Realistically, how good can this defense be?

Bipo

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Unforeseen injuries aside, I'd say it all depends on the DT play. Been a weakness for a long time. Remember the years in the desert looking for a pass rusher before Ware? I'd say the DT issue has been just as bad, if not worse. If Mazi Star is the unmovable object in the middle that also provides some push, then this defense could be special.
 

p1_

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Unforeseen injuries aside, I'd say it all depends on the DT play. Been a weakness for a long time. Remember the years in the desert looking for a pass rusher before Ware? I'd say the DT issue has been just as bad, if not worse. If Mazi Star is the unmovable object in the middle that also provides some push, then this defense could be special.
I think he will team with Hank really well against the run pretty much immediately. I see that as huge impact to the existing defense, really our most vulnerable/least impactful spot.
 

Cotton

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Cowboysrock55

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Sam Williams needs more snaps. A "leap" of any size would be helpful, of course, but mostly he needs more snaps.
I think part of it is the same. His leap could just be doubling the amount of plays while holding the same performance per snap. That would be a leap.
 
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armadillooutlaw

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I think part of it is the same. His leap could just be doubling the amount of plays while holding the same performance per snap. That would be a leap.
If Williams gets significantly more playing time and his performance on a per-snap basis holds up, he likely gets around 10-12 sacks. Could see him and Parsons be a top-3 edge rushing duo. Think Lawrence's playing time will get scaled back because of it.
 
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1bigfan13

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I'd say the DT issue has been just as bad, if not worse. If Mazi Star is the unmovable object in the middle that also provides some push, then this defense could be special.
Yeah, DT has definitely been a weak area that's often been directly responsible for losses in big games.

And it hasn't even taken teams with dominant OLs and rushing attacks like the Eagles & 49ers to exploit our weakness. One of the more frustrating losses for me in recent years was that 2018 loss to the Rams in the playoffs. It was bad enough that a gimpy Todd Gurley ripped us a new one, but not being able to control CJ Anderson was an embarrassment.

Hopefully that ends this year.
 

p1_

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Hadnt Anderson been out of football for some period during that season?
 

1bigfan13

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Hadnt Anderson been out of football for some period during that season?
The Panthers released him late in the season and the Rams signed him a couple of weeks later.
 
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fortsbest

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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.
And that was with in consistency in the middle. When we finally got the big guy in the middle, that was shorn up some. With better corner play opposite Diggs, Mazi and Hankins in the middle a lot, and improvement from Williams and another year on Parsons, it isn't at all unrealistic to see them improve on this. Now, if only the offense doesn't throw stinkers when it's important, we can advance farther.
 

Cotton

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And that was with in consistency in the middle. When we finally got the big guy in the middle, that was shorn up some. With better corner play opposite Diggs, Mazi and Hankins in the middle a lot, and improvement from Williams and another year on Parsons, it isn't at all unrealistic to see them improve on this. Now, if only the offense doesn't throw stinkers when it's important, we can advance farther.
How is retirement going?
 

fortsbest

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How is retirement going?
Yeah about that.......I went to work at TCU part time for a bit. I am now the interim police chief for the town of Sanger Texas. It's about 10 minutes north of Denton, has a total of about 18 officers. I'm started 2 weeks ago and am having a great time with it. The Masters degree will be done by the end of summer. That's retirement at the moment. :unsure
 

Cotton

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Yeah about that.......I went to work at TCU part time for a bit. I am now the interim police chief for the town of Sanger Texas. It's about 10 minutes north of Denton, has a total of about 18 officers. I'm started 2 weeks ago and am having a great time with it. The Masters degree will be done by the end of summer. That's retirement at the moment. :unsure
Dude, you should have gone fishing.
 

data

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Yeah about that.......I went to work at TCU part time for a bit. I am now the interim police chief for the town of Sanger Texas. It's about 10 minutes north of Denton, has a total of about 18 officers. I'm started 2 weeks ago and am having a great time with it. The Masters degree will be done by the end of summer. That's retirement at the moment. :unsure
Jack Reacher 2.0
 

Sarek

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The defense should be very good, possibly great. Problem last season was endurance, they faded away, and then played well again in the playoffs.

If no major injuries, i expect the defense to hold the opponents to
10 Points or less in 6 games.
11 to 20 points in another 6 games.
21 to 35 points in the other 5 games.

Problem is as we witnessed vs the 49ers, if the Cowboy's offense can't get much done it might not matter what the Cowboy's defense does. Can't expect the defense to hold every playoff/SB opponent to less than 10 points.
 
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