David: I’ve been bullish on McCarthy as a playcaller all offseason, and I love the addition of Cooks, so this is in no way meant to come off as anything short of enthusiasm for the Cowboys offense. But measuring up to this defense is a tall task. It’s hard to overstate just how much Dan Quinn has done since arriving in Dallas, just as it’s hard to overstate how ridiculously talented Micah Parsons is.
It would be one thing if the defense was just Parsons & Friends, but it’s not. There are playmakers all over the field. Trevon Diggs tied Everson Walls’ single-season interceptions record, and got even better in coverage last year. The three-headed monster that is this safety group has apparently grown, as Israel Mukuamu proved his value in the playoffs last year and both Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas showed out all preseason long. Then there’s Stephon Gilmore, acquired in the offseason, who has been elite for years and even won Defensive Player of the Year not too long ago.
Oh, and did I mention the pass rush? Parsons is obviously public enemy number one for any offensive line, but it hardly ends there. DeMarcus Lawrence remains criminally underrated, while Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams, and Dante Fowler make for a very, very deep rotation. Linebacker is a bit thin right now, but Leighton Vander Esch is a pro’s pro who seems to be getting better now that his health issues are behind him. I like the additions the team has made on offense, but they’re still unproven to this point. The Dallas defense, though, is littered with players who have plenty of scalps on the wall. Topping them is going to be very hard to do.
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...quinn-dak-prescott-micah-parsons-tony-pollard
On defense, though, it’s quite the opposite. I already mentioned the depth at EDGE. Johnathan Hankins is entering his 11th season and he’s maybe DT2 or DT3 in a group filled with veterans. At cornerback, Jourdan Lewis just came back from the PUP list as someone with 43 career starts, and he’s now a depth guy. And, sure, linebacker is thin on paper. But Quinn, being the mad genius he is, can offset that anyway with the way he uses Jayron Kearse and Donovan Wilson as safety/linebacker hybrids. Everywhere you look for an Achilles heel on this defense, there’s an answer. If it’s not the players themselves, it’s the steady hand that is Quinn.
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...quinn-dak-prescott-micah-parsons-tony-pollard