If you could solve one problem...

[TonyS]

After watching 3 games so far, if you could solve only 1 of these problems, which would it be?

1) Free safety
2) Conservative/predictable offense
3) Lack of Pass rush/QB pressure
4) Placekicker
5) Punt returner

[roughneck266]

Number three, mainly because with that I belive we have an automatically better FS.

[joseephuss]

I don't think of the offense as too conservative or predicatable. I think the offensive play calling is too inconsistent. They get away from things that are going well at times and too cute at other times. This is a run the ball, control the game clock offense. I have no problem with that. I just think Payton out thinks himself sometimes and that leads to inconsistent drives.

I guess I should just answer the question and that would be Free Safety. And that isn't that fair either because it is really both safeties because both are responsible in pass coverage. They both need to improve.

[Compacity]

I have to say (2) Conservative/predictable offense.... Because against the Chargers, Redskins, and 49ers, it was plays that you just think why did they call this play, for example: Against the Redskins on 3rd and 15 with 6:38 seconds in the 4th Quarter the Bill Parcells and Sean Payton calls a HB Dive up the middle with Tyson Thompson, and Tyson Thompson is more of a sweep or pitch back because of his bursting speed, the middle?, that was as conservative as you can get....

Keith Davis isn't a bad free-safety, he just needs to learn a couple of things, that's why he's starting. You have other people that needs to learn alot. Keith Davis could come up big this upcoming week against the Raiders....with a lot of FF and Hard Hits...

[TonyS]

I'm surprised that Free Safety got most of the responses here.

Maybe that weak link affects the whole D strategy.

If that's the case, BP should be whipped for not filling the hole with a better Free Safety.

Hopefully, Davis will learn not to be so aggressive in his reaction to plays.

[THUMPER]

I didn't vote because the one thing I would change is to get a new DC. I've been saying it for many years now, since Zimmer was the DB coach, he stinks!

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I voted "Kicker" only because this is a position directly involved in scoring points. Also the pressure is taken off an offense when they know they got a kicker they can count on to add points. With that pressure off, offenses play better because they play looser. Just ask the Ptriots offense how much they value Vinatteri (sp?). A solid kicker can take a team to a whole new level.

AF

[hipfake08]

I voted for the offensive fix.
If you fix this you put the other team under the gun even more than they are now. We are possessing the ball for an average of 32 minutes a game so far.
Better offense - with a few scores mixed in - would make other teams play from behind.
Thus making them throw more.

[Asklesko]

I'd go with a new offense. I want to see some Colts' type fireworks.

[Hoov]

FS coverage problems needs to be adressed NOW.

Pass rush also needs to improve, i think we can do some different things as players become more familiar with schemes and each other.

Offense is fine IMO, the offense is coming together faster than i expected. blesoe and key seem to be on the same page and hooking up when it counts the most. bledsoe and glenn are playing well together, witten will get more involved, O Line is doing a great job and Jones is going to have a good year. We even ran a screen and picked up good yards yesterday.

Im really happy with the offensive play calling (except for 4th and 1 on your own 30) but parcells is going to do that a lot. he beleives in using all 4 downs at times.

[Rack Bauer]

Anyone that picked FS needs to take Football 101. A FS isn't gonna help our pass defense NEARLY as much as a pass rush. With a FS, a QB would still get time to throw and if a QB has time to throw your DBs WILL get beat.

With a pass rush it doesn't matter who you have a FS, he won't have time to throw and he'll be rushing passes. Larry Allen could be the FS and he'd end up with 5 picks.

[Hoov]

Anyone that picked FS needs to take Football 101. A FS isn't gonna help our pass defense NEARLY as much as a pass rush. With a FS, a QB would still get time to throw and if a QB has time to throw your DBs WILL get beat.

With a pass rush it doesn't matter who you have a FS, he won't have time to throw and he'll be rushing passes. Larry Allen could be the FS and he'd end up with 5 picks.

K Collins had time to throw yesterday, but some guy named dawkins kept breaking up his passes.

[dallasblue05]

I'm surprised that Free Safety got most of the responses here.

Maybe that weak link affects the whole D strategy.

If that's the case, BP should be whipped for not filling the hole with a better Free Safety.

Hopefully, Davis will learn not to be so aggressive in his reaction to plays.

Exactly, this is why I said the FS issue. I think that we have the FS here, he just needs to show up and do his job, whether its Pile or davis. I personally thought pile did an excellent job when he was in on sunday. And I think if we keep him in there, he'll continue to stiffen our D. Until we get where we want, our D strategy will not be as aggressive to allow some help for that area. JMO, but I thinkwe have everything we need. The kicker is definitely a close second!!

[Rack Bauer]

K Collins had time to throw yesterday, but some guy named dawkins kept breaking up his passes.


That must be why he had such a horrible game throwing for 345 yards and 2 TDs, with NO interceptions.

Thanks for proving my point for me.

[kojak]

Pash rush with out a doubt.When we starting getting more pressure on the QB, the DB's and the safetys will be fine.

[Tobal]

I vote center,

I think we'll start getting a pass rush soon, and I think that will help the Pass def. I don't mind the play calling.

Our center is getting abused too often.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Not sure if many are aware of this but over the last 3 games, we have given up 331 yards on 76 rush attempts. That's an average of 4.36 YPA. That aint gonna get it done. Teams have consistantly ran the ball against us. This is starting to worry me a little bit.

[DeWare94]

Pash rush with out a doubt.When we starting getting more pressure on the QB, the DB's and the safetys will be fine.


Ware for 10.5 in 2005!

[Hiero]

Anyone that picked FS needs to take Football 101. A FS isn't gonna help our pass defense NEARLY as much as a pass rush. With a FS, a QB would still get time to throw and if a QB has time to throw your DBs WILL get beat.

With a pass rush it doesn't matter who you have a FS, he won't have time to throw and he'll be rushing passes. Larry Allen could be the FS and he'd end up with 5 picks.
I think the reason or at least my reason, was that we already tried to fix pass rush, I think its just a matter of time and the players learning and gelling. the pass rush hasnt been there consistently, but we put imo more than enough players in, its just a matter of time.

FS on the otherhand we just kinda gave up on IMO this last offseason. BP i think got a little too overconfident in Davis, and now Davis is getting beat deep left and right. We need to make a concerted effort to get a real starting quality FS brought in. Pile was something imo, but not really addressing the issue like it needs to be.

[joseephuss]

Not sure if many are aware of this but over the last 3 games, we have given up 331 yards on 76 rush attempts. That's an average of 4.36 YPA. That aint gonna get it done. Teams have consistantly ran the ball against us. This is starting to worry me a little bit.

That is misleading. San Francisco ran the ball well against Dallas. San Diego and Washington did not. Most of the yards that Dallas gave up so far has been to the 49ers and the Brunnell scramble. That scramble really skewed the rushing statistics. Dallas contained the running game in the first two games and did not in the third game. Something to consider and improve on, but it doesn't looks has if teams have rushed it consistantly against the Cowboys.

[AtlCB]

Anyone that picked FS needs to take Football 101. A FS isn't gonna help our pass defense NEARLY as much as a pass rush. With a FS, a QB would still get time to throw and if a QB has time to throw your DBs WILL get beat.

With a pass rush it doesn't matter who you have a FS, he won't have time to throw and he'll be rushing passes. Larry Allen could be the FS and he'd end up with 5 picks.The Cowboys rank 5th in the NFL in sacks (9). Half of those sacks came from the defensive line and three came from the linebackers. This team is on pace for 48 sacks this season! I don't see anything wrong with the pass rush. The biggest problems on defense are missing tackles and giving up the long pass play.

[Justis]

After watching 3 games so far, if you could solve only 1 of these problems, which would it be?

1) Free safety
2) Conservative/predictable offense
3) Lack of Pass rush/QB pressure
4) Placekicker
5) Punt returner Obviously our play-calling is good enough, it looks like Bledsoe's gonna go to the Pro Bowl. We have plenty of pass rush, couldn't ask for more from these young guys so early. I'd like to give Cortez the boot, no pun intended, but with our efficient offense it's seeming to be less of a problem. Punt returners aren't in the game enough to worry so much about changing them. This of course leaves FS, KD is a special teams ace, but I promise you a servicable real FS would exponentially improve our pass D.

[Rack Bauer]

The Cowboys rank 5th in the NFL in sacks (9). Half of those sacks came from the defensive line and three came from the linebackers. This team is on pace for 48 sacks this season! I don't see anything wrong with the pass rush. The biggest problems on defense are missing tackles and giving up the long pass play.


Problem is you're looking at the stat line instead of the game.

[ABQCOWBOY]

That is misleading. San Francisco ran the ball well against Dallas. San Diego and Washington did not. Most of the yards that Dallas gave up so far has been to the 49ers and the Brunnell scramble. That scramble really skewed the rushing statistics. Dallas contained the running game in the first two games and did not in the third game. Something to consider and improve on, but it doesn't looks has if teams have rushed it consistantly against the Cowboys.

I don't agree. QBs rushing the ball, is part of rush defense. It would be like me trying to say that because we forced SD out of the running game, those numbers for Tomlinson, 72 on 19, are also skewed.

Even if you take out Brunell's 35 yards, you still have something like a 4.1 YPC against our defense.

People are running on us. That's a true statement.

[joseephuss]

I don't agree. QBs rushing the ball, is part of rush defense. It would be like me trying to say that because we forced SD out of the running game, those numbers for Tomlinson, 72 on 19, are also skewed.

Even if you take out Brunell's 35 yards, you still have something like a 4.1 YPC against our defense.

People are running on us. That's a true statement.

But they aren't running the ball consistantly. And by that I mean dictating the ball game by controlling the line of scrimmage and the clock with good running. At least they weren't in the first two games. SanFran did and that is something to be concerned with, but I just don't see it against the Chargers and Redskins. Dallas' defense controlled the running game in both games and when you do that you usually put your team in a good position to win. They won one and came dang near winning the second.

[AtlCB]

Problem is you're looking at the stat line instead of the game.I've watched all three games. BTW, how many teams in the NFL can say that their free safety has 0 interceptions and 0 passes defensed?

[Rack Bauer]

I've watched all three games. BTW, how many teams in the NFL can say that their free safety has 0 interceptions and 0 passes defensed?


What's that got to do with our pass rush? Have you ever seen a post by me saying I'm happy with our FS?

That would be a big fat "No."


It's just not as important as our pass rush. If you have a good, consistent pass rush, it makes every member of your secondary look better. If you have a probowler at every position in your secondary they'll get beat if they don't have a pass rush.


By the way, Ed Reed has 0 ints, and 1 pass defensed. I guess he sucks now? Or is it cuz they Ravens have no pass rush this year?

Gee, I wonder what it could be.

[AtlCB]

What's that got to do with our pass rush? Have you ever seen a post by me saying I'm happy with our FS?

That would be a big fat "No."


It's just not as important as our pass rush. If you have a good, consistent pass rush, it makes every member of your secondary look better. If you have a probowler at every position in your secondary they'll get beat if they don't have a pass rush.


By the way, Ed Reed has 0 ints, and 1 pass defensed. I guess he sucks now? Or is it cuz they Ravens have no pass rush this year?

Gee, I wonder what it could be.

IMO, the FS position is the biggest weakness on the team. Both safeties have been bad in coverage, but Davis hasn't made a single play in pass coverage in three games!!! He hasn't broken up or intercepted a single pass. This team might as well run 10 players out on the field in obvious passing downs.

Furthermore, the pass rush hasn't been bad. It certainly wasn't great against SF, but Brees and Brunell had someone in their faces most of the game.

[ABQCOWBOY]

But they aren't running the ball consistantly. And by that I mean dictating the ball game by controlling the line of scrimmage and the clock with good running. At least they weren't in the first two games. SanFran did and that is something to be concerned with, but I just don't see it against the Chargers and Redskins. Dallas' defense controlled the running game in both games and when you do that you usually put your team in a good position to win. They won one and came dang near winning the second.

I don't know about this Joseephuss. The skins didn't run the ball against us, I agree with that but I don't know that the Skinz are a very good indicator of anything offensively. They beat us but there offense is horrid.

The Chargers, on the other hand, both drive that they went heavy with the run on, they scored TDs off of. Actually, I kind felt like Fumbles, Sacks and penalties kinda took San Diego out of there running game. Tomilinson on carried the ball 7 times in the 2nd half. Only 2 twice in the 4th quarter. There problem was that defensively, they couldn't stop our offense. I mean, San Diego was basically controlling the game, through much of the first half. They were winning at the end of the 3rd quarter.

I just have concerns. I think our run defense is not playing as well as is should be.

[scottsp]

If only the safety play wasn't so porous in coverage. The pressure from the defensive front hasn't been so anemic. There are far worse units up front in the league - units that don't give up nearly the number of big plays we do.

Mental breakdowns are killing us. As Drew Pearson said last night, your typical NFL wide receiver is confident that he can get past the cornerback. It's not the corner they're tying to flank.

It's the safety.

Quarterbacks key primarily on that.

There are some good defenses not getting to the passer with great regularity. They do tend to eliminate the big plays. Their safeties are not coming down hard on underneath routes while something else might be threatening over the top.

Hey, but at least our safeties are JACKIN' PEOPLE UP. And that's what it's all about. Sportscenter is next.

[ABQCOWBOY]

If only the safety play wasn't so porous in coverage. The pressure from the defensive front hasn't been so anemic. There are far worse units up front in the league - units that don't give up nearly the number of big plays we do.

Mental breakdowns are killing us. As Drew Pearson said last night, your typical NFL wide receiver is confident that he can get past the cornerback. It's not the corner they're tying to flank.

It's the safety.

Quarterbacks key primarily on that.

There are some good defenses not getting to the passer with great regularity. They do tend to eliminate the big plays. Their safeties are not coming down hard on underneath routes while something else might be threatening over the top.

Hey, but at least our safeties are JACKIN' PEOPLE UP. And that's what it's all about. Sportscenter is next.

This is a pretty good post, I think.

[joseephuss]

I don't know about this Joseephuss. The skins didn't run the ball against us, I agree with that but I don't know that the Skinz are a very good indicator of anything offensively. They beat us but there offense is horrid.

The Chargers, on the other hand, both drive that they went heavy with the run on, they scored TDs off of. Actually, I kind felt like Fumbles, Sacks and penalties kinda took San Diego out of there running game. Tomilinson on carried the ball 7 times in the 2nd half. Only 2 twice in the 4th quarter. There problem was that defensively, they couldn't stop our offense. I mean, San Diego was basically controlling the game, through much of the first half. They were winning at the end of the 3rd quarter.

I just have concerns. I think our run defense is not playing as well as is should be.

I think there is room for improvement no doubt. I just think it is not as bad as the stats that you posted indicate. They are doing some good things out there against the run, but aren't perfect yet. I think after only 3 games, it is still too early to see how well the defense stacks up against the run. Inconclusive data if you will.

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think there is room for improvement no doubt. I just think it is not as bad as the stats that you posted indicate. They are doing some good things out there against the run, but aren't perfect yet. I think after only 3 games, it is still too early to see how well the defense stacks up against the run. Inconclusive data if you will.

I can live with inconclusive, at this point. I do take into consideration that we are running a new defense. We will see what the season holds.

[Cogan]

I don't think our offense is too predictable. Bledsoe has thrown for more yards in a three game span than Aikman probably ever did. When Emmitt was running behind that dominating offensive line, we had fewer running plays than we do now. The lead draw was close to half our plays. We need to get back to the point where it's not whether the opponent knows what we're doing or not, but that they couldn't stop us if they did.

A predictable offense suggests that we run on running downs & pass on passing downs. I haven't seen that. Sometimes I wish I did. JJ should be getting way over 100 yds./game. He is way too talented to be averaging in the 80s, even though that is not bad. My pick is not on your list. Next years' draft will have one of the greatest OT groups in the past 15 years. We need to grab one in the first round, then maybe another a couple of rounds later. I know Pettiti is doing pretty well, considering, but we still need to stock up more on our offensive line.

An overpowering "O" line gives the OC so many more options in a game. Once you start dominating with the run, it opens up your entire playbook. We haven't done that this year. The other team stuffs the run several times, we get behind, then we have to pass for over 300 yards. Let's keep beefing up both sides of the ball on the line, and we will go to the promised land. Funny how a great line makes everyone look better.

[joseephuss]

I don't think our offense is too predictable. Bledsoe has thrown for more yards in a three game span than Aikman probably ever did. When Emmitt was running behind that dominating offensive line, we ran fewer plays than we do now. The lead draw was close to half our plays. We need to get back to the point where it's not whether the opponent knows what we're doing or not, but that they couldn't stop us if they did.
A predictable offense suggests that we run on running downs & pass on passing downs. I haven't seen that. Sometimes I wish I did. JJ should be getting way over 100 yds./game. He is way too talented to be averaging in the 80s, even though that is not bad. My pick is not on your list. Next years' draft will have one of the greatest OT groups in the past 15 years. We need to grab one in the first round. I know Pettiti is doing pretty well, considering, but we still need to stock up more on our offensive line.

An overpowering "O" line gives the OC so many more options in a game. Once you start dominating with the run, it opens up your entire playbook. We haven't done that this year. The other team stuffs the run several times, we get behind, then we have to pass for over 300 yards. Let's keep beefing up both sides of the ball on the line, and we will go to the promised land. Funny how a great line makes average RBs & QBs look like world beaters.


Great points. I think Payton tries to get too cute sometimes instead of just keeping things simple.

[Dallas4ever]

Looking at the poll results thus far, it's obvious to most of us that the FS position will hurt us most if not addressed. I've said it here before and I'll say it again....you cannot afford to have an inexperienced and below average player responsible for covering the middle of the field for you. There was no real reason to believe that if KD couldn't win the FS position last year that he would be the answer this year. The team knew that they needed to address the FS position and simply didn't. You can bet that Jerry is already regreting that decision.

[royhitshard]

#3 without a doubt!

[Trophy#6]

The rest have potential to get better during the course of the season EXCEPT Place Kicker. You either got a guy or you don't got one...we don't. Cost us the first game with that missed fg and darn nearly cost us last weeks game with that missed PAT.

[dbair1967]

I cant believe such an inordinate amount of people really believe FS is the problem here...if you rush the passer and knock down the QB consistently, you can get by with average DB's...on the other hand you can have 4 very good DB's back there who will all look poor if you cant get to the QB

FS is an issue, but not anywhere near the issue that our inability to consistently pressure the QB is...dont give me the "well we have 9 sacks and that a pace for 48" either...we have 9 sacks and almost no other hits or real pressure on the QB's.....

we lost to the Redskins for one reason and one reason alone, with the game on the line we couldnt rush the QB, even in 3rd and 27 or 4th and 15...we nearly lost to SD and SF for the same reason

David

[BARRYRAY]

Well I would vote for better o-line/running game. If we can get JJ or whoever 100 yds a game, we will win, as far as kicker goes I here ya, not sure Condit is done for the year,we may see him at the end again, also we may get another FS somewhere along the line, anybody know a good cheap deep snapper, that wouldn't hurt either...BB

[dbair1967]

Looking at the poll results thus far, it's obvious to most of us that the FS position will hurt us most if not addressed. I've said it here before and I'll say it again....you cannot afford to have an inexperienced and below average player responsible for covering the middle of the field for you. There was no real reason to believe that if KD couldn't win the FS position last year that he would be the answer this year. The team knew that they needed to address the FS position and simply didn't. You can bet that Jerry is already regreting that decision.

sorry, but I just dont agree...you could stick a probowl FS back there right now and it wouldnt make one iota of difference...we simply cant rush the passer...if the QB has 10 seconds or more to stand back there and look all over the field, he is going to eventually find somebody wide open...Mike Zimmer simply doesnt understand pressure defense, whether its with a standard 4 man rush or with the blitz...been here 6+ yrs, its the same thing every week

David

[BrAinPaiNt]

I couldn't pick out one thing and isolate it from that list.

I can see people saying the D Pressure and with that D pressure our FS would be ok.
I see others saying if our FS was playing ok we are already getting enough D pressure.

While both make good points I think the bottom line for improvement here is nothing more then Execution and to knock off the mental mistakes.

We are getting pressure at times but it is not the lack of physical ability by the secondary in many cases....it is them being out of position due to mental mistakes.

We have enough talent on this team that if they come together and play both physically and mentally well....we could be very special on defense.

However when you got guys making mistakes, being out of position, I don't care how good your pass rush is or how great your FS is...there will be problems.

So IMO either opinion (pass rush or fs) is valid but only because of the mental mistakes or the learning curve of some players.

Really this whole thing should not be a shocker to anyone...we have known, and maybe just forgotten, all along that with so much youth on the D side of the ball, with a new system, new players....it was going to be a period of times where mistakes are made and the D will give up big plays.

Learn to lessen those mistakes, get that unit to play as a team and things will turn around IMO.

Same could be said of Special Teams coverages, same could be said of other areas.

Let's work on these mistakes, give the D a little time to get everyone up to speed and hopefully clean up the mental errors.

One last thing to consider...I don't care how great a player you are, I don't care how great a team on D you have...there will be times that a player or D get's burned.