The Dallas Cowboys report to training camp in less than a week, and this has probably been the best offseason in a long time for this team.
It started with adding to a horrible defensive line, cashing in on getting Caleb Downs, who I think is the best defender in the draft, regardless if he dropped to Dallas or not.
As training camp gets here next week, the Dallas Cowboys have a issue that is clear as day as to what it is on the defense.
The offense returned everyone, and they won seven games a year ago with the leader’s worst defense and although it did get better, they have one major issue: that jumps off the screen.
CB Room Is Scary
The Dallas Cowboys cornerback room is scary in the wrong way, not exactly the type you want heading into training camp.
DaRon Bland leads the unit, but he is still dealing with all types of injury issues to his lower body.
The Cowboys cornerbacks finished LAST in defensive EPA a season ago. They allowed a 58.4 QBR (29th) and only had SIX interceptions. That is horrible!
Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick were added this offseason and will battle second-year man Shavon Revel Jr. (last among CBs in PFF grade in 2025), fourth-round rookie Devin Moore and others for starting roles.
Just read how unproven this unit is, it is a major red flag that is going to be the story of the defense if they can’t figure out how to defend wide receivers.
With new defensive coordinator, Christian Parker, the team will run a 3-4 defense, which is a base formation, which means it refers to where players line up before a play. It can be paired with either man or zone coverage to defend against passes.
I say run as much zones as possible. It will be easier for this group to stay in zone coverage than men, because I don’t trust them to cover much of anyone.
Yes, Caleb Downs will help out with the nickle package and safety Jalen Thompson was a huge pickup for the safety group, but these other dudes still have to be able to carry a wide out down the field and not get beat up by them in coverage.
We will see how the summer goes, starting with training camp next week, but everything is now either average or good on this team outside the cornerback room.
It would be a major help if DaRon Bland could at least get back to half of the guy he was before getting hurt, because they are banking on a lot of young guys and dudes who are hurt to run this unit and if they can’t sack the QB, they have to get turnovers and helpful plays somehow and getting more than six interceptions is a start.
Cobie Durant is the only guy in the room that if the season started tomorrow I trust to not get hurt or have to be a snap count because he is battling recovering from an injury, and although he was a stud in the playoffs, this unit needs major help and that is one thing I wish they would have done a little extra the last few months.
Cobie Durant had an impressive interception, driving on a Dak Prescott throw outside to Traeshon Holden. He did a somersault while making the grab. Later he added a PBU.
Beggars can’t be choosers, and they did what I asked for this offseason, no drama from Jerry Jones, got Pickens to sign the tag, loaded up the defensive line and added Downs and Thompson, but I trust Parker and his track record for developing secondary players, so I have to have some type of hope that he can fix the issues just enough for this group to work.
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