The defense might be really good

[percyhoward]

.After 6 games (coinciding with Lee's injury), the Cowboys' defense ranked 22nd in pass defense (rating), 28th in takeaways, and 29th in INT.

After 10 games (coinciding with Ryan's "good enough to be 9-1" claim), we ranked 21st, 25th, and 31st.

We finished 29th, 28th, and 31st.

 

[CrownCowboy]

Having a healthy cast of players is definitely exciting and should make this defense automatically better this year, one would think anyway.

I look forward to all of the changes that Kiffin and his Tampa 2 defense will bring. It seems like the players have easily picked it up and it is pretty straight forward. As mentioned, our corp of linebackers is a position of strength and I can't wait to watch a healthy Demarcus Ware play with his hand on the ground all year. I do believe that we will be much better in the turnover department, which every inclination from camp seems to be that that is the focus. Anything is better than the 7 or so interceptions this team had last year. Well I guess anything more than 7 atleast.

Speaking of the secondary, I am pretty confident in Carr and Claiborne on the outside and like what I am reading and hearing about Will Allen and Barry Church. Hopefully Wilcox can get in there some and progress enough to make some contributions at the safety spot on occasion or maybe even surprise and get some serious playing time if the opportunity presents itself. I really don't know what to make of Johnson. He has made some plays in camp but I really am looking forward to watching him tonight and in the other preseason games. I am not as confident in Orlando Scandrick as others are. I know the reports out of camp are that he is really practicing well. Hopefully he'll keep it up.

Overall, I think the D will be improved over last year. I am fairly confident they'll atleast be lined up in time, anyway. Considering the circumstances last year, we have nowhere to go but up.

 

[jazzcat22]

The Defense will be better, as Ryan was part of the issue. Injuries didn't help any either. I wouldn't say he was the scapegoat, but he did need to go.
I won't say a top 5, and have the potential [on paper] to be top 10. But with all the injuries, who knows. Takes away the practice reps. But there is a lot of TC left too.

Right now, until they prove it on the field, I say 12 to 18. And very well could be this range the first 6 to 8 games, then improve from there.
I don't care about the ranking as in yardage, just keep them out of the end zone.

 

[Aven8]

If this team can just be top 10 in points allowed and TO's, we will make the playoffs. We know we can play offense regardless of the crappy Oline.

 

[SWG9]

The reason why the 3-4 really started was it's easier to find rush LBs than it is a pass rushing DE who can hold up against the run. That's still true today.

20 plus years of dominance. Some phase. You should send that memo to Philly as they transition out of a 4-3 and into a 3-4. Send it to the 2 Super Bowl participants too.

Yeah, dumping the 3-4 bugged me too. I personally thought Ryan had to go, but we spent, what, 8 years trying to get the right guys for the system. We finally had 4 chaotic LBs that could all be difference makers...and we change to a 4-3. Man, not seeing Ware, Spencer, Carter and Lee all on the field attacking in the 3-4 is one of the bigger regrets I have as a fan.

 

[Risen Star]

Yeah, dumping the 3-4 bugged me too. I personally thought Ryan had to go, but we spent, what, 8 years trying to get the right guys for the system. We finally had 4 chaotic LBs that could all be difference makers...and we change to a 4-3. Man, not seeing Ware, Spencer, Carter and Lee all on the field attacking in the 3-4 is one of the bigger regrets I have as a fan.

We tried to make a 3-4 defense work without a single season of having a legitimate NT in the center of our defense.

Only in Dallas.

 

[Apollo Creed]

They aren't going to be really good, probably won't even be good - which is okay, they just can't be awful again this year.

 

[Hoofbite]

They're going to have to prove it and to do that they'll have to stay healthy first.

They looked pretty good to start the year but injuries started accumulating and the last 6 or so games of the season it was just too much.

 

[Hoofbite]

The reason why the 3-4 really started was it's easier to find rush LBs than it is a pass rushing DE who can hold up against the run. That's still true today.

20 plus years of dominance. Some phase. You should send that memo to Philly as they transition out of a 4-3 and into a 3-4. Send it to the 2 Super Bowl participants too.

New Orleans just went to a 3-4 as well, did they not?

 

[xwalker]

The reason why the 3-4 really started was it's easier to find rush LBs than it is a pass rushing DE who can hold up against the run. That's still true today.

20 plus years of dominance. Some phase. You should send that memo to Philly as they transition out of a 4-3 and into a 3-4. Send it to the 2 Super Bowl participants too.

I don't think that is the case with Kiffin's scheme. In his scheme:
The Weak-Side DE can be physically similar to 3-4 OLBs. Both WDEs in Seattle are under 255.
The primary pass rushers are the WDE and 3-tech DT instead of the DEs. The SDE does not have to be a super pass rusher. See Seattle and Chicago in 2012.

The problem with RR's and Wade's 3-4, IMO, is that is was very difficult to find OLBs with the mental ability to play the scheme. The SOLB was an especially complex position in their schemes. A guy like Victor Butler has the physical ability to play the position but really struggled to know when to play run vs coverage vs pass rush at SOLB. He might do better in NO if he can play the WOLB position.

IMO, 3-4 ILB is a difficult position to find, especially with the modern NFL passing game. I don't think Levon Kirkland at 280 lbs could play in that position against the modern pass happy offenses. Finding players that can stack-and-shed against OLinemen AND play quality pass coverage is very difficult. It is easier to find coverage LBs in the 4-3.

Having said all of the above, obviously either scheme (3-4 or 4-3) can win.

 

[Risen Star]

New Orleans just went to a 3-4 as well, did they not?

Yes they did. It's not like I think you have to be in a 3-4, but I definitely prefer the scheme. It was made to be a scapegoat for last season's failure. Next offseason it will be Garrett. Just rearranging deck chairs.

 

[Jarv]

Dallas has only won Superbowl's playing the 4-3. Personally I look forward to it. I was never a fan of the 3-4 (even that is what I played in HS). We have 4 guys on the line that can bring heat, My only concern is how their backups do, because I like rotating at that spot, keeping the guys fresh. Too me, those 4 guys will be the ket to this season.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I don't think that is the case with Kiffin's scheme. In his scheme:
The Weak-Side DE can be physically similar to 3-4 OLBs. Both WDEs in Seattle are under 255.
The primary pass rushers are the WDE and 3-tech DT instead of the DEs. The SDE does not have to be a super pass rusher. See Seattle and Chicago in 2012.

The problem with RR's and Wade's 3-4, IMO, is that is was very difficult to find OLBs with the mental ability to play the scheme. The SOLB was an especially complex position in their schemes. A guy like Victor Butler has the physical ability to play the position but really struggled to know when to play run vs coverage vs pass rush at SOLB. He might do better in NO if he can play the WOLB position.

IMO, 3-4 ILB is a difficult position to find, especially with the modern NFL passing game. I don't think Levon Kirkland at 280 lbs could play in that position against the modern pass happy offenses. Finding players that can stack-and-shed against OLinemen AND play quality pass coverage is very difficult. It is easier to find coverage LBs in the 4-3.

Having said all of the above, obviously either scheme (3-4 or 4-3) can win.

So the problem with Ryan's and Wade's 3-4 defenses is that it's hard to find good OLB's and inside ILB's? But we had a HOFer in Ware and the highest rated OLB in Spencer to go along with the most skilled inside tandem outside of San Fran's. I don't understand your argument. What is hard for most teams, we were fortunate to be stacked at. Isn't that more reason to stay with the 3-4?

 

[xwalker]

So the problem with Ryan's and Wade's 3-4 defenses is that it's hard to find good OLB's and inside ILB's? But we had a HOFer in Ware and the highest rated OLB in Spencer to go along with the most skilled inside tandem outside of San Fran's. I don't understand your argument. What is hard for most teams, we were fortunate to be stacked at. Isn't that more reason to stay with the 3-4?

Those are all 1st and 2nd round draft picks. They were never able to develop a quality backup to Ware and Spencer. The 3rd ILB, Connor was terrible in coverage.

Prior to his injury, Crawford at 4-3 DE had already surpassed expectations as compared to Victor Bulter in the 4 years that he attempted to play the 3-4 OLB spot. Both were 4th round picks.

The LB position appears to be 7 deep this year, whereas last year the 3rd guy was terrible.

 

[snapper]

We tried to make a 3-4 defense work without a single season of having a legitimate NT in the center of our defense.

Only in Dallas.

Short but sweet, and true. The LBs and secondary were at the opposing team's (o-line) mercy.

 

[Idgit]

I wasn't heading into the season, but after losing Crawford, I'm uncomfortable with our DL depth. I love our starters, but Rat being out indefinitely right from the start also concerns me. Getting Spencer back is going to be huge for this group, and we've got rotational players capable of contributing quality snaps, but we're light on difference-makers and lost the one young and developing player capable of making that sort of transition during the season this year on the first day of camp, during drills.

Overall, though, I like our talent, and we've done a nice job of adding depth to the LBs and in the secondary. What I really would like to see is 1. how we handle a quality running game and 2. how the defense holds up against bigger, more physical offenses. I'm confident we can play well against certain schemes, but there are going to be games where the lighter DLs are going to be challenged.

I do think we're going to see more takeaways, though. And that's the single biggest change I want to see for this team. Overall, I'm hopeful and have high expectations, but the defense is still a question mark for me until we get a chance to see it in real action. And by 'real,' I mean 'regular season.'

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

The Kiffen Scheme allows for the tweener DLineman off the street to become accomplished, while the 3/4 doesn't facilitate that type of player along the DL.

 

[Hardline]

It doesn't matter what your defensive scheme is. What matters is the talent level of the players running it.

 

[reddyuta]

It doesn't matter what your defensive scheme is. What matters is the talent level of the players running it.

are you saying we dont have talented players? I just dont want to see the defense running like headless chickens out there,they should be fine otherwise.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Eh, the defensive line is a little weak. I still think Ware is on the decline a bit, somewhat overrated by the fan base as well. But I still have hope. We have an excellent group of linebackers, great corners and promising safeties.