Well, there are a lot of "ifs", but I could see the defense getting a few breaks this year and being better by the last half of the season than anyone thinks they can be.
The best thing we could have seen in this camp is how everybody is playing with such an edge. They are finally playing aggressively, and playing mean. That can mean more to a defense than just about everything else.
Speaking for myself - I'm thrilled.
Another intangible that hardly anyone is talking about is that it is going to be year two in the new scheme. That, just about more than anything else, will help that side of the ball really show well.
If McClain keeps playing and improving like he has been, then we will be better at MLB than we ever expected once Sean Lee went down. Then, they will get DeMarcus Lawrence back and he was making pretty good strides and was likely going to start. He will have a few games to play in before the mid-point of the season. I think both Coleman and Bishop have some pretty good potential in this defense and it is easy enough to learn where I think they can contribute some by the second half of the season. Claiborne has been playing very well this year. I think he finally had an offseason to get stronger and he is now playing with a confidence and swagger that we haven't seen since his days at LSU.
Church played well last year but he is now another year removed from his Achilles surgery and is now in his second season in the new scheme. He should be even better in 2014. Wilcox is really starting to figure things out and is starting to play up to his athleticism. Remember, he has only played safety at any level for two years. Going into his third year playing safety, he should think a lot less and just go play. I really expect good things from him this year... along with some mistakes still.
I actually kind of like our secondary a good bit. I think with Claiborne playing like a different guy and with Marinelli using the corners more like they should be (up tight in bump and run), they will look like a different unit. Losing Scandrick for the first month of the season will certainly hurt, but I like Sterling Moore probably more than most, and I think he will hold the fort until O. Scandrick gets back. I even think that Justin Green is a pretty decent player and will provide good depth. Claiborne, Carr, Scandrick, Moore, and Green is good enough to win in this league. They just need some pressure from the front 7... and therein lies the problem. That may not happen until 2015. The pressure on the QB could be better than we're all thinking though.
Mincey is OK, but I'd rather him come in as a reserve, rotational WDE, which he will be once Lawrence gets back. Melton is one of the premier 3-techs in the NFL, so if he is healthy, we should be set at starting 3-tech. I also think they will find a good rotational 3-tech out of Crawford, McClain, Coleman, and Bishop. I honestly like both rookies a lot and McClain was the biggest surprise of the OTA's and minicamps. Crawford has received a lot of positive press this year, so he might be the favorite to provide help behind Melton.
I think they will be fine at the 1-tech. I think McClain will probably get the start there once the season begins, and he should be a big step up over Hayden. Also, Bishop IMO is a really nice 1-tech candidate for this scheme. He has some athleticism and quickness but plays with a good enough base to really show up in the run game. It won't surprise me at all to see McClain and Bishop manning the 1-tech in the latter half of the season. Of course Brent could come along and add his bulk to the 1-tech position, but that is an even bigger "if" than all the others.
Selvie is a pretty damn good SDE IMO. I think he is fine as a starter over there but Crawford might just win the job at some point this year. Either way, I think we see both Selvie and Crawford getting pretty equal snaps at SDE.
For me, the bottom line is that I think Dallas has more skill and athleticism along the DL than most fans and all media think they do. I think by the end of the season, Lawrence will be considered as a pretty viable WDE in this scheme, and we already know that Melton is a pro bowl talent at the 3-tech. Crawford has the ability to be damn good and Bishop and Coleman both can be better than anyone is thinking at this point.
As for the linebackers... If McClain keeps playing like he has been and becomes the starter at MLB, then I really like this unit. Carter really lost me last year and looked a little soft after failing to take on blocks worth a crap. However, he is very physically talented (second physically only to Rolando McClain) and has a knack for working through trash to get to the QB when he is asked to blitz. I remember reading somewhere that the coaches plan on using Carter to rush the passer a lot more than they used him last year. If that is the case, then he has the physical talent to be on top of the QB in about 1 second.
I know, like I said... a lot of "ifs", but if the front 7 can get to the QB with any reasonable frequency, the secondary Dallas has is plenty good enough. Plenty.
What I like is that the expectations country wide are so low for the defense. With a little luck the defense can really surprise a lot of people.
It wouldn't surprise me if the defense is just as bad as last year... but I also wouldn't be surprised if they are significantly better..
this crap is getting old...give the guy a chance.
