News: Poll results: Did the Dallas Cowboys improve on defense in the 2017 offseason?

[CCBoy]

Poll results: Did the Dallas Cowboys improve on defense in the 2017 offseason?

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...the-2017-offseason-jaylon-smith-taco-charlton


Cornerback:
94% Yes

6% No

Analysis: Where most of these vote tallies were close, this one caused little debate in the BTB community. Overwhelming support for the Cowboys’ moves in the secondary was the cry heard loud and clear. We know how impressive Anthony Brown was in 2016. Orlando Scandrick is their feisty leader at the position. The improvement starts with Nolan Carroll, an underrated and possibly underappreciated player. If Bryan Broaddus thinks he’s an upgrade athletically over Brandon Carr then maybe they have something there. Of course, the Cowboys hit cornerback three times in the draft with Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, and Marquez White. We’ve heard a lot of positivity about Awuzie and he’s been moving around in their scheme.

Lewis may not be the biggest at 5’10 but he’s athletic and boasts good length with the ability to use his gifts. We know it’s just college but 42 passes defended was darn good as was his 23.3 opposing passer rating last season. There’s a lot of youth to unpack here but it’s a welcomed change from the secondary they’re replacing...(read all positional groups)

 

[gimmesix]

I guess it's all speculative when it comes to things like this, but it just always makes me shake my head when we assume that players who haven't even stepped on the field yet are improvements over players who have, even if the ones they're replacing were less than perfect.

I'm excited to see what Awuzie, Lewis and even Xavier Woods can do, but that doesn't mean they will be any better than what we had. Plenty of drafted players simply don't live up to expectations. It could be because they were simply good scheme fits, benefited primarily from playing against non-NFL-caliber competition or benefited from the play of others around them.

Now, I'm not saying we didn't need to move on from the players who left, just that it doesn't automatically mean our secondary will be better. In fact, I expect some growing pains from the rookies no matter what. How much those pains hurt the team will likely depend on how much we have to play them.

I guess I'm a hope-for-the-best, expect-less-than-that fan.

 

[waving monkey]

I feel its a big upgrade but to not have concerns is s little naive.

 

[CCBoy]

I guess it's all speculative when it comes to things like this, but it just always makes me shake my head when we assume that players who haven't even stepped on the field yet are improvements over players who have, even if the ones they're replacing were less than perfect.

I'm excited to see what Awuzie, Lewis and even Xavier Woods can do, but that doesn't mean they will be any better than what we had. Plenty of drafted players simply don't live up to expectations. It could be because they were simply good scheme fits, benefited primarily from playing against non-NFL-caliber competition or benefited from the play of others around them.

Now, I'm not saying we didn't need to move on from the players who left, just that it doesn't automatically mean our secondary will be better. In fact, I expect some growing pains from the rookies no matter what. How much those pains hurt the team will likely depend on how much we have to play them.

I guess I'm a hope-for-the-best, expect-less-than-that fan.

This might help...

Defensive End:
95% Yes

5% No

Analysis: Here’s more overwhelming support for the defensive ends as they saw some movement in the offseason. Look, this is not asking what their final sack numbers will be or anything like that. This shows that the Cowboys were committed to improving the talent level and they drafted a first-round pass rusher. Taco Charlton deserved to be drafted at the end of the first round. BTB is also very excited about Damontre Moore, who will likely get four extra weeks to prove his worth with David Irving’s suspension.


There is also the debut of Charles Tapper to look forward to as he’s healthy and ready after spending his rookie season on IR. Demarcus Lawrence is in a contract year. Benson Mayowafinished last season strong and led the team in sacks. For Marinelli, they may finally have the right rotation in place to attack offenses and they were the top team in sacks to close December last season.

 

[cowboyblue22]

I think its really a wait a see how the develop and how long it takes

 

[gmoney112]

There will be growing pains.

DE can really only go up, so while it may not be great, "improvement" over 2016 is expected. At DT, seeing Collins in year 2 will be fun. Will Lawrence finally be healthy? Can Crawford not tear a shoulder? I dunno.

We'll really only miss Carr's veteran presence for the first half of the season, imo. Mo played well when he did play, but he only played in 7 games last year, and I want to say there were times in those he wasn't 100%.

I think Heath will be better than Church for the sole fact that Heath seems to find the ball. The game against GB, he was this close to forcing 3 turnovers. The strip sack where Rodgers somehow held onto it, and his 2nd INT which was called back.

If Jaylon can play he's definitely an improvement over Wilson/Hitchens.

Since this is CZ, I fully expect people to be jumping off a cliff early in the season. Our pass defense, and particularly passer rating allowed, on a per drive basis, was pretty bad last year though. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if our pass defense was improved from the onset.

 

[gimmesix]

This might help...

Defensive End:
95% Yes

5% No

Analysis: Here’s more overwhelming support for the defensive ends as they saw some movement in the offseason. Look, this is not asking what their final sack numbers will be or anything like that. This shows that the Cowboys were committed to improving the talent level and they drafted a first-round pass rusher. Taco Charlton deserved to be drafted at the end of the first round. BTB is also very excited about Damontre Moore, who will likely get four extra weeks to prove his worth with David Irving’s suspension.


There is also the debut of Charles Tapper to look forward to as he’s healthy and ready after spending his rookie season on IR. Demarcus Lawrence is in a contract year. Benson Mayowafinished last season strong and led the team in sacks. For Marinelli, they may finally have the right rotation in place to attack offenses and they were the top team in sacks to close December last season.

It's funny to me that it's seems like a lot more here feel better about our secondary "improvements" than the ones on the defensive line, considering we spent a first-round pick to improve the line. I guess that stems from them thinking Charlton was not deserving of the pick or isn't a good fit.

I feel about the line about how I feel about the secondary. Both have a lot to prove as to whether or not they're improved, but at least we did something to try to improve them.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Cornerback: 94% Yes 6% No

Defensive End: 95% Yes 5% No

Defensive Tackle: 64% Yes 36% No

Linebacker: 86% Yes 14% No

Safety: 75% Yes 25% No

big dog analysis:

 

[Pants]

Ask me now? the defensive insertions/changes are unknown - looks better
Ask we after 4 weeks? the Pants-meter will likely have the Defensive comparisons all at nearly 100% improvement - give the kids a little time to take their lumps and gel as a unit, sprinkle in JSmith, Tapper, Charlton, et al....looking forward to seeing this progression

 

[Shinaoi]

In the long run hopefully we made huge upgrade at corner, but I'm not so sure they will be better in their first season.