Twitter: Mike McCarthy on Chris Collinsworth podcast talks about the defense

WoodysGirl said:

Click to expand...

The change to using different body types I'd pretty interesting. I never have thought in those terms. The remark about installing more schemes was interesting..I guess that comes as the season goes on.

DoctorChicken said:

How about stacking up on talented players instead of just lengthy humans.

Click to expand...

Right. Wouldn’t that be the logical thing to do ?

His defense was atrocious. It's all talk now until we see them play against TB.

Majic said:

Still don't feel this is Dan Quinn's DEF. More Mike McCarthy's scheme that Dan Quinn will run

Click to expand...

What does MM know about running a defense?

Majic said:

Still don't feel this is Dan Quinn's DEF. More Mike McCarthy's scheme that Dan Quinn will run

Click to expand...

No, Atlanta with Quinn as Head Coach ran a defense that was a combination 4-3 / 3-4.

Seattle with Quinn as DC ran a scheme that has most often been described as a 4-3 with 3-4 personnel.

All of that fits exactly what they've said Quinn will be doing with the Cowboys.

DoctorChicken said:

How about stacking up on talented players instead of just lengthy humans.

Click to expand...

Rayman70 said:

talent over length, period. That is how you win.

Click to expand...

He said more size and length.

Every year that Marinelli was here fans complained that the DL was too small.

Even going back to the Wade Phillips days and Jay Ratliff at NT fans have been complaining about the DL being too small.

Now they're trying to get bigger...

xwalker said:

He said more size and length.

Every year that Marinelli was here fans complained that the DL was too small.

Even going back to the Wade Phillips days and Jay Ratliff at NT fans have been complaining about the DL being too small.

Now they're trying to get bigger...

Click to expand...

I agree with that as far as the dline. But I hope the staff realizes that is not the ONLY traits we needed for the back 7. What works for the dline may not be whats needed for the back 7. Now if we can mesh all that together and it works, hey Kudos to them. We shall see.

ConstantReboot said:

Maybe they should ask Shaq to come out from retirement and play for the Cowboys.

Click to expand...

Shaq wanted his standard 30M per year contract.

They're going to sign a more affordable option:

Zordon said:

They never want to admit that effort is/was an issue because that is an indictment on them (the coaches).

Click to expand...

Do you believe that effort was an issue? I'm not sure that I witness that particular weakness last year outside of maybe a few individuals that have been put on notice.

Looks like he wants length, I’m guessing that’s arm length and speed sideline to sideline.

Let's see how more size works for this team. It may work out well for us. I've long felt the Cowboys have been deficient in that regard.

WoodysGirl said:

Click to expand...

The good news, it sounds like we have an actual plan for the defense. Time will tell if it is a good plan but at least we have a direction for a change

Rayman70 said:

I agree with that as far as the dline. But I hope the staff realizes that is not the ONLY traits we needed for the back 7. What works for the dline may not be whats needed for the back 7. Now if we can mesh all that together and it works, hey Kudos to them. We shall see.

Click to expand...

CB Joseph is 5'11-1/2" with average arm length.

Length was not their only criteria.

I also think that part of the focus on length was a value issue.
- For example many teams might have de-rated Osa Odighizuwa to some extent because he is only 6'-1-1/2"; however, the Cowboys didn't de-rate him due to lack of height because he has 34-1/8" arms.
- Similar concept with the tall DBs they drafted. Those players would have been drafted earlier if all teams ran a scheme similar to Quinn's.

All NFL teams have put an emphasis on bigger CBs in the past decade. Only 1 sub 5-11 DB was drafted in the top 2 rounds in each of the past 2 drafts.

Will McClay has often mentioned length when discussing the draft since he got the top talent evaluation job in 2014.
- I think he always wanted to make size/length more of a focus but Marinelli was always pounding table for quick twitch players and didn't care about size/length.

DT A.Woods was a good example where lack of length was a very obvious limitation.
- He had good weight (318); however, in reviewing game footage it was easy to see how Woods lack of length really limited him. He had to get perfect body positioning to be effective.

DL David Irving showed how extreme length can be a big advantage. He often pushed OLinemen straight back despite playing in the 280 pound range at DT.
- Interior OLinemen struggled to get their hands on Irving.
- Irving could get his hands on a QB despite his feet not being anywhere close to the QB because he could "reach out and grab them".
- A player like Woods would need to take about 2 extra steps relative to Irving in order to be able to reach the QB.

Obviously talent matters more than length because Aaron Donald is 6'-1/2" with average arm length; although his arms are still about 2 inches longer than A.Woods.

Rayman70 said:

talent over length,period. That is how you win.

Click to expand...

you're projecting...

Maverick84 said:

you're projecting...

Click to expand...

I am.

Rayman70 said:

I agree with that as far as the dline. But I hope the staff realizes that is not the ONLY traits we needed for the back 7. What works for the dline may not be whats needed for the back 7. Now if we can mesh all that together and it works, hey Kudos to them. We shall see.

Click to expand...

Quinn has had success with size/length at DB in the past.

Kam Chancellor: 6'3-1/4", 231, 33", 4.69 forty
Richard Sherman: 6-3, 205, 4.53 forty

The scheme was a big part of making those 2 players into All Pros.

Sherman said himself that if he had been forced to play a Darrell Revis style that he would have struggled.

Chancellor would not have been valued by some teams/schemes because of his lack of speed.
- Some teams probably would have tried moving him to LB.

Fletch said:

Parsons. Joseph. Talent.

Click to expand...

Cox.

xwalker said:

No, Atlanta with Quinn as Head Coach ran a defense that was a combination 4-3 / 3-4.

Seattle with Quinn as DC ran a scheme that has most often been described as a 4-3 with 3-4 personnel.

All of that fits exactly what they've said Quinn will be doing with the Cowboys.

Click to expand...

The Defensive Scheme going forward for 2021 was established before Quinn was hired.
Quinn was available and hired and in meetings with MM and the Jones family was told what the plan was.
Looking at the players Quinn indicated he could run a scheme to match this philosophy.

You are correct it will be a combination of what he has run in the past. This is not the same as Quinn coming in with an 'open book'

jazzcat22 said:

Isn’t that what they did, bring in talented players, that just so happen also have some length?

Click to expand...

My only concern with what he said is that they've been talking about getting longer since he became coach, which means that it was independent of Quinn. It's probable that Quinn was fully on board with that when he was hired as DC, but I don't want it to be a case where the team is dictating what kind of players the DC can use.

It's not much of a concern because I don't think Quinn would have come here if he didn't agree with the defensive direction. It just makes me slightly uneasy that the type of players needed was established before the DC was hired.

Denim Chicken said:

Do you believe that effort was an issue? I'm not sure that I witness that particular weakness last year outside of maybe a few individuals that have been put on notice.

Click to expand...

You serious?