This defense going forward

[xwalker]

FWIW, I don't have time to watch film as much I as would like, but I was a high school DL coach for a good while, so I normally like to re watch a couple of times and focus on the DL, and I am seem seeing the same things that you are seeing. Crawford has been solid against the run and works hard in pass rush, but is limited. I don't think Irving plays nearly as well at DE as he does rushing from the inside.

Ideally, they could find a big time pass rusher to play RDE, move DLaw back to SDE and move Crawford back to DT. The only problem with that plan is that most of the elite pass rushers that can help us from day 1 will be long gone before the bottom of round one. We could go the FA route, but the elite pass rushers will likely too pricey for us. As you mentioned, I wonder if some of the Crawford's and DLaw's issues are due to their weight. Crawford trained be a 3-tech and DLaw trained to be the SDE. I wonder if our best bet is to have those guys both drop 20lbs or so, while drafting the best guy we can.

What were your thoughts on Mayowa? I know a lot of people on here are loving him now because of his sack, but I saw a guy that is weak against the run.

There are no easy answers for the future. It would be great to get a Chandler Jones type free agent but I doubt it happens.

Mayowa is quick but lacks strength. They make his run defense issue worse by having their DEs crash down inside so often, usually as part of a stunt.

Gregory irritates me because he could have been the guy they need.

 

[Sarge]

I'm much more concerned about this defense going backward.

 

[Texas_Pete]

Media can feign clowning us if they want, but we're getting it done:

I've also seen Pittsburgh and Minnesota fail to convert 2pt conversions 5 consecutive times. We "bend but don't break" between the 20s, then stiffen in the red zone. Field goals won't beat us.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

I agree about Jones to CB.

He has improved this year but he is not producing interceptions or turnovers.

A guy drafted #1 like Jones needs to have more impact than just making tackles.

Claiborne is not coming back next year and we can not afford to draft another DB high to replace him.

So move Jones and lets move on from a project like Claiborne.

He has been a failure.

Thank you! As much as I like Jones, he just hasn't had Anthony Brown's back this season. After throwing the rookie to the wolves by playing him opposite opponents' best WR, you'd think that Jones would line up on the inside hash on Brown's side, at the least. In going back over video, however, he has constantly lined up BETWEEN the hashes, & the Steelers' Antonio Brown, the Skins' DeSean Jackson, the Ravens' Steve Smith Sr. have toasted the poor guy. More often than not, you'll see Jones trailing woefully behind the play, not having a chance at helping out. Some players have great safety instincts, & some don't. I would love if we would load up on picks for 2018, & pick up Ohio State's Malik Hooker. The kid has six interception, 3 of them pick sixes. He's almost the athlete Jones is, but has twice the instincts. Best of all, he catches everything within his rather incredible range.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

Irving should be progressing just like Dak and he's not...in my eyes. And I believe me lying eyes

He's his aaiihgt.

Maybe you have his number mixed up with someone else's. Just watch #95 next game. He's the giant who lives in the opponent's backfield, & was named NFC POTW due to his awesome play vs GB. You're comparing Irving to Dak Prescott?! For one, Prescott has much more talent on his side of the ball who help make him better. Second, they play two very different positions. No other Cowboys defensive player has been voted POTW, so I'd say he's much more than "aaihgt".

 

[Nightman]

Brown had a breakdown against DJackson and almost against CJohnson this week but they only stick out because of how solid he has been.....Brown has been tested over and over and has passed with flying colors.......BJones has been a godsend for our D and has allowed our CBs a chance to be a lot more aggressive.....I love Church and Wilcox bringing the lumber instead of chasing WRs all over the field

Our best secondary is Mo and Brown on the outside.....healthy OScan as the slot and Carr as the backup or Dime....BJones is the FS and Church is the SS with Wilcox getting some reps

DWilson has solidified the SAM and Hitchens and Lee have been pretty solid, with Hitchens doing better in the Nickel lately

Upfront TCrawford, DIrving, MCollins and DLawrence have been our best performers....TMcClain, Mayowa, Thornton, JCrawford and RDavis are decent rotation guys but we sorely miss RGregory and CTapper

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

Good post, the LDE is still kind of a mystery. IMO Tyrone Crawford should have cemented this spot but he hasn't really done that. I could see Dallas moving DLaw back there next season and signing a RDE.

I agree with Xwalker that Irving is better in the middle, he could still establish himself as a starting DE but right now he helps most as a beast backing up the 3T.

I like Kavon Frazier, but my spot for him next year would be replacing JJ Wilcox as the 3rd Safety.

I just think of Too Tall Jones when I look at the impact that Irving is making, & how many passes he could swat down playing at the LDE position. Crawford has made little impact there. We need DEs who dominate & are constantly in the opponent's backfield. We haven't had that since D-Ware in 2012. That's WAY too long to go without a stud pass rusher. We have to draft at least two stud DEs next year if we're going to take some of the pressure off of our secondary.

 

[CCBoy]

Do you really think that Byron Jones has been in good position to help out Anthony Brown on deep balls this season? I'm sure if you could find the video of previous games, you'd see Jones trailing badly as Brown gets beaten deep like a drum by Anthonio Brown of the Steelers: 14 for 154, DeSean Jackson of the Skins: 4 for 118, Steve Smith Sr. of the Ravens 8 for 99, etc., etc. Either Rod Marinelli is putting a rookie corner out on a limb with very little help deep, or Jones doesn't have the instincts to play FS. You decide.

I think that X was implying more is needed than an attitude for a discussion to be more than a personal feeling. Biased or not.

 

[Kaiser]

I just think of Too Tall Jones when I look at the impact that Irving is making, & how many passes he could swat down playing at the LDE position. .

A lot of his big plays have come from the DT position and I've read things that the coaches think he is better inside. That said, if he improved as much next year as he has this year, he could be a monster at DE. All the physical tools are there, he could be a beast.

 

[Sportsbabe]

Maybe you have his number mixed up with someone else's. Just watch #95 next game. He's the giant who lives in the opponent's backfield, & was named NFC POTW due to his awesome play vs GB. You're comparing Irving to Dak Prescott?! For one, Prescott has much more talent on his side of the ball who help make him better. Second, they play two very different positions. No other Cowboys defensive player has been voted POTW, so I'd say he's much more than "aaihgt".

I know. I love that about him. But since the POTW he hasn't made any more catalytic plays. It's getting real now. All the contenders defenses are showing up. We are gonna have to outscore people. Our pass rush is nonexistent.

 

[jrumann59]

Good post, the LDE is still kind of a mystery. IMO Tyrone Crawford should have cemented this spot but he hasn't really done that. I could see Dallas moving DLaw back there next season and signing a RDE.

I agree with Xwalker that Irving is better in the middle, he could still establish himself as a starting DE but right now he helps most as a beast backing up the 3T.

I like Kavon Frazier, but my spot for him next year would be replacing JJ Wilcox as the 3rd Safety.

Crawford was never expected to cement the lde. He was expected to help with the suspensions of Lawrence and Gregory with hopes of tapper and mayowa offering something

 

[Kaiser]

Crawford was never expected to cement the lde. He was expected to help with the suspensions of Lawrence and Gregory with hopes of tapper and mayowa offering something

Playing on a 45 Million dollar contract, Crawford is expected to cement any starting position he is given.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

I know. I love that about him. But since the POTW he hasn't made any more catalytic plays. It's getting real now. All the contenders defenses are showing up. We are gonna have to outscore people. Our pass rush is nonexistent.

What I've been trying to say. 2 of the first 4 players taken in next year's draft, preferably the 1st one, need to be pass rushers. If the other two are corners, I'll be ecstatic. Maybe a corner & a top notch TE to finally be prepped to take over for JW when he retires. If I were running the team, I wouldn't stop until we had at least 4-5 play makers at the DE position, similar to the Giants teams that twice beat Tom Brady & the Pats.