Replacing a Weakness

[robjay04]

All of us would agree that teams should focus their offseason efforts on improving upon their weaknesses. In 2016, we had a very efficient passing offense, arguably the best rushing offense in the league and statistically a very good rushing defense.

Out of those 3 units, we have not suffered any huge losses. Most of our offseason losses have come from our passing defense. Our passing defense was our weakness in 2016 and has been for quite some time. Last season, with JJ Wilcox, Brandon Carr, Barry Church and Morris Claiborne playing (or not playing because of injury), our defense ranked 26th in the league in passing defense. I have defended some of these players on here and they are not awful players but the numbers do not lie.

Before Rod Marinelli came to Dallas, his defenses were known for getting turnovers. In the last 4 seasons, Wilcox, Carr, Church and Mo had a grand total of 16 interceptions. That averages to 4 per season COMBINED. Each player had seasons where they didn't even have a single interception. In my opinion, it is unacceptable for any secondary player that plays a majority of snaps to not get a single interception for an entire season, especially when you are a seasoned veteran which all 4 of those players should be considered at this point.

Now, after taking in those statistics, most of which are well known to this message board. Why in the world would you allocate in excess of 5 million dollars per season, per player to keep this unit together? How much worse can we possibly be than 4 interceptions per season and a 26th ranked passing defense? I know it can "always be worse". I was here for the 2013 season when we had the worst defense in Cowboys history....so were all 4 of the players we let go.

I am happy we are embracing some change and actually trying to fix a weakness instead of overpaying to keep the status quo. You can't let one good season blind you from your end goal. The 2007 season blinded Jerry Jones in handing out huge, regrettable contracts to Ken Hamlin, Flozell Adams and Marion Barber...and eventually led to the trade for Roy Williams. That set our team back years and cost Romo a good part of his career, we can't do the same to Dak.

 

[Proximo]

I like what we're doing, overall.

Obviously lots of folks are geeking out due to the # of bodies we just lost in the secondary, but I'm glad we didn't overpay to keep any of them. None of those guys are key pieces to our future success.

I'm excited to see what our defense will look like with some fresh faces.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

All of us would agree that teams should focus their offseason efforts on improving upon their weaknesses. In 2016, we had a very efficient passing offense, arguably the best rushing offense in the league and statistically a very good rushing defense.

Out of those 3 units, we have not suffered any huge losses. Most of our offseason losses have come from our passing defense. Our passing defense was our weakness in 2016 and has been for quite some time. Last season, with JJ Wilcox, Brandon Carr, Barry Church and Morris Claiborne playing (or not playing because of injury), our defense ranked 26th in the league in passing defense. I have defended some of these players on here and they are not awful players but the numbers do not lie.

Before Rod Marinelli came to Dallas, his defenses were known for getting turnovers. In the last 4 seasons, Wilcox, Carr, Church and Mo had a grand total of 16 interceptions. That averages to 4 per season COMBINED. Each player had seasons where they didn't even have a single interception. In my opinion, it is unacceptable for any secondary player that plays a majority of snaps to not get a single interception for an entire season, especially when you are a seasoned veteran which all 4 of those players should be considered at this point.

Now, after taking in those statistics, most of which are well known to this message board. Why in the world would you allocate in excess of 5 million dollars per season, per player to keep this unit together? How much worse can we possibly be than 4 interceptions per season and a 26th ranked passing defense? I know it can "always be worse". I was here for the 2013 season when we had the worst defense in Cowboys history....so were all 4 of the players we let go.

I am happy we are embracing some change and actually trying to fix a weakness instead of overpaying to keep the status quo. You can't let one good season blind you from your end goal. The 2007 season blinded Jerry Jones in handing out huge, regrettable contracts to Ken Hamlin, Flozell Adams and Marion Barber...and eventually led to the trade for Roy Williams. That set our team back years and cost Romo a good part of his career, we can't do the same to Dak.

It's because folks are afraid of change.

Fear of loss almost always outweighs fear of gain.

Pass defense has been the "Achilles heal" for this team for quite a while... And it certainly isn't all about pass rush either.

 

[CATCH17]

I like what we're doing, overall.

Obviously lots of folks are geeking out due to the # of bodies we just lost in the secondary, but I'm glad we didn't overpay to keep any of them. None of those guys are key pieces to our future success.

I'm excited to see what our defense will look like with some fresh faces.

I gotta see what they replace those guys who left with before I say I like what we did.


Basically everyone we let walk isn't a difference maker and they don't decide whether or not we win football games.

I hope we get a few rookies to replace them that can be more than Jags.

 

[jobberone]

We did well in points given up but those stats do tend to reflect a real problem. We can't compete at the highest level in the playoffs facing elite QBs. Our offense and the defensive scheme hides a lot but you have to rush the passer and defend the pass to win a SB unless you can win shoot outs.

They need to address up front which is hardest then get the pass defense revved up esp in the takeaway department.

 

[khiladi]

I'm not sure this is intent, more than it's the players no longer wanting to stay. We didn't 'let them walk'.

 

[jazzcat22]

People whined when they were here, and now are whining that they left. Yes, part of that is because they have not signed anyone other than Carroll. But there is no one to sign and we do have Scandrick and Brown, Frazier was drafted for this also .And we have a deep draft yet to do.

 

[Alexander]

It's because folks are afraid of change.

Fear of loss almost always outweighs fear of gain.

Pass defense has been the "Achilles heal" for this team for quite a while... And it certainly isn't all about pass rush either.

This is like Christmas for you. You are like Ralphie expecting a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock under the tree. Careful with them corners, kid. You'll put your eye out.

 

[jobberone]

I like what we're doing, overall.

Obviously lots of folks are geeking out due to the # of bodies we just lost in the secondary, but I'm glad we didn't overpay to keep any of them. None of those guys are key pieces to our future success.

I'm excited to see what our defense will look like with some fresh faces.

Agreed. We need some players back there and that means guys who can generate big plays and not give up too many negative big plays. You can look at who wins the pass differential game about 80+% of the time to predict a winner. The other is who wins the big play Diff.

 

[robjay04]

I gotta see what they replace those guys who left with before I say I like what we did.


Basically everyone we let walk isn't a difference maker and they don't decide whether or not we win football games.

I hope we get a few rookies to replace them that can be more than Jags.

Better idea to inject some different players now instead of overpaying for the status quo hoping that somehow the same players will learn how to play better in their fifth year together.

 

[Proximo]

I gotta see what they replace those guys who left with before I say I like what we did.

I'm not going to Monday morning QB it like that. I agree with letting those players walk, given the information that was available at the time, and the circumstances. I am glad we did not overpay to retain those guys.

Other than that I agree with your post.

The only one I would've been okay with keeping, at the right price, would've been Mo. He seems to be coming around, and he's still relatively young. But, I understand the FO is ready to move on due to the constant unreliability.

 

[jazzcat22]

This is a quote.....so look at it in these terms....

"Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities"
-Terry Josephson

 

[jobberone]

This is like Christmas for you. You are like Ralphie expecting a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock under the tree. Careful with them corners, kid. You'll put your eye out.

We lost some solid players who did not make big plays often enough. It's an opportunity to find some who will. The secondary is the easiest to fill on defense and the second easiest on the team although that's not saying no worries. But we'll find those other two CBs and add a S. We will survive apologies to the songwriter.

 

[Proximo]

I'm not sure this is intent, more than it's the players no longer wanting to stay. We didn't 'let them walk'.

The players go where the money is. There was a clear decision by the FO to NOT get into a bidding war for their services. So there's definitely some intent. If we valued them they'd have been resigned.

 

[khiladi]

The players go where the money is. There was a clear decision by the FO to NOT get into a bidding war for their services. So there's definitely some intent. If we valued them they'd have been resigned.

Every player goes after big money.. Dallas probably didn't expect they would field that much money from other bidders.. they lost a lot in the secondary, meaning I think they are pretty much reacting..

 

[robjay04]

This is a quote.....so look at it in these terms....

"Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities"
-Terry Josephson

Yes.

If you were satisfied with our passing defense the last 4-5 seasons then this offseason is not for you.

If you want better...then this at least gives you a better chance.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

This is like Christmas for you. You are like Ralphie expecting a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock under the tree. Careful with them corners, kid. You'll put your eye out.

I don't think they (the Cowboys) are going to go whole-hog in drafting secondary guys.

I've always felt they would draft a corner and a safety next month, and nothing they have or haven't done in free agency has changed my mind.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I am happy we are embracing some change and actually trying to fix a weakness instead of overpaying to keep the status quo.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

People are acting like everyone is freaking out because we lost a few overpaid scrubs in the secondary. We're freaking out because we continue to go into each season with a bunch of nobodies on the defense, particularly the D-line. Our hope rests in the talents of one-game-wonder David Irving and recent-3rd-round-pick Charles Tapper. Marinelli manages to not improve the D-line at all with each passing year. Heck, if not for Sean Lee, who was already here when Marinelli got here, our defense would be historically awful. And it looks like purging our secondary will give us another year of not addressing the D-line early in the draft. People forget that our entire core on offense, outside of Dak, is composed of 1st round picks (Zeke, Dez, Beard, Smith, Martin). Not to mention, our best defensive player in recent history, Ware, was also a 1st round pick. Meanwhile, our current defense is built of a few 2nd round gambles and a bunch of mid-to-late round guys with low ceilings.

 

[thisiscowboyscountry]

I'm not sure this is intent, more than it's the players no longer wanting to stay. We didn't 'let them walk'.

We did let them walk.... If we wanted to keep them we could have paid them. Carr even said himself he wanted to stay in Dallas but there is also a business side. The Cowboys simply had a number in mind they were worth and when it went above that decided to back away..