Machota: Cowboys 2026 potential starting defense

[JBS]

You’re arguing about what’s stupid and what’s not. I’m telling you what I expect from this team which is what I’ve witnessed from them. And if Overshown plays 10 games this year I think they’d be ok with that unless it’s a season ending injury. Everything that’s been reported is that they plan on re-signing him which is why you saw them handle the draft like they did. They are operating as if Revel and Overshown are gonna be healthy. If they trade for Brooks I’ll change my stance on that.

Yes, this I agree with. This is how they operate. I don’t disagree w that. I don’t expect for them to trade for a LB either. The barham pick is probably the added depth at the position they were seeking.

 

[stiletto]

IMO, they should find another Nickel corner somewhere and let Downs roam the field as a safety to let him just destroy plays. That's what he's best at. It's kind of a waste for me at least to plan on having him be THE Nickel CB. Hopefully that's not what they are doing.

 

[stilltheguru]

Right.
That ship sailed after Barham was selected, and the trade for Winter.
Not sure why some are still wanting this. And they do not have the draft capital to trade for anyone. Even though the FO say they are not done with the defense yet.

in 2027, the draft picks are, 1, 2, 3, 6, 6. They will not get any comp picks from the last I seen. They signed 3 players that qualified for the other team to get a comp pick, if they do, but lost no one of significance to offset those.

I tried to tell him it's not feasible but I'm not about to keep arguing. It is what it is.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Gary went 7 straight games without a sack before micah got hurt. The legend of micah is just a flat out lie and propaganda.

To be fair Gary was still getting consistent pressure in those sack-less games, he just wasn't getting home.

But Gary's pressures and pass rush win rate was pretty much consistent with what he did his entire career with or without Micah. People conveniently forget the Packers signed Gary to a massive extension LONG before Micah even got there.

 

[jterrell]

New defense, new players., Will need to see them line them up before we fully know but a lot of interviews will tell you where the new guys will start out.

It will be a 3-4 style Base. But think 3-3-5.

Caleb will be Superman. No need to wait on him. He will move all over the formation and play in many roles from box safety to nickel to deep safety.
His football IQ is off the charts high.


.

 

[jterrell]

To be fair Gary was still getting consistent pressure in those sack-less games, he just wasn't getting home.

But Gary's pressures and pass rush win rate was pretty much consistent with what he did his entire career with or without Micah. People conveniently forget the Packers signed Gary to a massive extension LONG before Micah even got there.

Yup!!!
Gary is 28 and has been a top 50 Edge his entire career excepting his rookie year.
His job last year was to be a big edge that defended the run and fought through to apply pressure after that.

People assume any player that was rumored to get cut sucks; but he was simply overpaid and too expensive to pair with Parsons.
He took the pay cut here to play his same role as the bigger Edge lined up over a Tackle.
Packers were 11th in scoring defense with him as that big edge. Even with Parsons out the last few weeks.

Overton was drafted to be his back up and heir apparent in like 2-3 seasons. Similar body type.

 

[75boyz]

Gary went 7 straight games without a sack before micah got hurt. The legend of micah is just a flat out lie and propaganda.

Um maybe because...
Weeks 10 thru 18 was 22 total pressures. Total. 3 games of zero pressures.
7.5 sacks in his first 7 games "with" Micah.
Zero sacks in 11 straight games thereafter "without."
He wasn't hurt or Injured.

Now if you are the optimist saying he will return to some 2 years or 3 years ago form so be it.
I'm more the what have you done for me lately type.

Clowney did just as much if not more(sacks) in 13 games but all of a sudden Parker can't somehow figure out a way for him to rush the passer, aka scheme fit.
And here I thought the good coaches put players in the right positions to succeed.

But no worries either way.

 

[Rockport]

Add Winter....LBer

Dallas defense will be top 10 by EOY.

 

[75boyz]

To be fair Gary was still getting consistent pressure in those sack-less games, he just wasn't getting home.

But Gary's pressures and pass rush win rate was pretty much consistent with what he did his entire career with or without Micah. People conveniently forget the Packers signed Gary to a massive extension LONG before Micah even got there.

I beg to differ see my post #47.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Yes, this I agree with. This is how they operate. I don’t disagree w that. I don’t expect for them to trade for a LB either. The barham pick is probably the added depth at the position they were seeking.

Yep. I’d personally strengthen my team but this team snd front office….they operate foolish and arrogantly.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Dallas defense will be top 10 by EOY.

We are in the playoffs if that happens..... guaranteed

 

[DarkVader33]

Depends how critical the Mike position is to CP. Overshown hasn’t shown any ability to play a full season. Winters also isn’t a top end starter. He’s a guy that’s functional. If CP is content with that then sure but if not, I wouldn’t be shocked if they wanted to add more at LB. I’m not sitting here saying they will acquire Brooks, I also think it’s unlikely but I’m not slamming the door shut on the idea.

Nick Harris has been quite clear that their plan for Winters is to primarily use him on run downs and minimize his use in coverage. That doesn’t sound like a full time Lb to me.

That’s strange since Winters is touted for his coverage skills and not his run D.

 

[DarkVader33]

Funny how Winters was praised for his coverage in the niners forums
they certainly know a lot about how a good defense should look

Winters looked MORE than functional last season.

Fact is that the niners have an excellent LB room and he was excess

If their forums are anything like ours, I wouldn’t put too much stock in it.

 

[DarkVader33]

Gary went 7 straight games without a sack before micah got hurt. The legend of micah is just a flat out lie and propaganda.

I thought he got 7 sacks the first 7 games of the year before Micah got hurt and then didn’t have any the rest of the season?

 

[Kwyn]

Glad to see he’s listing our base defense as a 4-2-5, which is what Parker said as well.

Teams across the league run nickel around 70% of the time

I know that we, as fans, tend to stick with what we know and rely on 4-3 or 3-4, but that is outdated. The nickel has been around since the 1960’s so it’s tim we catch up.

 

[75boyz]

Yup!!!
Gary is 28 and has been a top 50 Edge his entire career excepting his rookie year.
His job last year was to be a big edge that defended the run and fought through to apply pressure after that.

People assume any player that was rumored to get cut sucks; but he was simply overpaid and too expensive to pair with Parsons.
He took the pay cut here to play his same role as the bigger Edge lined up over a Tackle.
Packers were 11th in scoring defense with him as that big edge. Even with Parsons out the last few weeks.

Overton was drafted to be his back up and heir apparent in like 2-3 seasons. Similar body type.

The Packers did not see his descending performance matching the recent contract and were gonna cut him.
The big edge role while possibly accurate, kinda like how DLaw and others depended on alfa Micha for their sack production, I still dont even see Gary as good as Lawrence.
"Maybe" about the same.
But 2 to 3 years ago.
He was a descending player for well over half the year last year and he wasn't injured.

Sorry, that's just facts.
And as you know one of THE biggest problems with this front office is paying "past" performance.

So at least he's not long term.

 

[75boyz]

I thought he got 7 sacks the first 7 games of the year before Micah got hurt and then didn’t have any the rest of the season?

He did.

 

[DarkVader33]

Um maybe because...
Weeks 10 thru 18 was 22 total pressures. Total. 3 games of zero pressures.
7.5 sacks in his first 7 games "with" Micah.
Zero sacks in 11 straight games thereafter "without."
He wasn't hurt or Injured.

Now if you are the optimist saying he will return to some 2 years or 3 years ago form so be it.
I'm more the what have you done for me lately type.

Clowney did just as much if not more(sacks) in 13 games but all of a sudden Parker can't somehow figure out a way for him to rush the passer, aka scheme fit.
And here I thought the good coaches put players in the right positions to succeed.

But no worries either way.

Dang, they had the opportunity to select you as the DC and passed. Big fail.

 

[75boyz]

Dang, they had the opportunity to select you as the DC and passed. Big fail.

Nope BUT I'll bet I could at least be as good with selecting effective defensive linemen as the Cowboy scouting department has been over the last 2 decades or so.
But I appreciate your projecting my abilities so highly.
Thank you.

 

[DarkVader33]

Nope BUT I'll bet I could at least be as good with selecting effective defensive linemen as the Cowboy scouting department has been over the last 2 decades or so.
But I appreciate your projecting my abilities so highly.
Thank you.

Idont agree with saying the last two decades. Sure we had a couple bad drafts but generally we were pretty good. The issue really is the last five years or so.