Pass rush depth remains a key concern

[BlindFaith]

Honestly, if he had at least stuck with the five-man front more, I would cut him a little slack. Using Quinnen, Clark and Odighizuwa up front together had shown some promise, but he refused to use it much.

"Sticking" to anything is the issue. Each game is different. Yes, you play to your strengths. But on defense, you also have to eliminate the offensive strengths. Doing the same thing, game after game becomes predictable.

Predictable gets you beat. Unless you simply out talent a team. And very few teams can simply out talent every team any more.

 

[BlindFaith]

I agree. But it must work or First sign it’s not Jethro will meddle.

I dont say this willy nilly.

This defense has me excited. First time in a long time. I really think it could be the best we've had since the teams of the early 90s.

Yes, those teams.

And just for context, I think it was Russel Marylands rookie year. First game of the season. Against Philly.

Philly got the ball to start the game. First three plays and they had lost like 15 yards.

That defense was so improved from the previous year. It had attitude. It wasnt there to just watch the offense. It was there to support the offense. To cause as much pain as possible.

What we have now has the potential to do that, to be that.

 

[gimmesix]

"Sticking" to anything is the issue. Each game is different. Yes, you play to your strengths. But on defense, you also have to eliminate the offensive strengths. Doing the same thing, game after game becomes predictable.

Predictable gets you beat. Unless you simply out talent a team. And very few teams can simply out talent every team any more.

We had the worst defense in the league last year and one of our worst in history. I don't think using more of a five-man front that had been successful would have made it any worse.

 

[BlindFaith]

We had the worst defense in the league last year and one of our worst in history. I don't think using more of a five-man front that had been successful would have made it any worse.

And it wouldnt have made it any better.

 

[gimmesix]

Absolutely. Jethro and son have been the single most influential pieces in us not doing squadoosh the last 30 years.

If the single biggest impact that CP brings to this team is the ability to get Jerry to buy into his rationale for talent/acquisition, then he is the team MVP already.

The fact that we gave an outside free agent a three-year contract averaging more $10 million a year gives me some hope in that regard. That has not been typical for this front office since 2012. I assume that that was influenced by Parker. Of course, other than that we were our usually cheap selves in free agency.

I really hope Jalen Thompson works out and shows this front office that you can use "top" free agents to make your team better.

 

[plasticman]

I'm for getting another guy, though I would not pay the big contract.

The problem is this team doesn't really attract those veterans willing to take a cut if the team is a true contender. These are players who made their money and are more interested in getting that elusive ring.

Even if they were contenders, guys like Von Miller and Van Noy already have their rings.

Joey Bosa might be an option if he was reasonable.

I think we learned from the 90s teams that you need a good mix of youth and experience. An older guy on a two-year contract could enhance that mix for the present team.

 

[DarkVader33]

And it wouldnt have made it any better.

Probably not but why keep doing something historically bad?

 

[Diehardblues]

I dont say this willy nilly.

This defense has me excited. First time in a long time. I really think it could be the best we've had since the teams of the early 90s.

Yes, those teams.

And just for context, I think it was Russel Marylands rookie year. First game of the season. Against Philly.

Philly got the ball to start the game. First three plays and they had lost like 15 yards.

That defense was so improved from the previous year. It had attitude. It wasnt there to just watch the offense. It was there to support the offense. To cause as much pain as possible.

What we have now has the potential to do that, to be that.

I don’t get needing to make such claims without seeing on the field.

 

[gimmesix]

And it wouldnt have made it any better.

I understand that. All I'm saying is that I would have respected Eberflus's effort more if he had tried. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is not going to get you anywhere. Trying other things may have produced the same results, but at least you tried.

What I would have done is turned to heavy blitzing. Our secondary clearly was in shambles and coverage wasn't going to hold up no matter what we did. I would have been sending every kind of pressure package you can think off. Yes, we would have gotten burned, but at least it would have been an effort to make something happen.

Instead, he tried to play it safe by mostly sending four-man pressure and then using a variety of zone and man behind it, even though we had plenty of evidence that it wasn't going to work. I'd rather live and die by all-out blitzes than just watch the defense do the same thing over and over again and still fail over and over again.

 

[gimmesix]

Sam Williams struggled with gap integrity as a "standard" DE. To be kind, I get the idea he does not have all that much football intelligence. He runs himself out of plays. The effort is there, the know-how is not.

I think if the Cowboys just use him on sure passing downs and tell him to just go get the QB, he can be really productive. Because all the physical traits are there.

I agree that he doesn't show a great deal of football intelligence, but he also hasn't shown a propensity to get to the QB as a rush end. I just don't have any expectations of that changing at this point.

 

[DarkVader33]

I understand that. All I'm saying is that I would have respected Eberflus's effort more if he had tried. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is not going to get you anywhere. Trying other things may have produced the same results, but at least you tried.

What I would have done is turned to heavy blitzing. Our secondary clearly was in shambles and coverage wasn't going to hold up no matter what we did. I would have been sending every kind of pressure package you can think off. Yes, we would have gotten burned, but at least it would have been an effort to make something happen.

Instead, he tried to play it safe by mostly sending four-man pressure and then using a variety of zone and man behind it, even though we had plenty of evidence that it wasn't going to work. I'd rather live and die by all-out blitzes than just watch the defense do the same thing over and over again and still fail over and over again.

And over and over and over and over and over again. x17

 

[gimmesix]

I'm for getting another guy, though I would not pay the big contract.

The problem is this team doesn't really attract those veterans willing to take a cut if the team is a true contender. These are players who made their money and are more interested in getting that elusive ring.

Even if they were contenders, guys like Von Miller and Van Noy already have their rings.

Joey Bosa might be an option if he was reasonable.

I think we learned from the 90s teams that you need a good mix of youth and experience. An older guy on a two-year contract could enhance that mix for the present team.

Miller went to Washington last year for $6 million. We ultimately got Clowney for $3.5 million. Miller wants to play and I bet he would for another $6 million. I just think this front office isn't willing to pay that ... unless it gets desperate. However, we're paying Sam Williams $2.5 million and Clowney cost us $3.5 million. I'd rather see all that put on a player like Miller instead.

 

[BlindFaith]

The fact that we gave an outside free agent a three-year contract averaging more $10 million a year gives me some hope in that regard. That has not been typical for this front office since 2012. I assume that that was influenced by Parker. Of course, other than that we were our usually cheap selves in free agency.

I really hope Jalen Thompson works out and shows this front office that you can use "top" free agents to make your team better.

We traded for Gary. Reworked his deal, but its was still far from cheap.

Pickens gets top 5 money.

Baileys the highest paid kicker.

The other additions werent simply bargain, basement deals.

This year has been different. Why? Who knows. Probably because Jerry knows his time on this earth is running out.

 

[Proof]

I sure hope so

I’m just concerned about the lack of a true pass rusher who has shown it at the NFL level

Gary is kind of a “slop sack” guy who ends up with sacks from breakdowns and scheme, but he’s not particularly effective at just beating his man and getting the QB off the snap

And I was not surprised, but still disappointed, in Eze. He was a rookie and will improve but I’m just not sure the elite college performances he put up will be doable for him in the NFL

for sure. valid concerns, and i'm honestly being waaay to optimistic. i just have a really good feeling. ez didn't have a whole lot of help and was dealing with the hip injury. i'm hoping/trusting he'll be healed from that and we'll get to see more of what was advertised. Looks like he's added muscle and good weight, has some reinforcements around and behind him, and i am really really excited for the bt jordan hire. again it's all hope and optimism, but i've got it in spades

 

[BlindFaith]

Probably not but why keep doing something historically bad?

You dont change a historically bad defense week 10.

You change it by ditching the guy in charge of it and replacing 80% of it in the off season.

 

[Kwyn]

What injuries that decimated the secondary are you referring to?

Games missed

Bland: 5 games
Diggs: 9 games
Revel: 10 games
Carson: 9 games
Hooker: 5 games
Wilson: 2 games

They were never healthy and never on the field together enough to have any chemistry, which combined with their limited ability was the kiss of death for our coverage

Particularly stinging was Revel, who being our third round pick, was the inspiration for Jerry’s now infamous “no redshirt years” quote.

 

[BlindFaith]

I don’t get needing to make such claims without seeing on the field.

Some wait and see, some predict. Unless you're a gambler or looking to get a job with a team, waiting is fine.

 

[BlindFaith]

I understand that. All I'm saying is that I would have respected Eberflus's effort more if he had tried. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is not going to get you anywhere. Trying other things may have produced the same results, but at least you tried.

What I would have done is turned to heavy blitzing. Our secondary clearly was in shambles and coverage wasn't going to hold up no matter what we did. I would have been sending every kind of pressure package you can think off. Yes, we would have gotten burned, but at least it would have been an effort to make something happen.

Instead, he tried to play it safe by mostly sending four-man pressure and then using a variety of zone and man behind it, even though we had plenty of evidence that it wasn't going to work. I'd rather live and die by all-out blitzes than just watch the defense do the same thing over and over again and still fail over and over again.

You dont need to convince me that Eberflus was horse shyte.

 

[DarkVader33]

We traded for Gary. Reworked his deal, but its was still far from cheap.

Pickens gets top 5 money.

Baileys the highest paid kicker.

The other additions werent simply bargain, basement deals.

This year has been different. Why? Who knows. Probably because Jerry knows his time on this earth is running out.

Probably because he’s taking a step back? Possibly due to his age. Did you see the bspn draft show? I have never seen involved as little as he was. Of course he’s never going to back away from the spotlight even if he makes it to 100.

 

[BlindFaith]

Probably because he’s taking a step back? Possibly due to his age. Did you see the bspn draft show? I have never seen involved as little as he was. Of course he’s never going to back away from the spotlight even if he makes it to 100.

I don't care if he still wants to be in the spotlight. I mean, I do, but as long as he isnt making any decisions, then Im fine.

This seems like a shift towards letting the guys who get paid to know football make the decisions vs Jerry picking up the phone and trading for Lance, or Mingo or Milton without even talking to anyone.

And THAAAAANK God!!