Doomsdayblitz
Cogan
- Messages
- 2,368
- Reaction score
- 797
I've been a fan of this team since I was ten years old, in 1965. I've see the good, bad, & the ugly regarding their defense. Here is my take on the Cowboys the 2016 version after 11 games, in no particular order:
The DL
avid Irving is our best DL, & at 6-7, 275, should be playing LDE. Ty Crawford is playing out of place due to the lack of depth at DE, I know, but, at 6-4, 295, should switch places with Irving, since he is heavier & more experienced at the 3-tech. The move would give our best perpetrator (Irving) less trash to move through to get into the backfield, which he is getting extremely good at. McClain & Thorton have played very well at the 1-tech spot. Rookie Maliek Collins needs more refinement, but is a keeper. DeMarcus Lawrence has been inconsistent, & needs to play harder & more aggressively every down. The pass rush is appalling, & it's time for the team to start drafting rushers in bunches-starting with the 1st round in 2017. No pot heads, PLEASE.
LBs: Sean Lee is playing like his Pro Bowl self. The young guys are encouraging. Hitchens & Wilson fly to the ball, & arrive with an attitude. From what I've seen from Nzeocha in the preseason, he's an excellent athlete as well. The jury is obviously still out on Jaylon Smith.
DBs: Two rookies have really caught my eye. Anthony Brown has been thrown into the fire, facing each opponent's best WR each week, & has more than held his own. He's been beaten several times, but has gotten little help deep. I don't know if it's the scheme they're running at the time, but too many times Byron Jones has arrived way too late on a bomb score. I know it's early yet, but I believe Jones' best position is at CB. Which brings me to the second rookie, Kavon Frazier. Every time he's in the game, number 35 is right there to help out when the ball is thrown in his vicinity. I believe that he has much better safety instincts than Jones right now, which is why I would give him a shot at starting next season, moving Jones back to CB. Church is solid, but is not a play maker. Overall, the secondary is woefully inept when it comes to making plays & turning the ball over. Thankfully, Malik Hooker, Ohio State's star FS is returning for another year. That gives us next draft to draft pass rushers like Tak McKinley & Dawuane Smoot, & corners like Quincy Wilson & Gareon Conley, & maybe trading back a few times to load up for 2018, so we can trade up for Hooker. This guy is another Ed Reed, with much more size. He has 6 ints. this season, 3 for pick sixes. That's the kind of DB we need to focus on if this defense is going to take the next step to greatness.
The DL
avid Irving is our best DL, & at 6-7, 275, should be playing LDE. Ty Crawford is playing out of place due to the lack of depth at DE, I know, but, at 6-4, 295, should switch places with Irving, since he is heavier & more experienced at the 3-tech. The move would give our best perpetrator (Irving) less trash to move through to get into the backfield, which he is getting extremely good at. McClain & Thorton have played very well at the 1-tech spot. Rookie Maliek Collins needs more refinement, but is a keeper. DeMarcus Lawrence has been inconsistent, & needs to play harder & more aggressively every down. The pass rush is appalling, & it's time for the team to start drafting rushers in bunches-starting with the 1st round in 2017. No pot heads, PLEASE.LBs: Sean Lee is playing like his Pro Bowl self. The young guys are encouraging. Hitchens & Wilson fly to the ball, & arrive with an attitude. From what I've seen from Nzeocha in the preseason, he's an excellent athlete as well. The jury is obviously still out on Jaylon Smith.
DBs: Two rookies have really caught my eye. Anthony Brown has been thrown into the fire, facing each opponent's best WR each week, & has more than held his own. He's been beaten several times, but has gotten little help deep. I don't know if it's the scheme they're running at the time, but too many times Byron Jones has arrived way too late on a bomb score. I know it's early yet, but I believe Jones' best position is at CB. Which brings me to the second rookie, Kavon Frazier. Every time he's in the game, number 35 is right there to help out when the ball is thrown in his vicinity. I believe that he has much better safety instincts than Jones right now, which is why I would give him a shot at starting next season, moving Jones back to CB. Church is solid, but is not a play maker. Overall, the secondary is woefully inept when it comes to making plays & turning the ball over. Thankfully, Malik Hooker, Ohio State's star FS is returning for another year. That gives us next draft to draft pass rushers like Tak McKinley & Dawuane Smoot, & corners like Quincy Wilson & Gareon Conley, & maybe trading back a few times to load up for 2018, so we can trade up for Hooker. This guy is another Ed Reed, with much more size. He has 6 ints. this season, 3 for pick sixes. That's the kind of DB we need to focus on if this defense is going to take the next step to greatness.
