Dallas Cowboys Defense Might Be About to Get Even Better

The Dallas Cowboys defense was supposed to be the worst in NFL history.

After all, it gave up the third-highest yardage total in league history last year before losing three defensive stars who Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked first, second and third on the team. 

But with defensive linemen DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher out of town and linebacker Sean Lee on injured reserve, and with few proven commodities in the mix to replace them, the Cowboys have somehow improved by leaps and bounds in 2014. 

Metric	2013	2014
Points/game allowed	27.0 (26th)	21.0 (T-8th)
Yards/game allowed	415.3 (32nd)	342.5 (15th)
Yards/play allowed	6.1 (T-29th)	6.1 (T-28th)
First downs/game allowed	24.3 (32nd)	17.0 (2nd)
YPA/allowed	7.8 (T-26th)	7.1 (T-10th)
Passer rating against	96.0 (26th)	83.8 (8th)
Third downs	43% (T-28th)	42% (T-14th)
PFF grade	-118.7 (29th)	14.3 (12th)

It has felt thus far as though the Cowboys have somehow benefited from the code of addition by subtraction. That's been floated out there by the guys at Blogging the Boys, based on the notion that regular players could have a tendency to rely on the stars to make plays rather than pushing themselves to make them. 

And safety Barry Church can see that. 

"Before we had guys who were unbelievable players, but we relied on them to make the play instead of making it ourselves," Church said recently, according to Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News. "Now I feel like everybody is accountable for this team and guys are going out there and making plays."

Still, there's nothing wrong with some good old-fashioned addition by addition, and that's something this defense will be benefiting from in the near future. The schedule thus far hasn't been overly difficult, but they've been challenged enough (mainly by New Orleans and Seattle) to prove this isn't a mirage. Now, with additions coming, there's reason to expect the Dallas D to become even stronger.

Anthony Spencer is picking up steam

The Pro Bowl defensive end missed virtually the entire 2013 season due to a knee injury and is still being eased back following microfracture surgery. But Spencer played a season-high 31 snaps against the Seahawks, per PFF, and picked up a pair of pressures on Russell Wilson. He also had a sack negated by a holding penalty and nearly caused Wilson to throw a pick inside the red zone in the third quarter. 

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If Spencer can become an every-down player and regain even some of the magic he had when he picked up 11 sacks and made the Pro Bowl two years ago, the entire defense will benefit greatly. 

Henry Melton should become a bigger factor

Also a former Pro Bowler trying to revive his career after missing a significant amount of time due to a knee injury, the defensive tackle has been the team's most effective all-around pass-rusher despite playing a limited role thus far. 

A calf injury has also hampered him, but Melton is still the only player on this roster with more than one sack. As he and Spencer become more comfortable, that line will become more of an asset than a liability. 

DeMarcus Lawrence is nearly ready to make his debut

The rookie second-round pick was supposed to play a major role at defensive end this season, but he broke his foot in July and has been sidelined ever since. He's back practicing now and will be eligible to return from the short-term injured reserve Week 9 against Arizona. 

Lawrence had 10.5 sacks last year at Boise State, and the Cowboys paid a steep price for him in the draft, so expect him to factor in big time during the second half of the 2014 campaign. 

Don't forget about Josh Brent

The defensive tackle was really coming into his own in 2012 before his life was changed forever by the drunk driving accident that took the life of teammate and friend Jerry Brown. Brent was convicted of intoxication manslaughter, but he's a free man now and serving a 10-game suspension. He can start practicing in Week 9 and is eligible to return Week 12 against the Giants. 

The Cowboys have been getting it done on defense despite having only seven sacks in six games. Imagine what this D might be capable of once it has Brent and Melton in the middle and Spencer and Lawrence coming off the edge. With support from Jeremy Mincey, Tyrone Crawford and George Selvie—all of whom have stood out at various points this season—Rod Marinelli could suddenly have one of the strongest lines in football. 

And Bruce Carter is close too

Before suffering a quad injury in Week 4, the linebacker was having a breakout season. He led the team with 17 solo tackles, but he was also standing out in coverage with a pick-six against the Rams and a pair of breakups against the Saints. 

Rookie Anthony Hitchens hasn't been bad, but there's a clear gap between Carter and him. According to David Moore of The Dallas Morning News, Carter is aiming to return Week 8 against Washington. 

Increased comfort with more playing time together

Marinelli is already working his magic, but the reality is he's been working with a patchwork unit. These guys have been adjusting to life without Ware, Hatcher, Lee and injured cornerback Morris Claiborne, and it'll take some time for them to get used to each other. Melton, Lawrence, Brent, Mincey, Crawford, Hitchens and Rolando McClain didn't play a single snap in Dallas last season, so these guys need time to jell. 

Cornerback Brandon Carr thinks they're getting there. From Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com: 

"

This defense is maturing. Guys are accepting their roles and taking it to the next level. We’re going out there to take the extra step and figure out what’s going on. It’s all about accountability. Once guys finally figure out the significance we have amongst each other, it’s really big. It’s contagious. Guys are really honing on what we’re supposed to do. Nobody wants to be the weak link right now.

"

So there's little reason to believe the Cowboys won't continue to improve on D, especially considering the schedule eases up over the next six weeks. 

With the offense making life easier by controlling the ball for an NFC-high 34 minutes and 43 seconds per game and continually putting points on the board with a balanced approach, everything is working in favor of this defense. 

Forget about the stars. 

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFC East for Bleacher Report since 2012.

Follow @Brad_Gagnon