Some of my takes on the defense

[Cowboyny]

They are pretty the same player really

Marinelli always wanted a big rotation so he can get his players to play with relentless effort. Believe these two will help with the rotation but won't be counted on to be starting players. Also, they both offer positional flex.

 

[Pass2Run]

- I think Marshawn Kneeland has a chance to be a real contributor this year. They our line is built, we need guys that can be high level run defenders. Kneeland can be that. I can see him getting 500-600 snaps even if he pass rush menu isn't there yet

- Linebacker is pretty dire to me. They have role players, never have beens, might could becomes, and we dont even knows. We have no bankable starters at a position key to this scheme. Our best hope is big growth from Liufau and that they are right on James. Im not taking any hopium on Murray. He has been terrible with two different teams

- Im much more optimistic on Mazi Smith than most. I dont think he will ever live up to being a 1st round pick. However if he continues his improvement over the 2nd half of the season, I think he could be a strong run defender this year. If that happens it would be a major boon. And I think it will

- CB is a great concern of mine. Consider right now we basically have an injured rookie penciled in as our #2 CB. A #3 CB plays about 70% of the snaps. Our likely options look like a 1st round bust who has gotten worse every year, and a 5th round pick from last year who struggled mightily. I really hope Mukuamu and Thomas are considered for that slot role

- Im not that concerned with S. We should have a very good pass rush and I think the S's could benefit in coverage. I dont think we have an adequate SS to replace Wilson, but I do think Thomas or even Mukuamu could replace Hooker. I dont even think Wilson or Hooker need to be replaced. I think they are just kind of mid at this point. However with a strong pass rush, I think thats workable. I dont see Bell as a real option

You're right on Mazi. This is a better scheme for him anyway because it's going to give him better leverage instead of just relying on his head-on strength which he doesn't have the flexibility and balance for.

He's never going to give you stats, and judging him on his worst plays is lazy analysis.

Fans don't even care about being objective.

 

[fivetwos]

The defense still looks like it is built to play from ahead to me. The question is how often will that happen? When it doesnt in recent times, they have a nasty habit of collapsing.

Fully agree here.

We’ve seen this in these recent teams, even the ‘twelve win’ ones.

If they can’t get a lead they are screwed, and not something that’s easy to do against better teams. Makes sense.

The powers that be want pass rushers and corners, and they continue to get stomped vs the run when it counts, but refuse to address it. Well….I guess in their minds paying Osa, and Mazis existence has fixed the issue.

If you asked Jerry why he would expect Osa to be better, the answer would be “because I pay him to be.” Doesn’t work that way Jerry, but stay with your outside-in plan. It’s going well.

 

[eromeopolk]

- I think Marshawn Kneeland has a chance to be a real contributor this year. They our line is built, we need guys that can be high level run defenders. Kneeland can be that. I can see him getting 500-600 snaps even if he pass rush menu isn't there yet

- Linebacker is pretty dire to me. They have role players, never have beens, might could becomes, and we dont even knows. We have no bankable starters at a position key to this scheme. Our best hope is big growth from Liufau and that they are right on James. Im not taking any hopium on Murray. He has been terrible with two different teams

- Im much more optimistic on Mazi Smith than most. I dont think he will ever live up to being a 1st round pick. However if he continues his improvement over the 2nd half of the season, I think he could be a strong run defender this year. If that happens it would be a major boon. And I think it will

- CB is a great concern of mine. Consider right now we basically have an injured rookie penciled in as our #2 CB. A #3 CB plays about 70% of the snaps. Our likely options look like a 1st round bust who has gotten worse every year, and a 5th round pick from last year who struggled mightily. I really hope Mukuamu and Thomas are considered for that slot role

- Im not that concerned with S. We should have a very good pass rush and I think the S's could benefit in coverage. I dont think we have an adequate SS to replace Wilson, but I do think Thomas or even Mukuamu could replace Hooker. I dont even think Wilson or Hooker need to be replaced. I think they are just kind of mid at this point. However with a strong pass rush, I think thats workable. I dont see Bell as a real option

Stop the run. Stop the run. Rush the QB to a sack or interception. Get the ball back to the offense.

Anything else to this fact, then resistance is futile.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

- I think Marshawn Kneeland has a chance to be a real contributor this year. They our line is built, we need guys that can be high level run defenders. Kneeland can be that. I can see him getting 500-600 snaps even if he pass rush menu isn't there yet

- Linebacker is pretty dire to me. They have role players, never have beens, might could becomes, and we dont even knows. We have no bankable starters at a position key to this scheme. Our best hope is big growth from Liufau and that they are right on James. Im not taking any hopium on Murray. He has been terrible with two different teams

- Im much more optimistic on Mazi Smith than most. I dont think he will ever live up to being a 1st round pick. However if he continues his improvement over the 2nd half of the season, I think he could be a strong run defender this year. If that happens it would be a major boon. And I think it will

- CB is a great concern of mine. Consider right now we basically have an injured rookie penciled in as our #2 CB. A #3 CB plays about 70% of the snaps. Our likely options look like a 1st round bust who has gotten worse every year, and a 5th round pick from last year who struggled mightily. I really hope Mukuamu and Thomas are considered for that slot role

- Im not that concerned with S. We should have a very good pass rush and I think the S's could benefit in coverage. I dont think we have an adequate SS to replace Wilson, but I do think Thomas or even Mukuamu could replace Hooker. I dont even think Wilson or Hooker need to be replaced. I think they are just kind of mid at this point. However with a strong pass rush, I think thats workable. I dont see Bell as a real option

I hope kneeland steps up. we need all the run defenders we can get.

100% agree. the LB is scary bad. its going to be the down fall of the defense, along with bad DTs, we are going to get abused on the ground.

Mazi is what he is. a 5th round talent drafted in the first round. he was scolding garbage early last year and became hot garbage...improvement? yes. but still garbage.

the three top CBs are coming off major injury. that is a huge concern.

I am very concerned about safties, who probably have to play closer to the LOS to help in run defense and thus leaving us vunerable to deep down the middle of the field passes. I expect teams to attack that area frequently.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

It doesnt suck. It has areas where its strong and weak. If Im right and Smith continues improving and becomes a solid run defender, that would go a long way

its strong at RDE, with Parsons. Osa is serviceable. its trash everywhere else right now, until they prove themselves. the depth sucks too.

 

[Creeper]

I think Kneeland was drafted to replace Lawrence. I think Sam Williams and Ezeiruaku will better better run defenders than most people think.

I do worry about the inside guys and if they can hold up to double team blocks. The DTs in the past have had problems occupying blockers.

The big questions for Dallas involve all the guys coming off injuries. Diggs, Sam Williams, Overshown, and even Butler need to get healthy as soon as possible but some guys will surely miss time.

 

[JoeKing]

It doesnt suck. It has areas where its strong and weak. If Im right and Smith continues improving and becomes a solid run defender, that would go a long way

A D-line with weak spots is called leaky. Ours is leaky and sucks. Maybe they have fixed it, however.

 

[stilltheguru]

This seasons defense really depends on the dt development, linebackers development and the corners actually playing like they want to compete whether it's 5 degrees weather or not.

 

[Cowboy_svt]

We have 280 lb DTs abd 250lb DEs, thats a recipe for disaster late in the year

I fully expect this defense to be good sept-oct and drop off in nov-dec as they wear down

i assume prob not even good to start considering three d schemes in 3 years gonna take a bit to gel for some

 

[darthseinfeld]

This seasons defense really depends on the dt development, linebackers development and the corners actually playing like they want to compete whether it's 5 degrees weather or not.

That we can definitely agree on. I think Revel is the type of CB we really want. However there is some bust potential with him considering his small sample size and small school background. Right now Im not really worried about the injury since he doesnr have much of a history of football injuries