Mike Nolan’s last stop as defensive coordinator

TWOK11

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The two best teams this past season in stopping the run (in yards per game) were:

Tampa Bay
NY Jets

OK if you say yards given up per game were meaningless how about the two leaders in allowing the fewest yards per carry?

Tampa Bay
NY Jets

Both averaged 3.3 yards per carry.


BTW Dallas gave up 4.1 yards per carry.

Titans gave up 4.0 yards per carry.

The Niners?

They gave up 4.5 yards per carry– Which was 23rd in the NFL.

HOWEVER they were 5th in the NFL in sacks and 7th in the NFL in QB rating.

The Niners were far better vs. the pass than they were the run.

The data is overwhelming yet some continue to deny it.

If you can throw the ball efficiently and defend the pass well, you’ll win most games. Probably the biggest surprise the data shows us is that you don’t have to run the ball well to throw it efficiently as we’ve always been taught.

The reality is any team with an above average QB should be throwing the ball MORE than they already do.
 

MichaelWinicki

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The data is overwhelming yet some continue to deny it.

If you can throw the ball efficiently and defend the pass well, you’ll win most games. Probably the biggest surprise the data shows us is that you don’t have to run the ball well to throw it efficiently as we’ve always been taught.

The reality is any team with an above average QB should be throwing the ball MORE than they already do.

Yep.

I read an article somewhere ("Athletic" maybe?) about the Texan-Chief game and the point was that the Texans unfortunately made the Chiefs one-dimensional and that one-dimension is lethal.

Valid point about the a poor running game not having a detrimental affect on a passing attack... Heck Bill Parcels said, "Average yards per carry do not matter."

And look no further than the new coach of the Cowboys... How often did the Packers have a substandard running game yet it didn't negatively affect their passing game?
 

CWR

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We all know what the definition of insanity is, and one of the worst problems that this defense has had over the last 4 years is the inability to stop the run. You’d have thought there would be major changes to address that after the Rams’ playoff loss. Nope. Same old thing.

So, I looked up Mike Nolan’s defenses and their success against the run. Surely, his focus on a big, run-stuffing nose tackle will be a better approach.

Well, I have to say, I’m horrified. Whatever happened in Atlanta from 2012-2014 was a complete train wreck.

2012 - 21st in the league in defense against the run, then 31st, then 21st. OK, I thought, maybe rushing yards isn’t a fair way to evaluate the guy, how about yards per carry? Oh no, it’s even worse, 29th, 31st then 15th.

I took a peak into what was being written in 2014 and it isn’t pretty. https://bleacherreport.com/articles...e-nolan-and-hc-mike-smith-can-fix-the-defense

W
hat was written is that he had a terrible scheme that was inflexible and couldn’t adjust to the players’ strengths.

I don’t want to be pessimistic here from the beginning, but can someone explain to me why Mike Nolan is the answer to this team’s defensive woes?

I think the hope is that he didn't have the horses in Atlanta. Despite our awful showing last season we still hope guys like LVE, Jaylon, Dlaw, Quinn and a couple of our secondary players are the foundation. Add in a Jamal Adams and a couple DTs and Nolan will have a ton of potential to work with.

I think we all tired of being pushed around be more physical teams because of our lack of beef in the middle. It also ruined LVE and Jaylon last year. They should be better when kept clean.

I also love the idea of Jaylon rushing the passer more. One thing you cant take away from Nolan is his defenses propensity to force turn overs.

I got real sick of watching Jaylon try to cover Alshon or Ertz or whatever mismatch was created and taken advantage of. The game vs LA in the playoffs was miserable and we had ZERO answer, no adjustments were made or effective in the least.

All we can hope is that MM knows what he is doing. Hes had ample time to prepare for building his staff. He will either be a rockstar in Dallas or an utter failure, but I happily take that risk after watching our old staff flounder.
 

Fmart322

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We all know what the definition of insanity is, and one of the worst problems that this defense has had over the last 4 years is the inability to stop the run. You’d have thought there would be major changes to address that after the Rams’ playoff loss. Nope. Same old thing.

So, I looked up Mike Nolan’s defenses and their success against the run. Surely, his focus on a big, run-stuffing nose tackle will be a better approach.

Well, I have to say, I’m horrified. Whatever happened in Atlanta from 2012-2014 was a complete train wreck.

2012 - 21st in the league in defense against the run, then 31st, then 21st. OK, I thought, maybe rushing yards isn’t a fair way to evaluate the guy, how about yards per carry? Oh no, it’s even worse, 29th, 31st then 15th.

I took a peak into what was being written in 2014 and it isn’t pretty. https://bleacherreport.com/articles...e-nolan-and-hc-mike-smith-can-fix-the-defense

W
hat was written is that he had a terrible scheme that was inflexible and couldn’t adjust to the players’ strengths.

I don’t want to be pessimistic here from the beginning, but can someone explain to me why Mike Nolan is the answer to this team’s defensive woes?

Nolan is going to be the weakest link for our team going forward. We're going to have to win shootouts. His unit will keep us from winning deep playoff runs.
 

HungryLion

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If Mike Nolan can just improve the defenses ability to generate turnovers. I will be very happy with him.


Our defense hasn’t been generating enough turnovers. You need to force turnovers to beat good teams in the playoffs. You have to.

The cowboys defense has been abysmal at forcing turnovers for years.
 

MichaelWinicki

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Yea ........ and in the year 2000 somebody was complaining in New England that they made that loser Bill B their head coach after his failures elsewhere.

Yep.

All this hand-wringing over Nolan...

So many things are going to figure into the performance of a defense up and beyond the DC.
 

garyv

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I was very skeptical about the McCarthy hire at first. Then posters here persuaded me I was likely completely wrong and I think they were right.

Now I hope someone can make me feel better about Nolan. It sure seems like he’s never been that successful except for creating turnovers.

I wonder why McCarthy chose him.

In my opinion this DC hire is really questionable however the assistants under him can makeup ground. I do like the Tomsula signing for DL
 

Keithfansince5

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We all know what the definition of insanity is, and one of the worst problems that this defense has had over the last 4 years is the inability to stop the run. You’d have thought there would be major changes to address that after the Rams’ playoff loss. Nope. Same old thing.

So, I looked up Mike Nolan’s defenses and their success against the run. Surely, his focus on a big, run-stuffing nose tackle will be a better approach.

Well, I have to say, I’m horrified. Whatever happened in Atlanta from 2012-2014 was a complete train wreck.

2012 - 21st in the league in defense against the run, then 31st, then 21st. OK, I thought, maybe rushing yards isn’t a fair way to evaluate the guy, how about yards per carry? Oh no, it’s even worse, 29th, 31st then 15th.

I took a peak into what was being written in 2014 and it isn’t pretty. https://bleacherreport.com/articles...e-nolan-and-hc-mike-smith-can-fix-the-defense

W
hat was written is that he had a terrible scheme that was inflexible and couldn’t adjust to the players’ strengths.

I don’t want to be pessimistic here from the beginning, but can someone explain to me why Mike Nolan is the answer to this team’s defensive woes?
He isn't. This is why I posted a while back that he only stays 2 - 3 years at any team. He sucks. This was not a good hire. Once the honeymoon wears off of all of these new hires, we may not be so pleased...
 

charron

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We added more experienced coaches but they aren't all that great. Lack of talent will get the blame as we fail to make the playoffs.
 

Soth

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Well, I have to say, I’m horrified. Whatever happened in Atlanta from 2012-2014 was a complete train wreck.

I am also worried about Nolan. It is possible MM hired Nolan as a favor and not because Nolan is the best option for Dallas. I agree he has coached some really bad defenses. I get being middle of the pack but some of his numbers are scary.

He has been an LB coach for several years and nobody else has given him a shot at DC again. Hopefully MM is able to fire his old buddy if the defense does not perform.
 

Oneiros

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Stopping the run really doesn’t matter much in this era of NFL football. It has minimal correlation with winning.

Passing efficiency defense is all that really matters in terms of determining who wins games.
Try telling that to the 9ers. They just ran their way to the Super Bowl.

Of course you have to be able to rush the passer as well, but you also can't ignore the run.
 

Carter

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This League changes way too much to just analyze someones work 5 years ago.

Sure he sucked in ATL but what Kind of Players did they have on D? I remember the Falcons being a heavily Offensive Team with no Talent on D.

Need to give him a Chance. New Coaches, new Players new Environment can do Wonders to some. If he sucks we can move on.

Seeing KC or the 49ers this Team is not Close to contending next year anyway.
 

TWOK11

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Try telling that to the 9ers. They just ran their way to the Super Bowl.

Of course you have to be able to rush the passer as well, but you also can't ignore the run.

The Niners are going to the SB because they won the TO margin 3-0. Take away the turnovers and, despite the Niners running, it’s a one score game coming down to the last drive.

We’ve been through this over and over again guys.
 

DuncanIso

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I am also worried about Nolan. It is possible MM hired Nolan as a favor and not because Nolan is the best option for Dallas. I agree he has coached some really bad defenses. I get being middle of the pack but some of his numbers are scary.

He has been an LB coach for several years and nobody else has given him a shot at DC again. Hopefully MM is able to fire his old buddy if the defense does not perform.

agree 100 percent.
 

gimmesix

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This League changes way too much to just analyze someones work 5 years ago.

Sure he sucked in ATL but what Kind of Players did they have on D? I remember the Falcons being a heavily Offensive Team with no Talent on D..

He did not suck his first season in Atlanta. Again, the defense was fifth in points against. In eight games, it gave up fewer than 20 points. In a couple other games, the other team scored late to cross 20 points after the game was out of reach.

The defense's performance in the playoffs wasn't good, in the second half of both of their games. Atlanta shut out the Seahawks in the first half of the divisional round, then allowed Seattle to come back with 28 points in the second half. Against San Francisco, the Falcons built a 24-14 lead, but the offense did nothing in the second half while the defense surrendered 14 more points.
 

Ranched

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This Defense is going to be tough with Nolan at the helms. Can you believe we were dead last with picks. Marinelli, pft. He can go join the Gnats too.
 
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