What's going on with Caleb Downs?

[Smith22]

So are the days of defenses routinely holding opposing teams to under 20 points unless of course you are playing Dak Prescott's Dallas Cowboys then you have the 85 Bears defense.

Interesting.

8 defenses are currently holding teams to under 20 points per game.

In fact, 2 are holding opposing teams to 13.5 or less.

 

[Smith22]

This is coming from the same poster that said CD isnt a #1

Wow.

 

[Manster_Mash]

What was he gonna do...escort him the whole way?

He ran parrellel with him for 20-30 yards. I don't think "protecting the cutback" for that long without closing in is the best tactic...but Caleb is the expert.


Note..PLEASE...I never said he did something bad, mkay? I just said it's a little odd compared to the 4 years I've been watching him.

Maybe that's what he's been coached to do? When you're the last line of defense you have to make sure the man doesn't get around/past you. He had the sideline and a teammate closing on the inside. The same rationale on kick coverage where players play lanes rather than everyone bee-lining to the ball carrier.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Maybe that's what he's been coached to do? When you're the last line of defense you have to make sure the man doesn't get around/past you. He had the sideline and a teammate closing on the inside. The same rationale on kick coverage where players play lanes rather than everyone bee-lining to the ball carrier.

I get it...but my observation is that was like 40+ yards.

So you're saying he's been coached to run side by side with a ball carrier for 40 yards?

I'm no expert....but I think you have to "close in" sooner than that. NOT a "bee line". I never said that.

I once again say I'm a big fan...have been for 4 years. I just don't recall seeing that much.

 

[Manster_Mash]

I get it...but my observation is that was like 40+ yards.

So you're saying he's been coached to run side by side with a ball carrier for 40 yards?

I'm no expert....but I think you have to "close in" sooner than that. NOT a "bee line". I never said that.

I once again say I'm a big fan...have been for 4 years. I just don't recall seeing that much.

Maybe. Have you seen our coaches? Lol

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Maybe. Have you seen our coaches? Lol

Well true and if so, I'd tell them to go...you know what...themselves if I were Caleb or Dak.

 

[jmnichols75]

I mean, the only thing I can think of that has been remotely negative is one play against the Ravens where he didn't take over coverage after Bland decided to take the outside/corner route in the endzone. Even then, I strongly suspected that it actually could have been Bland's error and Downs "failed" to bail him out on it. Given what I've seen from Bland since, I'm even more willing to give Downs the benefit of the doubt on that play.

Maybe there are other plays I didn't see, I've forgotten about, and/or haven't heard about (I listened more than watched to one game since then and have yet to read the rest of this thread!). But Downs seems solid enough...especially on a defense that is struggling and he may very well be putting his fingers into the cracks of, despite his rookie status. He's been around the ball. He even had sack against the Giants. It hasn't even occurred to me to worry about him yet. I hope I'm not missing something...

 

[MLB53]

The way the war room was celebrating and the comments on this board when he was drafted would have had most thinking he’s the next Ed Reed. So far he looks small, a tick late, timid. I get he’s a rookie but what’s his best position? I think he was at least noticeable when he was in slot. The last two games he’s been invincible. I think the giants knew something we didn’t (they passed on him twice) ?

I said he was a wasted draft picks, Safety is never a top pick bc they can not play the way they used too, a bigger CB w coverage skills make better safeties in today's NFL

 

[TrailBlazer]

he was so overhyped by the media. But give him a full year to settle in. He’s going to be fine and the least of our worries.

 

[FiveSuperBowls]

Nothing wrong with Downs, I was at the Commanders game at ATT stadium. He was glue and around the ball in his area.

There was only one play on an end around that he was beat, but he tackled the receiver immediately.

There was another play where he covered a receiver, and the ball was thrown to another receiver. Downs tackled the receiver even though he was further away from the corner who was assigned to the receiver with catch.

 

[EPL0c0]

He's been an active, versatile contributor, but he's still adjusting to the pro game. 31 combined tackles through five games, starting every game. He also has one sack and two forced fumbles. Downs has shown promising early signs for a rookie thrown in the deep end getting asked to a lot. Jumping to the NFL is a big step and trying to learn everything and be the QB of this Mickey Mouse defense can't be easy.

He's looked a little lost and a little too aggressive at times (trying to do too much maybe).

I wonder of scheme is helping him or hurtin ghim

 

[FVSTONE]

The way the war room was celebrating and the comments on this board when he was drafted would have had most thinking he’s the next Ed Reed. So far he looks small, a tick late, timid. I get he’s a rookie but what’s his best position? I think he was at least noticeable when he was in slot. The last two games he’s been invincible. I think the giants knew something we didn’t (they passed on him twice) ?

What's wrong with Downs??????? Please, what's wrong with PARKER!

 

[FVSTONE]

The way the war room was celebrating and the comments on this board when he was drafted would have had most thinking he’s the next Ed Reed. So far he looks small, a tick late, timid. I get he’s a rookie but what’s his best position? I think he was at least noticeable when he was in slot. The last two games he’s been invincible. I think the giants knew something we didn’t (they passed on him twice) ?

PARKER has CBs and Ss playing so far off the ones that they're expected to cover, it's fricking insane! Opponents are having a field day against this lousy D!

 

[jmnichols75]

I’m having a hard time blaming the players. There’s something systemically wrong with our defense. No way everybody is terrible. We have a bunch of guys who have had recent success on other teams who do nothing when they get to Dallas. For example, I know Von Miller is old, but he had 9 sacks in limited snaps last year. He’s completely useless in Dallas.

I'm starting to feel the same way. I'm not solid on it yet, but there's just something off. It's entirely plausible to write off Von Miller due to age, even if he was relatively productive last year. It's reasonable to conclude that maybe injuries are contributing to things, both systemically and for an individual player or two (wasn't Q. Williams hobbled at the start of the season...sort of a hurt in the Giants game, was still shrugging it off a little the next week?). But Barham seems legit, Downs (despite being a rookie like Barham) is highly touted, Williams is a first-round pick at DT (and plays like one), and yet very little seems to be happening or coming together. Even guys that, according to their playing history, ought to be at least serviceable are looking as much below that vague benchmark as they are supposed to be above it. I just don't know what is missing, but coordinator issues make a lot of sense. There are still other very real alternatives to that explanation but, more and more, it appears to be coaching related. Of course, no explanation is mutually exclusive. It could be some combination of overall unit talent, injuries lowering the level of talent available (or limiting even the players that make it to the field), scheme, or some combination.

It's been five games now. We're outside the window of just dismissing the struggles out of hand because it's early in the season, there's a new coordinator, etc. Maybe you can give a little more leeway for less-than-stellar performances because of injuries (or illness!). But those poor showings now have to be overcome for wins in order to salvage the season. They've got an 11-day window to rest, heal, meet, watch film, talk, go over X's and O's, or whatever. Maybe that, and the full integration of Porter into the backfield, will be just what they need to get right next week. After that, there really isn't much room to maneuver and many of the excuses that have, so far, been understandable will become stale. Things have to change...soon.

 

[ScotsCowboy]

Boy’s both a total rookie and yet also a total find, and has been playing like it.

Folk need to calm it.

 

[jmnichols75]

He's fine, nothing wrong and not complaining, but he did blow a couple of coverages in the Houston game, supposedly the first huge play to Collins in the slot and the TD where Bland was close.

I don't remember these but, when replying in another post, figured I'd probably forgotten a couple times it happened. I referenced a blown coverage that I thought had happened in the Ravens game, but it might have been the Houston one. Is one of the blown coverages you refer to a play in the endzone where he and Bland made, let's say...uh, divergent decisions and gave up a touchdown?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I don't remember these but, when replying in another post, figured I'd probably forgotten a couple times it happened. I referenced a blown coverage that I thought had happened in the Ravens game, but it might have been the Houston one. Is one of the blown coverages you refer to a play in the endzone where he and Bland made, let's say...uh, divergent decisions and gave up a touchdown?

Yes, Schotty even said that was a mistake in the Monday PC.

 

[DandyDon52]

It’s hard to diagnose in this defense and coaching philosophy. He is very talented though and I am not sure he is being used properly…….kind of like Q.

He is a rookie, give him the season at least before the critiques come out.

lol is it going to hurt his feelings?
It is ok to criticize any player anytime for any reason !
None of them read here lol.

And he does look small, some of u say he isnt , but then why does he look so small ?? lol

With our DC he probably is not being used correctly. I was watching him in this last game and he seems to move all over the field lol,.

Also he acts like he doesnt want to tackle the guy with the ball, he waits for others to do that.
On 2 plays he was there looking and it seemed like if the RB broke loose he would then tackle him.

So far I dont see why he was worth a round 1 pick.

 

[SymphonySteve]

I said he was a wasted draft picks, Safety is never a top pick bc they can not play the way they used too, a bigger CB w coverage skills make better safeties in today's NFL

The Eagles would love to have him. He's already a decent starting safety. Not his fault that Dallas doesn't have a halfway competent CB. He'll only be a 'wasted draft pick' if Dallas doesn't eventually find anybody to play CB.

Which, come to think of it, is entirely possible...

 

[b0xZZ]

Interesting.

8 defenses are currently holding teams to under 20 points per game.

In fact, 2 are holding opposing teams to 13.5 or less.

5 games in, by the end those stats wont hold and you know it. Even if they did its the exception in modern football where everything is geard towards high scoring offenses