PFF: 5 of our 7 DL have been poor, only one average

[Zimmy Lives]

I got no problem with the DT's and im picky when it comes to this team if you haven't noticed. DE needs upgrading and im hoping Gregory and Lawrence can save the defense.

This.

The Mike position needs a desperate upgrade as well but it will have to wait until next year.

 

[haleyrules]

We could still easily be 2-0 and just as easily be 0-2.

2 players back in week 5 hopefully will help!

In the end, this year it will be the poor performance of the defense that will kill the club. Sure hope Prescott turns out to be the real thing so the club can go all Defense in the next draft.

 

[cowboys1985]

This is by in large the biggest negative this season so far (minus the Romo injury). While, disappointing, I can at least understand the the DE's were graded out to be below average or poor. they are all rotational DE's forced to start due to Gregory and Lawrence suspensions. Mayowa probably has the most upside and hasn't shown yet which isn't good but I'm not going to write him off yet. He probably has the best chance to be a plus player at DE of the rotation.

I am very frustrated with the DT's struggling. I don't need PFF ranking to show me their struggles, but Giants and Commanders have had success running up the middle. Dallas has actually invested money in this portion of the DL with money spent on T. Crawford, T. McClain, and Thornton and so far they haven't paid off. This needs to be a strength for Dallas to have any sense of success on defense. It's too early to be in panic mode, but there needs to be significant improvement from the DTs.

With all this being said, how bout the secondary, huh? lol.

 

[haleyrules]

Average: David Irving (48 snaps)
Below Average: Terrell McClain (76 snaps)
Poor: (in order, least poor to worst)
Cedric Thornton (46 snaps)
Benson Mayowa (79 snaps)
Jack Crawford (84 snaps)
Maliek Collins (54 snaps)
Tyrone Crawford (84 snaps)

Thornton always looks good..but this boy gets trap blocked constantly and is a liability against the run......

 

[TheCoolFan]

Why doesn't Irving play more? I was wondering why he wasn't on the field much in the 4th quarter. And sheesh, Maliek Collins better show something!

 

[mattjames2010]

Why doesn't Irving play more? I was wondering why he wasn't on the field much in the 4th quarter. And sheesh, Maliek Collins better show something!

Because Marinelli most likely found a pet cat in that group of scrubs.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I got no problem with the DT's and im picky when it comes to this team if you haven't noticed.

I wish we had a Linval Joseph type but we don't so it's ok.


DE needs upgrading and im hoping Gregory and Lawrence can save the defense.

I think asking Lawrence and Gregory to save our defense is hoping for a whole lot that they haven't ever really shown.

Maybe they'll surprise us.

 

[Jinxx13x]

In the end, this year it will be the poor performance of the defense that will kill the club. Sure hope Prescott turns out to be the real thing so the club can go all Defense in the next draft.

I agree predominately defense but We do need another WR though to replace Terrance Williams. I would like to see FRED ROSS from Mississippi State played with Dak is big with nice hands so a reunion might be a good fit !

 

[Zordon]

Terrell McClain has shown up with some big plays but I guess he just is not being consistent.

He only looks good b/c he's the best of the worst. He wouldn't start of the Giants or the Eagles.

 

[RS12]

On paper, they're solid. But they've been garbage thus far.

Game is not played on paper.

 

[StarBoyz83]

The dl is garbage. Everybody figured it would be.

 

[CATCH17]

I think asking Lawrence and Gregory to save our defense is hoping for a whole lot that they haven't ever really shown.

Maybe they'll surprise us.

It's a long shot but it's all we got.

The time for acquiring real talent has past unless we pull off a trade.

 

[RS12]

I never figured much would come from the Mayowa signing. Finding pass rushers in the street is like finding competent QBs in the street. Highly unlikely. Yeah he got a sack but mostly invisable.

 

[haleyrules]

I agree predominately defense but We do need another WR though to replace Terrance Williams. I would like to see FRED ROSS from Mississippi State played with Dak is big with nice hands so a reunion might be a good fit !

Yes. Too me the sizzle players are always at the bottom of the need list. Its the grinders and trench players that make it possible for the WR´s to make the highlight reel catches that look so impressive. It is true however that the Cowboys need,at least, a lot more speed at wideout. Its killing the passing game. They can not run a decent go route.

 

[ConceptCoop]

Game is not played on paper.

Yup. Sadly they've been a lot worse than the "below average" they appeared to be on paper.

The dl is garbage. Everybody figured it would be.

I never figured it would be this bad. Foolishly, I expected DT to be a strength, even. I expected Crawford to be an above average starter and Thorton to be an average one. Neither have come anywhere close to that.

 

[Common Sense]

On paper, they're solid. But they've been garbage thus far.

I'm going to need to see this paper.

 

[StarBoyz83]

In all honesty nobody on the defense should have a for sure job in Dallas next year.

 

[ConceptCoop]

I'm going to need to see this paper.

I only meant that the DT spot was solid on paper, not the DL as a whole.

But, on paper, Tyrone Crawford is an above average player. His one down year was last season, when he was dealing with injury. It seemed realistic to expect him to get back to his 2014 performance/impact.

Likewise, Thornton was an average starter (at least) when we signed him. Solid depth, too, with McClain, Irving, Collins.

 

[gimmesix]

Just watching the games, it seems pretty obvious that Irving and McClain are the best ones out there right now.

I've been wondering, and I need to go back and look, if teams are choosing to double Tyrone Crawford more often than McClain/Thornton. The 1-tech is supposed to draw the double team by alignment, but if I was an offensive coordinator, I would have at least started this season by sloughing off the 1-tech to stop Crawford since he is the most proven DL we've got at the moment as far as ability to be disruptive.

The lack of any other consistent pass rushing threat also should allow teams to double Crawford, but I don't know if they are doing that, it's just what I assume they would be doing.

 

[gimmesix]

I only meant that the DT spot was solid on paper, not the DL as a whole.

But, on paper, Tyrone Crawford is an above average player. His one down year was last season, when he was dealing with injury. It seemed realistic to expect him to get back to his 2014 performance/impact.

Likewise, Thornton was an average starter (at least) when we signed him. Solid depth, too, with McClain, Irving, Collins.

I thought our middle defense was better against Washington than it was against the Giants. They pushed the pocket, but we lacked outside pressure to close the deal and contain Cousins and some of the runs.