Realistically, how good can this defense be?

[p1_]

Threads like this don't make me nervous.

Your point about last year was spot on.

I do not have expectations beyond last season, except get tougher.

I still perceive this defense as soft and way too dependent on opportunities.

Parsons is outstanding. Diggs is very good. Lawrence is still solid against the run.

The Bad MFer defense needs a couple more bad MFers amongst the young ones like Damone Clark and the prematurely anointed Mazi Smith.

You know, the lofty expectations for Mazi are the result of years long poor drafting and outright negligence that preceded him.
Not fair to put that on the big fella, but it is what it is. Anoint away.

 

[Genghis Khan]

They've showed signs of being an all timer defense, if they make another jump this year it could very well happen, let yourself dream.

The 2015 Broncos group is just outside the top 10 and they could easily reach that level if a guy like Williams puts up near double digit sacks.

Those Broncos had Miller and Ware. We have Micah and...

 

[p1_]

Those Broncos had Miller and Ware. We have Micah and...

Sam Williams.

 

[Simpleton]

Those Broncos had Miller and Ware. We have Micah and...

They had 52 sacks and 123 QB hits that season, we had 54 and 110 last year albeit in one more game.

Like I've been saying, with a jump from Williams and the rest of the guys more or less staying where they're at, the possibility is there.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I think they will be top 3 next year and maybe the best in the NFL next season. Not sure where that puts them on any overall lists. Let's just start with being #1 next season.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Let's just start with being #1 next season.

Exactly. Anything more is premature.

 

[1bigfan13]

Question 1: Is it realistic to think that the 2023 Cowboys defense could be good enough to be considered among the above listed 26 teams?

I doubt it and it's not because I don't think the defense has potential to be elite.

My reasoning is modern rules and offenses have made it an extremely tall task for current day defenses to even be mentioned as a historically great defense. Notice how only one modern day defense made that Athlon list, 2013 Seahawks.

 

[bbgun]

It'd be a lot better with Watt and Samuel Jr.

 

[p1_]

Like I've been saying, with a jump from Williams

This.

 

[boozeman]

I doubt it and it's not because I don't think the defense has potential to be elite.

My reasoning is modern rules and offenses have made it an extremely tall task for current day defenses to even be mentioned as a historically great defense. Notice how only one modern day defense made that Athlon list, 2013 Seahawks.

Fair point.

 

[p1_]

 

[mcnuttz]

I doubt it and it's not because I don't think the defense has potential to be elite.

My reasoning is modern rules and offenses have made it an extremely tall task for current day defenses to even be mentioned as a historically great defense. Notice how only one modern day defense made that Athlon list, 2013 Seahawks.

While this is true, this Dallas defense has been getting better ever since Micah was drafted.

The safety play has been the biggest hole in the defense since Woodson retired, minus the little while that RO000Y!!!! was destroying worlds...and Quinn has quickly turned it into the deepest strength of the defense, minus Micah of course.

Our CBs are actually intercepting passes again.

He's generating a pass rush using every level of the defense, and now we get the big guy in the middle.

While the modern rules benefit offenses in most cases, we have one of the best defenders of this generation.

If there's a guy who can orchestrate a defense around this talent, maybe it's the only guy who's made the Athlon list from the modern era, Mr. BOOMSDAY.

 

[boozeman]

He also needs to get his head out of his own ass.

 

[boozeman]

 

[ZeroClub]

I doubt it and it's not because I don't think the defense has potential to be elite.

My reasoning is modern rules and offenses have made it an extremely tall task for current day defenses to even be mentioned as a historically great defense. Notice how only one modern day defense made that Athlon list, 2013 Seahawks.

That's a fair point, but it depends on the criteria.

Here's something from Wikipedia's Dan Quinn page:

In Quinn's first season as defensive coordinator [i.e., 2013], the Seahawks led the league in fewest points allowed, fewest yards allowed, and takeaways with 231, 4,378, and 39, respectively, to become the first team since the 1985 Chicago Bears to accomplish the feat.

If the 2023 Dallas Cowboys finished the season with fewest points allowed, fewest yards allowed, and most takeaways, I wouldn't blame @Simpleton for declaring victory and shaming the rest of us.

 

[roughneck266]

Young with a receding hairline = badass.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I like Sam Williams a lot.

But it's a very tall ask to expect him to leap from part time contributor to elite defensive force from year 1-2.

 

[p1_]

That's a fair point, but it depends on the criteria.

Here's something from Wikipedia's Dan Quinn page:

In Quinn's first season as defensive coordinator [i.e., 2013], the Seahawks led the league in fewest points allowed, fewest yards allowed, and takeaways with 231, 4,378, and 39, respectively, to become the first team since the 1985 Chicago Bears to accomplish the feat.

If the 2023 Dallas Cowboys finished the season with fewest points allowed, fewest yards allowed, and most takeaways, I wouldn't blame @Simpleton for declaring victory and shaming the rest of us.

we've led the league in takeaways the last two years .

 

[ravidubey]

That's a fair point, but it depends on the criteria.

Here's something from Wikipedia's Dan Quinn page:

In Quinn's first season as defensive coordinator [i.e., 2013], the Seahawks led the league in fewest points allowed, fewest yards allowed, and takeaways with 231, 4,378, and 39, respectively, to become the first team since the 1985 Chicago Bears to accomplish the feat.

If the 2023 Dallas Cowboys finished the season with fewest points allowed, fewest yards allowed, and most takeaways, I wouldn't blame @Simpleton for declaring victory and shaming the rest of us.

If he can also cite a dominating Super Bowl victory to pin on the end of the season, then he can shame away

 

[p1_]