BTX]

We need a safety and defensive line help, especially at end...

Do you think Crawford can help at d end?

 

[dantheman41]

Do you think Crawford can help at d end?

I think he can, but the team has made it clear they want him and Ben Bass to bulk up a little more so that they can play in the base packages to help against the run.

Whether either one of them or Lissemore is starter material is yet to be seen. Personally, I would like a 1st round talent on this d line that can be extremely disruptive. Think it would make a HUGE difference in making this defense top 5 material. Closest thing we have to that now is Ratliff. Also Hatcher, Coleman, Ratliff and Spears are getting old.

I would highly doubt Coleman AND Spears will be back next year. But I said that last year. Who knows with this team

 

[Proximo]

Ware,Lee,Carter,Carr,Claiborne,a fresh looking Ratliff,Hopefully Church can recover from his injury and be that hard hitting SS we have longed for. I hope we resign Spencer .

This is going to be a big deal. I think we can all agree at this point that when Spencer is NOT out there it hurts our defense (more than his stats would imply). I've always liked Spencer, and after seeing how our defense plays with him vs without him, I would like to see us resign him as well. However, we might not be able to afford it. He could very well end up getting overpaid in the offseason by some desperate team, which would leave us with a glaring hole. We would have an immediate need at OLB which we'd have to either spend a draft pick on or try to hit on a less expensive vet in FA.

 

[sonnyboy]

This is going to be a big deal. I think we can all agree at this point that when Spencer is NOT out there it hurts our defense (more than his stats would imply). I've always liked Spencer, and after seeing how our defense plays with him vs without him, I would like to see us resign him as well. However, we might not be able to afford it. He could very well end up getting overpaid in the offseason by some desperate team, which would leave us with a glaring hole. We would have an immediate need at OLB which we'd have to either spend a draft pick on or try to hit on a less expensive vet in FA.

Never happens. The Spencer haters have their heels dug in soooo deep, he could win defensive MVP this season and they'd simply claim he was just playing for a new deal.

That's not to say I'm convinced he needs to be or can be signed to a deal that works.

 

[Risen Star]

I would never sign Spencer. It's not a question of does he have any value. It's does he warrant big money as he plays into his 30's?

This is why this team is always in such sorry cap shape with bad contracts seemingly coming off an assembly line. Handing him a big multi-year deal because you're afraid there is no other alternative is a horrible way to run a team. You have to be selective about who you give those big FA deals to and who needs to be churned for cap purposes and to bring more youth on the roster.

There is life after Anthony Spencer. We should experience it next season.

 

[The Realist]

I wouldn't resign Spencer. We can get the same guy or better + much younger in the draft this year in one. Maybe even 2 with as deep as this draft is at OLB.

1st round DE? I don't see any value there execpt for Short from Purdue. Nobody there that is going to be a real disruptive 3-4 DE.

 

[xwalker]

Just Franchise Spencer again.

They need to draft a high-upside guy at OLB, but they don't need to go into the draft in desperation mode at the position.

 

[Flinger]

On a scale of 1 to 10, it's my view they have about an 7 in talent. Their injuries move them back to a 6. How do they get to a 10?

. Return Lee and Church to the line up. Get Lissemore and Coleman healthy - takes them back to a 7

. Either retain Spencer or bring in another SOLB. If Spencer, they stay a 7. If draft another, then they will slip back to a 6 even if the drafted one is very good. Look at Lee and Carter - they take at least one year to operate at the level everyone 'thinks' Spencer should play. Oh - and the chance of finding an SOLB that is better than Spencer is probably in the 20% to 30% range. He is a top SOLB in the league right now. Just my opinion, not going to look up the data.

. In my opinion, they need 1 more guy on the Dline that can transform this Defense. A Haley type on the line to augment Ratliffe before he is over the hill. That would take them to an 8 or 9.

. One more safety. They may have him on the roster in Johnson, but we really don't know. The trend line on Church seems to be up, particularly if he can overcome his injury. Sensy seems even, maybe down a little bit. One more ball-hawking, hard-hitting, smart safety could take them to a 9 or 10 with the other moves.

 

[Woods]

If we can get 1 more quality DL and 1 more guy who can get to the QB somewhat frequently, we'll have an excellent defense, imo.

I'd look at FA for the DL and look at the Draft for that pass rusher.

I'd re-sign/franchise Spencer as well.

 

[Eskimo]

This is going to be a big deal. I think we can all agree at this point that when Spencer is NOT out there it hurts our defense (more than his stats would imply). I've always liked Spencer, and after seeing how our defense plays with him vs without him, I would like to see us resign him as well. However, we might not be able to afford it. He could very well end up getting overpaid in the offseason by some desperate team, which would leave us with a glaring hole. We would have an immediate need at OLB which we'd have to either spend a draft pick on or try to hit on a less expensive vet in FA.

The problem with re-signing Spencer is he is getting old and expensive. Ware is about to decline and Spencer cannot replace him as a top pass rusher or make up any decline in his pass rush output. We will be in a lot of trouble when Ware declines if we don't have another pass rusher on the team. That is the reason why I think we're better off to let Spencer go and aggressively go after Ware's future replacement who we can groom by playing Spencer's role for a couple of years. When Ware is finally in major decline the new guy should be at his peak. If we re-sign Spencer instead both will decline at the same time and we'll be trapped with two $10M+/yr OLBs who are not top notch pass rushers anymore.

Part of roster management is ensuring proper age balance at different positions and re-signing on a non-star 30 year old player to an 8-figure multi-year deal is incredibly short sighted.

 

[Risen Star]

The problem with re-signing Spencer is he is getting old and expensive. Ware is about to decline and Spencer cannot replace him as a top pass rusher or make up any decline in his pass rush output. We will be in a lot of trouble when Ware declines if we don't have another pass rusher on the team. That is the reason why I think we're better off to let Spencer go and aggressively go after Ware's future replacement who we can groom by playing Spencer's role for a couple of years. When Ware is finally in major decline the new guy should be at his peak. If we re-sign Spencer instead both will decline at the same time and we'll be trapped with two $10M+/yr OLBs who are not top notch pass rushers anymore.

Part of roster management is ensuring proper age balance at different positions and re-signing on a non-star 30 year old player to an 8-figure multi-year deal is incredibly short sighted.

Completely agree.

Don't count on it though. That would require actual foresight from our front office.

 

[KJJ]

I won't start getting excited about this defense until I stop seeing busted coverages with receivers left wide open for easy TD's. I want to see the defense create more turnovers and stop missing tackles and committing penalties when games are on the line. I want to see this defense step up and make some big stops on 3rd down late in the 4th quarter when the Cowboys season is on the line.

 

[Risen Star]

I won't start getting excited about this defense until I stop seeing busted coverages with receivers left wide open for easy TD's. I want to see the defense create more turnovers and stop missing tackles and committing penalties when games are on the line. I want to see this defense step up and make some big stops on 3rd down late in the 4th quarter when the Cowboys season is on the line.

And I won't get excited about it until I see multiple pass rushing threats to confuse the protection. It's kind of the staple of the 3-4 defense and why ours has never been elite.

Let's say Crawford is that guy and we add one of those 1st round rushers in the draft? Yeah, I would get excited. We could get nasty in a hurry.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Completely agree.

Don't count on it though. That would require actual foresight from our front office.

So you forget about the present and concern yourself with the future? As of right now we don't have a replacement for Spencer and there won't be one in free agency next year. I'd re-sign him. I could careless about Jerry's money and re-signing Spencer will not stop us from signing other players.

 

[CCBoy]

Hopefully, an amiable new contract arises in the off season. If not, then Spencer will get tagged for another season. With his agent, that might be pushing things, but his play warrants the efforts.

A linebacker group composed of DeMarcus Ware, Bruce Carter, Sean Lee, and Anthony Spencer would be the best unit in the NFL. That is worth keeping under wraps.

With both Church and Sensabaugh back at safety, and Carr, Claiborne, and Scandrick at corner, the team is needing some upgrade and clear playmaker added to the defensive line.

The question would then be, if the team went with Coleman and Spears yet another season.

Just changing for change sake is a poor attack at need.

I think that offensive line is the highest rated target, and then depth at the defensive line and secondary.

There is a question with the return of Felix Jones at running back as well.

 

[Sarge]

If there is one thing I am excited about when it comes to the Cowboys' immediate future, it is how the defense is going to be. I see it growing and gaining momentum, despite the injuries.

The offense on the other hand - is in reverse.

Coaching. Figure it out.

 

[TheCoolFan]

They have to get younger on the DLine for sure (Richard Seymour signing would be my only exception). Let Coleman/Spears go

 

[BTX]

They have to get younger on the DLine for sure (Richard Seymour signing would be my only exception). Let Coleman/Spears go

The think is neither can get after the passer but both are solid against the run.So unless you get some pass rushers you may as well keep them. They don't demand much money.