Cowboys' defense on pace for historic worsts under Kiffin

[Wood]

there is alot of blame to go around but none is bigger than Dallas having mind freeze at draft.

 

[big dog cowboy]

there is alot of blame to go around but none is bigger than Dallas having mind freeze at draft.

Oh please explain.

 

[Wood]

Oh please explain.

Dallas took Escobar, Webb & Randle with solid DL prospects still on the board. It was complete miscalculation by Dallas.

Here is Kiper post-draft grade: Almost crystal-ballish:


Source Grade Comments
ESPN (Kiper) C+ I'm pretty sure I described the Dallas draft as "a little all over the place" when I was asked about it midway through. But looking at all the picks together, I'll tell you it certainly improved in my eyes as we got into the later rounds. I was a little critical of the first-round pick, just because the Cowboys drafted a player I thought they could have taken at least 30 spots later. Travis Frederick was my 87th-ranked player. And yet they should get credit because he'll be a starter at a position where they were a total mess in 2013. Gavin Escobar is a good tight end and a great catcher of the football, and he can learn from Jason Witten, but Witten can still play. Similar story with Terrence Williams, an extremely productive wideout for Baylor, who offers depth with the potential to start. Now, those are players I like, but taking two pass-catchers without addressing safety or an aging defensive line seemed really odd to me. Then it got better. J.J. Wilcox has the potential to become a starter and was my No. 5-ranked safety. B.W. Webb is also a prospect at corner out of William & Mary. My concern with both of those picks is the jump in competition, so they'll need seasoning. Randle is a get at a need position late. The Cowboys made some good picks, but no help on the defensive line or depth at tackle out of this draft is disappointing. (Graded a B for filling needs and a C- for Value)

 

[perrykemp]

Dallas took Escobar, Webb & Randle with solid DL prospects still on the board. It was complete miscalculation by Dallas.

Here is Kiper post-draft grade: Almost crystal-ballish:


Source Grade Comments
ESPN (Kiper) C+ I'm pretty sure I described the Dallas draft as "a little all over the place" when I was asked about it midway through. But looking at all the picks together, I'll tell you it certainly improved in my eyes as we got into the later rounds. I was a little critical of the first-round pick, just because the Cowboys drafted a player I thought they could have taken at least 30 spots later. Travis Frederick was my 87th-ranked player. And yet they should get credit because he'll be a starter at a position where they were a total mess in 2013. Gavin Escobar is a good tight end and a great catcher of the football, and he can learn from Jason Witten, but Witten can still play. Similar story with Terrence Williams, an extremely productive wideout for Baylor, who offers depth with the potential to start. Now, those are players I like, but taking two pass-catchers without addressing safety or an aging defensive line seemed really odd to me. Then it got better. J.J. Wilcox has the potential to become a starter and was my No. 5-ranked safety. B.W. Webb is also a prospect at corner out of William & Mary. My concern with both of those picks is the jump in competition, so they'll need seasoning. Randle is a get at a need position late. The Cowboys made some good picks, but no help on the defensive line or depth at tackle out of this draft is disappointing. (Graded a B for filling needs and a C- for Value)

Surprisingly, Kiper's concern with the Cowboy's draft seem spot on.

 

[mitchell2254]

I normally defend Jerry but I have no idea what he was thinking with Kiffin. His D was getting shredded before he went to college where it got completely demolished. I still have my hopes up but it's not looking good.

 

[beevomav]

I never saw the Tampa 2 get burnt for close to 700 yards in a game before.........................I got no idea what the hell we are running, but it dam sure is not the old Tampa 2 under Dungy.

That's because the Bucs-Tampa 2 had Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice rushing the passer.

 

[beevomav]

Surprisingly, Kiper's concern with the Cowboy's draft seem spot on.

20/20 hindsight..The defense would be much better with Ratliff, Spencer, Crawford and Ware playing instead of a bunch of no names. Hard to have an effective defense without a pass rush.

 

[beevomav]

Last season the Cowboys defense was the worst in the history of the Cowboys. Rob Ryan was fired and moved on to the New Orleans Saints. He seems to be doing just fine. They are 4th ranked in scoring defense at 17 ppg..Last season they were 31st at 28 ppg..It time we recognized it's not the coaching, it's the players.

I think the Cowboys assembled a pretty good defense. Then in training camp Tyrone Crawford, who I believe was ready for a breakout year, tore his Achilles. Anthony Spencer goes down with a knee injury, followed by Ratliff's outright mutiny after a huge extension. Then a few games ago, DeMarcus Ware goes down. Ben Bass, another young guy, who was playing well injures his shoulder.

I know all teams have injuries, but name the other contending team that has their entire starting defense, aside from Hatcher, and a couple of high profile backups, gone for the year?

 

[Picksix]

Not dummies, but the game has passed the both of them by!!!!! They're making Ryan look genius!!!!

Wouldn't go that far. We were far from good under Rob. Not as bad as we are now, but we still couldn't stop anybody when we had to. As for how he's doing now, this is the list of offenses and their rankings that NO has faced this year.

Atl 11th (yds), 15th (pts)
TB 31st, 31st
Ari 27th, 24th
Mia 25th, 20th
Chi 10th, 2nd
NE 18th, 17th
Buf 19th, 18th

With the exception of Chi, he hasn't faced a top 10 offense. Point being, I don't think he'd be doing any better with this D than Kiffin is. The excuse for Rob last year, was the injuries. Well, then Kiffin should get the same pass.

 

[dupree89]

I had to laugh at your "every other week" analogy. That is so Dallas Cowboys. There is no consistency to this team on either side of the ball. And that is a major fail.

and who should we point a finger at when the team is inconsistent from week to week.? I have my idea.

 

[Picksix]

Dallas took Escobar, Webb & Randle with solid DL prospects still on the board. It was complete miscalculation by Dallas.

Here is Kiper post-draft grade: Almost crystal-ballish:


Source Grade Comments
ESPN (Kiper) C+ I'm pretty sure I described the Dallas draft as "a little all over the place" when I was asked about it midway through. But looking at all the picks together, I'll tell you it certainly improved in my eyes as we got into the later rounds. I was a little critical of the first-round pick, just because the Cowboys drafted a player I thought they could have taken at least 30 spots later. Travis Frederick was my 87th-ranked player. And yet they should get credit because he'll be a starter at a position where they were a total mess in 2013. Gavin Escobar is a good tight end and a great catcher of the football, and he can learn from Jason Witten, but Witten can still play. Similar story with Terrence Williams, an extremely productive wideout for Baylor, who offers depth with the potential to start. Now, those are players I like, but taking two pass-catchers without addressing safety or an aging defensive line seemed really odd to me. Then it got better. J.J. Wilcox has the potential to become a starter and was my No. 5-ranked safety. B.W. Webb is also a prospect at corner out of William & Mary. My concern with both of those picks is the jump in competition, so they'll need seasoning. Randle is a get at a need position late. The Cowboys made some good picks, but no help on the defensive line or depth at tackle out of this draft is disappointing. (Graded a B for filling needs and a C- for Value)

Players we could have drafted in rounds 2-5 (taken after the Escobar pick): *

John Jenkins 11 tackles, 0 sacks
Margus Hunt 1 tackle, 0 sacks
Jonathan Hankins 5 tackles, 0 sacks
Bennie Logan 6 tackles, 2 sacks
Jordan Hill 5 tackles, 0.5 sacks
Brandon Williams 4 tackles, 1 sack
Sam Montgomery 0 tackles, 0 sacks (released)
Trevardo Williams 0 tackles, 0 sacks
William Gholston 2 tackles, 0 sacks
Mallicaih Goodman 5 tackles, 0 sacks
John Simon 3 tackles, 0 sacks
Jesse Williams 0 tackles, 0 sacks
Montori Hughes 0 tackles, 0 sacks
Quanteras Smith 0 tackles, 0 sacks
Lavar Edwards 6 tackles, 0 sacks
Stansley Maponga 0 tackles, 0 sacks
Quinton Dial 1 tackle, 0 sacks
Josh Boyd 0 tackles, 0 sacks

Players we've picked up: *

George Selvie 20 tackles, 5 sacks
Nick Hayden 22 tackles, 0 sacks
Drake Nevis 6 tackles, 0 sacks
Jarius Wynn 2 tackles, 0 sacks
Edgar Jones 5 tackles, 0 sacks
Caesar Rayford 4 tackles, 0 sacks
Jason Vega 1 tackle, 0 sacks
David Carter 1 tackle, 0 sacks

All those "prospects" we could have had, aren't doing any more than the guys we picked up, and Selvie's better than all of them.

And the DL everyone said we should have taken in round 1: *

Sharif Floyd 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks

Decent production, but if we had taken him, you'd have to have a different avatar.

* per NFL.com

 

[Wood]

20/20 hindsight..The defense would be much better with Ratliff, Spencer, Crawford and Ware playing instead of a bunch of no names. Hard to have an effective defense without a pass rush.

I think that was Kiper point...that is old group you just named outside of Crawford.

 

[NJ22]

Can't be every DC, it is the HC.

 

[NJ22]

I respect the homework. The only argument I would give is drafting from this list doesn't prevent us from picking up the guys we picked up. Doesn't have to be a one or the other situation.

Players we could have drafted in rounds 2-5 (taken after the Escobar pick): *

John Jenkins 11 tackles, 0 sacks
Margus Hunt 1 tackle, 0 sacks
Jonathan Hankins 5 tackles, 0 sacks
Bennie Logan 6 tackles, 2 sacks
Jordan Hill 5 tackles, 0.5 sacks
Brandon Williams 4 tackles, 1 sack
Sam Montgomery 0 tackles, 0 sacks (released)
Trevardo Williams 0 tackles, 0 sacks
William Gholston 2 tackles, 0 sacks
Mallicaih Goodman 5 tackles, 0 sacks
John Simon 3 tackles, 0 sacks
Jesse Williams 0 tackles, 0 sacks
Montori Hughes 0 tackles, 0 sacks
Quanteras Smith 0 tackles, 0 sacks
Lavar Edwards 6 tackles, 0 sacks
Stansley Maponga 0 tackles, 0 sacks
Quinton Dial 1 tackle, 0 sacks
Josh Boyd 0 tackles, 0 sacks

Players we've picked up: *

George Selvie 20 tackles, 5 sacks
Nick Hayden 22 tackles, 0 sacks
Drake Nevis 6 tackles, 0 sacks
Jarius Wynn 2 tackles, 0 sacks
Edgar Jones 5 tackles, 0 sacks
Caesar Rayford 4 tackles, 0 sacks
Jason Vega 1 tackle, 0 sacks
David Carter 1 tackle, 0 sacks

All those "prospects" we could have had, aren't doing any more than the guys we picked up, and Selvie's better than all of them.

And the DL everyone said we should have taken in round 1: *

Sharif Floyd 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks

Decent production, but if we had taken him, you'd have to have a different avatar.

* per NFL.com