News: The Jump is Big for the Dallas Cowboys

[CCBoy]

The Jump is Big for the Dallas Cowboys
http://cowboyszone.com/2017/06/the-jump-is-big-for-the-dallas-cowboys.html




...Let’s start with Dak Prescott, who is ready to take another step. Despite most media clowns calling for a regression, all reports on Prescott this off-season have been glowing. As the coaching staff has mentioned, Prescott is well above his training goals and continues to put the work in to improve. Dak also is reported to be taking on more of a leadership role as the quarterback of America’s Team with Tony Romo no longer around. Only haters, fools and the lazy would predict a regression for Prescott, who is a very different player than most.

Ezekiel Elliott was already mentioned as one of the top players in the game last year and he will only get better. We saw last season that it took him a little time (very little) to get used to the NFL, but once he got rolling it was scary. Zeke admitted he left yards on the field last year (meat on the bone anyone?) and wants to be a bigger part of the passing game this season. Elliott is still an ascending player and getting better in 2017 is a frightening proposition for the rest of the league.

Maliek Collins is another player who had a good rookie season and is someone to keep an eye on. The 22-year old collected five sacks last year despite missing virtually all of training camp and was one of the team’s best defensive linemen as a rookie. With a full off-season under his belt and an eye on the famed starting three-technique for Rod Marinelli, Collins is going to be awesome to watch this season.

Anthony Brown is the last of the big-time contributors from last year’s draft class and there are some who think he might already be the Cowboys’ best cornerback. While we can debate that issue, we can’t argue that Brown’s play was a pleasant surprise, tying for third on the team in passes defensed with eight in 2016. Brown has always had the speed and athleticism, now he gets an off-season to learn and grow.
These were the big four in Dallas for the rookie class and they saw a ton of time on the field last season. The forgotten four also can develop after being around the team for a year...

 

[waving monkey]

I know it's getting old but wow what a draft class!
Unfortunately JJones now owes his soul to the devil.

 

[CCBoy]

I know it's getting old but wow what a draft class!
Unfortunately JJones now owes his soul to the devil.

If the current draft class contributes in a similar manner...wow!

Here's an article on 'rook' projections...

Taco Charlton – DE
There is no secret the Cowboys pass rush has been very weak since the departure of future Hall of Famer, DeMarcus Ware. The Cowboys have tried throwing assets at the position the last few years, but none succeeded.

They traded up into the top of the second round in the 2014 NFL Draft to land talented pass rusher, DeMarcus Lawrence. Lawrence has struggled staying healthy over his last three seasons with the team and hasn’t been the War Daddy pass rusher Jerry Jones was hoping to get. Greg Hardy was the first try at striking gold in free agency, but his attitude and locker room demeanor had him walking out the door before he got in. Last year in free agency the Cowboys signed journeyman Benson Mayowa to a rather large contract. Mayowa started the season out slow last year but finished the season leading the team in sacks with six.

Enter Taco Charlton. If you have been following my work on cowboyszone.com or my NFL Draft Analysis on SportsTalkLine.com you probably know I wasn’t very high on Taco Charlton through the draft process. The Cowboys have plenty of big, long, nonathletic defensive ends and I didn’t think adding another to that list would make much of a difference when it comes down to getting pressure when it counts. But like this team seems to do more often than not, they selected just that guy. Now I’m not here to bash the guy, because I think he’s going to be a very productive player and potential future starter at left defensive end for years to come. Charlton is extremely good against the run, and while he isn’t a great pass rusher, the tools are their to be developed. Taco Charlton will get plenty of opportunities to make a difference early and often. Charlton will likely be your opening day starter at one or the other DE position come opening day against the New York Giants....

http://cowboyszone.com/2017/06/dallas-cowboys-rookie-stat-projections.html

 

[waving monkey]

This class doesn't have the glamour the 16 class has but was a value/need bonanza.
Switzer is the only pick that was a surprise yet he may be the most glamour pick in the class.
McClay is golden.

 

[CCBoy]

This class doesn't have the glamour the 16 class has but was a value/need bonanza.
Switzer is the only pick that was a surprise yet he may be the most glamour pick in the class.
McClay is golden.

That part remains to be seen, as to glamour. Two of the cornerbacks were considered in the top 5 of the past cornerback class. As to the defensive line, depth just got a lot stronger...

 

[Bullflop]

You betcha -- I'm expecting the jump this year for the Cowboys to be yet another one that a successful draft has provided. I think the defense this year will grow into one that will surprise many by the time this season winds down. Barring an excess of injuries, we could very possibly enter the playoffs culminating this season with a defense that should have us all grinning with delight.

 

[CCBoy]

Start saving money for playoff tickets...

 

[Bullflop]

Start saving money for playoff tickets...

Not a bad idea, although whether I'm at AT&T Stadium or at home watching on TV, it should be a hoot watching my C'boys kick ***!

 

[waving monkey]

That part remains to be seen, as to glamour. Two of the cornerbacks were considered in the top 5 of the past cornerback class. As to the defensive line, depth just got a lot stronger...

Oh i completely agree the value/need I meant hit the button. But I think the 16 class is just too hard
to match the franchise QB and best in the class and really yet to see just how great Dak will be.
Last year when Zelliotte got the ball players were getting static shocks off the carpet [it is rumored].
Really when he got the ball didn't you lean toward the TV cause it seemed like the joule unit of energy
leap up on the screen. I felt charged up after games.
Then there is Smith,MCollins,Tapper,Brown. I get goosey thinking about it.

 

[CCBoy]

Oh i completely agree the value/need I meant hit the button. But I think the 16 class is just too hard
to match the franchise QB and best in the class and really yet to see just how great Dak will be.
Last year when Zelliotte got the ball players were getting static shocks off the carpet [it is rumored].
Really when he got the ball didn't you lean toward the TV cause it seemed like the joule unit of energy
leap up on the screen. I felt charged up after games.
Then there is Smith,MCollins,Tapper,Brown. I get goosey thinking about it.

Good stuff...huh.

 

[jazzcat22]

This team as well as the drafts are getting, or maybe already have, the early 90's feel and look.
Which player, or players on defense will and can be that guy that puts the D over the top to bring it all together. Is there one that will emerge or is that a year away still.
But remember that is what they said in 1992.
After the 1991 season, getting to the playoffs, and getting ousted and blown out by Detroit. Going into 1992, they weren't given a chance as much to make the playoffs or win the division, or even get to the NFCCG. Then when they went to SF, they were too young, not experienced enough to get to the SB.

So is this that year they put it all together. 3 weeks away to get it started. And I have plenty to do to keep me busy until then. Hope it goes by as fast as I hope it it to do.

 

[Pants]

I think after the first quarter of the season, this defense is going to be really good as long as the rooks, plus last year's draft class that didn't play (JSmith, CTapper) can make a humongous difference with their speed and ability... ...they are going to be fun to watch

...if (and I don't see this happening) if Dak has a sophomore slump, I think the defense will cover any deficiency - they will balance that off...but, the improvement on defense with a Dak IMPROVEMENT pushes the team further into the playoffs

 

[CCBoy]

I think after the first quarter of the season, this defense is going to be really good as long as the rooks, plus last year's draft class that didn't play (JSmith, CTapper) can make a humongous difference with their speed and ability... ...they are going to be fun to watch

...if (and I don't see this happening) if Dak has a sophomore slump, I think the defense will cover any deficiency - they will balance that off...but, the improvement on defense with a Dak IMPROVEMENT pushes the team further into the playoffs

Oh, I'm believing that this dog hunts...

 

[CCBoy]

If you paid attention to the NFL at all last fall you know how good the Cowboys run game was. What you might not have realized though, was how good their run defense was in 2016. While they didn’t actually lead the league in rushing, they led the league in rushing defense, allowing a paltry 83.5 yards per game. Now some of that was due to the fact that their opponents had to play catchup a lot of the time, but their 3.9 yards per carry against was still the eighth best figure in the league.

The most impressive part of it all, though, is the personnel they do it with along the defensive line. There’s no big names. There’s no big money. Heck, because they don’t utilize a true nose tackle there’s no real big men even. What they do have is one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. Rod Marinelli has been coaching defense in the league for 20 years now and at every stop he’s been he’s employed an aggressive one gapping defense.

Many run defenses around the league preach gap integrity as a means to be effective. If you have every gap covered, and each defender manages to stay in their gap, theoretically there will be no lane to run. Marinelli’s defenses take a different approach. While executing assignments is still important, gap integrity takes a backseat to penetration. Marinelli wants the defensive line to create as much disruption as possible even if the linemen aren’t necessarily finishing the plays themselves. There are number of ways schematically in which Dallas gets this done. The first is via slanting the defensive line. This creates all sorts of problems for an offensive line. On most zone runs it will require adjacent offensive linemen to pass off their player. On gap runs it means that the offensive lineman has to react quickly and not overreach from the snap. It also helps in giving the linebackers behind them more defined reads as they’ll almost always flow the opposite way from the slant...

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-just-how-good-was-the-dallas-cowboys-run-defense-in-2016/