CFZ This Defense Is Special

[Dorsett33]

This defense has a chance to be one of those rare defenses that are being talked about many years later, like we do the 85 Bears or the 2000 Ravens.

The Dallas defense has the unbelievably difficult combination of very good coverage on the backend with a phenomenal pass rush up front. You see good defenses in the NFL and they usually have one or the other. The fact that Dallas has it on both ends of the defense makes it extremely difficult to beat. It doesn’t mean that they will go undefeated but it is going to be a nightmare to try to beat.

The secondary just didn’t really allow anyone on the Giants to get open and Micah and company gave Jones almost no time to try to find anyone to throw to.

That combination is rare, elite, or any other word you want to come up with but it is an unreal unit and it should keep the Cowboys in every game this season. Enjoy it guys because there just aren’t defenses very often that is this good.

Hell of a job putting that defense together. Kudos all around.

I agree but it's one game. Let's get a few games under our belt first. Teams have seen this game and they are going to adjust. So...let's see how we respond.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Mazi Smith was an "un-sexy" but nice draft pick. Shore up the run D with a healthy Hankins. Replace Anthony Brown with Stephon Gillmore and fine tune depth everywhere.

How many snaps you think he got? Be interested to see that Twitter graphic Bob usually posts on who played.

 

[StarGazer1]

Scott Van Pelt on Sportscenter described our defense as horrifying. Yeah, it’s scary good.

 

[AsthmaField]

It’s week 1.. can’t overreact, let’s see next week against a QB they never beat and a team with better weapons. Tonight they were great no doubt, but it’s a week to week league

But everyone was telling us that the Giants have a lot of improved weapons, the best RB in football and a running QB that always keeps the chains moving.

Now they were a bad offense and Dallas needs to wait to prove themselves against real weapons?

 

[ATXSRT]

Only weakness on this D I see is other teams running up the middle... which has been this team's achilles for some time now. Our inside LBers are weak, Clark and LVE won't cut it with power running teams. Everything else is ELITE IMO.

 

[Playmaker3128]

Aside from that first drive I thought we played the run better thereafter. I noticed on a couple plays Hankins (and mazi on one or two) making a difference.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Live Post-Game show on Cowboys site right now... locker room interview. Trevon Diggs just said no defense in the NFL is better than them. Let the smack begin!

 

[ChrisL97]

Remember we did the same thing against the Vikings last year then we ran into physical rushing teams and then we had problems. We also dominated the Giants last year.

 

[EPL0c0]

I always say it: Quality depth is a luxury.

Juanyeh Thomas stepped up.

It's scary to think how good this 2ndary could get when Donovan Wilson & Jourdan Lewis return.

 

[rambo2]

Not to be a debbie downer, but this is only week 1. You guys have been around long enough to know how looooong an NFL season lasts. So many things can happen.

I still wonder how Micah is going to hold up after Week 12. He has faded the first two seasons, because of fatigue and knocks and bruises. Is he suddenly going to be Megatron for 20 straight weeks?

Of course, the defense has to avoid serious injuries or eating their own cheese. Those Bears and Ravens defenses were consistent from week one through the SuperBowl. Their players stayed healthy and never faded.

Can we do this? There is a long season ahead.

This is their best team in decades.

 

[stiletto]

I was honestly thinking during the game after the blocked FG that this is the best/calmest I've ever felt about the Defense. I knew the Daniel Jones runs would stop working and they would just start dominating. Could just feel it coming. I am actually excited to watch this Defense. First time in decades I've felt like that watching a Cowboys team, specifically the D. I am pretty hopeful. I don't think any team will be able to work us over. They are all going to have their hands full, even teams like Miami or the Chiefs, etc.

 

[triplets_93]

Great play from the D tonight!!
Special is when you do something consistently. So time will tell, won't it.
Defense Wins Championships

 

[CowboysFilmStudy]

I make a motion that we recognize this defense as “Doomsday 3.0” These guys looked miraculously good tonight for week 1. Can’t wait to watch the tape.

 

[plasticman]

The 3rd highest opening day scoring margin in franchise history.

The 4th opening day shutout. The Cowboys ended up in the Super Bowl in two of the previous three.

The 7 sacks is the 2nd most on opening day in franchise history. The 1994 defense had 9 sacks on opening day.

The Giants averaged 2.6 yards a play which is the 4th lowest for a Cowboys opening day game in franchise history.

This was only the third time in franchise history where there were two return TD's on opening day. They were both against NFC East rivals, the Giants and the Washington Whatevers.

 

[gimmesix]

Gilmore was the huge add. Last season QB’s could quickly find someone to throw to over on that right side. It is a big part of why they hardly ever threw at Diggs.

Now, with great coverage on both side, great coverage in the middle of the field and everyone in the secondary being a ball hawk, QB’s are going to have to hold the ball longer to find anyone.

With that pass rush in front of them, QB’s simply aren’t going to have time to find anyone open. And because they hate turnovers so much, they aren’t going to want to just put the ball up for grabs, so the pressure is going to get home a lot more than last year.

It is sort of a perfect storm that makes it incredibly difficult on offenses.

What a thing of beauty. From a guy that played defense at every level that I played at… I love to see it.

Not to mention Bland. I was hard on him for his preseason performance, but he just shines in the slot. Very tough threesome to throw against. Next week should be an interesting test for them with Rodgers.

 

[gimmesix]

If I'm not mistaken, they're playing him in the role carved out for Overshown. He certainly showed out. Very impressive player.

I believe that is correct. I didn't expect to see much of him tonight because I thought Clark and LVE would just play more, but Quinn put him in there as a passing-down LB and he shined in the role.

Quinn really seems to know how to use those S-LB hybrids: Kearse, Wilson and now Bell. Even Thomas had some shining moments early.

 

[LonnieElam]

One game.

 

[BlindFaith]

Not sure why there was any Giants hype. Their Oline is either anemic or we have the best front 7 in the league. Probably some of both.

But I agree, this defense is special. We aren't built to be a big time, run stopping group. We basically run a nickel all the time. Yes, teams will get some yards running on us. But so what. Big plays come in the passing game. We have the best pass rush and best secondary in the league. No "expert" should question that now.

This defense will be the best scoring against defense in the league. I'm guessing around 19 a game. If the offense can get us 20 per, we are in the superbowl. And we have averaged over 25 the last few years.

For all of you that have only read about the Cowboys greatness, you are about to see it for yourselves.

 

[plasticman]

I've seen videos where an adult lion will capture a baby antelope or warthog. Instead of immediately eating it, they will prod the little deer to make it run. Then the lion will chase it down again. The lion is literally playing with his food.

That's what this defense today reminded me of. They were just playing with their food.

 

[Kwyn]

Not sure why there was any Giants hype. Their Oline is either anemic or we have the best front 7 in the league. Probably some of both.

But I agree, this defense is special. We aren't built to be a big time, run stopping group. We basically run a nickel all the time. Yes, teams will get some yards running on us. But so what. Big plays come in the passing game. We have the best pass rush and best secondary in the league. No "expert" should question that now.

This defense will be the best scoring against defense in the league. I'm guessing around 19 a game. If the offense can get us 20 per, we are in the superbowl. And we have averaged over 25 the last few years.

For all of you that have only read about the Cowboys greatness, you are about to see it for yourselves.

This is a nice observation. We give up a bit against the run by scheme.

I hope people don’t look at every 7 yard run as an indictment against our interior d-line.

You don’t play with 6 DBs, several out of position, and expect to have the box stacked very down.

It’s part of our defensive philosophy.