Will this defense be better than last year?

[CCBoy]

I think the biggest question lies at two positions. First, being the #3 defensive tackle position. Then, a consideration at the weak side defensive end position.

Heads up, would be the consideration of Henry Melton. He can not just be average once the pads are put on.
First glance, if he is what has been advertised as to his talents, then the defensive front doesn't digress from the interior of that line. This is the high tide mark necessary for success. If he doesn't achieve at this level, then the unit will not overcome the status up front, from last season.

Next, one needs to appraise if the addition of Demarcus Lawrence equals the value of an injured Demarcus Ware presented last season. Even injured, Ware could be counted upon to have at least a couple of disruptive plays a game. That is still an influence that opposing Defensive Coordinators have to plan around and be aware of.

The early indications of Lawrence going up against Tyron Smith, are good. The 'rook' has a punch, long arms, strength, and is very quick off the edge and around. He has some ground to traverse, before he reaches a career status of a Demarcus Ware, but as to equal values at those levels. That just isn't an impression or value immediately awarded. That kind of league standing has to be first earned.

Going by the eye test, these two players should measure up and present equal value to the departed Jason Hatcher and Demarcus Ware...as to last season.

George Selvie has a surprise, last season. And, as far as unit merit, he is returning. Here, and based upon last season's production that is at least a wash. But to the plus side here, a player counted upon last year, Tyronne Crawford, will be re-entering the picture. If for not other reason than rotational value, this improves the strong side defensive end picture for view.

The last position in view, is the #1 defensive tackle. There, Nick Hayden should be considered a slight upgrade due to this being his second season in scheme. He should improved with familiarity in the Rod Marinelli's scheme. Add in the value of a rotation that keeps him fresher, and his picture, alone, should improve from last season.

But that isn't the end of considerations here. Since the principal of a Marinelli scheme is rushmen, and not mammoths, the addition of Terrell McClain improves the outlooks considerably. He is a solid veteran, that adds an element of veteran experience, and he can be difficult to control at the line of scrimmage.

Mix in a element of aggressiveness and unpredictability to this unit, and their effectiveness increases, up front. This along will tend to keep the linebackers cleaner and able to use a high level of base talent in the unit.

This fan likes the projections of solid talent that is added with this season's 'rooks:'

Ken Bishop, Davon Coleman, Ben Gardner, and Chris Whaley

That swings the fickled lady's finger pointing upward.

This, although, doesn't gage the improvements that could come with the presence of Jeremy Mincey, Anthony Spencer, and Amobi Okoye. They are a veteran presence, and could enter the picture to elevate the bar of projection...well, a lot higher. But they are still unknown at present.

If this picture improves, the view of the linebackers immediately improves as well. They will be much cleaner to flow, and last season didn't have the presence much, of Sean Lee for comparisons.

I really like the addition of Rolando McClain. Purely in a skills and talent level, he will bring good competition to the middle linebacker position. Mix in an additional year for the linebacker group, and their collective efforts should improve significantly as well.

A starting unit of Bruce Carter, Justin Durant, and Kyle Wilber would be strong. But change that to a picture of Carter, McClain, and Durant, well, the picture becomes much more solid. Mix in Devonte Holloman, Wilber, and Anthony Hitchens, and this group has an initial elevated appearance.

The thing that strikes this fan, with that linebacker group, despite again not having Sean Lee, they should be even stronger in pass defense. Against a team such as Philadelphia, that is a better picture as well.

Get a picture of reliability and the functional glue going in the box area, and the secondary with have an elevated status as well.

This should yield a picture of an elevated defensive squad...and as to motivations, if they can't get escited at game time with Marinelli and his staff around, they are a hopeless assembly of guys.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think they will be better how much I don't know. I know most have written the defense off and expect little from them. For me I think we have the makings of a pretty decent defense, not saying they will be a top rated defense but I think they will do better than what many are claiming.

 

[jazzcat22]

Nice OP.
I think they will be better, just because they can't be worse. Now will that mean they go from 32 to 20. Probably not. But the play, if healthy will be more consistent. And if that can keep some teams from scoring late so we can win that game instead of losing. Then if it makes a few games diffrernce we are then 10-6. Doesn't matter if we are 28, just keep them from scoring late in games.
That is where the offense helps, TOP and getting a decent lead. Then the running game takes over. They have the OL to do it.

As Jerry said...we are better on paper now, than at the end of the season, as many of those players weren't even on the off season roster. Now are they better on paper now, then going into last year, no.
But this is what TC will be for, more so than ever.

So, yes, I think they will be better.

 

[Rockport]

It would be hard to be worse than last year's 3rd worst defense of all time. Kiffin had evidently lost touch with todays defenses and offenses. Marinelli could be the difference. With all the young guns on defense, I'm expecting a much better defense. Maybe middle of the pack.

 

[dbonham]

I think most of the improvement will come from the strong side. Not trotting out Hayden and Selvie for 100 snaps will be a big improvement. Maybe one or two DTs in the league will have a season as good as Hatchers last year, and while Melton is capable of that kind of production, to count on it would be foolish. I'm expecting improved run defense from the weak side, pass rush- who knows

 

[waving monkey]

Tkz for the nice effort CC. I always appreciate
I do think we'll be better but there are a lot if's and wait and see's.
If just a couple of the new lineman can learn how to break holds and rush
we'll be better.Not greatly better but better.

 

[boysfanindc]

Depending on the outcomes of a few key roles, I think this D could be anywhere form below average (if the below things do not happen) but not putrid, like last year. To middle of the pack (if the below things do happen) and with this O, middle of the pack would bode well for the playoffs and a pretty good team.

The fun will be watching which one it is?

Melton - Returns to form
Lawrence - Gives us what we got from Ware LAST year
Spencer - By week 6 a semblance of his old self
D Line Rotation - keeps guys fresh and we have 2 or 3 guys from that rotation group that give us 5 -6 sacks
Durant - stays health
Additional Pressure - helps corners in man to man coverage
Wilcox/Hamilton - gives us some center field turn overs

 

[DFWJC]

Yes.
They will be better

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I think given we won't have too many more significant injuries, this defense has nowhere to go but up. last year we had guys off the street starting on the DL and playing significant number of snaps. George selvie was our starting DE and Ware played injured most of the season once again.

selvie would now be a back up not a starter. melton should be as good as hatcher, if not better and mcclain is an upgrade given he was on an NFL roster and had significant number of snaps. plus we get two injured players back.

it all starts with the DL. if they play just a little better. then the whole defense is that much better. plus, the team has had one more season playing the 4-3, which no one wanted to acknowledge was part of the hinderence and step back on the defensive performance.

I don't expect much from Lawrence, probably he can ge to 4-6 sacks. that would be significant. he is not a young, uninjured ware. but he could be, should be better than an injured Ware specially the way he was playing at the end of the season.

and I agree, the DL and the whole defense being more aggressive scheme should also help.

I think the biggest question lies at two positions. First, being the #3 defensive tackle position. Then, a consideration at the weak side defensive end position.

Heads up, would be the consideration of Henry Melton. He can not just be average once the pads are put on.
First glance, if he is what has been advertised as to his talents, then the defensive front doesn't digress from the interior of that line. This is the high tide mark necessary for success. If he doesn't achieve at this level, then the unit will not overcome the status up front, from last season.

Next, one needs to appraise if the addition of Demarcus Lawrence equals the value of an injured Demarcus Ware presented last season. Even injured, Ware could be counted upon to have at least a couple of disruptive plays a game. That is still an influence that opposing Defensive Coordinators have to plan around and be aware of.

The early indications of Lawrence going up against Tyron Smith, are good. The 'rook' has a punch, long arms, strength, and is very quick off the edge and around. He has some ground to traverse, before he reaches a career status of a Demarcus Ware, but as to equal values at those levels. That just isn't an impression or value immediately awarded. That kind of league standing has to be first earned.

Going by the eye test, these two players should measure up and present equal value to the departed Jason Hatcher and Demarcus Ware...as to last season.

George Selvie has a surprise, last season. And, as far as unit merit, he is returning. Here, and based upon last season's production that is at least a wash. But to the plus side here, a player counted upon last year, Tyronne Crawford, will be re-entering the picture. If for not other reason than rotational value, this improves the strong side defensive end picture for view.

The last position in view, is the #1 defensive tackle. There, Nick Hayden should be considered a slight upgrade due to this being his second season in scheme. He should improved with familiarity in the Rod Marinelli's scheme. Add in the value of a rotation that keeps him fresher, and his picture, alone, should improve from last season.

But that isn't the end of considerations here. Since the principal of a Marinelli scheme is rushmen, and not mammoths, the addition of Terrell McClain improves the outlooks considerably. He is a solid veteran, that adds an element of veteran experience, and he can be difficult to control at the line of scrimmage.

Mix in a element of aggressiveness and unpredictability to this unit, and their effectiveness increases, up front. This along will tend to keep the linebackers cleaner and able to use a high level of base talent in the unit.

This fan likes the projections of solid talent that is added with this season's 'rooks:'

Ken Bishop, Davon Coleman, Ben Gardner, and Chris Whaley

That swings the fickled lady's finger pointing upward.

This, although, doesn't gage the improvements that could come with the presence of Jeremy Mincey, Anthony Spencer, and Amobi Okoye. They are a veteran presence, and could enter the picture to elevate the bar of projection...well, a lot higher. But they are still unknown at present.

If this picture improves, the view of the linebackers immediately improves as well. They will be much cleaner to flow, and last season didn't have the presence much, of Sean Lee for comparisons.

I really like the addition of Rolando McClain. Purely in a skills and talent level, he will bring good competition to the middle linebacker position. Mix in an additional year for the linebacker group, and their collective efforts should improve significantly as well.

A starting unit of Bruce Carter, Justin Durant, and Kyle Wilber would be strong. But change that to a picture of Carter, McClain, and Durant, well, the picture becomes much more solid. Mix in Devonte Holloman, Wilber, and Anthony Hitchens, and this group has an initial elevated appearance.

The thing that strikes this fan, with that linebacker group, despite again not having Sean Lee, they should be even stronger in pass defense. Against a team such as Philadelphia, that is a better picture as well.

Get a picture of reliability and the functional glue going in the box area, and the secondary with have an elevated status as well.

This should yield a picture of an elevated defensive squad...and as to motivations, if they can't get escited at game time with Marinelli and his staff around, they are a hopeless assembly of guys.

 

[CCBoy]

This is what Marinelli said about his defense:
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowb...marinelli-likes-that-d-has-something-to-prove

IRVING, Texas -- Rod Marinelli likes what he saw from his Dallas Cowboys defense in the spring.

The defensive coordinator liked that he has more players along the defensive line. He likes the linebackers’ “movement skills.” He likes how cornerbacks Brandon Carr, Orlando Scandrick and Morris Claiborne can play man-to-man. He likes the growth J.J. Wilcox made at safety opposite Barry Church.

But there’s something else Marinelli likes about the group.

“I think there’s something to prove a little bit,” Marinelli said. “Not something to prove from last year, but there are some guys coming here off the street with something to prove. There are some guys in contract years with something to prove. There are some guys coming out saying, ‘I want to be a better player,’ who have something prove.

“You get that many guys wanting to prove something, then you can become better. Right now what I like is how hard they’re going after their craft.”

Last season was a mess for the Cowboys' defense. It has been referenced so many times this offseason that “32nd-ranked defense” has been tattooed on everybody. The Cowboys gave up 6,279 yards in 2013 a year after giving up a franchise-record 5,687 yards. Five quarterbacks had four-touchdown games against the Cowboys. Two times in a three-week span, they allowed more than 620 yards. The New Orleans Saints had 40 first downs.

“It definitely bothers us,” Church said. “I’m speaking for myself, but it definitely bothers me. But there’s nothing we can really say or prove different. We were 32nd in the league and we weren’t that good on the defensive side of the ball. This year, the only way we can counter that is by playing good and becoming one of the better teams in the league at taking the ball away and against the run and the pass.”

It’s not just the players. The tag falls on the coaches, too.

“Nobody wants to look at last year and take ownership of that, but we have to,” secondary coach Jerome Henderson said. “And we’ve got to get better from there, and we cannot let that happen again.”

Oh, and now the Cowboys have to show they can be better in 2014 without the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks, DeMarcus Ware, who was cut, last year’s leader in sacks, Jason Hatcher, who signed as a free agent with the Washington Commanders, and their best playmaker, Sean Lee, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in organized team activities.

But the sense is that Marinelli likes it this way. He had ubertalented defenses with the Chicago Bears with guys like Brian Urlacher, Julius Peppers, Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman. He won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with guys like Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Simeon Rice, John Lynch and Ronde Barber.

He doesn’t have an Urlacher, Sapp, Brooks, Briggs, Rice or Lynch with this group.

He has Henry Melton, whom he coached to the Pro Bowl with the Bears, trying to prove he can come back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He has Bruce Carter trying to prove he is a big-time player in a contract year. He has Claiborne, a former sixth overall pick in the draft, trying to prove he is not a bust. He has Carr trying to prove he is worth the five-year, $50 million contract he received in 2012. He has George Selvie trying to prove he was not a one-year wonder after putting up seven sacks last season. He has Tyrone Crawford trying to prove he can come back from a torn Achilles.

He has low-cost free agents such as Terrell McClain, Jeremy Mincey and Amobi Okoye trying to prove they can be prime-time players. He has Justin Durant trying to prove he can be a middle linebacker and Kyle Wilber trying to prove he can be a strongside linebacker. He has Rolando McClain trying to prove that a player who has retired twice in the past year has the desire to keep playing. He has DeMarcus Lawrence trying to prove that a second-rounder can make an impact as a rookie. He has Wilcox trying to prove he can play strong safety.

He has guys like Church and Scandrick trying to prove that they can put up solid seasons in back-to-back years.

So much to prove. So much to forget.

“The first thing you do is you take it as coaches and players and you take accountability for it,” Marinelli said. “And no excuses. Now we look forward. Now it’s about the expectations of this group and with expectations you have to execute. It’s that simple. That simple, yet that hard.”

 

[erod]

Nice post, but I must have missed the disruptive plays from Ware last year after week 3.

Selvie was significantly more disruptive than Ware last year.

 

[big dog cowboy]

JMO but the loss of Ware, Hatcher and Lee's production last year can be replaced easier than most seem to think. Mix in the new additions and I believe we will better on defense. Especially if we can stay healthy.