2014 Defense vs. Now

Simpleton

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So we went 12-4 and weren't far off from the Super Bowl in 2014 with a defense that was opportunistic but obviously shielded by our ball control offense. It seems most people who were against the Elliott pick, and even some who were for it, are up in arms over an assortment of maladies that supposedly plague our defense and will keep us from contending. Of course Jalen Ramsey would be the cure to all of this but I digress.

At an rate, let's look at the defense we threw out in 2014:

DL: Starters - Jeremy Mincey/Tyrone Crawford/Nick Hayden/George Selvie

Key Reserves - Anthony Spencer/Henry Melton (DNP in playoffs)/DeMarcus Lawrence/Terrell McClain (DNP in playoffs)

LB: Starters: Rolando McClain/Anthony Hitchens/Bruce Carter

Key Reserves - Kyle Wilber/Cameron Lawrence

DB: Orlando Scandrick/Brandon Carr/JJ Wilcox/Barry Church

Key Reserves - Sterling Moore/Jeff Heath

I left out guys who were injured early in the season and out for the year like Morris Claiborne, Jack Crawford and Justin Durant.

At any rate, look at that group, very uninspiring.

I could easily argue that Cedric Thornton is better than anybody on our DL that season aside from Crawford, who of course is still here. Selvie and Mincey were taken off the scrap heap and started basically all year for us. Our DT rotation was a joke with guys like Ken Bishop playing heavy snaps in the playoffs against Green Bay. Is there any reason to think that a DL consisting of Crawford/Crawford/Thornton/Collins/Tapper/Irving/Mayowa can't give us a similar performance as that group?

And this isn't even factoring in Lawrence or Gregory, if one or both of them comes back and plays a full 12 games our DL is clearly far better now than it was in 2014.

At LB we are basically the same as 2014 although if Lee stays healthy again (big if) we are clearly better. Even if he gets hurt, we made due in the playoffs without McClain who barely played against either Detroit or Green Bay.

In the secondary we are more or less the same although now with Byron Jones who is clearly a huge upgrade as he is arguably our best DB.

So at the end of the day, if anything, our defense is marginally better now than it was in 2014, and potentially vastly better if we have luck with health and one or both of Lawrence/Gregory can stay on the field. You also have to consider that this defense hovered around league-average last year and kept us in a bunch of games while having to deal with an offense that couldn't extend drives for anything.

It's not a good defense, that's for certain, but with health and a return to a 2014 style of offense I think we have enough on defense to contend with the tops teams in the NFC.
 

mcnuttz

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We lived by the triplets in 14 and died without them in 15, pretty simple.

This defense doesn't have to be great if the offense controls the clock.
 

Texas Ace

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The biggest difference between 2014 and 2015 when speaking strictly about the defense is that the 2014, while average, made big time plays at the right time and were one of the best teams at forcing turnovers.

2015's defense went right back to the being the defense it's been for most of the last 10 years -- one that doesn't force many turnovers at all.

If the 2016 defense is to match or even be better than the 2014 version, they'll not only need an offense to control the clock, they'll also have to find a way to start taking the ball away.
 

Cowboysrock55

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The biggest difference between 2014 and 2015 when speaking strictly about the defense is that the 2014, while average, made big time plays at the right time and were one of the best teams at forcing turnovers.
It's easier to make plays with the opposing offense is playing catchup. Our problem last year was that offenses against us didn't have to take any risks. They knew our offense wasn't going to do shit.
 

UncleMilti

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I think 2014 was an anomaly...the Cowboys had some great breaks, Romo had terrific year, and Murray had a run for the record books. However, now Romo is coming off 2 broken clavicles and Bryant is coming off a foot injury. The defense is not going to have any pressure players on the edges the first quarter of the season, and CB is still a concern.

I'm hoping for good year, but I honestly see another 8-8 season as a distinct possibility, mainly for the reasons above but mostly because Romo is one hit away from missing time again.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I'm hoping for good year, but I honestly see another 8-8 season as a distinct possibility, mainly for the reasons above but mostly because Romo is one hit away from missing time again.
The defense will be more talented then 2014. Hell, we didn't even have Lee that year. But 8-8 is very possible if Romo gets hurt. I'm not worried about Dez at all. He will come back and rock out now that he is healthy. Elliott will come in and provide explosion and consistency to the running game. In some ways he could be an upgrade to Murray.

But we are one Bryant injury from 8-8 or worse.
 

Simpleton

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It's easier to make plays with the opposing offense is playing catchup. Our problem last year was that offenses against us didn't have to take any risks. They knew our offense wasn't going to do shit.
Definitely this.

If Romo plays 12+ games and our top players are generally healthy, we will win at least 10 games.
 

p1_

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In the secondary we are more or less the same although now with Byron Jones who is clearly a huge upgrade as he is arguably our best DB.
A healthy Orlando Scandrick is right there in the discussion with Jones as the cream of our db's.
 

Cowboysrock55

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A healthy Orlando Scandrick is right there in the discussion with Jones as the cream of our db's.
No question about it. Scandrick is a pretty big piece to this secondary.

I'm also not so sure that our pass rush isn't pretty killer once Gregory and Lawrence come back. I think those two have the potential to be pretty dominant. It's just a matter of getting them on the field.
 

Newt

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No question about it. Scandrick is a pretty big piece to this secondary.

I'm also not so sure that our pass rush isn't pretty killer once Gregory and Lawrence come back. I think those two have the potential to be pretty dominant. It's just a matter of getting them on the field.
This is the hope, with those guys we seems to have some nice depth and rotation. Without those guys, it looks pretty thin and not very overwhelming at all. The offense is definitely going to have to pull the load the first quarter of the season.
 

Smitty

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I think we still need some evidence that Gregory is a quality piece but at least there's some hope. We were so excited that he was a top 5 talent but he hasn't appeared to be that so far.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I think we still need some evidence that Gregory is a quality piece but at least there's some hope. We were so excited that he was a top 5 talent but he hasn't appeared to be that so far.
There was a multitude of reasons why he didn't "prove" it as a rookie. Mostly though, it's just part of the development process. You should never judge players off their rookie years.

Plus I always go back to that Giants game before he got hurt. He was an absolute terror in that game. The sack numbers might not show it, but he was basically unblockable. That guy has too much talent not to succeed at the NFL level. Well unless of course weed screws that up. Weed could end his career real quick.
 

Genghis Khan

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Our first 4 games are NYG, Washington, SF, and Chicago.

Not only is that not exactly the toughest part of the schedule(at most there's probably 1 playoff team among them, and maybe none), none of those QBs strike me as the type that will kill you if you don't get a pass rush in their face.

In that regard we may have lucked out.
 

townsend

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There was a multitude of reasons why he didn't "prove" it as a rookie. Mostly though, it's just part of the development process. You should never judge players off their rookie years.

Plus I always go back to that Giants game before he got hurt. He was an absolute terror in that game. The sack numbers might not show it, but he was basically unblockable. That guy has too much talent not to succeed at the NFL level. Well unless of course weed screws that up. Weed could end his career real quick.
I assumed that high ankle sprain took away his burst, and most of his pass rushing threat with it.
 

ravidubey

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Plus I always go back to that Giants game before he got hurt. He was an absolute terror in that game. The sack numbers might not show it, but he was basically unblockable. That guy has too much talent not to succeed at the NFL level. Well unless of course weed screws that up. Weed could end his career real quick.
He had a couple of good rushes before the OL took his measure and shut him down. They then overpowered him toe-to-toe and buckled his ankle.

He was put on the line way too early in his career and it probably overwhelmed him.

They needed to rush him as a specialist from a standing position. Instead they threw him to the wolves.

Now he's ashamed.

I truthfully have little hope for this guy, and I think there are very, very few who actually believe the guy will amount to anything.
 

GForce78NJ

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I think we still need some evidence that Gregory is a quality piece but at least there's some hope. We were so excited that he was a top 5 talent but he hasn't appeared to be that so far.
i agree, but he was pretty banged up all season. I don't think he deserves to be shoved into the starting role but I am excited to see him grow this year (hopefully)
 

Jiggyfly

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He had a couple of good rushes before the OL took his measure and shut him down. They then overpowered him toe-to-toe and buckled his ankle.

He was put on the line way too early in his career and it probably overwhelmed him.

They needed to rush him as a specialist from a standing position. Instead they threw him to the wolves.

Now he's ashamed.

I truthfully have little hope for this guy, and I think there are very, very few who actually believe the guy will amount to anything.
Took his Measure.:lol

This might be your finest piece of hyperbole yet.

And his foot slipped on the turf causing the injury and you were saying this same stuff about Lawrence.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I assumed that high ankle sprain took away his burst, and most of his pass rushing threat with it.
I think that is a pretty fair assessment. Combined with the fact that Hardy rarely came off the field.
 
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