A better secondary?

[Stash]

One criticism of the Phillips 3-4 defense is that the defense both makes big plays, and gives up big plays.

Meaning that the team attacks the passer, producing a high number of sacks, but giving up big plays in the passing game as well.

I'm wondering if the secondary in Dallas is more or less talented than the players Phillips coached in San Diego.

On paper, I would think that the group the Cowboys have is better, but given their struggles in 2006, I'm not so sure so I'm looking for opinions.

I think it's a given that the Dallas front 7 will be more productive and put up better numbers.

But what about the secondary?

Will they be better or worse in 2007?

 

[dallasfan]

I think we'll get more turnovers, allow less yards (not much, but less) but give up a similar amount of big plays, maybe less depending on how good Ken Hamlin is.

 

[THUMPER]

The best way to improve your secondary is to pressure the QB and not require the DBs to cover their guys for hours while the QB waits for someone to break free.

The improved passrush will make our secondary much better.

 

[DallasEast]

We have the secondary right now (eduncan, do not reply to this comment unless you click on the link in my sig too! ) to capitalize on mistakes due to quarterback hurries. Hamlin is more than adequate at free safety. When healthy, Henry will eat up his receiver on short/quick passes. QB hurries will change the receivers routes if they see the blitz and will try to adjust before the snap. When he's in pass coverage, Williams can cover shorter routes much better than intermediate or deep routes.

And Newman? 'nuff said.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

This secondary has to be better than what Wade had at SD. They didn't have much in the way of corners or safeties. Jammer is above average, but that's about it. Everyone else is JAG. (Cromartie could be good, but he wasn't last year as a rookie when Wade had him.)

That said, I do think we're going to give up some big plays this year. All the DBs will get cussed at times as they are left in more single coverage situations -- no one ever curses the rushers for not getting to the QB in those situations. I suspect that Newman is going to get left in man coverage quite a bit much like he did in 2003... And he will get beat at times.

But still, overall, we have more talent in the backfield than SD had. No doubt in my mind.

 

[burmafrd]

We have a much better overall secondary. Any one of our top 3 CBs is better then any of thiers. Even our safeties are better - especilly with Hamlin here now. We should give up fewer big plays with more pressure on the passers. Our CBs are suited for the one on one coverage needed for blitzing.

 

[dargonking999]

Well Mick Made a good point in one of his Articles, about the Watkins play in the Eagles game. (Where Greg ellis wiffed on the sack, after WAtkins jumped the reciever, leaving the sideline open for the 70+ yard bomb)

It's plays like that, that will be cut down in this new defense. Most of the time it was like 1 person that was getting to the QB and no one else was around , so the QB had the room to move and throw the ball. When the DB's are expecting pressure, then when the WR's make quick cuts, (hot route) the DB's are jumping the ball, thinking the pass is coming, when instead the QB is able to get free and go long making it seem like we're getting torched.

SD gave up big plays because there secondary failed. ours doesn't.

 

[Stash]

I'm hopeful that a more aggressive scheme benefits both of our starting corners.

My feeling is that the team played too much off 'Cover 2' last year which did not allow either Newman or Henry to play to their strengths.

Hopefully, a better pass rush and more man-to-man coverage will produce better results.

 

[BouncingCheese]

As Maligned as our secondary was, we actually have a better one. Quentin Jammer is okay, but Florence and Marlong Mcree are pretty bad IMHO; I forgot who the SS was last year, but was also pretty bad... Antonio Cromartie is going to be a great talent in this league but right now he looks raw.

What is going to need to be seen is if the Defensive line plays as well as SD's did, (they played brilliantly by the way) and we even approach that production, our secondary is going to make Brian Stewart look like a Head Coaching candidate for a number of teams and Wade Phillips a genious. If that SD secondary was over here last year with our scheme, I bet we would have one of the worst-ranked secondaries in the league... The secondary is SD did respectably considering they don't have a single good man cover corner on the field.. We have Newman. The secondary doesn't worry me, it is the D-line; they REALLY need to ante up.

 

[DallasEast]

I'm hopeful that a more aggressive scheme benefits both of our starting corners.

My feeling is that the team played too much off 'Cover 2' last year which did not allow either Newman or Henry to play to their strengths.

Hopefully, a better pass rush and more man-to-man coverage will produce better results.

I'm banking on those results myself this season.

 

[AbeBeta]

We have a far far better secondary than SD. By a wide margin.

However, there is no way our front 7 approaches SDs. Jamal Williams and Merriman are among the best players at their positions in the entire league. Sean Phillips, Castillo, and Olshansky are top 10-15 guys at their positions. Edwards and Godfrey are cagy vets who make tons of plays.

Our front 7 sucks compared to SD's.

 

[BouncingCheese]

We have a far far better secondary than SD. By a wide margin.

However, there is no way our front 7 approaches SDs. Jamal Williams and Merriman are among the best players at their positions in the entire league. Sean Phillips, Castillo, and Olshansky are top 10-15 guys at their positions. Edwards and Godfrey are cagy vets who make tons of plays.

Our front 7 sucks compared to SD's.

I think our front 3 sucks comparatively... the jury is out on the LB's on the weakside spot and Bradie James' spot. If the D-line doesn't play very well, it will not matter how much better our secondary is as I know you know. We are going to be agressive, but that won't matter a lick if we are getting beat because of it. I think we are going to miss Kenyon Coleman, and I think Hatcher may be better than who is starting there....

 

[Stash]

We have a far far better secondary than SD. By a wide margin.

However, there is no way our front 7 approaches SDs. Jamal Williams and Merriman are among the best players at their positions in the entire league. Sean Phillips, Castillo, and Olshansky are top 10-15 guys at their positions. Edwards and Godfrey are cagy vets who make tons of plays.

Our front 7 sucks compared to SD's.

I think it needs to be asked why 'our front 7 sucks compared to SD's'.

Is it a huge difference in talent or a huge difference in scheme?

 

[BouncingCheese]

I think it needs to be asked why 'our front 7 sucks compared to SD's'.

Is it a huge difference in talent or a huge difference in scheme?

I would say talent to be honest; but we will have to see if it is the scheme.

 

[Stash]

I would say talent to be honest; but we will have to see if it is the scheme.

Put me down for scheme!

 

[AbeBeta]

Put me down for scheme!

Jamal Williams has been one of the best NTs in the league for years. He's a real key to that D. He was great pre-scheme

 

[Stash]

Jamal Williams has been one of the best NTs in the league for years. He's a real key to that D. He was great pre-scheme

What about the rest?

Few, if any current Chargers Front 7 starters were on the team 'pre-scheme' so I would say it's tough to judge either way.

And I think we'll have to wait until this season to form a conclusive opinion.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Ask me that question after the 2007 season...

 

[burmafrd]

I do not think that the talent SD has on the D line is all that much better then ours. NT they definitly have a big edge, but Fergie is pretty good. DE- I think that the TALENT is here, but has not produced.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

That is the million dollar question........do we have enough skill in the secondary? I am not sure of the answer.