Can the Dallas Cowboys field an elite defense in 2018?

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ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 23: Tyrell Williams #16 of the Los Angeles Chargers catches a pass as Anthony Brown #30 of the Dallas Cowboys and Xavier Woods #25 of the Dallas Cowboys try to defend in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Williams ran in for a touchdown after the catch. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

After an embarrassing Thanksgiving day loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Cowboys had to make some changes.

That game marked the final of a three-game skid where losses to the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Chargers made the team look like it went back in time to the 2015 season. Those games were hard to watch for fans and put the coaching staffs inability to make adjustments under the microscope.

Going into week 13 against the rival Washington Redskins, the coaching staff made the defensive adjustments that they had wanted to make weeks before. Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis were starting together for the first time, while Kavon Frazier took a bigger role as an in-the-box safety, and Sean Lee was there to tie it all together.

During the last stretch of the season after that Week 13 game in which Dallas won 38-14, the defense was one of the best in the league.

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They allowed 11 points per game (not counting a Prescott pick six as the defense did not allow that), 90 rushing yards per game, and 170 passing yards per game. With these statistics over the course of a 16 game season, the team would have had one of the three best defenses in football.

With a complete change in personnel for the position, it is safe to assume the team brought in veterans like cornerback Nolan Carroll and safety Robert Blanton to alongside slot cornerback Orlando Scandrick, be the placeholders until the youngsters were ready.

Unfortunately, even though the front office has shown a marked improvement in personnel acquisition, they still are hit or miss on one-year veteran contributors. While some have really come in and helped like former linebacker Rolando McClain, the guys that were signed last year were a big miss.

Because of their substandard performances as well as a bevy of hamstring injuries taking valuable reps and practice time from the young defensive backs, the transition was a little rockier than planned. It took until Week 13 for health and preparation to allow for the most complete defense the Cowboys had all season.

Even though they didn’t necessarily play the leagues best offenses, knocking their success because of that is mitigated by the growth they should display this year with proper reps and experience.

With suspensions to key players, injuries to others, and an overall drop-off in play the Cowboys regressed in the record column last year. But I am a firm believer that the team took a step back in order to take a step forward. With one of the youngest rosters in the league and a bevy of holes being filled the past two offseasons, the team has significantly cut down its defensive needs.

The defense though still isn’t perfect and there are areas in which it could improve. In the last segment, we will discuss what final moves need to be made to secure a championship roster on defense.

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