My Plan Overhauling the Defense-Part 1

CowboyRoy

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The personnel has been assembled for a 4-3 defense for the last several years, that's not the issue. I was watching one of the pre-game shows, and Howie Long was talking with Michael Strahan, in particular about Tank. Tank used to play in a 3 pt stance, lately he's been a stand up DE. Doesn't have the power and moves from that he used to have.

To many of the players aren't being used properly. Just fixing that would be a help....

Tank is having his best year in years.
 

Cowboyny

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NO, the personnel is THIS bad. And what scheme was he supposed to implement? Someone else's scheme? Nonsense.

I guess you forgot how bad the defense was last year? Hill wasnt even active for games and he was starting and got hurt. Heath sucked, but now his backup is starting. Jones was one of the better corners in the NFL and we now have a 4th round rookie starting his first game.

Stop giving these players a pass, they suck, end of story.

Fire whomever you want, but no DC is doing diddly until we get real talent in here at all 3 levels of the defense.

Team needs both, a better DC and better players.
 

Cowboyny

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Why on earth would we promote the LB coach, when the LBs are the worst position group on the team?
Edwards has a successful track record working under Mike Zimmer. He was the Minnesota DC for several years. Minnesota Defense was very good under his watch.
 

baltcowboy

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:hammer::hammer::hammer::clap::clap::clap::clap:

NO loyalties to Nolan at all.

But anyone that give these players a pass by blaming the coach is completely missing the mark.
I am glad you are doing this exercise. After watching that mess Tuesday, we better not waste a draft pick on the offense. If we are some what healthy on the offensive line we can still be effective. We are loaded at receivers and have a good running attack. To be honest you can win with Dalton as a backup if you fix the defense.
 

Future

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Edwards has a successful track record working under Mike Zimmer. He was the Minnesota DC for several years. Minnesota Defense was very good under his watch.
That was always Zimmer's defense, regardless of what Edwards' title was. When he was Buffalo's DC, they were terrible.
 

Cowboyny

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I doubt that demotion/promotion scenario happens. I don't like the defense either. Thing is, I do think the intention was for the defense to be playing the majority of the time with a lead. I believe thats why MM decided to get Nolan. Its a complementary defense, it was never meant to be a top 5 defense. Our injuries have affected the offense, and indirectly has affected our defense tremendously. Defense is still trash don't get me wrong, but I do think the initial thought was a correct one.

Now if we want to bring back the 4-3 and go bend don't break defense, then our offensive philosophy should be having long time of possession, to keep the defense fresh. Our resources on offense point to running an offense that scores points fast, not run the clock. I would keep Nolan one more year. Somethings got to give.

Some good points, but don't think Nolan survives and remains the team's DC.
 

Majic

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The personnel has been assembled for a 4-3 defense for the last several years, that's not the issue. I was watching one of the pre-game shows, and Howie Long was talking with Michael Strahan, in particular about Tank. Tank used to play in a 3 pt stance, lately he's been a stand up DE. Doesn't have the power and moves from that he used to have.

To many of the players aren't being used properly. Just fixing that would be a help....

This isn't quite correct, D Law has been playing in both stances all season and should be encouraged to do this for the scheme we are trying to play and to add another string to his bow. Great players can do both
 

Parcells4Life

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There’s no salary cap on coaches. Jerry’s not going to be afraid to pay out the contract.

What message does it send to the players to fire the head of the defense and keep him as an assistant?!?! That’s just asking for more confusion and split loyalties.

If part 2 is sign some max free agent because we’ve done something stupid like cut Amari or let Dak walk so we can draft Trey Lance, the site needs to add IQ screening.
 

conner01

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I doubt that demotion/promotion scenario happens. I don't like the defense either. Thing is, I do think the intention was for the defense to be playing the majority of the time with a lead. I believe thats why MM decided to get Nolan. Its a complementary defense, it was never meant to be a top 5 defense. Our injuries have affected the offense, and indirectly has affected our defense tremendously. Defense is still trash don't get me wrong, but I do think the initial thought was a correct one.

Now if we want to bring back the 4-3 and go bend don't break defense, then our offensive philosophy should be having long time of possession, to keep the defense fresh. Our resources on offense point to running an offense that scores points fast, not run the clock. I would keep Nolan one more year. Somethings got to give.
You may be right in theory
If your offense is scoring 30 a game then opponents are forced to put it up against you
The idea may be sound but the exacution hasn’t been. The scheme was way too complicated for a season with no pre season games and limited work
And even at this point the players are thinking too much and making wrong decisions
To me you build your scheme around the players not the other way around
I think MM seen that but Nolan just decided to push a square peg in a round hole
 

cowboyblue22

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they need new players and new coaches on defense both and a comptent capable quartre back dalton sucks they should just go ahead and play gilbert and finish the year with him
 

cowboyec

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it wouldn't bother me if they promoted leon lett to dc.
i like mike nolan.
i like the idea of what he wants to do...but this is a 4-3 team.
use that and just mixup your coverages....something the old regime wouldn't do.
 

John813

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The Atheltic has an article on the Cowboys and investing at IDL and Safety.

Since 2013 we are dead last over the last 7-8 years on spending on safety and IDL by a good margin.

Maybe not the only reason why, but IMO plays a part why most years this defense has sucked more times than not
 

IceStar-D7

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Why would you even consider keeping Nolan on the team :facepalm: It's not rocket science here, Folks. Just make your middle of your defense strong. Then hit your wings. DE and corner. If your middle is weak. Your whole defense will fail. Start there. And for God sake. Get a good DC and DC staff. Without that nothing else even matters.
 

blueblood70

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Didn’t MM say you have to fit the scheme to your talent or something like that? But he has not done that!!
umm he didnt get chance our roster of starters all on IR , cant change scheme without players ..3rd string roster remember this is NOT what he was supposed to have to work with..smh fans dont get how many injuries' we have and are valid reasons for this mess.not all but most of it..

to the OP, if those changes are made it will be more lie Marinelli Richard deal where it was made being close doors to save face, so Nolan will be the DC by title with edwards getting more say and power..they wont throw Nolan under the bus and publicly demote him, hes under contract as DC and wont be demoted willingly so simply giving edwards power or firing Mike is the only way out..

you think Nolan's contract allows for money or titles to be less? no way but making edwards asst DC and hand him more power, that can happen without breach of contract Or nolan will retire or be fired(last resort)..


lastly i dont if Edwards had the answer it would already being practiced and implemented the defensive coaches are team and they work together on game plans and as bad as our team they changed a ton of this defense since week4 and did what they could with what players they had..

as much as people think Nolans been allowed to run that original scheme and run it into the grounds are clueless the HC, Owner/GM and other coaches would not allow that to happen.. they dont .. many scaled down versions of his defense have been tweaked, vanilla made easier..

at some point look at the players cut, traded or released since the offseason right before game 1 and since the bye , then look at the injurys list..they simply dont have the players, the one they have arent executing the basics, bad angles , bad tackling, bad coverage no ball skills.. players have to be accountable as well..
 

817Gill

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We are all aware how terrible this defense has performed this year, perhaps even worse then when Monte Kiffen was the team's DC.

The personnel on defense is bad, but not this bad. This falls on their DC Mike Nolan. Trying to implement a new scheme in shorten off-season, without the right players to do so, several key injuries, but other teams hired new coaches as well as they haven't had the same terrible results. This defense has shown nothing positive pretty much throughout the entire season, even when most of their injured players have returned. Plain and simple, Mike Nolan needs to be replaced as the team's DC.

MM will probably fight to a) keep his buddy Nolan as the team's DC and b) want to hire his own DC if removed. I predict a compromise will take place with him and the front office. Since the assistant coaches just signed their deals, they will reassigned roles. This isn't unprecedented as the Falcons did so last year under Dan Quinn. Jerry also rarely fires coaches with years left on their contract.

I predict George Edwards gets promoted to become the team's new DC and Mike Nolan gets demoted to coach the Linebackers. Edwards has worked under Mike Zimmer for many years, he will install a 4-3 Defense that better fits are Defensive Personnel. Mike Nolan did a good job as the Saints Linebacker Coach in his last stop. He will be tasked to get the potential out of our two highly, talented linebackers.

Overhauling the Defense-Part 2 Free Agency will be my next installment
Exactly
 

StuckMojo

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umm he didnt get chance our roster of starters all on IR , cant change scheme without players ..3rd string roster remember this is NOT what he was supposed to have to work with..smh fans dont get how many injuries' we have and are valid reasons for this mess.not all but most of it..

to the OP, if those changes are made it will be more lie Marinelli Richard deal where it was made being close doors to save face, so Nolan will be the DC by title with edwards getting more say and power..they wont throw Nolan under the bus and publicly demote him, hes under contract as DC and wont be demoted willingly so simply giving edwards power or firing Mike is the only way out..

you think Nolan's contract allows for money or titles to be less? no way but making edwards asst DC and hand him more power, that can happen without breach of contract Or nolan will retire or be fired(last resort)..


lastly i dont if Edwards had the answer it would already being practiced and implemented the defensive coaches are team and they work together on game plans and as bad as our team they changed a ton of this defense since week4 and did what they could with what players they had..

as much as people think Nolans been allowed to run that original scheme and run it into the grounds are clueless the HC, Owner/GM and other coaches would not allow that to happen.. they dont .. many scaled down versions of his defense have been tweaked, vanilla made easier..

at some point look at the players cut, traded or released since the offseason right before game 1 and since the bye , then look at the injurys list..they simply dont have the players, the one they have arent executing the basics, bad angles , bad tackling, bad coverage no ball skills.. players have to be accountable as well..
I know how many injuries we have had but I have seen more than enough coaching blunders, poor game management, poor in-game decisions and poor fundamentals to know coaching is also a big part of this terrible season. Green Bay is much better since firing MM and has Nolan ever had a top defense?
 
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