Thoughts about the Defense

[xwalker]

The defense could be very good if just 1 player at each position lives up to their potential.

Obviously, it could also be terrible if some key players fail to meet expectations; however, when I look at the top players at each position, I see a greater than 50 percent chance of that position being very good.

They have to stay healthier than last season.

They could start out slow due to all of the new players. It's difficult to instantly have a cohesive unit with as much roster turner as they've had on defense.

I'm not going to list all players, but just the projected starters and some thoughts about some of the possible backups.

RDE
Lawrence - Has the talent. The position is simple in this scheme so it should not take too long for him to adjust.
Mincey - He's been a good pass rusher and really good run defender in the past.
Wildcard: Wilson - Super Athlete could be boom or bust.

LDE
Selvie - Could be better than last season if he doesn't have to play as many snaps.
Crawford - He could be a good LDE in the base and move to DT in the Nickel.
Wildcard: Rayford - Very good size/speed athlete. Boom or bust.

3-tech DT
Melton - Past Pro Bowl player. Only 27 now. Knows the scheme.
Crawford - Probably gets snaps at DT in the Nickel.
Okoye - Has started about 69 NFL games. Knows the scheme. Still only 25.

1-tech DT
McClain - Based on review of past game footage appears to be a significant upgrade from Hayden.
Bishop - Dominated small college unlike anything I've witnessed at any level of football.
Coleman - Late bloomer in college partially due to playing DE originally.

WLB
Carter - Has the physical ability. Has played well in the NFL in the past.

MLB
McClain - Has the physical ability to be a very good MLB in the base defense.
Durant - Experienced player with good athleticism.

SLB
Holloman - Shows signs of a high upside last season. Started 2 games at MLB.
Wilber - Almost identical measureables to Seattle's SLB. Looked decent last season with zero prep.

CB 1
Carr - Good in 2012. Good in some games in 2013. Probably tried to do to much.

CB 2
Scandrick - Good in 2013.

CB 3
Claiborne - Terrific in college. Good as a rookie. Struggled with scheme and injuries in 2013.

Safety 1
Church - Good enough if surrounding players do their jobs and/or he doesn't play out of position.

Safety 2
Wilcox - Very good in TC. Good enough to get the starting job over vet Will Allen early in the season.
Matt Johnson - Cowboys are sold on his ability, if healthy.
Hamilton - Good reviews in OTAs.

 

[5Stars]

The defense could be very good if just 1 player at each position lives up to their potential.

Obviously, it could also be terrible if some key players fail to meet expectations; however, when I look at the top players at each position, I see a greater than 50 percent chance of that position being very good.

They have to stay healthier than last season.

They could start out slow due to all of the new players. It's difficult to instantly have a cohesive unit with as much roster turner as they've had on defense.

I'm not going to list all players, but just the projected starters and some thoughts about some of the possible backups.

RDE
Lawrence - Has the talent. The position is simple in this scheme so it should not take too long for him to adjust.
Mincey - He's been a good pass rusher and really good run defender in the past.
Wildcard: Wilson - Super Athlete could be boom or bust.

LDE
Selvie - Could be better than last season if he doesn't have to play as many snaps.
Crawford - He could be a good LDE in the base and move to DT in the Nickel.
Wildcard: Rayford - Very good size/speed athlete. Boom or bust.

3-tech DT
Melton - Past Pro Bowl player. Only 27 now. Knows the scheme.
Crawford - Probably gets snaps at DT in the Nickel.
Okoye - Has started about 69 NFL games. Knows the scheme. Still only 25.

1-tech DT
McClain - Based on review of past game footage appears to be a significant upgrade from Hayden.
Bishop - Dominated small college unlike anything I've witnessed at any level of football.
Coleman - Late bloomer in college partially due to playing DE originally.

WLB
Carter - Has the physical ability. Has played well in the NFL in the past.

MLB
McClain - Has the physical ability to be a very good MLB in the base defense.
Durant - Experienced player with good athleticism.

SLB
Holloman - Shows signs of a high upside last season. Started 2 games at MLB.
Wilber - Almost identical measureables to Seattle's SLB. Looked decent last season with zero prep.

CB 1
Carr - Good in 2012. Good in some games in 2013. Probably tried to do to much.

CB 2
Scandrick - Good in 2013.

CB 3
Claiborne - Terrific in college. Good as a rookie. Struggled with scheme and injuries in 2013.

Safety 1
Church - Good enough if surrounding players do their jobs and/or he doesn't play out of position.

Safety 2
Wilcox - Very good in TC. Good enough to get the starting job over vet Will Allen early in the season.
Matt Johnson - Cowboys are sold on his ability, if healthy.
Hamilton - Good reviews in OTAs.

Nice...and I am willing to bet that this defense will help this team out this season. It might help win a game or a SB. lol

We all might just be surprised..young hungry boys with an attitude of being disrespected.

 

[burmafrd]

Actually I doubt the DL will really produce more then it did last year. I think it will be tougher on the run but the pass rush will be very little different.

The LBS is where we will live or die this year. And right now with Carter still in la la land and Lee out, not sure it will be very good.

Secondary actually I think will be better but if the front seven is not all that it will matter little.

If this D ends up ranked higher then 25th by the end of the season then Marrinelli is truly a top DC

 

[CoCo]

I think its going to be so interesting to see how all these defensive pieces come together. Those that fall flat, those that flash early, those that slowly emerge, those who completely surprise - both good and bad.

If they can avoid last year's long stretches of "hot knife through butter" we should see some improvement. But Wow! it's a VERY significant unknown at this time.

 

[Risen Star]

Sorry. There is no reasonable set of circumstances that could make this defense "very good" this year.

 

[Risen Star]

Actually I doubt the DL will really produce more then it did last year. I think it will be tougher on the run but the pass rush will be very little different.

The LBS is where we will live or die this year. And right now with Carter still in la la land and Lee out, not sure it will be very good.

Secondary actually I think will be better but if the front seven is not all that it will matter little.

If this D ends up ranked higher then 25th by the end of the season then Marrinelli is truly a top DC

I was going to like this. It closely mirrors my thoughts. But you misspelled his name and apparently still question his greatness.

Ppppffffftttt.

 

[xwalker]

Sorry. There is no reasonable set of circumstances that could make this defense "very good" this year.

Which of these players has no chance to be a decent NFL starter?

RDE
Lawrence

LDE
Selvie

3-tech DT
Melton

1-tech DT
McClain

WLB
Carter

MLB
McClain

SLB
Holloman

CB 1
Carr

CB 2
Scandrick

CB 3
Claiborne

Safety 1
Church

Safety 2
Wilcox

 

[Arkyvarminter]

Man this team is hated by the media. Most have us last in the East and ranked with the bottom dwellers in power rankings. I know our D wasn't that good last year but we will be better. Even if we are mediocre it will help a lot. I know we are not world beaters but this team is Much Better than they are giving us credit for. I think the D will surprise people and that alone can mean playoffs. We were not that far off last year and the D was horrible. I just don't get the hate and rankings/opinions......

 

[Arkyvarminter]

Sorry. There is no reasonable set of circumstances that could make this defense "very good" this year.

No but if they are better, like ranked in the middle of the league, and this is possible, a lot can happen. Teams do a big turnaround every year on one side of the ball and sometimes both....

 

[Arkyvarminter]

I'd be willing to bet our D is ranked in the top half this year or close to it......

 

[Risen Star]

No but if they are better, like ranked in the middle of the league, and this is possible, a lot can happen. Teams do a big turnaround every year on one side of the ball and sometimes both....

It would require more talent up front to be even an average defense.

Take an honest look at the DL depth chart. It's actually pretty embarrassing. Our LBs may be even worse.

 

[Arkyvarminter]

It would require more talent up front to be even an average defense.

Take an honest look at the DL depth chart. It's actually pretty embarrassing. Our LBs may be even worse.

Lawrence, Mclaine, and Melton could make a considerable difference on Defense. That, and Marinneli being in charge. I just have a feeling they are going to surprise us...

 

[NeonDeion21]

[quote="xwalker, post: 5593718, member: 5194"
CB 3
Claiborne - Terrific in college. Good as a rookie. Struggled with scheme and injuries in 2013. [/quote]

I don't even know if he had a bad 2013. There were a few games where he played really, really well. The PHI game was one of them.

 

[theSHOW]

Which of these players has no chance to be a decent NFL starter?

RDE
Lawrence

LDE
Selvie

3-tech DT
Melton

1-tech DT
McClain

WLB
Carter

MLB
McClain

SLB
Holloman

CB 1
Carr

CB 2
Scandrick

CB 3
Claiborne

Safety 1
Church

Safety 2
Wilcox

I've got to go with Church. I don't like the chicken or the player at safety. And any list that doesn't include Jeff Heath is suspect.

 

[theSHOW]

Actually I doubt the DL will really produce more then it did last year. I think it will be tougher on the run but the pass rush will be very little different.

The LBS is where we will live or die this year. And right now with Carter still in la la land and Lee out, not sure it will be very good.

Secondary actually I think will be better but if the front seven is not all that it will matter little.

If this D ends up ranked higher then 25th by the end of the season then Marrinelli is truly a top DC

Burmaford..you could coach this defense this year and the rank will be higher than 25th. Don't sell this team short.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It would require more talent up front to be even an average defense.

Take an honest look at the DL depth chart. It's actually pretty embarrassing. Our LBs may be even worse.

You ignore xwalker trying to engage you in a discussion in the actual players and instead settle for this emotional tripe.

The next time you try to break something down and talk about specifics will be your first.

 

[Kaiser]

The defense could be very good if just 1 player at each position lives up to their potential.

I agree with that statement and there are certainly young players on this D that will play much better than last year. But on balance you always get setbacks along with the spots where young guys improve.

I would be a little more nuanced in the statement and say this defense has a good chance of being solid, though not to the level of "very good". The lack of an impact passrusher and Sean Lee will keep them from being an upper tier defense. That said, the front seven will likely be able to send a lot of OK to Good players in waves the way Marinelli likes to play. Carter and Melton are capable of playing at a high level. Crawford, Selvie, McClain and Wilber are all capable of being solid players. You won't get a Pro Bowler at the Mike but McClain can be solid on run downs with Holloman taking his place with solid play on passing downs. Together that could be solid play at the Mike this year until Lee returns.

The CBs are capable of being a very good group. The safeties have four guys at the Atheist Safety (.. the Non-Church position.. OK, I'll stop) that are capable of making a Ron Leary-type of jump in performance now that they know the mental part of the game in their 2nd or 3rd year. One of those four (likely Wilcox like you say) will make that Ron Leary type of jump.

 

[waving monkey]

It would require more talent up front to be even an average defense.

Take an honest look at the DL depth chart. It's actually pretty embarrassing. Our LBs may be even worse.

Could you pick out those players that are embarrassing.We all know the names but I'd like to read about this sad affair.
We certainly have not finished rebuilding. Are maybe its the 7th round picks this year? What man up

 

[hra8700]

So you're saying IF 12 players that each have an over 50% chance of being good (let's say...60% each?) are good...and they stay healthier than last season (so...let's say average or above average healthiness compared to the league...or a 50% probability)...then the defense will be "very good."

SO:

.6*.6*.6*.6*.6*.6*.6*.6*.6*.6*.6*.6*.5=

0.00108

Or...a 0.1% chance that the Cowboys will be "very good."

WHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Realistically, the most probably scenario is that this is one of the worst defenses in the league. Very likely top 5 worst. In many ways, this defense could easily be worse than last year.

The hope will be that the offense can boost it...but obviously the Cowboys are a realistic contender to make the playoffs based on offense...they are not realistic contenders for more than that though.

 

[xwalker]

I agree with that statement and there are certainly young players on this D that will play much better than last year. But on balance you always get setbacks along with the spots where young guys improve.

I would be a little more nuanced in the statement and say this defense has a good chance of being solid, though not to the level of "very good". The lack of an impact passrusher and Sean Lee will keep them from being an upper tier defense. That said, the front seven will likely be able to send a lot of OK to Good players in waves the way Marinelli likes to play. Carter and Melton are capable of playing at a high level. Crawford, Selvie, McClain and Wilber are all capable of being solid players. You won't get a Pro Bowler at the Mike but McClain can be solid on run downs with Holloman taking his place with solid play on passing downs. Together that could be solid play at the Mike this year until Lee returns.

The CBs are capable of being a very good group. The safeties have four guys at the Atheist Safety (.. the Non-Church position.. OK, I'll stop) that are capable of making a Ron Leary-type of jump in performance now that they know the mental part of the game in their 2nd or 3rd year. One of those four (likely Wilcox like you say) will make that Ron Leary type of jump.

I like the Atheist Safety position.

Also, the "Ron Leary jump" is a good example of what could happen with 2nd year players like Wilcox and Holloman. Even Crawford is basically a 2nd year player due to the injury.

From the game footage that I watched, I believe that R. McClain is capable of Pro Bowl level play as the MLB on base downs. As you indicated, I don't expect him to play in the Nickel, but as a base MLB he has the ability to be very good. Obviously nobody knows if he is motivated or can get in shape, but the ability both physically and from a developed skill/awareness perspective are there.