Let's talk about the defense some more

[Denim Chicken]

Even if you want to argue that they aren't "elite" they are still very good. Much better than we are. And to try to argue that they didn't rebuild that defense on the fly in less than 2 years with shrewd signings and trades is just poppycock.

But I get why some want to believe it. Because acknowledging that teams can do things like that would show better management than we have. Here, we have to believe the Cowboys are doing it right with the long, slow rebuild on defense.

Oh I'll acknowledge better management all day long, I'm not a fan. I'm just not convinced that the annually Philly meltdown isn't around the corner because they beat one good team (barely). And I'm not convinced that our season can't be salvaged at 2-3--there's a lot of football to be played and (as I pointed out above) there are adjustments that can be made on the Defensive side.

 

[Sydla]

You are looking at an outlier with the eagles, very few transition that easily to a top defense in two seasons. Fletcher Cox is a beast you can build around...

It happens more than you want to believe. Buffalo was horrendous on D last year and they bring in McDermott, a very good DC, to be head coach and they are playing great defense this year.

You hire the right coach and make the right decisions in personnel and you can remake a defense in less time than people around here want to think.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Let's talk about D baby, Let's talk about you and me, let's talk all the good things and the bad things that should be...let's talk about D.

It would be nice if we had another nice draft but also compliment it prior too and afterwards with a quality FA haul and not just signing our own players.

We get a monster size One tech that commands double, or more, teams in the middle to help free up collins and the DEs would be a nice start.

It would also help, or should help, a healthy LB corp make some tackles instead of just running into a wall.

 

[TheHerd]

It happens more than you want to believe. Buffalo was horrendous on D last year and they bring in McDermott, a very good DC, to be head coach and they are playing great defense this year.

You hire the right coach and make the right decisions in personnel and you can remake a defense in less time than people around here want to think.

And that includes losing what was supposedly their stud CB. Certainly better than what we lost.

 

[DogFace]

What crazy is the Rod doesn't like to blitz and wants to rely on the four man (or even three man) rush--Philly and Carolina, on the other hand, were sending blitzes like crazy--yet, somehow, we are still getting pressure on the QB (top ten, in fact). Though, I do wish he'd send more on third & long, but I don't think he trusts the man coverage.

I'm convinced the main issue is with the LBs and hopefully the return off Lee and an improving Hitchens will address this.

The safeties are not great, but there is some hope in that Woods will begin to play more to spell Heath. I like the idea of trying Awuzie at safety and moving Bryon to CB, but I'm not sure if he's ready or can stay on the field

I would like to see Brown moved to slot, where he has played better ball and he can get away with more of his handsy style. Lewis coming on is going to help a lot (I love his tackling). So Byron & Lewis on the outside with Brown in the slot and Scandrick coming in on dime packages is, I think, our best bet.

We have a opening at 1-tech now and I'd like to see Price get a shot at starting. He's listed at 315 and has flashed in limited snaps. I think he could help against the run.

Bottom line is we have options, the question is will the FO consider them.

Hard to believe a fair minded non bias judge could miss that hold. There were several others.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Hard to believe a fair minded non bias judge could miss that hold. There were several others.

A lot of bad calls in that game.

 

[Macnalty]

It happens more than you want to believe. Buffalo was horrendous on D last year and they bring in McDermott, a very good DC, to be head coach and they are playing great defense this year.

You hire the right coach and make the right decisions in personnel and you can remake a defense in less time than people around here want to think.

Just as often you get a coach like Kelly, or the offensive coordinator for the patriots who coached the Bronco's and drafted Tebow.

 

[InDakWeTrust]

I am bullish on the secondary, especially if Woods is given a chance to play more at S. I think he was a steal in this draft.

I also am not totally down on the DEs, although we still lack a real speed rush freak. But I think you can live with the DEs, especially if Lawrence continues to show to be a stud and Irving continues to play well.

The rest of the defense is a real nightmare IMO.

Woods needs Heath's snaps, Wilson and Hitch need to take 75% of Jayson's and Brown needs to be the nickel back. I would like to see them try this before anything else.

 

[DogFace]

What crazy is the Rod doesn't like to blitz and wants to rely on the four man (or even three man) rush--Philly and Carolina, on the other hand, were sending blitzes like crazy--yet, somehow, we are still getting pressure on the QB (top ten, in fact). Though, I do wish he'd send more on third & long, but I don't think he trusts the man coverage.

I'm convinced the main issue is with the LBs and hopefully the return off Lee and an improving Hitchens will address this.

The safeties are not great, but there is some hope in that Woods will begin to play more to spell Heath. I like the idea of trying Awuzie at safety and moving Bryon to CB, but I'm not sure if he's ready or can stay on the field

I would like to see Brown moved to slot, where he has played better ball and he can get away with more of his handsy style. Lewis coming on is going to help a lot (I love his tackling). So Byron & Lewis on the outside with Brown in the slot and Scandrick coming in on dime packages is, I think, our best bet.

We have a opening at 1-tech now and I'd like to see Price get a shot at starting. He's listed at 315 and has flashed in limited snaps. I think he could help against the run.

Bottom line is we have options, the question is will the FO consider them.

Please don’t tell me that was on the game winning pass.

 

[Sydla]

Just as often you get a coach like Kelly, or the offensive coordinator for the patriots who coached the Bronco's and drafted Tebow.

And yet, we always seem to follow the Kelly path. Why is that?

 

[DogFace]

A lot of bad calls in that game.

Was that on the game winner?

 

[Denim Chicken]

Was that on the game winner?

Not sure.

 

[TheFinisher]

They're not elite, but the front 7 is good and if Fletcher Cox is on the field they can get a big play anytime.

As an exercise, if we could swap defenses with Philly when we play them, I would predict an annihilation.

They have the best front 4 in football. they're elite.

 

[Denim Chicken]

They have the best front 4 in football. they're elite.

6th in PPG (Dallas is 9th) | 19th in yards per game (Dallas is 20th)

Takeaways & 3rd down percentage is where the difference is. We need to get better there.

 

[Macnalty]

And yet, we always seem to follow the Kelly path. Why is that?

I think it just seems like that, we have not really had a bad team except the year when Tony was hurt and we had like five different QB's. Others have suffered much more than us with fewer trophies in the case. I understand your point just in the real world it is seldom so linear from point A to point B. I feel good about our evaluation of talent at the draft level, and like you I am somewhat suspect of Rod and his scheme. It is difficult to have a real issue on defense when the offense is set up for success. This defense is going to be the worse in the NFC east but that does not mean we cannot win. We clearly can do a better job at keeping other offenses off the field and limiting our exposure. We have not begun to scratch that talent and we clearly have the personnel to accomplish this for the defense with our offense.

 

[Sydla]

I think it just seems like that, we have not really had a bad team except the year when Tony was hurt and we had like five different QB's. Others have suffered much more than us with fewer trophies in the case. I understand your point just in the real world it is seldom so linear from point A to point B. I feel good about our evaluation of talent at the draft level, and like you I am somewhat suspect of Rod and his scheme. It is difficult to have a real issue on defense when the offense is set up for success. This defense is going to be the worse in the NFC east but that does not mean we cannot win. We clearly can do a better job at keeping other offenses off the field and limiting our exposure. We have not begun to scratch that talent and we clearly have the personnel to accomplish this for the defense with our offense.

They have one playoff win since Garrett has been coach. 2 playoff wins in like 20 years.

Maybe the difference here is that you see an 8-8 team and don't think it's bad, whereas if they aren't making playoffs and winning playoff games, it's just another wasted season to me. So 4-12 in 2015 is bad but it's not much worse to me than the 8-8 spit up seasons too.

 

[TheCoolFan]

It's all about scheme and coaching! When you look at it, on paper, the Eagles defense doesn't really have a ton of GREAT talent (outside of Fletcher Cox). Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry are decent pass rushers but they're not really 10+ sack guys. Their LBs are good - not flashy Pro Bowlers but solid players who get the job done.

They also know how to bring in the right free agents (Malcolm Jenkins, Nigel Bradham, Tim Jernigan). The Cowboys rely strictly on drafting and then filling the rest of the defense with "bargain free agents."

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

They have one playoff win since Garrett has been coach. 2 playoff wins in like 20 years.

Maybe the difference here is that you see an 8-8 team and don't think it's bad, whereas if they aren't making playoffs and winning playoff games, it's just another wasted season to me. So 4-12 in 2015 is bad but it's not much worse to me than the 8-8 spit up seasons too.

And really a lot less heartbreaking. I hated the 4-12 season but I got used to it and could excuse it. Those 8-8 teams where we lost to each one of our division rivals on the last game of the season was brutal.

 

[robbieruff]

True, and the big play is what our D is missing. Turnovers are a problem yet again.

YUP! Nelli's scheme appears to be incapable of producing them...even with an improved pass rush.

 

[Macnalty]

They have one playoff win since Garrett has been coach. 2 playoff wins in like 20 years.

Maybe the difference here is that you see an 8-8 team and don't think it's bad, whereas if they aren't making playoffs and winning playoff games, it's just another wasted season to me. So 4-12 in 2015 is bad but it's not much worse to me than the 8-8 spit up seasons too.

That is very accurate to my thinking. Cowboy culture for winning is different than most other environments for NFL teams. They expect to be the best each and every year no matter what the talent pool.