Premise: The Cowboys Defense Can't Be Any Worse

[burmafrd]

Crawford and company have not shown anything in real games.

We HOPE they have talent and we HOPE they produce but that is all it is.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

With this group there's this fallacy that the defense cant get better because their were ranked 32nd last year.They are here by 32nd permanently.
This doesn't mean we can't statistically get better then last year.

I just have a hard time seeing it. The secondary is exactly the same. The linebackers might actually be worse than last year now that Lee is out. So it all comes down to the defensive line. The line is completely different so it's hard to really say. But it's not an obvious improvement over last year. We traded Hatcher for Melton coming off injury. We traded Ware for a rookie.

 

[guag]

This Marinelli worship is getting so old. Did everyone just conveniently forget that he was actually HERE during last year's historic debacle? That of anyone in football, no one has more of Kiffin's trust and ear than Rod Marinelli? It's not like there is a whole new culture or scheme or anything, Marinelli is just a younger Kiffin. And he was part of last year's disaster, he doesn't get some sort of pass on it.

I hear you. The "God" Marinelli was said sarcastically, but other than that, I'm not sure that he can be considered simply "Kiffin Jr". Obviously I don't know either on a personal level, but I get the impression that players will just play harder for Marinelli. I know he was with the team last year, but going from DL to DC has got to make some kind of a difference in his influence.

 

[wileedog]

I hear you. The "God" Marinelli was said sarcastically, but other than that, I'm not sure that he can be considered simply "Kiffin Jr". Obviously I don't know either on a personal level, but I get the impression that players will just play harder for Marinelli. I know he was with the team last year, but going from DL to DC has got to make some kind of a difference in his influence.

I bet it will, but I don't think it is the same as doing a wholescale change of coordinators or system. Heck the old DC is not even gone. I don't think you insinuated it was in your post, but I've seen a lot of people who have.

Is it an improvement? Probably, we'll see. Enough to turn a bunch of no names and under-performers into a legitimate NFL defense? Tall order there.

 

[TwoDeep3]

One aspect that seems to be missed is this.

The defense can get better than last year and still lose due to a tougher schedule and stouter competition.

 

[JBS]

The schedule is tough, but by no means is it brutal. .Why does everyone think it's so hard. Yes, we play vs the toughest two teams in the nfc in sf and sea.. But we also play vs the afc south which is the worst division in football. .. The nfc east is also a joke... I see about 5 very difficult games. .. That isnt anything too absurd. .. It doesn't help that we arent very good but that doesn't have to do w how good our opponents are

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

could you post something condinced into 2 or 3 sentences. my attention spam is not great . . . look, a bird! . . . oh, and why is not dallas in the chart for comparison. I like consice posts, easy to read ones with short words, pls be kind and accomodate me and my attention spam.

 

[waving monkey]

I love the popular straw man argument . The "God Marinelli" as if exaggerated praise damns Rod.
Then there is the "cult of Marinelli", again the same polemic contention.
Marinelli's a damn good defensive coach why does that get on any Cowboy fans nerves.

The human condition is a curious animal.

 

[CyberB0b]

I'd be thrilled with mediocre. That said, we technically made enough changes, including at DC. If we improve, reading who we added after the fact it's going to fit right in with the changes made by those other teams.

It's sad that this is the standard which we set now as Cowboys fans in 2014. We haven't really made that many changes. Marinelli was part of the problem last year, and most of the position coaches on that side of the ball kept their jobs.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Nobody said the defense can't get worse. Considering we were historically bad it is EXTRMELEY unlikely we won't be better.

That's how regression to the mean works.

 

[Idgit]

It's sad that this is the standard which we set now as Cowboys fans in 2014. We haven't really made that many changes. Marinelli was part of the problem last year, and most of the position coaches on that side of the ball kept their jobs.

I don't think it's sad, but, hey, everybody here knows I'm a realist.

If you've got a top 5 offense (in terms of point/series) and a top 10 ST team, mediocre on defense gets you in the playoffs and legitimately competing. I think that's pretty realistic given the talent on this team right now. Of course, we all want better talent, but that's not happening overnight. Right now, I'll settle for an NFCE crown and a legitimate shot in that first playoff game if I can get it. And 'mediocre defense' gets us there.

 

[Zman5]

having benefit of one of the best offenses in the league helps a lot.

Problem with your statement is, the Saints had a better offense in 2012 than 2013. They had better Offense ranking both in yards and points in 2012 yet they were dead last in defense .

 

[jnday]

Crawford and company have not shown anything in real games.

We HOPE they have talent and we HOPE they produce but that is all it is.

I find it hard to believe that so much faith and hope is being put into players that have accomplished nothing in this league.

 

[CyberB0b]

I find it hard to believe that so much faith and hope is being put into players that have accomplished nothing in this league.

That has been the foundation of the Jones-run Cowboys.

 

[Risen Star]

Even if they are just as historically bad, I'll continue to be impressed by the job Rod Marinelli is doing with this defense.

It's amazing to watch.

Rod Marinelli.

 

[burmafrd]

The schedule is tough, but by no means is it brutal. .Why does everyone think it's so hard. Yes, we play vs the toughest two teams in the nfc in sf and sea.. But we also play vs the afc south which is the worst division in football. .. The nfc east is also a joke... I see about 5 very difficult games. .. That isnt anything too absurd. .. It doesn't help that we arent very good but that doesn't have to do w how good our opponents are

notice how you left out Arizona; Rams could also be a lot better. AFC south could be improved as well. Houston will not be an easy out and Indy will be very tough. So there are 6 games right there. Saints and Bears as well and how good have we done with either? So yes the schedule is very brutal.

 

[JBS]

notice how you left out Arizona; Rams could also be a lot better. AFC south could be improved as well. Houston will not be an easy out and Indy will be very tough. So there are 6 games right there. Saints and Bears as well and how good have we done with either? So yes the schedule is very brutal.

There is a difference between very difficult gamesrand difficult games... There are 10 teams or so in the league that are in the bears, colts, and cardinals caliber. .. those are tough games. .. they arent brutal. .. and i said there were 5 brutal games on the schedule and i didnt name all 5, so i didnt leave anybody out bc i didn't name name. .

If you are afraid of the rams and Texans, you might as well be afraid of 20 teams in the nfl. .give me break..

No team that has 6 games vs the nfc east and 4 games vs the afc south has a brutal schedule. .. Period. .. Thats 10 games right there vs at best mediocre teams

 

[Fredd]

the defense last year, when healthy, was passable...middle of the pack...then the injuries took over and the lack of depth punched them in the face....I believe the depth to be better, and even though we lost an 8-game stud in Lee, if he inevitably was going to go down, it is better that it happened when it did...I think this D ends up being in the 20 range this season if they can stay on the field...I base that mostly on their age (able to stay healthy) and potentially utilizing a different rotation of C to B guys that will always have a decent, albeit non-superstar DL out there every down...getting a pass rush could elevate this D into the top half of the league, but I think that the players are too green to just vault into that category...I am looking forward to the season especially if the team can stay healthy

 

[JBS]

Our schedule is so brutal, yet vegas has us winning 8 games, the same total as last year. ..

The schedule isn't any harder. .. the team just isn't any better

 

[xwalker]

There's this fallacy that the defense can't be any worse since you can't be any worse than the 32nd ranked defense. That doesn't mean we can't be worse statistically than last year. It honestly wouldn't surprise me. I want to have hope but I can't really find any anywhere. I'm extremely optimistic about the offense. I'm predicting top 3 in the league. But I can honestly see the defense being worse than last year.

The great thing about sports as compared to other topics that are debated is that the questions get answered. There is even a schedule of when the answers will occur.