Micah Parsons is a total stud and this D got way better last year for sure. But I think it still has a long way to go. Having all those TO’s last year masked some major deficiencies that were very evident in games where they didn’t have multiple TO’s.
When the Cowboys got behind early, teams could run on us pretty easily as evidenced by the niners game. Our best pass rusher last year was our stud rookie LB. Diggs made a ton of great int’s but he was also beaten like a drum too many times for big yardage.
I agree with you that the offense was terrible toward the end of the year and the defense was better. But both sides of the ball must get better to win 12 games next year. And that’s assuming we keep a few of the 21 Free Agents we are looking at and have an excellent draft. We’re facing a first place schedule next year so it will be more difficult to replicate what this team did this year.
I have some faith in this defense actually being a positive and improving.
Parsons is generational talent that you can build around, even with the possibility of losing some key players on D like Gregory, Lawrence, the 1yr contract DBs...
So we basically have some good youth on the DL, peeps can laugh all they want, but how long has everyone begged to address the DL and they kind of did with Gallimore and Osa.
Aaronn Donalds dont just fall of trees, and you get lucky when you draft a player like Parsons, like Donald.
Gallimore and Osa have the ability to solidify this interior DL with the right mentorship, and such a big part of Quinns retention, his ability to inspire and lead this young D.
Hill - can the light come on?
Watkins - Ive been lazy and havent checked his contract status yet
Bohanna* - If Quinn can elevate and motivate, here is an x factor.
DE is another story, going to see major transition here, and DEs that can rush the passer are luxuries and we are going to lose one or both.
Dont even know what the brain trust is planning on doing, extensions and guaranteed money, kick the can down the road, or just dive into the draft and grab edge/LBs and tell Quinn to call Parcells and talk about the 3-4.
Just give Quinn some athletes on defense and I bet he turns them into playmakers. We all knock Jerry for stupid decisions but he I will acknowledge when he makes a correct one, and retaining Quinn may be the 2nd best
thing next to McClay, as far as taking knowledge plus talent and actually applying it to benefit this franchise.
Give the bullets to the str8 shooters, if Im McClay, Im going to leverage all my available resources to a coordinator that actually use the tools he is given.
This defense might be what we hang our hats on for success the next few years.
