Where are the defenses?

CouchCoach

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Yes, the Cowboys defense is suspect but show me a stout defense this season. Yes, I know, it's early but defenses are ahead of offenses early in the season but not this season..

This is beginning to look like college ball with the scoring. This past weekend, only 4 games had winners score less than 30 and one was 28 and the other 26. 4 games had each team get north of 30. The Saints could only manage 24 last night and lost.

I've watched a lot of games and defenses aren't stopping offenses, they're stopping themselves with mistakes and penalties.

The NFL is looking like the OU Theory of Defense. We don't need a defense, you need to score 40.

Before this season began, I was doubtful about the Cowboys because of the defense but I don't see any other defense out there and the NFC team with the best one in MN can't score and is 0-2. The other one, in SF, just got hammered by injuries.

We'll get a better look this Sunday but SEA gave up 30 to NE and I recognize the bagboys' names at the local supermarket better than NE's receiving corps.

In the NFC, 7 teams have failed to average 25 ppg. 5 are 0-2, 1 is 1-1 and the Bears are 2-0, mainly because of the teams they've played can't score.

Right now, the 2 best teams are GB and SEA because they're averaging over 35 ppg and both have given up an average of 27.5 ppg. That's crazy, that's not the NFL.

I agree, the Cowboys defense leaves a lot to be desired but this might just be a season where that doesn't matter. Offense and scoring is the name of the game so far and they're built to play that game.

ATL has a crummy defense except for turnovers but one major thing I noticed in that game about the Cowboys offense that was different, they can move the ball and score in a hurry and I don't believe they've arrived at their true tempo yet.

Don't count them out in SEA because that once vaunted SEA defense has given up an average of 27.5 ppg and unlike some Cowboys offenses of the past, this one is built for shootouts with teams that want to play that game, like GB and SEA.
 

Rajveer

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I will take a shoot out in Seattle rather than a blow out. I know this offense is capable of scoring on anyone. I just don't want Kellen to start being creative when we are down big.
 

Future

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This is what the league wants. It's officiated to be as such. It has just taken a long time for coaching staffs to take advantage of it.

Seattle is a perfect example of how stupid organizations can be sometimes.
 

John813

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Only the Ravens imo.

Given up 22 points so far in two games.

Two turnovers this week, one for a score. 3 sacks on Watson
15 straight games with at least one turnover.
7 defensive TDs in their last 12 games

I'm not counting out the Cowboys at all. It's a winnable game. Just can't fumble4 times in the first half again. Be smart with the ball.
 

Jake

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No preseason/offseason is the correct answer

Ten of the 20 highest scoring seasons in NFL history have come in the last 20 years and this is the only one that didn't include preseason games.

Rules changes have led to more scoring, fewer violent collisions, and higher TV rating$, and the NFL is happy about all of those thing$.
 

Doomsday101

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No preseason/offseason is the correct answer

I think that is playing a role, defense is not going to go full out in practice vs their own offensive team, they can't afford to get players hurt. Offense has a chance to work on timing regardless of it being practice or not. I think most defense are a bit behind the offense to start the season but I do think defenses around the league will stiffen up as they get full speed play and contact under their belt. Having said that I am not excusing the overall play of the Cowboys defense, this group needs to do better than they have shown thus far.
 

Irvin88_4life

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Ten of the 20 highest scoring seasons in NFL history have come in the last 20 years and this is the only one that didn't include preseason games.

Rules changes have led to more scoring, fewer violent collisions, and higher TV rating$, and the NFL is happy about all of those thing$.
It's not about offense. No dominate defense because of sloppy tackling. Even with the rules we have seen top defenses still be really good.
 

Irvin88_4life

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I think that is playing a role, defense is not going to go full out in practice vs their own offensive team, they can't afford to get players hurt. Offense has a chance to work on timing regardless of it being practice or not. I think most defense are a bit behind the offense to start the season but I do think defenses around the league will stiffen up as they get full speed play and contact under their belt. Having said that I am not excusing the overall play of the Cowboys defense, this group needs to do better than they have shown thus far.
No argument there but at the same time the Cowboys defense hasn't been as terrible as some say....... well at least in the second half of games
 

Doomsday101

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No argument there but at the same time the Cowboys defense hasn't been as terrible as some say....... well at least in the second half of games

I agree 2nd half they played better, still not to the level I hope to see. We were not getting the pressure on the QB and that has to improve. For me it starts up front when you are forcing QB to release before they want to or getting the sacks. Unlike some I don't watch 2 games of a season and claim they are crap or that this is as good as it gets. I think this unit will improve as they get use to this hybrid defensive scheme they are running.
 

rnr_honeybadger

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How much of this injury stuff is because of no preseason and no proper camps etc? Seen an unusual number of ACL injuries as well.
 

Irvin88_4life

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I agree 2nd half they played better, still not to the level I hope to see. We were not getting the pressure on the QB and that has to improve. For me it starts up front when you are forcing QB to release before they want to or getting the sacks. Unlike some I don't watch 2 games of a season and claim they are crap or that this is as good as it gets. I think this unit will improve as they get use to this hybrid defensive scheme they are running.
I absolutely agree with you
 

Canada180

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Yes, the Cowboys defense is suspect but show me a stout defense this season. Yes, I know, it's early but defenses are ahead of offenses early in the season but not this season..

This is beginning to look like college ball with the scoring. This past weekend, only 4 games had winners score less than 30 and one was 28 and the other 26. 4 games had each team get north of 30. The Saints could only manage 24 last night and lost.

I've watched a lot of games and defenses aren't stopping offenses, they're stopping themselves with mistakes and penalties.

The NFL is looking like the OU Theory of Defense. We don't need a defense, you need to score 40.

Before this season began, I was doubtful about the Cowboys because of the defense but I don't see any other defense out there and the NFC team with the best one in MN can't score and is 0-2. The other one, in SF, just got hammered by injuries.

We'll get a better look this Sunday but SEA gave up 30 to NE and I recognize the bagboys' names at the local supermarket better than NE's receiving corps.

In the NFC, 7 teams have failed to average 25 ppg. 5 are 0-2, 1 is 1-1 and the Bears are 2-0, mainly because of the teams they've played can't score.

Right now, the 2 best teams are GB and SEA because they're averaging over 35 ppg and both have given up an average of 27.5 ppg. That's crazy, that's not the NFL.

I agree, the Cowboys defense leaves a lot to be desired but this might just be a season where that doesn't matter. Offense and scoring is the name of the game so far and they're built to play that game.

ATL has a crummy defense except for turnovers but one major thing I noticed in that game about the Cowboys offense that was different, they can move the ball and score in a hurry and I don't believe they've arrived at their true tempo yet.

Don't count them out in SEA because that once vaunted SEA defense has given up an average of 27.5 ppg and unlike some Cowboys offenses of the past, this one is built for shootouts with teams that want to play that game, like GB and SEA.

Dallas had better hope EVERYONE has a sh ..ty defense because it looks like this one is putrid. No pass rush, no lb's and swiss cheese secondary.
 

EGTuna

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The only good defenses I've seen are the LA Chargers, LA Rams, Baltimore, and whoever's playing the Jets or Giants. Pittsburgh should be good, but they've faced the Giants and the Drew Lockless Broncos, so it's hard to say. I thought the Saints would be solid, but they got abused by Las Vegas. The WFT has a terrific front 5, but garbage behind it, and an offense that can't keep them off the field. I expect the Pats to be solid more often than not due to BB, but great offenses will have success.

Defense is all about talent. Scheme is all well and good, but talent beats scheme every time (study after study as shown this), and it's rarely sustainable like offense year to year. If you have a good QB, and good weapons, you're in a good position to compete for the long term.
 

Diehardblues

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Problem is we don’t put up 30+ points against the more Elite teams. Or haven’t in last 2 seasons.

Last year we averaged 35 points in our 8 wins and 17 points in our 8 losses. That’s not going to advance much in this offensive bash in the NFL.

If we want to hang with the Elite teams we’ve got to put up 35 on them too.
 

CouchCoach

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How much of this injury stuff is because of no preseason and no proper camps etc? Seen an unusual number of ACL injuries as well.
Would the players being injured like Barkley and Bosa have played much in preseason? If there was validity to that, it would have happened in week 1.

These players train year round and these soft tissue injuries can come at any time with the foot planted in the wrong position or from contact to the leg.
 

G2

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Ravens, Steelers, Saints, Buffalo, LA and the Bears are pretty solid defenses.
 

CouchCoach

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Problem is we don’t put up 30+ points against the more Elite teams. Or haven’t in last 2 seasons.

Last year we averaged 35 points in our 8 wins and 17 points in our 8 losses. That’s not going to advance much in this offensive bash in the NFL.

If we want to hang with the Elite teams we’ve got to put up 35 on them too.
The play against the better teams has been the issue all along and the stats do not tell that story.

The rap has been that they do not bring their A game to the better contests and that has been fact. Until that changes, they go nowhere.

They've been able to get one game that they play outta their heads and we get fooled into thinking that's gold and it's not. Inconsistency has been their challenge and so far this year, they've not changed from that. I am not sure what this team is yet.

It starts in SEA but it must continue for them to change this good against the bad and mediocre against the good. Or if they get their butts handed to them in SEA, they've got a real challenge. McC is trying to instill confidence in them by placing his confidence in them and he got a dividend on Sunday. He's tiptoeing on that line with his decisions based on his faith in them and that can backfire.
 
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