Why the defense is sputtering.

[dthahn]

Although the defense played fairly well in the Cincy game considering the 4 turnovers by the offense, it is clear that they are underachieving big time after finishing last season as the no. 1 defense. Questions abound as to what has happened to this defense to cause such a turn-around in performance. Here is my take on what's going on.

1) I read in an article a few weeks ago that Parcells wanted to super-size the front seven but stalled in the wake of a no. 1 defense that showed some signs of improving from last season. Thus, Parcells did not make any bold moves to upgrade this unit. You can't blame for Parcells for this decision but he clearly overestimated the potential of Blade (off the team), D. Stewart (off the team), Jermaine Brooks (was off the team), and Marcellus Wiley (total non-factor). With so many unproven players and one declining veteran (Wiley), Parcells should have stuck to his original plan. The same goes for the linebackers where Coakley and Singleton have played mediocre at best.

2) Woodson's injury has weakened the secondary more than the team anticipated. This veteran and coach on the field provided invaluable leadership and instruction that has been sorely missed.

3) Parcells' decision to stay put with Pete Hunter at RCB with no veteral backups was clearly short-sighted. The rookies who have filled in have experienced many growing pains although it does appear that they might have found a keeper in Lance Frazier.

4) The lack of playmakers on defense was one outstanding fault that the entire Cowboys Nation was aware of yet Parcells and Jones did nothing about this. I am not disparaging Roy Williams's contributions but he is all alone in that department. This is why the Cowboys rank dead last in the league in defensive takeaways.

Solution: Dedicate next year's draft to defense and in the first round select Erasmus James, DE, and Antaj Hawthorne, DT. In the second round select the best available linebacker and in rounds 4-7, select the best available safety, cornerback, and linebacker. In other words, SUPER-SIZE the front seven. We can deal with any offensive needs through free agency.

[Natedawg44]

Address DT in free agency you are more likely to know what you are gonna get. Drafting a DT high is inviting a bust. They bust about as often as QBs in the first round.

[Rack Bauer]

Why the defense is sputtering


One word: Zimmer.

[TheHustler]

2) Woodson's injury has weakened the secondary more than the team anticipated. This veteran and coach on the field provided invaluable leadership and instruction that has been sorely missed.



This has been the key in my opinion. Not only does the lack of his presence make the secondary worse, but we miss his leadership more than anything. He was the QB on defense. He called the plays.

We'll miss you woody.

[AdamJT13]

The same goes for the linebackers where Coakley and Singleton have played mediocre at best.

Throw Dat Nguyen in there, as well. He might be playing worse this year than he did in his first season as a starter. Whether he ever plays as well again as he did last season, I don't know.

[dbair1967]

Throw Dat Nguyen in there, as well. He might be playing worse this year than he did in his first season as a starter. Whether he ever plays as well again as he did last season, I don't know.

I agree with Adam...

I wouldnt be surprised if we have 3 new LB's starting next yr

David

[BlueStar22]

I agree with Adam...

I wouldnt be surprised if we have 3 new LB's starting next yr

David
need to have 3 new ones. The love affair with the little people has to end.

[wileedog]

I agree with Adam...

I wouldnt be surprised if we have 3 new LB's starting next yr

David

I'm kind of hoping, actually....

[donovan4prez]

The Eagles are going to officially end your season and Kick your Teeth In! Have A Good Day :)

[wileedog]

The Eagles are going to officially end your season and Kick your Teeth In! Have A Good Day :)


Too late.

The Bengals beat you to it.

[dbair1967]

need to have 3 new ones. The love affair with the little people has to end.

nobody complained when the likies of Vinson Smith, Dixon Edwards, Ken Norton and Darrin Smith played LB here...

it has nothing to do with the size...its how talented you are and how the coordinator makes the defense go...

David

[Hollywood Henderson]

Well, yes & no David...I noticed how T-New TOWERS over tiny dat...They are both listed at 5-11 but I bet dat is actually 5-9ish (With shoes on) Dat also has bulked up and now is so slow he can't get to the corner to make tackles OR make plays in the passing game...He often gets run over by lil RB's and is easily blocked...Dex is the same way...

Size AND Scheme make a huge Dif...No more TINY lbers....

[ddh33]

This season has been full of disappointments, but the most glaring to me has been the LBs. Most of us expected that they would be solid, if not spectacular, once again. Instead, they have been below average all season. Our beoved Dat hasn't made a play all year. Dex looks less and less like the guy who made a positive impact. Singleton does his job most of the time, but it's nothing special. And Bradie hasn't been quite the impact that we hoped for.

[Eddie]

The strength of the LB corps is in their closing speed. But without big DT's to keep the OL off of them, they're not big enough to take on blocks by themselves.

With no run stuffing DT to protect them, the LB's have been exposed ... ala 2000, when RB's were running fo 200 yards a game on them.

The LB's aren't our problem. The DL is. Fix that, and the LB play will improve.

Though, I have a feeling Singleton and Dex are both out next year.

[Bach]

Let's see...a lack of talent comes to mind.

No pass rush...so-so LB's...struggling secondary...below average DC.

We need a big-time pass rushing DE, another DT, a couple of LB's, a SS and another CB.

We better start spending some $$$ on FA's because we aren't going to solve it all with the draft - especially since JJ and BP have keys to the draft room.

[StarHead69]

Ken Norton Jr. was not Undersized. He was probably the best MLB ever to play for us(No offense to Jordan) refusing to pay him to stay was a huge mistake.

The next difference maker at linebacker to come into the league will be Derrick Johnson LB/Texas. He can and will make plays from any LB position, he is extremely disruptive, aggressive, and a consumate team player. If he is available when our first pick rolls around we will be FOOLS to pass on him.

Al Singleton is journeyman quality at best, Dat Nguyen is scrappy but always seems to struggle, and Dexter Coakley is an opportunist that is exposed when teams run right at him. I agree that upgrading all three of these slots should be relatively easy. I am so tired of our LB's never making ANY plays. People always make the statement that you cant run outside on the Cowboys, well its hard to run outside on anyone consistently. Who cares if you cant run outside on us... simply lead with your FB between the tackles and you can run on us all day.

[jdnalls]

One word: Zimmer.
Amen to that.

This passive crap has got to go!

[jimmy40]

Ken Norton Jr. was not Undersized. He was probably the best MLB ever to play for us(No offense to Jordan) refusing to pay him to stay was a huge mistake.

The next difference maker at linebacker to come into the league will be Derrick Johnson LB/Texas. He can and will make plays from any LB position, he is extremely disruptive, aggressive, and a consumate team player. If he is available when our first pick rolls around we will be FOOLS to pass on him.

Al Singleton is journeyman quality at best, Dat Nguyen is scrappy but always seems to struggle, and Dexter Coakley is an opportunist that is exposed when teams run right at him. I agree that upgrading all three of these slots should be relatively easy. I am so tired of our LB's never making ANY plays. People always make the statement that you cant run outside on the Cowboys, well its hard to run outside on anyone consistently. Who cares if you cant run outside on us... simply lead with your FB between the tackles and you can run on us all day.I may be wrong but I don't remember Norton playing that much MLB at Dallas. I know he switched over when Jones got benched by Jimmy Johnson, but wasn't that in his last year, the second of the back to back titles? Like I said I may be completely off base on this. Didn't Norton WANT to leave Dallas? I seem to remember him saying he was tired of the rah rah couching style of Jimmy Johnson and he wanted to go home to California.