Dallas Defense Is it for real?

[Schmoopy1000]

I have reserved excitement from the offseason even now. 1st it is just preseason, then it is just the Giants.

but am I being unfair to our defense?

For some reason, I just get the feeling it will look like it did maybe not as bad but similar as the season goes on (fools gold) but again, am I being to harsh?

Right now only 2 teams has given up less points than the Cowboys.

the Obvious team Rams with only 13 pts given up
The Skins with 27
& then the Cowboys with 29 points.
4th Dolphins with 32
rounding out the top 5 Jags with 35

No matter what, being in the top 3 in all of the NFL is worthy of giving credit where it is due.

I just cant shake the feeling. But I do like the pressure we are getting on QBs which is refreshing.
Also like the combo of LBs this season. So I should feel good realistically, but I feel like I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop. We are not a shoot out team, so it is important our Defense holds up this season.

So can someone please put my mind at ease & explain why I should think it is for real?

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

I think it is. Pass Rush, CBs, tackling. Jourdan Lewis has played 1 snap all year and most of us thought he was going to be really good. I think we have 9 sacks. Sacks are huge but the pressures are also big. Sooner or later the refs will start calling holding on the OLine as well.

Our CBs are playing more press coverage and they look good doing it.

Tackling has been ok. That should get better.

It’s the most talent I’ve seen on that side of the ball since the mid 90s.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

The only thing lacking right now is the Turnovers.

We should get better too with Irving, Jones coming back with LVE , Woods, and Lewis improving.


Now is it enough to offset our Offensive woes. I have my doubts. We have 7 WRs/ 4 TEs on our roster. That’s 11 out of 53. Of those 11, I don’t think anyone would consider any of them to be above average right now. I doubt any one of them will make a start in fantasy football all season. That’s not good. Lol. We have a pretty good OLine that could be great if Fred comes back. I have my doubts about that too. We have a great RB. Dak just needs to stay healthy because there isn’t much behind him.

 

[Manster7588]

DL is a little light in the loafers, but they are very fast and deep.

So far I like what I've seen, but they haven't faced a good line yet.

Detroit will tell us more.

 

[jarntt]

2 games is not enough to decide anything but the pieces are all there. We still haven't seen Irving or Woods on the field with the rest of this group and Gregory barely played week 1 and missed week 2. We are down 3 starters and still had this start. I'm not sure if we will keep this up, fall back a little or maybe even get better, but it is going to be fun to watch all year. As stated above we need to force more turnovers but damn...so far so good...

 

[Scapegoat]

Linebackers

 

[PDay8810]

just might be....depends A LOT on health but with the LB play, CB play and pass rush rotation.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Once Gregory and Irving come back, and if we beat Seattle to send them to 0-3 and they suddenly decide a 2nd for Earl Thomas beats losing him in FA, this would the best defense we have had in 20 years

 

[es4m11]

This is the best Cowboys defense since 2009. I'd say the 2018 defense might be on par with that unit -- I like the LB corp a lot better in 2018.

This is a quality unit that has depth everywhere except Safety - and with Woods back, that may change.

 

[jarntt]

Once Gregory and Irving come back, and if we beat Seattle to send them to 0-3 and they suddenly decide a 2nd for Earl Thomas beats losing him in FA, this would the best defense we have had in 20 years

I've felt for weeks that after we play them they may be more willing to deal him and I wasn't even contemplating an 0-3 start. I wouldn't be surprised at all if a trade goes down in the next week or two. BUT,,,he was worth a 2nd for 16 games. What is he worth for 13 or less games?

 

[es4m11]

I've felt for weeks that after we play them they may be more willing to deal him and I wasn't even contemplating an 0-3 start. I wouldn't be surprised at all if a trade goes down in the next week or two. BUT,,,he was worth a 2nd for 16 games. What is he worth for 13 or less games?

A 4th now. Play hard ball with the Seahawks. 2018 is not make or break for the Cowboys. Stick it to the Seahawks for having their head stuck up their ass. If they don't agree, no big deal, we get Thomas in the off-season for nothing more than cap space -- meanwhile Seattle may get nothing in that scenario.

 

[UK Cowboy]

A 4th now. Play hard ball with the Seahawks. 2018 is not make or break for the Cowboys. Stick it to the Seahawks for having their head stuck up their ass. If they don't agree, no big deal, we get Thomas in the off-season for nothing more than cap space -- meanwhile Seattle may get nothing in that scenario.

They don't have to deal exclusively with us, if we offer a 4, how are you gonna feel if the Rams get him for a 3? Offer the 2 and be happy if we get him IMO

 

[CaptainStubing]

they have looked good through the first 2 games but I would like to see more

 

[es4m11]

They don't have to deal exclusively with us, if we offer a 4, how are you gonna feel if the Rams get him for a 3? Offer the 2 and be happy if we get him IMO

I'll feel fine. Prior to the season I was all for getting Thomas up to and including a 2nd rounder. Today I think ET3 does not make or break this defense this year. I really like this team this year, but being completely honest I think we are still 1 more year away. Dallas will have it's shot at ET3 this off-season, unless Seattle does something stupid like Franchise Tag him.

I'm not worried about the Rams, they don't have the cap space required, nor could they pay him in the future anyway. If there were other teams lining up to trade for Thomas, he would have been gone. I think Seattle has over played it's hand here.

I'm honestly kind of excited to see how Woods does at FS. I think Heath and Frazier could cobble together a decent SS in split time.

 

[UK Cowboy]

I'll feel fine. Prior to the season I was all for getting Thomas up to and including a 2nd rounder. Today I think ET3 does not make or break this defense this year. I really like this team this year, but being completely honest I think we are still 1 more year away. Dallas will have it's shot at ET3 this off-season, unless Seattle does something stupid like Franchise Tag him.

I'm not worried about the Rams, they don't have the cap space required, nor could they pay him in the future anyway. If there were other teams lining up to trade for Thomas, he would have been gone. I think Seattle has over played it's hand here.

That's were we differ. I think if you add Earl Thomas to QB the secondary it completely raises the game of everyone in the back end assignment wise, having played for Richard, he hits the ground running. Add back in David Irving and Randy Gregory and I'd put this D down as equal to the Rams or Vikings

 

[es4m11]

That's were we differ. I think if you add Earl Thomas to QB the secondary it completely raises the game of everyone in the back end assignment wise, having played for Richard, he hits the ground running. Add back in David Irving and Randy Gregory and I'd put this D down as equal to the Rams or Vikings

I agree with you in regards to what Earl Thomas can bring to the defense. Even with that, I don't think this is a Super Bowl caliber offense -- there is a bit of work that needs to be done on that side of the ball. With that in mind I am willing to wait a year for ET3, and keep the 2nd. If/when ET3 hits free agency he is coming to Dallas. It's highly unlikely any team that potentially trades for him mid-season will Franchise Tag him as that is almost never seen (may be unprecedented), and I highly doubt Seattle tags him, so he will almost certainly be a free agent after this season. Just wait. Patience is a virtue.

Give the offense this season to figure out the WR and TE group, give Conor Williams a year to mature, and get FredBeard back ready to roll next year. Then go all in next year when we have all our draft picks and plenty of cap to extend DLaw, extend Dak, Tag Irving, SIGN ET3. Then go win the 2020 Super Bowl.

Edit: Another aspect of waiting is instead of spending the cap space this year, Dallas can roll it into next year to help cover expenses like Irving's franchise tag.

 

[UK Cowboy]

I agree with you in regards to what Earl Thomas can bring to the defense. Even with that, I don't think this is a Super Bowl caliber offense -- there is a bit of work that needs to be done on that side of the ball. With that in mind I am willing to wait a year for ET3, and keep the 2nd. If/when ET3 hits free agency he is coming to Dallas. It's highly unlikely any team that potentially trades for him mid-season will Franchise Tag him as that is almost never seen (may be unprecedented), and I highly doubt Seattle tags him, so he will almost certainly be a free agent after this season. Just wait. Patience is a virtue.

Give the offense this season to figure out the WR and TE group, give Conor Williams a year to mature, and get FredBeard back ready to roll next year. Then go all in next year when we have all our draft picks and plenty of cap to extend DLaw, extend Dak, Tag Irving, SIGN ET3. Then go win the 2020 Super Bowl.

Edit: Another aspect of waiting is instead of spending the cap space this year, Dallas can roll it into next year to help cover expenses like Irving's franchise tag.

I actually think the offense would be fine .85 Bears offense had an old Walter Payton, Willie Gault as top WR and Jimmy Mac at QB. Great Ravens D won with Dilfer. Broncos won with PManning in a rocking chair. This offense has more than those teams

 

[es4m11]

I actually think the offense would be fine .85 Bears offense had an old Walter Payton, Willie Gault as top WR and Jimmy Mac at QB. Great Ravens D won with Dilfer. Broncos won with PManning in a rocking chair. This offense has more than those teams

This Cowboys defense is good, probably very good with Earl Thomas. Those defenses you mentioned were all-time great, literally 3 of the very best ever. Respectfully, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.

 

[UK Cowboy]

This Cowboys defense is good, probably very good with Earl Thomas. Those defenses you mentioned were all-time great, literally 3 of the very best ever. Respectfully, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.

Provided we stay healthy(Sean Lee), get Irving and Gregory back for the season and trade for Earl Thomas... This is a great defense. Great pass rush, great LBs, Earl Thomas sets it off IMO

 

[tomodach10]

This is the first time in forever that I am relaxed when the defense is on the field, and not, when the offense is.