My take so far

Sarek

Sarek

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First off i hope everyone is doing well. I don't post much during the offseason. So im guessing we've all seen players fleeing/retiring from the Cowboys, I don't mind it so far.

My first reaction was this defense is going to be a JV version of last season. Then i stopped to think about it and i thought this defense was almost JV last season so why get all hot and bothered.

One player on defense is not going to turn this thing around unless that player is very elite. I started thinking maybe it's better at this point to just seal up that RT in the 1st or 2nd RD. If we did go RT, i would like to see a bruiser back up RB to soften up opposing defenses early in games. I don't see McFadden filling that role, maybe im wrong.

Well anyway good to chat with you all again. I'll be back during the draft sometime. Stay well, enjoy the downtime.
 
visionary

visionary

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Hmmm...

We were really bad last season and will be worse next season

Soooooo.....
No need to panic?

Gotcha :thumbup:
 
robjay04

robjay04

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Statistically speaking, as far as points per game which I believe is the best way to judge a defense, we were 7th in the league.

Now I believe that has more to do with the scheme not allowing big plays and opposing offenses pressing to score points instead of sticking with their game plan. Regardless, our defense was effective overall at keeping opponents off the score board.

The team obviously believes they can get a similar job done with cheaper players. I do think the system overall is friendly to secondary players so it's possible. We just got to hope our offense doesn't miss a beat this season if we want to maintain our success.
 
JoeKing

JoeKing

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No one knows what the defense will be in the coming season. It's a work in progress so while the "under construction" sign is up, I'll reserve judgement. I do know I like the way the FO is doing business lately so I'm just hoping that trend continues.
 
haleyrules

haleyrules

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mrtxstar said:
No one knows what the defense will be in the coming season. It's a work in progress so while the "under construction" sign is up, I'll reserve judgement. I do know I like the way the FO is doing business lately so I'm just hoping that trend continues.
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Yep. Not wasting valuable resourses on old half used up FA's. Drafting well the past 5 yrs or so. Would love to see them draft a player like Jabrill Peppers...its a long shot at 28...but a nice pick up.
 
Verdict

Verdict

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Sarek said:
First off i hope everyone is doing well. I don't post much during the offseason. So im guessing we've all seen players fleeing/retiring from the Cowboys, I don't mind it so far.

My first reaction was this defense is going to be a JV version of last season. Then i stopped to think about it and i thought this defense was almost JV last season so why get all hot and bothered.

One player on defense is not going to turn this thing around unless that player is very elite. I started thinking maybe it's better at this point to just seal up that RT in the 1st or 2nd RD. If we did go RT, i would like to see a bruiser back up RB to soften up opposing defenses early in games. I don't see McFadden filling that role, maybe im wrong.

Well anyway good to chat with you all again. I'll be back during the draft sometime. Stay well, enjoy the downtime.
Click to expand...


I would love to see us draft Mixon or Perine from OU late in the draft.
 
fishspill

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robjay04 said:
Statistically speaking, as far as points per game which I believe is the best way to judge a defense, we were 7th in the league.

Now I believe that has more to do with the scheme not allowing big plays and opposing offenses pressing to score points instead of sticking with their game plan. Regardless, our defense was effective overall at keeping opponents off the score board.

The team obviously believes they can get a similar job done with cheaper players. I do think the system overall is friendly to secondary players so it's possible. We just got to hope our offense doesn't miss a beat this season if we want to maintain our success.
Click to expand...
I'm afraid the team will find out it's not as easy to fill those roles as they think. Seems many of these guys were playing for contracts too and Rod's famous motivation might not work so well.
 
FuzzyLumpkins

FuzzyLumpkins

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this offseason reminds me of 2014 in its tenor.

At least then we were coming off the worst defensive season in cowboys history. We signed Mincey, McClain, and Melton to Steve-o specials and everyone and their mother predicted failure.

We bounced back anyway despite DLaw getting hurt by Tryon the first week of camp and Risen telling us that Hitchens should have been an UDFA for 4 years running now.

The only player we lost who was worth a flip was McClain. Church couldn't run for ****. Wilcox struggled with the speed of the game and took bad angle after bad angle. Carr could not both protect against the deep ball and challenge underneath routes. Claiborne couldn't stay healthy for even half a season. Jack Crawford was stubby and could not beat anyone but inferior OL.

And lets not kid ourselves about McClain he was good for one season, his contract year which he still faded in, and could not stay healthy either. He was perpetually pulling his groin, getting a high ankle sprain, or jacking up his toe.

Yet people think we are going to take a step back. For all the whinging, Brown, Jones, and yes Jeff "turnover" Heath were our best DBs. They are all still here. We still have Crawford, Irving, Collins, DLaw, Mayowa, Thornton, Tapper, and added Paea on the line. Lee and the up and coming Wilson are still here and Jaylon is going to play as well. If he is recovered he was a top 5 player in last years draft.

Yet here we are and people still don't learn from history.
 
Verdict

Verdict

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FuzzyLumpkins said:
this offseason reminds me of 2014 in its tenor.

At least then we were coming off the worst defensive season in cowboys history. We signed Mincey, McClain, and Melton to Steve-o specials and everyone and their mother predicted failure.

We bounced back anyway despite DLaw getting hurt by Tryon the first week of camp and Risen telling us that Hitchens should have been an UDFA for 4 years running now.

The only player we lost who was worth a flip was McClain. Church couldn't run for ****. Wilcox struggled with the speed of the game and took bad angle after bad angle. Carr could not both protect against the deep ball and challenge underneath routes. Claiborne couldn't stay healthy for even half a season. Jack Crawford was stubby and could not beat anyone but inferior OL.

And lets not kid ourselves about McClain he was good for one season, his contract year which he still faded in, and could not stay healthy either. He was perpetually pulling his groin, getting a high ankle sprain, or jacking up his toe.

Yet people think we are going to take a step back. For all the whinging, Brown, Jones, and yes Jeff "turnover" Heath were our best DBs. They are all still here. We still have Crawford, Irving, Collins, DLaw, Mayowa, Thornton, Tapper, and added Paea on the line. Lee and the up and coming Wilson are still here and Jaylon is going to play as well. If he is recovered he was a top 5 player in last years draft.

Yet here we are and people still don't learn from history.
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I think it is reasonable to think our defense may take a step back based on departures. Or it may not. Time will tell.

What we did in 2014 is irrelevant to today because this is a different year with different circumstances.

Over the past 20 years we have retooled several times and most of the time it wasn't pretty. But that isn't relevant either. But I do understand the apprehension over the defense.
 
robjay04

robjay04

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fishspill said:
I'm afraid the team will find out it's not as easy to fill those roles as they think. Seems many of these guys were playing for contracts too and Rod's famous motivation might not work so well.
Click to expand...

You keep everyone on defense cheap, everyone is playing for contracts.

Next season we will have Demarcus Lawrence, David Irving, essentially our whole linebacker crew minus Lee and a couple members of our secondary paying for that big pay day.

Good thing about going cheap is everyone is playing hard for that big day...not getting rich and complacent like Crawford.
 
ChronicCowboy

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It will take a small miracle to field a better defense next season. Nothing to work with really.

People forget that the defense played quite well last season. They folded against top QBs but overall they were above average. I really can't imagine Carroll, Pugh and Heath playing as well as Carr, McClain or Church did last season.

It will be up to rookies and jaylon to improve the D. And we still have to hope that Lee somehow stays healthy another full season.
 
visionary

visionary

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robjay04 said:
You keep everyone on defense cheap, everyone is playing for contracts.

Next season we will have Demarcus Lawrence, David Irving, essentially our whole linebacker crew minus Lee and a couple members of our secondary paying for that big pay day.

Good thing about going cheap is everyone is playing hard for that big day...not getting rich and complacent like Crawford.
Click to expand...

I sorry but this happy juice does not work

The same people lauding this will tell us how the only reason the defense is bad is because we have several new starters on defense "so what do you expect"

Then next off season a few more will be allowed to leave

Rinse and repeat
 
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