Ranking our defensive players

Howboutdemcowboys31

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Thought it would be fun to do as I sit in on this Friday night. I will include IR guys. Just for fun and just my opinion, all of these are assumed healthy, assumed not on Molly, and assumed focused because the first three I can see people making remarks about:

1) Lee (playmaker in every sense, cerebral, leader)
2) McClain (biggest presence, awesome acquisition, has talent to be #1)
3) Scandrick (chip on shoulder, speed, cerebral)
4) Church (rarely see a missed tackle or big play his direction)
5) Durant (can't believe I'm saying that)
6) Spencer (basing off what I've seen)
7) Carr (playing well, just not 50ms well)
8) Melton (playing better each week, need more though)
9) Carter ( improved his game and confidence, great athlete)
10) Moore (was so mad when released last year, so happy brought back, playing great)
11) D- Law (basing off what staff thought, I trust Rod)
12) Mincey (he is playing way above expectations, 12 is not a slight)
13) Crawford (also playing above expectations and could move up. Eating crow)
14) Wilcox (pet cat, isn't there yet, but doing a nice job I think)
15) Hitchens (better then I thought)
16) Hayden (not a huge fan, but doing better then last year)
17) Wilbur (blah, so replaceable)

Anyone I didn't mention doesn't currently have a big enough role IMO
 
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Risen Star

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Good thread. My first thought is I would have Lawrence higher but I understand that is merely a projection at this point.

Crawford's a better player than Mincey.
 

BAT

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Thought it would be fun to do as I sit in on this Friday night. I will include IR guys. Just for fun and just my opinion, all of these are assumed healthy, assumed not on Molly, and assumed focused because the first three I can see people making remarks about:

1) Lee (playmaker in every sense, cerebral, leader)
2) McClain (biggest presence, awesome acquisition, has talent to be #1)
3) Scandrick (chip on shoulder, speed, cerebral)
4) Church (rarely see a missed tackle or big play his direction)
5) Durant (can't believe I'm saying that)
6) Spencer (basing off what I've seen)
7) Carr (playing well, just not 50ms well)
8) Melton (playing better each week, need more though)
9) Carter ( improved his game and confidence, great athlete)
10) Moore (was so mad when released last year, so happy brought back, playing great)
11) D- Law (basing off what staff thought, I trust Rod)
12) Mincey (he is playing way above expectations, 12 is not a slight)
13) Crawford (also playing above expectations and could move up. Eating crow)
14) Wilcox (pet cat, isn't there yet, but doing a nice job I think)
15) Hitchens (better then I thought)
16) Hayden (not a huge fan, but doing better then last year)
17) Wilbur (blah, so replaceable)

Anyone I didn't mention doesn't currently have a big enough role IMO

Would take Lee out, will not be a factor this season. Durant, Melton, Crawford and Carter should be higher. Maybe Wilcox too. Love Mincey's leadership and intangibles but he needs to finish more plays.

McClain clearly #1 so far.
 

Howboutdemcowboys31

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Would take Lee out, will not be a factor this season. Durant, Melton, Crawford and Carter should be higher. Maybe Wilcox too. Love Mincey's leadership and intangibles but he needs to finish more plays.

McClain clearly #1 so far.

I think everyone on the list is playing great and above expectations I'm just curious who do you want lower on the list because you want a lot to move up
 

Idgit

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Good thread. Pretty good ranking, too. I'd have Crawford up where you have Spencer, though.
A lot of these guys fit more into clumps than they do outright rankings. And, if we're going to project Lawrence, why not also through Brent in there for the fun of it?
 

BAT

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I think everyone on the list is playing great and above expectations I'm just curious who do you want lower on the list because you want a lot to move up

Spencer, Church, Carr, D-Law. I love the effort and gang tackling mentality but this D is still a player or two away from being championship caliber IMO.
 

ConstantReboot

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I wouldn't rank or put Lee on that list. He's not playing this year.

Here's my list:

1. Ro McClain
2. Justin Durant
3. Scandrick
4. Carter
5. Church
6. Moore
7. Crawford
8. Wilcox
9. Melton
10. Carr
11. Mincey
12. Hayden
13. Spencer
14. Wilbur
15. Hitchens

I didn't put Lawrence down cause I haven't seen how he plays yet.
 

dstovall5

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Jeff Heath?! Ohh well, he's number one in our hearts. Other then not having our version of Earl Thomas #1, it's a nice list. Can't really argue with it. :)
 

xwalker

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Thought it would be fun to do as I sit in on this Friday night. I will include IR guys. Just for fun and just my opinion, all of these are assumed healthy, assumed not on Molly, and assumed focused because the first three I can see people making remarks about:

1) Lee (playmaker in every sense, cerebral, leader)
2) McClain (biggest presence, awesome acquisition, has talent to be #1)
3) Scandrick (chip on shoulder, speed, cerebral)
4) Church (rarely see a missed tackle or big play his direction)
5) Durant (can't believe I'm saying that)
6) Spencer (basing off what I've seen)
7) Carr (playing well, just not 50ms well)
8) Melton (playing better each week, need more though)
9) Carter ( improved his game and confidence, great athlete)
10) Moore (was so mad when released last year, so happy brought back, playing great)
11) D- Law (basing off what staff thought, I trust Rod)
12) Mincey (he is playing way above expectations, 12 is not a slight)
13) Crawford (also playing above expectations and could move up. Eating crow)
14) Wilcox (pet cat, isn't there yet, but doing a nice job I think)
15) Hitchens (better then I thought)
16) Hayden (not a huge fan, but doing better then last year)
17) Wilbur (blah, so replaceable)

Anyone I didn't mention doesn't currently have a big enough role IMO

T. Crawford is playing about as well as anyone and better than Melton at this point.

I would have rank Mincey higher also.
 

xwalker

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Jeff Heath?! Ohh well, he's number one in our hearts. Other then not having our version of Earl Thomas #1, it's a nice list. Can't really argue with it. :)

Heath did play 25% of the snaps against the Seahawks. He replaced Church on a few plays and they played 3 Safeties a few times.
 

JBell

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Glad to see Church getting some respect.

Crawford definitely needs to be higher though. Surprised he doesn't get more love around here because I know Fletcher Cox and Aaron Donald were CZ's pet cats the past couple of off-seasons. We finally got us a beast of an interior pass rusher.
 

Lonestar94

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Good thread. My first thought is I would have Lawrence higher but I understand that is merely a projection at this point.

Crawford's a better player than Mincey.

Cameron Lawrence is pretty good but I wouldn't put him that high.
 

Lonestar94

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1) Lee (playmaker in every sense, cerebral, leader)

Finally someone acknowledges Lee's existence on the face of this earth.

McClain's good but you could count on Lee getting double digit tackles every week, McClain has 0 of those so far.

Zone gods and experts feel free to explain why McClain is "so much" better excluding his size. Lee is a tackling machine.
 

Howboutdemcowboys31

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Glad to see Church getting some respect.

Crawford definitely needs to be higher though. Surprised he doesn't get more love around here because I know Fletcher Cox and Aaron Donald were CZ's pet cats the past couple of off-seasons. We finally got us a beast of an interior pass rusher.

I'm eating some crow on Crawford Admittingly but I need to see it more before he can surpass guys who have played well for more then 3-4 games
 

Galian Beast

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Thought it would be fun to do as I sit in on this Friday night. I will include IR guys. Just for fun and just my opinion, all of these are assumed healthy, assumed not on Molly, and assumed focused because the first three I can see people making remarks about:

1) Lee (playmaker in every sense, cerebral, leader)
2) McClain (biggest presence, awesome acquisition, has talent to be #1)
3) Scandrick (chip on shoulder, speed, cerebral)
4) Church (rarely see a missed tackle or big play his direction)
5) Durant (can't believe I'm saying that)
6) Spencer (basing off what I've seen)
7) Carr (playing well, just not 50ms well)
8) Melton (playing better each week, need more though)
9) Carter ( improved his game and confidence, great athlete)
10) Moore (was so mad when released last year, so happy brought back, playing great)
11) D- Law (basing off what staff thought, I trust Rod)
12) Mincey (he is playing way above expectations, 12 is not a slight)
13) Crawford (also playing above expectations and could move up. Eating crow)
14) Wilcox (pet cat, isn't there yet, but doing a nice job I think)
15) Hitchens (better then I thought)
16) Hayden (not a huge fan, but doing better then last year)
17) Wilbur (blah, so replaceable)

Anyone I didn't mention doesn't currently have a big enough role IMO

You have Crawford too low, and you have Carr too high. I think it's too early to judge Spencer, but if he can continue returning to form him might be a top 3-5 player on this defense. Early on Romo said Crawford would surprise people this year, and he really has. He can play strong side end on running downs, and then he can play on the inside in passing downs. Quite a guy. You really have to wonder what will happen with the 3 technique when Okoye and Lawrence return. I think you will see Mincey more inside occasionally

I keep trying to talk about what this defense can do next year. Assuming we can stay healthy, keep this crew together, and focus on defense in free agency/draft, we're going to win the super bowl next year. We have a solid shot at winning it this year with the additions to defense coming soon.

The player I've been disappointed in is Terrell McClain. Come on guy, get on the field. At this rate, McClain won't be here next year, and might not even finish the season out here. I think Hayden is playing a lot better than most of us expected, but I'd like to see McClain and Brent supplant him here.

The defensive line is going to play much better down the stretch, especially not relying on any one player too much. Someone who is going to get hurt or worn down... after playing every snap.

The linebackers will be devastating next year.
 

Galian Beast

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Finally someone acknowledges Lee's existence on the face of this earth.

McClain's good but you could count on Lee getting double digit tackles every week, McClain has 0 of those so far.

Zone gods and experts feel free to explain why McClain is "so much" better excluding his size. Lee is a tackling machine.

Imagine this defense with Lee and McClain...
 

Fredd

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cracks me up that this is a ranking with no injuries and people don't mention Claiborne...whether you like him or not, you seriously put players on the list like hayden and Lawrence (who hasn't played a down), but don't mention Mo? love this stuff

/commence Mo bashing....annnnnnnd, go
 

guag

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Agree on Wilbur. He's a JAG at best.

I'd swap Crawford & Mincey.
 

ScipioCowboy

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I'll list the top five:

1) Your mom
2) Your mom
3) Your mom
4) Your mom
5) Your mom
 
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