Sudden Impact: Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis

[nate dizzle]

Since the losses of Lewis in week 7, and then Brown in week 12, I think its hard to argue that these two were integral to the success that this defense was having early on.

Now this is not to argue that either of these guys are superstars , or even pro-bowl caliber players. However, what we are seeing is that they were solid players that gave our pass rush that extra second required to get home. They were solid role players, and guys that would give up a play here and there but overall were good enough to hold the WRs in check long enough for Parsons and crew to wreck offensive game plans.

Since these guys went down, and especially Brown, our sack numbers have evaporated. Our corners outside of Diggs can't cover WRs long enough to prevent the quick passes that offenses are using to negate the pass rush.

You need solid role players like Brown and Lewis. Think it was Parcells that stated that in the salary cap era "you can't have steak on every plate."

I was looking for some database that would allow me to sort team defense rankings "since week x" so I could provide the data which I am positive is there but couldn't find what i was looking for.. If anyone has a link to something like that I would be happy to provide numbers to back up what I believe to be true.

 

[cowboys5xsbs]

You don't know what you got until it's gone

 

[nate dizzle]

You don't know what you got until it's gone

Especially with Brown. He was everyone's favorite villain/bagman but this defense went from elite to bottom 3rd in what I would bet are almost every stat in the passing game since he's been gone.

 

[cnuball21]

Isn’t it amazing how sometimes our fans don’t realize how good players like AB and JLew are until they watch the backups?

Remember seeing everyone screaming to cut AB about halfway through the year.

 

[nate dizzle]

Isn’t it amazing how sometimes our fans don’t realize how good players like AB and JLew are until they watch the backups?

Remember seeing everyone screaming to cut AB about halfway through the year.

Agreed, but again, I'm not here saying either of these guys are pro bowl caliber players, only that they played a role and played it well enough within our scheme to allow our scheme to be successful. We are getting a taste of what "terrible" really looks like at that position.

 

[Havic]

Brown is a serviceable player on a reasonable contract. I like Lewis, but bland is the future slot corner which makes him expendable imo. Bossman more than likely getting cut during training camp next year unless he improves substantially

 

[exciter]

Since the losses of Lewis in week 7, and then Brown in week 12, I think its hard to argue that these two were integral to the success that this defense was having early on.

Now this is not to argue that either of these guys are superstars , or even pro-bowl caliber players. However, what we are seeing is that they were solid players that gave our pass rush that extra second required to get home. They were solid role players, and guys that would give up a play here and there but overall were good enough to hold the WRs in check long enough for Parsons and crew to wreck offensive game plans.

Since these guys went down, and especially Brown, our sack numbers have evaporated. Our corners outside of Diggs can't cover WRs long enough to prevent the quick passes that offenses are using to negate the pass rush.

You need solid role players like Brown and Lewis. Think it was Parcells that stated that in the salary cap era "you can't have steak on every plate."

I was looking for some database that would allow me to sort team defense rankings "since week x" so I could provide the data which I am positive is there but couldn't find what i was looking for.. If anyone has a link to something like that I would be happy to provide numbers to back up what I believe to be true.

Lewis not so much, he had allowed 24 rec on 29 attempts. Brown yeah, not so much because he was having a great year but because our depth after Bland has been atrocious!

 

[nate dizzle]

Lewis not so much, he had allowed 24 rec on 29 attempts. Brown yeah, not so much because he was having a great year but because our depth after Bland has been atrocious!

True enough, the defense really didn't go off the rails as far as pass rush until after Brown went down. Bland has been a player.

 

[TwistedL0g1k]

Slot corner Lewis was basically a starter, meaning the Cowboys lost 2 of their 3 starting CB's. One previous ranking even had Lewis as the third best slot corner in the NFL. Losing both for the season was indeed a major blow, and played a significant role in the decline.

 

[cnuball21]

Agreed, but again, I'm not here saying either of these guys are pro bowl caliber players, only that they played a role and played it well enough within our scheme to allow our scheme to be successful. We are getting a taste of what "terrible" really looks like at that position.

They aren’t, but they’re steady starters. That goes a long way in this league.

When the team is healthy they weren’t the problem. The weak links are DT, WR and LBr.

 

[plasticman]

If you look at the Cowboys defensive starters you also see that they were the two most experienced originally drafted veterans. You need those kind of guys for stability and composure.

It's not just their level of play on the field. The Cowboys currently have three rookies and four 2nd year players starting or playing a key role on defense. They also have two 3rd year players. That's nine players with three years or less experience. This defense lost a lot of game experience with Brown and Lewis going down and it has shown. Wright and Joseph can be manipulated by veteran quarterbacks and receivers.

 

[817Gill]

As the post above me alludes to, their communication and chemistry with the other starters on defense has alot to do with our early season success. Those 6 guys played on a string due to how long they’ve practiced together. How many missed assignments did we see those first 7-12 weeks? Very few.

Solid starters are valuable and we lost 2 of our most dependable as both guys rarely missed much time recently.

 

[nate dizzle]

If you look at the Cowboys defensive starters you also see that they were the two most experienced originally drafted veterans. You need those kind of guys for stability and composure.

It's not just their level of play on the field. The Cowboys currently have three rookies and four 2nd year players starting or playing a key role on defense. They also have two 3rd year players. That's nine players with three years or less experience. This defense lost a lot of game experience with Brown and Lewis going down and it has shown. Wright and Joseph can be manipulated by veteran quarterbacks and receivers.

Exactly. I'm all for continuing to draft and look for the next Diggs, especially now that we don't know what Brown will look like after a torn Achilles, but up until his injury our defense was giving offenses nightmares.

 

[Kingofholland]

Since the losses of Lewis in week 7, and then Brown in week 12, I think its hard to argue that these two were integral to the success that this defense was having early on.

Now this is not to argue that either of these guys are superstars , or even pro-bowl caliber players. However, what we are seeing is that they were solid players that gave our pass rush that extra second required to get home. They were solid role players, and guys that would give up a play here and there but overall were good enough to hold the WRs in check long enough for Parsons and crew to wreck offensive game plans.

Since these guys went down, and especially Brown, our sack numbers have evaporated. Our corners outside of Diggs can't cover WRs long enough to prevent the quick passes that offenses are using to negate the pass rush.

You need solid role players like Brown and Lewis. Think it was Parcells that stated that in the salary cap era "you can't have steak on every plate."

I was looking for some database that would allow me to sort team defense rankings "since week x" so I could provide the data which I am positive is there but couldn't find what i was looking for.. If anyone has a link to something like that I would be happy to provide numbers to back up what I believe to be true.

Totally agree, I know Brown hasn't played the ball well in the air but was usually in position. Lewis is an underrated slot guy. Every corner gives up plays it just becomes more obvious when it's all the time. At this point maybe they want to give Daron Blande a look on the outside.

 

[nate dizzle]

Totally agree, I know Brown hasn't played the ball well in the air but was usually in position. Lewis is an underrated slot guy. Every corner gives up plays it just becomes more obvious when it's all the time. At this point maybe they want to give Daron Blande a look on the outside.

I agree other than I think Bland is going to steal Lewis's spot in the slot over shifting outside. Guess it will depend on what Brown looks like getting back from injury. I haven't looked at his timetable for return next season yet, but I'd doubt he's ready by TC with the torn Achilles.

 

[exciter]

Exactly. I'm all for continuing to draft and look for the next Diggs, especially now that we don't know what Brown will look like after a torn Achilles, but up until his injury our defense was giving offenses nightmares.

Brown is 29 and his contract is expiring. It almost always takes 2 seasons to get completely back to where they were prior to that particular injury at CB. Guessing his career is over!

 

[Zekeats]

Lewis is under contract for next year and I would 100% give Anthony Brown a 1-2 year deal. Lewis is a top 5 slot corner and Brown can be a stop gap/depth guy. Both very good corners and so underrated and undervalued on this board.

 

[nate dizzle]

Brown is 29 and his contract is expiring. It almost always takes 2 seasons to get completely back to where they were prior to that particular injury at CB. Guessing his career is over!

Sadly I think you are correct

 

[exciter]

Sadly I think you are correct

He had a nice career for a 6th round pick and earned every penny of the 15m on that 2nd contract, even if fans didn’t recognize the effort. Unless he was just really foolish with his finances he should be good. He always seemed to be fairly intelligent so he could look at coaching!

 

[Cowboy_svt]

Brown is 29 and his contract is expiring. It almost always takes 2 seasons to get completely back to where they were prior to that particular injury at CB. Guessing his career is over!

Wouldnt mind him back on a cheap deal. Him and diggs are our best press corners, hopefully he recovers well