The defense is a hot mess

kwcool619 · Sep 20, 2020

stiletto said:
Curious, how many coordinators do these players have to suck for before you agree that the players and talent evaluation by defensive scouts may be a problem? I am not a fan of Nolan nor Marinelli nor just about anyone since Zimmer but there seems to be no play makers on defense. No coordinator can fix that! Tank has mailed it in since getting paid. We are hosed.

How many years has it been since Zimmer been gone?

FuzzyLumpkins · Sep 20, 2020

DanA said:
Don’t get me wrong, I was tired of our predictable four man rush, which was exclusively a one gap scheme, and regularly getting gashed by the run. The opposition knew exactly what we were doing. But, this isn’t the answer either.

It’s all sizzle and no steak. Instead of being predictable it’s just unsound. And at some stage we’ve got to get pressure on the quarterback. Let Griffen and Lawrence occasionally put their hands in the dirt and get after the quarterback.

This defense sucks and it’s not the talent. It’s the rediculous scheme.

It's a brand new scheme. With the DT 2 gapping, the fills are all different in the run game. The SLB is playing a much larger role as well. That is just the front 7.

Brand new coverages and deployments on the back end too.

Give it some time.

BBGTYCOON · Sep 20, 2020

BigTx66 said:
It's a miserable defense, whether the blame is on the coaches or the players. The obvious failures are by the players, such as the overpaid/overhyped D. Lawrence, no linebackers who can cover a screen, and a litany of defensive backs who can't cover. This team is going to be winning by a wing and a prayer if this little league type defense is the best the team can put on the field. Appears to be another overhyped and underperforming group of players that PT Barnum (J. Jones) has sold to us fans....

TRUTH!

Floatyworm · Sep 21, 2020

FuzzyLumpkins said:
It's a brand new scheme. With the DT 2 gapping, the fills are all different in the run game. The SLB is playing a much larger role as well. That is just the front 7.

Brand new coverages and deployments on the back end too.

Give it some time.

Just went back and watched some of the highlights....we got breakdowns all over. Our Lbers are a mess. If that's what you want to call them....we are using DEs...that are used to rushing the passer....dropping in coverage. We are asking a lot of guy to do things they aren't used to doing. I think your seeing a lot of confusion when it comes to assignments. Guys dropping into coverage when they should be rushing....no safety help...a lot of the time. Teams are gonna start isolating Jaylon in coverage. He just can't run w/ anybody.

Blackspider214 · Sep 21, 2020

They have no idea how to make any timely stops at all. Do they ever get 3 and outs? Turn the ball over? They are absolute garbage. They do nothing well. The only time they stopped Atlanta today was when Julio dropped the easy TD and then they had a penalty on 4th down to force the punt. Then the drive at the end when Atlanta thought it was over so they just tried to run the clock out with generic plays. They give up back breaking TD drives that suck the life out of the games. The offense does all the work, takes all the blame if we lose. DLaw is a spare and Jaylon might be one of the worst LBs in football. They have zero playmakers at all. It might be worse than last year.

KJJ · Sep 21, 2020

The most concerning thing about the defense is the lack of a pass rush. It’s practically nonexistent. It appears at least after the first two weeks that we’re going to have to rely on winning dog fights and shootouts. We’re still not getting turnovers. Diggs dropped an INT. Our defense continues to be a liability.

Playmaker247 · Sep 21, 2020

They have played 2 really good offenses. Rams just hung 37 on Philly

KJJ · Sep 21, 2020

Playmaker247 said:
They have played 2 really good offenses. Rams just hung 37 on Philly

That’s no excuse! Philly blew a 17 point lead to Washington in week one. It’s not like they have a stellar defense. Russell Wilson will carve us up next week if we don’t find a pass rush.

Playmaker247 · Sep 21, 2020

KJJ said:
That’s no excuse! Philly blew a 17 point lead to Washington in week one. It’s not like they have a stellar defense. Russell Wilson will carve us up next week if we don’t find a pass rush.

I agree. I never said they were stellar. But we all knew that right? The hope is that they can be average and the offense can be elite. That’s how this team is built. Offense should score 30 a game and the hope is the defense can be at least decent

MCMetal69 · Sep 21, 2020

Our offense turning the ball over the entire 1st quarter and 2 dropped INT's didn't help , either..............

KJJ · Sep 21, 2020

Playmaker247 said:
I agree. I never said they were stellar. But we all knew that right? The hope is that they can be average and the offense can be elite. That’s how this team is built. Offense should score 30 a game and the hope is the defense can be at least decent

I was referring to Philly not having a stellar defense allowing Washington to overcome a 17 point deficit in week one. Both the Cowboys and Philly have issues. We can’t rely on the offense scoring 30 points a game especially with our OL issues. We have to improve the pass rush and our overall defense or we’ll end up in a deep hole. We got away with one today, we can’t count on pulling rabbits out of our hat every week.

CowboysFaninHouston · Sep 21, 2020

DanA said:
Don’t get me wrong, I was tired of our predictable four man rush, which was exclusively a one gap scheme, and regularly getting gashed by the run. The opposition knew exactly what we were doing. But, this isn’t the answer either.

It’s all sizzle and no steak. Instead of being predictable it’s just unsound. And at some stage we’ve got to get pressure on the quarterback. Let Griffen and Lawrence occasionally put their hands in the dirt and get after the quarterback.

This defense sucks and it’s not the talent. It’s the rediculous scheme.

well, think about it. new players. a lot of them. injuries to three starters (4 if you count McCoy). new scheme. rookie starting. no preseason game to work out the kinks. they are not on the same page, not with each other, not with the coaches. it will take a bit of time.

Carter · Sep 21, 2020

D-Law and Jaylon, the two "Stars" on this Defense dont give a crap since signing the big deal.
They are the new Jay Ratliffs.

For some reason i feel this is a Cowboys specific problem.

Have you seen Fletcher Cox or Aaron Donald or JJ Watt take themselves out of plays since signing big deals?

DanA · Sep 21, 2020

CowboysFaninHouston said:
well, think about it. new players. a lot of them. injuries to three starters (4 if you count McCoy). new scheme. rookie starting. no preseason game to work out the kinks. they are not on the same page, not with each other, not with the coaches. it will take a bit of time.

I’m seeing Jaylon in one on one coverage with top TE’s. Lawrence dropping into zone coverage, and rushing from a two point stance.

That’s not just teething problems. It’s stupidity.

75boyz · Sep 21, 2020

Playmaker247 said:
I agree. I never said they were stellar. But we all knew that right? The hope is that they can be average and the offense can be elite. That’s how this team is built. Offense should score 30 a game and the hope is the defense can be at least decent

Good post.

Blue64 · Sep 21, 2020

doomsday9084 said:
The scores really don't do its incompetence justice. That dropped pass today was a TD. Against the Rams, there was a screen pass that was wide open for the guy to take it to the endzone and he dropped it. The defense is basically counting on the other team to screw up to get a stop.

Aldon Smith is the team's best defender and if a 30 year old that hasn't played in 5 years is your best defender . . . you have a problem.

Agreed but your biggest problem is your highest paid defensive player D-Laugh, used to be a time teams schemed for him... now he’s barely noticeable. So the argument is ET is too much of a pain to be bothered with as he’s disruptive.

if I were playing for this team I’d rather have someone call me out and be disruptive, then watch someone who cashed in on a rich payday and has done nothing since aside from flapping his gums

Sydla · Sep 21, 2020

Floatyworm said:
Just went back and watched some of the highlights....we got breakdowns all over. Our Lbers are a mess. If that's what you want to call them....we are using DEs...that are used to rushing the passer....dropping in coverage. We are asking a lot of guy to do things they aren't used to doing. I think your seeing a lot of confusion when it comes to assignments. Guys dropping into coverage when they should be rushing....no safety help...a lot of the time. Teams are gonna start isolating Jaylon in coverage. He just can't run w/ anybody.

But note, this has been a criticism of Nolan in previous stops.......... that he's so into being versatile and complex and unpredictable that it leads to confusion, inconsistent play, etc.

Sydla · Sep 21, 2020

DanA said:
I’m seeing Jaylon in one on one coverage with top TE’s. Lawrence dropping into zone coverage, and rushing from a two point stance.

That’s not just teething problems. It’s stupidity.

I had to laugh right before the half when the Falcons were moving the ball and completed a 15-20 yard pass. I was mumbling to myself which crap CB blew that one (I think it was Worley) and then I also saw Lawrence standing there trying to help cover Ridley.

The defense is a hot mess

kwcool619

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FuzzyLumpkins

The Boognish

BBGTYCOON

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Floatyworm

The Labeled One

Blackspider214

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KJJ

You Have an Axe to Grind

Playmaker247

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KJJ

You Have an Axe to Grind

Playmaker247

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MCMetal69

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KJJ

You Have an Axe to Grind

CowboysFaninHouston

CowboysFaninDC

Carter

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DanA

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75boyz

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Blue64

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Sydla

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Sydla

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