2 Things I Get Tired of Hearing From the Talking Heads

[blueblood70]

 

[Whyjerry]

. . . about our Cowboys:

#1 The Cowboys defense sucked in 2020 and thus they'll suck again in 2021. I hear things like this team quit, the players were out of position, they are nearly talentless on the defensive side of the ball. I'm not here to argue this defense sucked. They did ! When they took the fiels there was always a loud whoooshing sound. Undeniably so.

But what I have never heard from the so-called experts is the probable reasons for this. They passingly refer to Dab Quinn coming in to "fix" the D without mentioning what broke the D. If a talking head is going to rag on the D at least come up with a plausible explanation of what was happening in 2020. Not even a glossing over of the system that Mike Nolan attempted to implement. I'm submitting that the system was the culprit. No offseason, due to COVID-19, to implement a system with complicated assignments. Any opponent could see this defense was lost and thus power house offenses like WFT and the NYG were hanging large point totals on us.

If Quinn is worth his salt, and I don't know if he is with his hybrid D, this will change. If he gets the effort we should be significantly better. My prognostication on this defense is with more time to implement and teach there will be significant improvement. I also think better interior DL play is one of the main keys.

#2 Zeke is washed up. The Head's narrative: " Under 1,000 yards, only 4yds per carry, slow, very mid-level RB". Never hear the fact this OL was missing 2,3,4 pro-bowlers and at least 2 HOF'ers that are still potentially very high level players. There were multiple OL combinations . . . dozens, with 2nd AND 3rd stringers. Rare would be any RB that would look good. I also think that we will see a different running game this year with more consistency and greater avg. per carry.

I'm looking forward to this year. No playoff predictions, no record predictions but I think we'll see a product on the field that is much better. If I'm wrong then heads need to roll.

I don’t think Zeke is washed up. I think he lacks the work ethic and smarts to be a star at an older age. I hope I am wrong about that.

 

[Point-of-the-Star]

Then Young Oliver, do not complain about the crumbs you are given for you asked for them.

Sure you wise old sage ! (Did I say "old" . . . why yes, yes, I did!)

But I will complain ! Like refining gold, there's good stuff in the pot but you gotta skim the impurities off the top. You don't just walk away from the pot.

Thanks for the old age wisdom though.

 

[Dre11]

We saw what the hell happened from Maranelli to Nolan. Realistically...I think a top 20 defense is probably the best we can HOPE for at this point.

yeah ,they went from top 10 to 32

 

[Dre11]

I mean the defense was not great in 2019 and lost a key player in the secondary who they had no ability to replace which left the secondary being awful. That is a player issue and right now the only hope is that Diggs can take that next step in year 2 to fill that spot and then maybe they can just have a bad secondary and a mediocre front 7.

top 10 and gave up only 20 points a game

 

[Alexander]

I liked that song but that video was hilarious when watched when baked.

 

[Dre11]

#1 I feel like blaming the scheme for everything is lazy. This defense hasnt been good for a long time. In 2019 they were one of the worst vs the run and last in the NFL in interceptions. People seem to have a selective memory on all the injuries we had to start the season as well. Starters missing almost half the season. There is a mountainous lack of talent on defense. Then the big elephant in the room is no TC and preseason to implement the new scheme. Nolan putting in too much stuff was a poor decision, but it wasnt the scheme ONLY that was the biggest issue.

#2 Zeke isnt what he was and neither is the line.

they gave up 20 points a game (top 11) in 2019, top 11 vs run, top 10 vs pass don't know how you got 1 of the worst run defenses in nfl

 

[conner01]

. . . about our Cowboys:

#1 The Cowboys defense sucked in 2020 and thus they'll suck again in 2021. I hear things like this team quit, the players were out of position, they are nearly talentless on the defensive side of the ball. I'm not here to argue this defense sucked. They did ! When they took the fiels there was always a loud whoooshing sound. Undeniably so.

But what I have never heard from the so-called experts is the probable reasons for this. They passingly refer to Dab Quinn coming in to "fix" the D without mentioning what broke the D. If a talking head is going to rag on the D at least come up with a plausible explanation of what was happening in 2020. Not even a glossing over of the system that Mike Nolan attempted to implement. I'm submitting that the system was the culprit. No offseason, due to COVID-19, to implement a system with complicated assignments. Any opponent could see this defense was lost and thus power house offenses like WFT and the NYG were hanging large point totals on us.

If Quinn is worth his salt, and I don't know if he is with his hybrid D, this will change. If he gets the effort we should be significantly better. My prognostication on this defense is with more time to implement and teach there will be significant improvement. I also think better interior DL play is one of the main keys.

#2 Zeke is washed up. The Head's narrative: " Under 1,000 yards, only 4yds per carry, slow, very mid-level RB". Never hear the fact this OL was missing 2,3,4 pro-bowlers and at least 2 HOF'ers that are still potentially very high level players. There were multiple OL combinations . . . dozens, with 2nd AND 3rd stringers. Rare would be any RB that would look good. I also think that we will see a different running game this year with more consistency and greater avg. per carry.

I'm looking forward to this year. No playoff predictions, no record predictions but I think we'll see a product on the field that is much better. If I'm wrong then heads need to roll.

Don’t listen to people who voice opinions
I agree that the product level on the field should be better

 

[CowboyRoy]

they gave up 20 points a game (top 11) in 2019, top 11 vs run, top 10 vs pass don't know how you got 1 of the worst run defenses in nfl

20 points is pretty good. Would love to see that number THIS year.

Did I say run defense, I meant special teams was one of the worst in the NFL.

2019 was by far and away Garretts worst coaching job. At 27 points per game for the offense there was a +7 scoring differential for the team and yet the team only managed an 8-8 record.

 

[kskboys]

While I tend to agree with many of ninja's posts, on offensive line play I side with ksk's here.

To go a step further I do not think Steele or Knight are any thing more than overall jags regardless of their experience gained last year.

In my opinion, this entire team's success is based on a full season of healthy play by both tackles and a prime Fredbeard type contribution from Biadasz.

If the o line sucks this year it will look like last year. Regardless of defense, coaching or QB.

My opinion anyway.

Agree. I like most of his stuff, but he's got this one wrong.

 

[plasticman]

I hear you. It annoys me that they never consider the impact of unfortunate series of injuries. Not just the Cowboys, but any team that has suffered an unusually large amount of injuries will get most of their players back the following season. Therefore, one would assume that they would be improved just so long as they don't suffer the same exact injuries again.

They also never considered the repercussions of a new coaching staff installing a new offense and defense without minicamps, training camp, or preseason games.

Talking heads are, in most cases, not deep investigators. They don't seem to do a lot of research. They aren't very good at reading the overall chemistry of a team.

I could see low expectations if we were talking about an older team with fading stars but most Cowboy starters are either in their prime or very young.

Judging Zeke by last season would be blatantly unfair. The offensive line ended up being rookies and undrafted free agents. The starting tackles were the backups to the backup. When your most consistent starter is Connor Williams, you have a problem. However, that's nothing compared to losing your passing game, which was #1 the previous season as well as that season up to the point where they lost their starting QB. They lost their starting TE after two games.

So what is the Cowboy gameplan when you have the Gilbert's and Dinucci's starting at QB? Why, you run the ball. Anybody think the opponent defenses couldn't figure that out? This coming season the Cowboys are going to dare defenses to key on Zeke.

 

[buybuydandavis]

#2 Zeke is washed up. The Head's narrative: " Under 1,000 yards, only 4yds per carry, slow, very mid-level RB". Never hear the fact this OL was missing 2,3,4 pro-bowlers and at least 2 HOF'ers that are still potentially very high level players. There were multiple OL combinations . . . dozens, with 2nd AND 3rd stringers. Rare would be any RB that would look good. I also think that we will see a different running game this year with more consistency and greater avg. per carry.

Zeke was ineffective running and receiving. He had a high fumble rate and high catch drop rate. It wasn't the oline giving him butterfingers.

 

[Clove]

1st off, Nolan was only hired because of a favor from Big Mike. Nolan was a terrible coordinator thus the reason he was fired. Big Mike sucked too but wasn't fired. Same players as the year prior and all of a sudden, they don't understand defenses? I don't buy it, no way you become a pro football defender not knowing defensive football, and if they somehow managed to get hired not knowing defensive football, we need to take a deep look at that GM or Owner who hired the guy.

 

[Typhus]

20 points is pretty good. Would love to see that number THIS year.

Did I say run defense, I meant special teams was one of the worst in the NFL.

2019 was by far and away Garretts worst coaching job. At 27 points per game for the offense there was a +7 scoring differential for the team and yet the team only managed an 8-8 record.

Improve on Run D and special teams, have to improve on field position, meaning closer to the opponents goal line.

 

[cristglo]

Players never bought into him

 

[CowboyRoy]

Improve on Run D and special teams, have to improve on field position, meaning closer to the opponents goal line.

Run D is always #1. You cant stop the run, your done. The coaches recognized this and this is where they focused on the offseason. They are also getting playmakers. Run stoppers and playmakers. Guys in the secondary and linebacker position that are going to make plays and create turnovers with fumbles and picks. This was the recipe in Seattle. Have to get to those 2nd and 3rd and longs.

Pressure is another ballgame. But with Lawrence, Gregory, and Parsons blitzing up the middle its not a bad start. Key is we need pressure up the middle.

 

[Montanalo]

You know what I never tire of hearing?

"Garrett sucks" A well-placed "Garret sucks" comment can make me smile all day.

I'm looking at you, @Ranching

 

[MikeB80]

Washington and New York had new defensive coaches and defensive systems last year also.

they seem to be fine

 

[CowboyRoy]

Washington and New York had new defensive coaches and defensive systems last year also.

they seem to be fine

Its a race. Washington and NY have the best defenses in the East and are working on their offenses. Cowboys have the best offense but also the worst defense. Who will get the other side of the ball up to speed first will probably determine who wins the division.

 

[OmerV]

Negativity and controversy sell and require minimal effort.

If everyone would quit listening to the talking heads, they would go away.

Exactly