News: Mailbag - Is Dallas defense top 10?

[CCBoy]

ALEX HARRIS
CAMERON, NC
Maybe I'm the only one who saw a pretty good defense, especially with almost all the games within reach with no offense to capitalize. With the offense "relieving the pressure on the defense", is it realistic for me to think that by mid-season this defense could be Top 7-ish?

Bryan: If this defense would have had some help from the offense – they would have won more games. But if they are going to be in the Top 7 as you ask, they are going to have to provide more turnovers. You can talk about sacks and pressures all you want but if you are not turning teams over, you are a middle to bottom of the pack defense which they were.

David: I think you raise a fair point that the Dallas defense was better than it got credit for. The Cowboys were middle-of-the-pack in scoring defense, allowing just 23 points per game. They were good against the pass and mediocre against the run. They held seven opponents to fewer than 20 points – but the Cowboys only went 3-4 in those games. Conversely, the Dallas offense scored 20 points or fewer in an absurd 11 games, posting a 2-9 record in the process. So yes, I do think this defense is talented enough to improve with a bit more help from the offense. At the same time, the lack of experience on the defensive line makes me doubtful they’ll reach that Top 7 status you mentioned. I expect this group to be about average.


http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...re-plans-wr-possibility-defensive-improvement

 

[jobberone]

10-16 more towards the latter is likely although I wouldn't be too surprised to see in in the upper 1/3 of the league.

40 sacks and a TO Diff of 20 would be soooooooo nice.

 

[JBS]

10-16 more towards the latter is likely although I wouldn't be too surprised to see in in the upper 1/3 of the league.

40 sacks and a TO Diff of 20 would be soooooooo nice.

Not sure you know how big a turnover differential of +20 really is

 

[CATCH17]

We could throw together one of those Mike Zimmer defenses that finishes top 3 because of yards allowed when in reality it's towards the bottom of the league.

 

[jobberone]

Not sure you know how big a turnover differential of +20 really is

Of course I do. Carolina big. If you dream, dream big.

 

[Section446]

We desperately need to figure out how to get more turnovers before we get close to top ten.

 

[DFWJC]

If they finish the season in the top 10, we'll have our answer.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

Opposing team's offenses having to take chances because our offense is scoring points leads to turnovers. A good offense (and ours has the possibility of being great) will lead to a defense in the top third of the league. It will also help if our defenders can lay off the drugs.

 

[CF74]

I came in here thinking oh look another Zeke thread, maybe it is now...

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Gregory and DLaw need to stay off further suspension and play to their potential.

Crawford needs to rebound and improve his finish.

Thornton needs to play as he did in Philly.

They need 3 contributors for the rotation from Irving, Crawford, Collins, Russell, McClain, Tapper, et al.

They need Jaylon Smith the contribute this year.

They need a couple of Gachkar, Hitchens, Wilson, Nzeocha, etc to step up in the rotation.

They need Claiborne Lee and Scandrick to stay healthy and play to their ability.

They need Wilcox or Heath to develop into at least an average cover DB and supplant Slug Church.

They need to start making more plays on the ball as a team and play with more unity between position groups in coverage particularly in the middle of the field. Eberflus needs to do better here than Henderson.

They need luck on injuries and a steady rotation in the front 7 to help make that happen.

Too many ifs but if the stars align the ceiling is very high for the group. Real boom or bust potential. I don't see a trainwreck like 2013; too much front 7 depth so no Jarius Wynn, Ernie Sims, and company playing 300+ snaps.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Get outta here with that top 7 defense dreaming! Lets address the DLine first and get out of the nfl cellar for sacks.

 

[big dog cowboy]

ALEX HARRIS
CAMERON, NC
Maybe I'm the only one who saw a pretty good defense, is it realistic for me to think that by mid-season this defense could be Top 7-ish?

No.

 

[noshame]

Rod has to be more aggressive , move people around and give offenses is some different looks. that alone will move it up a few spots on the defensive ladder.

 

[Idgit]

It boggles my mind that people think this was a top 7 ish defense defense last season.

 

[jazzcat22]

Get outta here with that top 7 defense dreaming! Lets address the DLine first and get out of the nfl cellar for sacks.

Or maybe, that is a big maybe, they play above expectations, and some young players step up. But sacks and turnovers must improve regardless.
They been middle of the pack the last 2 years. But if they even get to top 12 would not be too far of a reach, by the end of the season. Top 10, I won't go there. They need to prove that.

 

[jazzcat22]

It boggles my mind that people think this was a top 7 ish defense defense last season.

It would be a success if they get to the top 12. But much of that can be from ball control and scoring from the offense. As long as it translates to wins.

 

[jazzcat22]

FuzzyLumpkins, posted

Gregory and DLaw need to stay off further suspension and play to their potential. Agree
Crawford needs to rebound and improve his finish. Yes, he showed he can be productive, but then falls off, part do to injuries, but now he needs to really prove it and step up.
Thornton needs to play as he did in Philly. I think he will, and he will allow others to do their jobs better.
They need 3 contributors for the rotation from Irving, Crawford, Collins, Russell, McClain, Tapper, et al. McClain needs to stay healthy, he shown he can make plays when he is.
They need Jaylon Smith the contribute this year. Only if Ro McClain flakes out, but Hitchens can step in some too at MLB. But I sure hope Smith can get in there.
They need a couple of Gachkar, Hitchens, Wilson, Nzeocha, etc to step up in the rotation. Don't forget Wilber, but I am not all that high on him, but the coaches are. He can play some DE too.
They need Claiborne Lee and Scandrick to stay healthy and play to their ability. Agree, maybe we can have some luck on health here for once.
They need Wilcox or Heath to develop into at least an average cover DB and supplant Slug Church. Having Byron Jones as a real FS, allows these guys to play to their talent as a true SS.
They need to start making more plays on the ball as a team and play with more unity between position groups in coverage particularly in the middle of the field. Eberflus needs to do better here than Henderson. Do you mean in the secondary? Greg Jackson and Baker are the coaches, Eberflus is LB's. But still agree. Though I think Baker should have been replaced also.
They need luck on injuries and a steady rotation in the front 7 to help make that happen. Need luck on no injuries for the entire team, been too long since we had better luck than not.
Too many ifs but if the stars align the ceiling is very high for the group. Real boom or bust potential. I don't see a trainwreck like 2013; too much front 7 depth so no Jarius Wynn, Ernie Sims, and company playing 300+ snaps. Agree, much more talent on the roster now, and many with some good potential, and real potential, not the rosy outlook, just because we drafted them potential. But it's a very young team, and they need experience too. And getting a good rotation will be key. There is a mix of rookies and vets, and 2nd year players, and Marinelli needs to get these guys going, can't wait for TC to see.[/quote]

 

[Section446]

It boggles my mind that people think this was a top 7 ish defense defense last season.

Maybe his definition of "ish" means somewhere between 7-32?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

FuzzyLumpkins, posted

Gregory and DLaw need to stay off further suspension and play to their potential. Agree
Crawford needs to rebound and improve his finish. Yes, he showed he can be productive, but then falls off, part do to injuries, but now he needs to really prove it and step up.
Thornton needs to play as he did in Philly. I think he will, and he will allow others to do their jobs better.
They need 3 contributors for the rotation from Irving, Crawford, Collins, Russell, McClain, Tapper, et al. McClain needs to stay healthy, he shown he can make plays when he is.
They need Jaylon Smith the contribute this year. Only if Ro McClain flakes out, but Hitchens can step in some too at MLB. But I sure hope Smith can get in there.
They need a couple of Gachkar, Hitchens, Wilson, Nzeocha, etc to step up in the rotation. Don't forget Wilber, but I am not all that high on him, but the coaches are. He can play some DE too.
They need Claiborne Lee and Scandrick to stay healthy and play to their ability. Agree, maybe we can have some luck on health here for once.
They need Wilcox or Heath to develop into at least an average cover DB and supplant Slug Church. Having Byron Jones as a real FS, allows these guys to play to their talent as a true SS.
They need to start making more plays on the ball as a team and play with more unity between position groups in coverage particularly in the middle of the field. Eberflus needs to do better here than Henderson. Do you mean in the secondary? Greg Jackson and Baker are the coaches, Eberflus is LB's. But still agree. Though I think Baker should have been replaced also.
They need luck on injuries and a steady rotation in the front 7 to help make that happen. Need luck on no injuries for the entire team, been too long since we had better luck than not.
Too many ifs but if the stars align the ceiling is very high for the group. Real boom or bust potential. I don't see a trainwreck like 2013; too much front 7 depth so no Jarius Wynn, Ernie Sims, and company playing 300+ snaps. Agree, much more talent on the roster now, and many with some good potential, and real potential, not the rosy outlook, just because we drafted them potential. But it's a very young team, and they need experience too. And getting a good rotation will be key. There is a mix of rookies and vets, and 2nd year players, and Marinelli needs to get these guys going, can't wait for TC to see.

[/quote]

Eberflus is now the coverage coordinator replacing Henderson and his man robber scheme. Here's an article about it.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-cowb...tt-eberflus-pass-game-coordinator-for-defense

Henderson's didn't work out well but I think it was because we didn't have the players to really run it. You need multiple dynamically athletic people who can run jump and think quickly to play robber so as to disguise and we were pigeonholed with Lee underneath and nobody up top. Church, Wilber, Hitchens, and McClain couldn't execute. QBs had easy reads: stay away from Lee but else it's a field day inside.

I'm curious to see what they trot out this year. Eberflus spent 5 years with Rob Ryan and he ran everything. Before that he ran Missouri's defense but I don't watch college football so that tells me nothing in particular.

I do like how Jackson had SF S playing a few years ago. They flew around the field with a penchant for running under passes. I would like to see some of that.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

ALEX HARRIS
CAMERON, NC
Maybe I'm the only one who saw a pretty good defense, especially with almost all the games within reach with no offense to capitalize. With the offense "relieving the pressure on the defense", is it realistic for me to think that by mid-season this defense could be Top 7-ish?

Bryan: If this defense would have had some help from the offense – they would have won more games. But if they are going to be in the Top 7 as you ask, they are going to have to provide more turnovers. You can talk about sacks and pressures all you want but if you are not turning teams over, you are a middle to bottom of the pack defense which they were.

David: I think you raise a fair point that the Dallas defense was better than it got credit for. The Cowboys were middle-of-the-pack in scoring defense, allowing just 23 points per game. They were good against the pass and mediocre against the run. They held seven opponents to fewer than 20 points – but the Cowboys only went 3-4 in those games. Conversely, the Dallas offense scored 20 points or fewer in an absurd 11 games, posting a 2-9 record in the process. So yes, I do think this defense is talented enough to improve with a bit more help from the offense. At the same time, the lack of experience on the defensive line makes me doubtful they’ll reach that Top 7 status you mentioned. I expect this group to be about average.


http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...re-plans-wr-possibility-defensive-improvement

Thinking Top 10 is like Serena Williams looking in the mirror and seeing Joley Richardson's image. Not happening. Not this year. Maybe in 2018 when the injuries/suspensions stop.