What needs to change on the defense?

[sk0aL]

Obviously the defense hasn't been playing up to par. The run defense has been good but our secondary has been picked apart all season.

So what needs to change to make us effective?

Do we need more zone coverage?
Do we need more LB help?
Does Roy Williams need to be standing on the sideline during obvious passing plays on 3rd down?

I just can't seem to figure out how such a vaunted defense that showed signs of being the next "Doomsday" during the preseason has underacheived so much.

[Clove]

A new coach/Coordinator.. Sorry, but it's true.

[SBChamps]

Like we've been saying it for past 100 years, we need a real ball hawking FS.

Right now, I would just settle for a FS who can cover sometimes.

[Joe_Fan]

A new coach/Coordinator.. Sorry, but it's true.It's sad but true.

I'm personally hoping that if Cowher retires after this season that we'll bring in LeBeau as our new DC.

If we're going to run a 3-4 then we need to run a modern day 3-4 that mirrors that of Pittsburgh's or NE's or the old Baltimore's 3-4 or I'd even settle for San Diego's over this pathetic and incredibly passive version that we're currently running.

[SupermanXx]

Zimmer for prez.

[SBChamps]

It's sad but true.

I'm personally hoping that if Cowher retires after this season that we'll bring in LeBeau as our new DC.

If Cowher retires, LeBeau would be considered for Pitt's HC job.

[jrumann59]

There are too many experiments on defense. Besides the 3 down lineman and RW, T-New, and Henry we have guys playing positions other than there natural postions, Ware was a DE in a 4-3, Ellis a DE in a 4-3, James and Aydele were OLb in the 4-3, Davis is well Davis at SS

[DMX690]

A new coach/Coordinator.. Sorry, but it's true.

They need real leader on the field period. No new coach/coordinator will change the attitude of the defence. Players must do it by themselves.

[SuspectCorner]

you could put the top FS prospect back there and if Dallas STILL gives QBs all day to shop receivers - they're dead in the water.

it's ALL ABOUT THE PRESSURE. and there just isn't enuff.

[Rack Bauer]

What needs to change on the defense?

I'm posting this w/o having read a single reply, but I won't be surprised if I'm not the first one to say...


http://images.ibsys.com/2004/0105/2740718_200X150.jpg

[SupermanXx]

bring back Willie Blade and have him shart all over everyone on every play

[Joe_Fan]

If Cowher retires, LeBeau would be considered for Pitt's HC job.
Maybe so.. but I'm hoping that wouldn't be the case.

[Clove]

They need real leader on the field period. No new coach/coordinator will change the attitude of the defence. Players must do it by themselves.I'm talking about things like technique. The only corner that comes close to defending the ball on a deep pass is Newman, and the others from corners all the way to the safeties lose complete control of the ball while it's in the air, that's unacceptable and it's coaching.

[SupermanXx]

bring back Willie Blade and start him at FS

[Bob Sacamano]

bring back Willie Blade and start him at FS

that's the most logical thing I've read all day

having Keith Davis replace ROy takes the cake

[bbgun]

You guys are assuming that players like Spears, Canty, Hatcher, Burnett, and Okin can play. What if they're busts? No coordinator will be able to remedy that.

[Zaxor]

Obviously the defense hasn't been playing up to par. The run defense has been good but our secondary has been picked apart all season.

So what needs to change to make us effective?

Do we need more zone coverage?
Do we need more LB help?
Does Roy Williams need to be standing on the sideline during obvious passing plays on 3rd down?

I just can't seem to figure out how such a vaunted defense that showed signs of being the next "Doomsday" during the preseason has underacheived so much.

here is the part of the defense I have a problem with....

Question: What does Ellis, Ware, Hatcher and Ratliff do best...

Answer: rush the passer

Question: What does fergi, spears and canty do the best

Answer: stop the run

now that is a simplistic way of looking at things as they are not simply one diminsional but I think for the most part it is true...

Now what LBer would you like to see more of on the field when others teams pass the ball...I think Burnett would be

so if you have a 4 man front of Ellis, Spears, Fergie and Ware...backed up by Ratliff, Canty and Hatcher...

I think you already have a better pass rush without giving up much on the run

now if you put Burnett and James and Ayodele at LB you still have size to stop the run but you also have more coverage ability...

so I think that would solve alot of problems...


right now in our 3 -4 our pass rushers are canty(run) spears (run) fergie (run) and either Ware or Ellis(pass) we rarely send both...

I just don't believe we are utilizing the personnel as well as we can...

I hope this made a little sense as I haven't even had my first cup of coffee

[bbgun]

cowboyzblog has a point:

I cannot wait for Zimmer to go. I always thought his blitz packages and defensive schemes were poor, but now I have proof.

On Marcus Spears' radio show, he admitted that the defense is set up for either Ware or Ellis to provide pressure. That's ONE or TWO players!?!?! No wonder we make an over-the-hill Brunell look like his old self. Think the Eagles Jim Johnson would set his 3-4 defense up to rush only one or two guys?

So, what's supposed to be the point of playing passive in the pass rush? To PREVENT the long pass! As noted above, with a superstar safety who can't cover and a group of below-average FS who can't cover and another overrated CB (see below) who can't cover, why INVITE the other team to pass?

Idiocy.

[DMX690]

I'm talking about things like technique. The only corner that comes close to defending the ball on a deep pass is Newman, and the others from corners all the way to the safeties lose complete control of the ball while it's in the air, that's unacceptable and it's coaching.

You got to be kidding me. These guys are in the NFL for god sake. So, are you suggesting that in High school, college and now in the NFL. No coaches has ever taugh them to have play proper technique on deep passes? Face it they lack mental toughness i.e they choke under pressure.

[Zaxor]

You got to be kidding me. These guys are in the NFL for god sake. So, are you suggesting that in High school, college and now in the NFL. No coaches has ever taugh them to have play proper technique on deep passes? Face it they lack mental toughness i.e they choke under pressure.


that could be...and it most likely is...

but I am wondering if they just aren't sure of their assignments at times and if that is the case is it the players fault (from a lack of study) or is it the Coaches fault (from a lack of teaching) or is it some wierd combination of both?

[Zaxor]

I'm posting this w/o having read a single reply, but I won't be surprised if I'm not the first one to say...


http://images.ibsys.com/2004/0105/2740718_200X150.jpg

I think there maybe something to this...because as soon as we get players from other teams or draft them they wind up being rather average here and when they leave they tend to play better...

see Eb, meyers, mathis, stoutmier, hardy, evans, pittman etc... I am not saying they play like world beaters on other teams but they do play better...

[Joe_Fan]

I just don't believe we are utilizing the personnel as well as we can...We don't utilize our personnel properly and that's part of the problem why we'll never be that great of a defense as long as Zimmer remains our DC.

[bbailey423]

you could put the top FS prospect back there and if Dallas STILL gives QBs all day to shop receivers - they're dead in the water.

it's ALL ABOUT THE PRESSURE. and there just isn't enuff.


never have words been so true.....heck even Parcells says it....which is why I am so puzzled. Because either we don't have ENOUGH pressure players OR we don't scheme the one's we have to have a party at the QB

This is the NFL...any decent QB if given time will find somebody open

[Ren]

we need a new DC pretty much one that actually knows how to best use the talent we have and compensate for the talent we lack.

safty is a big ? in pass covrage so how about ohh i dunno we drop the 2 deep zone which does noting but help the offence go after them, just a though

[Zaxor]

we need a new DC pretty much one that actually knows how to best use the talent we have and compensate for the talent we lack.

safty is a big ? in pass covrage so how about ohh i dunno we drop the 2 deep zone which does noting but help the offence go after them, just a though

I think that may be part of the problem...I think proper utilization of personnel is the other

[Bleu Star]

Zimmer doesn't fit. Get rid of him.

[Novacek84]

I think the defense needs to mix in more blitzes in order to create more pressure. They just aren't getting there enough. Plus, they need to find safeties who can cover and CBs who can catch interceptions. Henry has no hands at all. He hasn't been the same player since he got injured last season and I can't figure out why. He got off to a good start here and has been bad since that injury.

[Zaxor]

I think the defense needs to mix in more blitzes in order to create more pressure. They just aren't getting there enough. Plus, they need to find safeties who can cover and CBs who can catch interceptions. Henry has no hands at all. He hasn't been the same player since he got injured last season and I can't figure out why. He got off to a good start here and has been bad since that injury.

Blitzing is fine if they get there but our guys don't get there

[CrazyCowboy]

RATLIFF starts......and spears watches

[ThreeSportStar80]

I'm tired of Roy Williams, the guy can't cover my granny on a sunny day!