News: BTB: Unlike Mike Nolan, Dan Quinn should benefit from a full offseason with the Dallas Cowboys

Beaker42

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It wasn't just the covid that hurt Nolan's chances. There were devastating injuries from the beginning. They lost their best D-line acquisition in veteran free agency before the season ever begun when Gerald McCoy went down. They lost Trysten Hill after 5 games, Neville Gallimore after 9 games, their LB's were constantly hobbling, The CB's were playing musical chairs all season long due to injuries.

The defense was practically gutted in the first quarter of the season, especially the middle of the defense.

Nonetheless, in the final quarter of the season they were ranked 8th in fewest points allowed and 1st in takeaways during those four games in which they went 3-1, very nearly 4-0.

It's said that Nolan's greatest error was not simplifying the defense once it was determined there would be no preseason games or training camp to prepare. However, the injuries to the players destroyed continuity in any case. I don't think the defense was left with sufficient talent to stop an average offense no matter how much they simplified.

There were just too many player disappointments, particularly with the veteran free agents. McCoy, Griffen, Poe.....we got absolutely nothing from those guys. Both LVE and Smith got banged up and just seemed to lack inspiration. The whole defense just seemed to go through the motions.

I think one of the issues we never discuss is the the players coming together to form the kind of bond that successful teams have. Training camp creates the common challenges, the competition, the close knit living arrangements that form the necessary environment in order to build comradery, commitment, and team chemistry. This is especially true for a new coaching staff. These defensive players never got an opportunity to become a team.

But somebody's head had to go and it wasn't going to be the GM or HC, although, quite frankly, it should have been.

Coordinators are not autonomous, they are still assistant coaches. I can't recall any reported incident in which McCarthy instructed Nolan to modify his defensive strategy. I don't recall McCarthy doing much of anything.
Nolan had to go because he sat promising players in place of POS players. Gregory should’ve had way more snaps than he did and even Booger said that. Wilson should’ve been in instead of Worley. The personnel decisions killed Nolan more than anything.
 

BrassCowboy

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never liked that "no offseason" excuse..... I mean how long do you practice throughout the season again? surely you would get it together at some point to the equivalency of a normal offseason...

just a excuse
 

jazzcat22

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Off-season or no off-season, Nolan did not do what he said he was going to to do. Then he refused to make adjustments until it was way too late before he simplified some things.
He should have been fired at the bye week. But one of Jerry's stupid things is not to do that. Unless it was to get his guy Garrett in there. But Wade needed to go at the time also.

Not sure why Jerry would not make the change with Nolan at that time. But it is what it is. We now have Quinn, so no way it can be any worse. But we said that when Rod left also.
If they don't turn this around, and I am not expecting miracles, but to get to average would be a small miracle. And I am expecting that.
 

Rockport

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It wasn't just the covid that hurt Nolan's chances. There were devastating injuries from the beginning. They lost their best D-line acquisition in veteran free agency before the season ever begun when Gerald McCoy went down. They lost Trysten Hill after 5 games, Neville Gallimore after 9 games, their LB's were constantly hobbling, The CB's were playing musical chairs all season long due to injuries.

The defense was practically gutted in the first quarter of the season, especially the middle of the defense.

Nonetheless, in the final quarter of the season they were ranked 8th in fewest points allowed and 1st in takeaways during those four games in which they went 3-1, very nearly 4-0.

It's said that Nolan's greatest error was not simplifying the defense once it was determined there would be no preseason games or training camp to prepare. However, the injuries to the players destroyed continuity in any case. I don't think the defense was left with sufficient talent to stop an average offense no matter how much they simplified.

There were just too many player disappointments, particularly with the veteran free agents. McCoy, Griffen, Poe.....we got absolutely nothing from those guys. Both LVE and Smith got banged up and just seemed to lack inspiration. The whole defense just seemed to go through the motions.

I think one of the issues we never discuss is the the players coming together to form the kind of bond that successful teams have. Training camp creates the common challenges, the competition, the close knit living arrangements that form the necessary environment in order to build comradery, commitment, and team chemistry. This is especially true for a new coaching staff. These defensive players never got an opportunity to become a team.

But somebody's head had to go and it wasn't going to be the GM or HC, although, quite frankly, it should have been.

Coordinators are not autonomous, they are still assistant coaches. I can't recall any reported incident in which McCarthy instructed Nolan to modify his defensive strategy. I don't recall McCarthy doing much of anything.
So you think McCarthy should have been fired and that they kept Nolan?:huh:
 

Creeper

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IMO, too much is being put on Quinn. I think with a normal offseason and pre-season Quinn can do a little more with the Cowboys defense but at the end of the day it is on the players. I don't think we can put it all on Nolan for last year's defense. We had a starting Safety say he didn't play hard on every play. Coincidentally, it was the same safety at the heart of almost every big play they gave up. I think letting Xavier Woods go could be the best move the Cowboys made in the off-season. I expect his replacements to play much better and they should help a little. I suspect with Kazee and Wilson, if those are the starters, we will see fewer big plays given up but the problems on defense start with the defensive line. If they don't control their gaps, the problem will be giving up long drives instead of big plays.

With the Cowboys offense as potent as it could be, the goal should be for the defense to get off the field instead of playing bend-don't break, allowing long time consuming drives.
 

jnday

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I don’t think that Quinn having five years of offseasons will improve much. The best compliment that he can hope for is that he is not Nolan.
 

plasticman

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So you think McCarthy should have been fired and that they kept Nolan?:huh:
I'm saying that the 2020 season was a worthless season when it came to an honest evaluation on just about every level.

You have a new HC with a new DC. This DC is installing a more complex style defense.

It is impossible to install such a defense without minicamps, training camps, and preseason games.

Yes, perhaps Nolan could have adjusted to a simpler defense. However, that would have been a season lost as far as the player's ability to gain experience in his system.

Then you have to add in a severe injury trend, not only on defense, certainly the efficiency of an offense is a negative/positive effect on the defense in terms if time of possession, game situations, etc.

The free agent veterans brought in did nothing, in fact, their lack if buy-in was a distraction to the point where many were cut or traded before the end of the season. I don't know if this was a character issue as much as it was a lack of team chemistry. As I said before, training camp is when players bond together through a common challenge, competition, and proximity to form a real team. These players were almost strangers to each other when the season began. That effected team cohesion, personal accountability, and individual commitment to the team.

This is why I believe that everyone should get a pass for 2020. Realistically, the Cowboys never had a chance.

Still, I understand the need to fire Nolan. Most fans see the surface only. Someone had to take the sword, Nolan was a very convenient scapegoat. The Cowboys had a poor season and the defense had a historically terrible season, even though they were improving towards the end.
 

Ranched

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This defense can’t be fixed in one offseason. But it must make significant strides.
I think once they find their groove, this defense will surprise all the experts. In 2021.
I'll show ya some groove honey. :muttley:
Go Sixers
 
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