What can we realistically expect from our defense this year?

[Denim Chicken]

We got Carr, Pool, & Connors in FA. Probably not going to get anyone else for defense.

May get a few impact players in the draft. Carter may come-on this year and Rob Ryan has a full off-season.

How much improvement over last year do you expect?

 

[Doomsday101]

We got Carr, Pool, & Connors in FA. Probably not going to get anyone else for defense.

May get a few impact players in the draft. Carter may come-on this year and Rob Ryan has a full off-season.

How much improvement over last year do you expect?

If guys can learn their assigments it will be better than last year. I think getting Carr was a critical move considering how bad Newman was getting picked on this past season so that should be a big help.

I'm not predicting a top 5 defense but I think this group has a chance to be much better than they were last season.

 

[ufcrules1]

We got Carr, Pool, & Connors in FA. Probably not going to get anyone else for defense.

May get a few impact players in the draft. Carter may come-on this year and Rob Ryan has a full off-season.

How much improvement over last year do you expect?

I hate to be a realist.. but I don't expect a huge difference. We will certainly be better though. As of right now, I don't honestly know who our second CB will be at the start of the season. If it's Orlando Scandrick... we are in major trouble. We haven't made any solid upgrades on the defensive line either. If we can't get to the opposing teams QB or put solid pressure on him.. we are dead.

 

[baj1dallas]

We got Carr, Pool, & Connors in FA. Probably not going to get anyone else for defense.

I don't know how you can say that, I think it's highly likely we get a pass rusher in the draft.

If we get a better pass rush there's no reason whatsoever this can't be a top 10 defense. We got decent guys in the secondary, pretty good linebackers, we just need somebody next to Ratliff who can help collapse the pocket.

 

[cowboy_ron]

A true pass rushing disruptor would make a HUGE improvement which would translate all over the DB as well

 

[Yeagermeister]

Until the team is complete (FA's, draft and TC cuts) no one knows for sure.

 

[Denim Chicken]

I don't know how you can say that, I think it's highly likely we get a pass rusher in the draft.

I meant in FA

 

[Fletch]

Realistically, top 5!

 

[DallasEast]

Until the team is complete (FA's, draft and TC cuts) no one knows for sure.

Stop being so gosh darn logical.

 

[Lodeus]

Top 10.

 

[Nation]

Last Year:
-6th in Run Defense
-14th in yards per game
-16th in points per game
-16th in football outsiders DVOA statistic
-16th in Takeaways
-23rd in Red Zone TD %
-25th in defensive passer rating

I think realistically we can be a Top Ten defense. Closer to #10 than #1, but enough to get the job done if we keep Romo upright.

 

[gmoney112]

top 10 fo sho

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think we are going to be much better. I expect Jenkins to get healthy and play much better. I expect Carr to lock down that other corner and I expect our safety play to be much improved. If we can just tackle better, that would be a huge improvement. I'm optimistic.

 

[JBell]

Ask me after the draft.

 

[Kangaroo]

Carter + Conner is greater than Brooking + James.

 

[The Emperor]

It's too early to tell. I'd like to see who we draft.

But my gut feeling says more of the same. We might have one game or two where we think the defense has finally arrived, but they'll be their mediocre selves throughout the season.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

With the LB situation improved as well as the secondary I think there will be a marked improvement, but for a major improvement to occur I think a pocket collapsing DT/DE is in order. Rat would serve this defense better as a DE if we can replace him with a big, strong presence in the middle.

 

[RS12]

Ask in 10 days.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Top 10 defense.

 

[sonnyboy]

Last Year:
-6th in Run Defense
-14th in yards per game
-16th in points per game
-16th in football outsiders DVOA statistic
-16th in Takeaways
-23rd in Red Zone TD %
-25th in defensive passer rating

I think realistically we can be a Top Ten defense. Closer to #10 than #1, but enough to get the job done if we keep Romo upright.

Great post. Should have been in the OP because it's an excellent starting point. Not some BS perception of what we were, but what we actually were. It's funny because reading the majority of "opinions" on what our defense was in 2011, you'd think all those rankings were in the low 20's.

You did leave out one critical stat and that's 7th in sacks.

When you crunch all these numbers some very obvious conclusions can be made.

1) We defend the run and rush the passer well enough to compete at the highest level......and for me that means field a top 5 defense.

2) Our secondary was horrific. How else can you explain our 25th ranking in defensive passer rating with so much support from the front seven?

Carter and Connor should be a significant upgrade over James and Brooking. I expect them to cover a lot more space and make more plays. That right there is plenty of potential improvement for the front seven.

Carr is huge. Do I know or even expect him to make the NFC Pro Bowl squad. No, but the upgrade over Newman is significant.

SO STOP RIGHT THERE........If we do nothing of consquence in the draft, I'd still expect a significant rise in the defensive ranking. Especially when you consider it's year two under Ryan.

So is a #10 ranking accross the board reasonable, probably or even likely? I say yes.

Now what if we land Barron? Hmmmm makes you think.

OMT I believe we need to and probably will see reduced snaps for Ware and Ratliff.
Brent, Lissemore, Hatcher, Geathers and either a rookie or Butler need to see the field more.