Quantify Possible Improvement?

[kskboys]

Definitely Brooks to the middle.
And then Clowney or even better Crosby to the edge. Heck, I prefer both.
And finally Taylor Decker to LT.

If they did that they'd compete THIS year for a trophy.

No possible way we'd fit Brooks under the salary cap. In the end we can have Brooks or Pickens, not both.

 

[75boyz]

I see a defense that will struggle to pressure but will stop the run better. Still need inside linebackers that can read, shed, and flow to the ball. Probably fall 20th+ in total points.

Nice post.
Same here.

 

[75boyz]

No possible way we'd fit Brooks under the salary cap. In the end we can have Brooks or Pickens, not both.

Brooks it is then.

 

[kskboys]

Brooks it is then.

I agree, but Jerry loves him some WRs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gtb1943]

if EZE finally produces; Q and Clark play to their level; Downs is what we hoped for and Thompson as well; and IF Bland comes back and Revel improves then is all on the LBs on where we end up
whole lot of ifs including just how good a DC Parker is
Floor is 25
ceiling is 10+
Between 12 and 24 is my range

 

[JBS]

No possible way we'd fit Brooks under the salary cap. In the end we can have Brooks or Pickens, not both.

You think brooks costs 28M a year? Lolol. Cmon man. This is a ridiculous thing to say

 

[morasp]

Should be much better this year. Too early to tell how much.

 

[Jarntt]

I believe that we objectively improved on defense this offseason. It would be almost impossible to have not improved.

The simple addition of Downs should be a significant impact on this defense. I don’t know how anyone would suggest otherwise.

We have added Quinnen, Clark, Gary, and the linebacker from SFA plus Downs. They should all be difference makers.

The biggest difference may by in the Coaching department. That is an unknown quality but they should have a lot more commitment, innovation and energy.

Having said all of the foregoing, from 1-32, with 32 being the cellar, what would you expect the FLOOR of this defense in terms of total defense with these changes? What do you see the MOST LIKELY scenario for this defense? What would be your MOST OPTIMISTIC outcome with these changes.

Well, we had Q half the year and Clark for the entire year last year and were still horrible at the end of the year. Yes we will be better. Yes IMHO we will be much better. Yes CP over Eberflus should be a big improvement. We had a long long way to go. We made a lot of progress IMO

 

[Reid1boys]

It’s not possible to talk about improvement.until we see these guys pay for a couple years, you are just spectating…. Or kindly put, flipping a coin and hoping.

 

[This is Our Year]

I think this defense as is right now will be somewhere in the late teens. With room to grow over the next few seasons as the young guys develop.

If they trade for Brooks. It would increase some more.

I’d still love to trade for Brooks as well, but the I wouldn’t trade next years 2nd or 3rd. They’d probably want our 3rd based off the few picks we do have I’d imagine.

Not to mention it probably will take some cap juggling to make it work if we keep Pickens at the tag number.

 

[kskboys]

You think brooks costs 28M a year? Lolol. Cmon man. This is a ridiculous thing to say

Didn't say their salaries matched up, that's kinda weird.

Brooks base salary is 7 mil. However, I'm talking about what we'd have to pay to keep him more than one year. He'll be a FA after this year. And then consider what we'd have to give up for him.

And then think about this, we barely have enough cap space to sign our rooks. I have no idea how we're going to pay Pickens even.

 

[JBS]

Didn't say their salaries matched up, that's kinda weird.

Brooks base salary is 7 mil. However, I'm talking about what we'd have to pay to keep him more than one year. He'll be a FA after this year. And then consider what we'd have to give up for him.

And then think about this, we barely have enough cap space to sign our rooks. I have no idea how we're going to pay Pickens even.

Pay Pickens when? An extension? Or this season? He’s already accounted for and you seem good w the cap so you already know that.

Brooks extension is a different topic of conversation but it’s absolutely manageable. And they aren’t keeping Pickens long term. I think that’s the general belief

 

[kskboys]

Pay Pickens when? An extension? Or this season? He’s already accounted for and you seem good w the cap so you already know that.

Brooks extension is a different topic of conversation but it’s absolutely manageable. And they aren’t keeping Pickens long term. I think that’s the general belief

I'm terrible w/ the cap, but I can do simple math and look at Google or AI!!!!

At present, we have around 16 mil in cap space. Which leaves around 7 or 8 after rook contracts. Brooks is 10 mill.

 

[HungryLion]

I'm terrible w/ the cap, but I can do simple math and look at Google or AI!!!!

At present, we have around 16 mil in cap space. Which leaves around 7 or 8 after rook contracts. Brooks is 10 mill.

A small accounting trick with one contract frees up the remainder, if they want.

 

[Gambit]

They added some good pieces to the D. Downs Lawrrence Barwin and Moore will help significantly.

LB currently lacking depth concerns have to be there its a long season. Will Revel be able to show why he was a good value? Can Bland come back from foot issue and contribute?

I get that. I just don’t care about draft capital. I believe mortgaging the future is necessary if you truly are in win now. Draft picks are great entertainment wise. I had fun this draft. Also props to the Cowboys for trading next years first and not this years for Quinnen. But it I’m truly “all in” yes I’m mortgaging my cap space and future draft picks to win now. It’s why the Eagles run their team like they do and why we run our team like we do. Rams too.

That's fair brother. Is Brooks THAT piece though? I dont think he is.

 

[kskboys]

A small accounting trick with one contract frees up the remainder, if they want.

Man, they've already redone a boatload of contracts. Not sure just how many they have left that can be manipulated.

 

[HungryLion]

Man, they've already redone a boatload of contracts. Not sure just how many they have left that can be manipulated.

They have. Just saying. Adding a Brooks wouldn’t be that hard still.

Though I do think that ship has sailed with the trade for Winters.

 

[AbeBeta]

Cats rule the world of useless couch potatoes. Lol

I ran 10k today and lifted for an hour.

I came home and cuddled my cat while watching the Spurs game.

And then I made dinner for the family with enough for folks to take for lunch tomorrow.

@Blackrain -- do you really think that is what useless couch potatoes do? Compare what you did to what I did and then issue an apology or at least shut up

 

[jazzcat22]

As soon as Parker was hired the defense went to floor at mid 20's with the current roster in January.
Regardless of his scheme and that he never called a game as an NFL DC. But he learned from one of the best.

After FA, as they replaced players they lost with better players via FA and trades. So low 20's.
After the draft and trades, high teens.
And that may be conservative, or some may think it is optimistic. As we need to see it on the field of course. We all know this.

I posted quite often. I do not care where the final ranking is. They may start out high teens to mid 20's. Heck even 20 to 25.
They may finish 14 to 18 over all.
As long as in December and January, if a playoff run. They are playing like a top 10 or even top 12.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I believe that we objectively improved on defense this offseason. It would be almost impossible to have not improved.

The simple addition of Downs should be a significant impact on this defense. I don’t know how anyone would suggest otherwise.

We have added Quinnen, Clark, Gary, and the linebacker from SFA plus Downs. They should all be difference makers.

The biggest difference may by in the Coaching department. That is an unknown quality but they should have a lot more commitment, innovation and energy.

Having said all of the foregoing, from 1-32, with 32 being the cellar, what would you expect the FLOOR of this defense in terms of total defense with these changes? What do you see the MOST LIKELY scenario for this defense? What would be your MOST OPTIMISTIC outcome with these changes.

the floor is 20. expected to be in 15 range.