Did you knee-jerk about the Cowboys’ second- and third-team defense getting smoked in San Diego last week? Don’t.
Are you concerned that the Cowboys’ first-team defense may somehow rank 33rd out of 32 teams this season? Please, continue.
Let’s recap this mess:
- From March 13-14, the Cowboys let their most productive defender Jason Hatcher sign a bloated free agent deal with rival Washington and chose to cut DeMarcus Ware based on the belief that his Hall of Fame days were behind him. Fine. Sometimes money makes you make hard decisions.
But then…
- In OTA’s, the Cowboys lost their best returning defender, linebacker Sean Lee, to a season-ending knee injury.
- At the start of training camp, the Cowboys lost second-round pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence for at least a couple months to a broken foot. Anthony Spencer is still recovering from microfracture knee surgery.
- Now, in the middle of training camp, the Cowboys have lost their most productive cornerback for 25 percent of the upcoming season. Camp MVP Orlando Scandrick reportedly has been suspended four games for testing positive for a banned substance.
- Oh, and top free agent signing Henry Melton – the Cowboys’ only truly proven and relatively healthy defensive lineman – is out at least a few days with a groin injury.
Any other crap sandwiches before we get out of August?
Well, at least there’s that high-powered offense. At least Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and Co. are gonna score 30-40 points a game to keep things exciting.
Right?
Um, right?
Don’t get me wrong: This is the best-looking offense on paper since the 2007 Cowboys who averaged 28.4 points a game. (Whoops, not quite 30.) The offensive line is better, potentially a top 10 or higher unit, though there’s a tendency around here to mistake good for great because everyone wants so badly to see “20 years ago” great.
Just remember: the Cowboys play the league’s best two defenses (49ers and Seahawks) in Weeks 1 and 6. The Rams (Week 3) and Texans (Week 5) have terrifying fronts. And, in their final six games in November and December, the Cowboys will play in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington. Not exactly Rio. Not exactly ripe conditions for a track meet.
Many of the NFL’s all-time highest-scoring offenses didn’t have a great statistical defense except in the takeaway category. Example: the 2009 Saints with 39. As talented as the Cowboys are on offense, they can be even better with more opportunities. Can a group short on playmakers provide many of those? It’s a fair question.
The defense will probably surprise us with some stinginess here and there. And the offense will be good, especially if Romo’s back allows him to make all the intermediate-to-deep throws that Jason Garrett’s system requires.
But no one should assume they can pull a Denver 16 times this season. Maybe not even eight times. Maybe not even six.
They need some sort of help from the other side of the ball. With this Scandrick news, it’s getting harder and harder to see that happening on anywhere close to a consistent basis.
(Photo Credit: DallasCowboys.com)
Filed under: Cowboys, NFL Tagged: Cowboys, Dallas Cowboys, DeMarcus Ware, Dez Bryant, Henry Melton, Jason Hatcher, Orlando Scandrick, Sean Lee, Tony Romo
