The Force Awakens...

[Omegasupreme]

The D-line suddenly has this combination of the right kind of talent that meets the right kind of coaching in the right kind of scheme. Lawrence, Crawford, Hardy, and Gregory are a little atypical without a big fat plugger and with Gregory who is only a couple of twinkles heavier than Romo. But with the scheme being speed and forcing turnovers and Marinelli understanding how to get talent to produce violence, this could be a punishing D-line even with intermittent Hardy.

Remember these guys?

Doomsday Defense - YouTube

 

[Doomsday]

We can only wish. But it IS true that offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.

This particular defense seems to be more following the Jimmy mold than any of Tom's, whose philosophy for the DL was "read and react" and protect the Mike linebacker rather than attack. Today's defense could look more like this one:

Jimmy's 1992 "Doomsday III" defense has never received due credit for its achievements.

• It was only the third defense since 1980 to hold opponents to fewer than 4,000 yards in a 16-game season. The other defenses to have done it are recognized as two of the greatest of modern era – the 1984 Bears and the 1991 Eagles.
• It was the second defense to rank No. 1 in fewest yards yielded without sending a player to the Pro Bowl. The 1983 Bengals, who had a losing record were the first.
• The defense finished first in the NFL in total defense (245.8 yards-per-game), while the secondary finished the year fifth in passing defense (168.1 yards-per-game).
• It led the NFL in defense against the rush and fewest first downs allowed. Its league lead in preventing third-down conversions was staggering. Dallas's opponents converted 27.2 percent. The Seahawks ranked second at 32.6 percent.
• It set a club record by holding the Seahawks to 62 total yards in a 27–0 victory and closed the season by holding the Bears to fewer than 100 total yards.
• Super Bowl XXVII saw the Cowboys defense at its best, producing a Super Bowl record 9 turnovers (5 fumbles and 4 interceptions) and even scoring two touchdowns.
• Four starters were rookies or second year players (Russell Maryland, Robert Jones, Larry Brown and Kevin Smith), and two other joined the team after the preseason (Charles Haley and Thomas Everett).
• This version of the "Doomsday Defense" had tremendous speed and depth. They were also young, with the age of the starters averaging 25 ½ years.

 

[Statman]

They have potential. That's all they have, they haven't done anything worthy enough to be included in a sentence with the legendary Cowboy lines of the past.

Furthermore, sacks are one single measurement of a line's prowess. The most important aspect will be to jump on the running game early and force 3rd and longs.

The best defenses are the ones sitting on the benches watching their offenses play.

 

[Omegasupreme]

They have potential. That's all they have

The best defenses are the ones sitting on the benches watching their offenses play.

Can't argue with that.