Ultimate Building Blocks: NFC East

[D'BOYZ]

So you're convinced then that the Cowboys will be an improved defensive unit this year? I mean, you're arguing that Ware makes people around him better, that he's irreplaceable to the team and such. I assume you're then saying that last year's unit was full of underachievers (Henry, Williams, Ellis, DC Stewart) that held him down and have since been outed.

So essentially, if the Cowboys defense isn't improved this year, a lot of the blame has to fall on Ware not being who you think he is? Generally speaking, of course.

I don't think the defense is going to be better because of Ware I do believe they're going to be better because of the changes that were made. Stewart Please the defense got better last years when Wade starting calling plays so that's an easy one.

Getting rid of Ellis who was just used in pressure plays and give Spencer the opportunity after learning for 2 years to be the other OLB yeah I think will get stronger apply more pressure and better. Now Safety Getting rid of Roy and getting Sensabaugh is a huge improvement in coverage one that will let the CB play more man and less zone like we did the previous years. I liked Henry but he was getting old and losing speed and our young cb's of last year Scandrick and Jenkins proved they can handle the load and if they don't get in the 2nd year slump they should get better plus a healthy Newman he makes a huge difference.

Now losing Canty was big but getting Olshansky is almost a wash Canty had tons of potential but he could disappear for games.... if he played to his potential man Canty could be one of the best in the game but he hasn't.

The Defense should be better younger and faster but that's bering injuries that's what you never know.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by D'BOYZ

I don't think the defense is going to be better because of Ware I do believe they're going to be better because of the changes that were made. Stewart Please the defense got better last years when Wade starting calling plays so that's an easy one.

Getting rid of Ellis who was just used in pressure plays and give Spencer the opportunity after learning for 2 years to be the other OLB yeah I think will get stronger apply more pressure and better. Now Safety Getting rid of Roy and getting Sensabaugh is a huge improvement in coverage one that will let the CB play more man and less zone like we did the previous years. I liked Henry but he was getting old and losing speed and our young cb's of last year Scandrick and Jenkins proved they can handle the load and if they don't get in the 2nd year slump they should get better plus a healthy Newman he makes a huge difference.

Now losing Canty was big but getting Olshansky is almost a wash Canty had tons of potential but he could disappear for games.... if he played to his potential man Canty could be one of the best in the game but he hasn't.

The Defense should be better younger and faster but that's bering injuries that's what you never know.

On Canty, I was kinda wondering what the Cowboys insiders felt about the team not attempting to retain him. There must have been some reason, because the Redskins were going to go get him before Haynesworth signed, and people have lauded the Giants for making that move. Canty seems like a guy who has some great years ahead of him, but my perception has been that the Cowboys never felt like they needed to retain him.

Olshansky is incredibly mediocre, so certainly you won't get an improvement there, but again, if Canty had a knack for being disappointing, then it's probably not a downgrade.

Overall, I just think that if your defense improves this year, the improvement almost has to come from internal sources. I mean, the talking up of Sensabaugh is a great example of how replacing an overrated player who cannot cover a lick with a scrub level replacement who can't cover a lick gives the illusion of improvement, when the only problem that was fixed is that you aren't paying Williams' salary anymore.

So those internal sources: Ratliff, Spencer, Newman, Jenkins, Scandrick, B. James, Spears, and yes, Ware, they will improve. But if these guys are just not great players, or can't do anything more than they have been doing, all the coaching changes and meaningless personnel swaps in the world aren't going to improve that defense.

I think that was the difference between the offseasons of the Redskins and the Cowboys. The Redskins got measurably better on defense, while the Cowboys ran in place (while, admittedly, shedding some dead weight they had built up). Im confident that the 2009 standings will bear this out.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

On Canty, I was kinda wondering what the Cowboys insiders felt about the team not attempting to retain him. There must have been some reason, because the Redskins were going to go get him before Haynesworth signed, and people have lauded the Giants for making that move. Canty seems like a guy who has some great years ahead of him, but my perception has been that the Cowboys never felt like they needed to retain him.

Olshansky is incredibly mediocre, so certainly you won't get an improvement there, but again, if Canty had a knack for being disappointing, then it's probably not a downgrade.

Overall, I just think that if your defense improves this year, the improvement almost has to come from internal sources. I mean, the talking up of Sensabaugh is a great example of how replacing an overrated player who cannot cover a lick with a scrub level replacement who can't cover a lick gives the illusion of improvement, when the only problem that was fixed is that you aren't paying Williams' salary anymore.

So those internal sources: Ratliff, Spencer, Newman, Jenkins, Scandrick, B. James, Spears, and yes, Ware, they will improve. But if these guys are just not great players, or can't do anything more than they have been doing, all the coaching changes and meaningless personnel swaps in the world aren't going to improve that defense.

I think that was the difference between the offseasons of the Redskins and the Cowboys. The Redskins got measurably better on defense, while the Cowboys ran in place (while, admittedly, shedding some dead weight they had built up). Im confident that the 2009 standings will bear this out.

No doubt. The 2009 standings will CLEARLY bear this out. Wade is a good defensive coach, but he can only work with what he has. The Redskins got better, the Cowgirls didn't, and they weren't that great last year.