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Oct 8
9:00
AM ET
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
Anyway, on to the Wonders:
1. I wonder if Jerry Jones wonders about the defensive switch he initiated in the offseason when Rob Ryan and the 3-4 scheme were fired for Monte Kiffin and the 4-3 scheme. Of course, he doesn't because that would mean Jones would have to realize the personnel he has put together on defense is flawed. The Cowboys can pay $50 million to a cornerback (Brandon Carr), trade up to the sixth pick for one (Morris Claiborne), pay top dollar for a defensive end (DeMarcus Ware) and extend their middle linebacker (Sean Lee) and not get the results. This isn't to blame those guys for the defensive woes, but the holes on the defense are obvious and were obvious before Anthony Spencer, Tyrone Crawford and Jay Ratliff were hurt. Games are won and lost up front and the Cowboys were content to go into the season with Crawford as the top backup defensive end, despite his inexperience, and Ratliff as the vaunted three-technique, even though there was real evidence he was a declining player. George Selvie and Nick Hayden are good role players as a fifth or sixth or seventh defensive linemen, not starters. Every defensive lineman is now “playing up” a level, so to speak, and the lack of pressure is killing the defense. Jones needed more foresight not because of injury, per se, but recent history and demonstrated ability.
3. I wonder if the Cowboys continue to attack offensively the way they did against the Broncos. If they don't, then I'll wonder why they didn't. Tony Romo was brilliant, according to many people after the game even with the turnover. The Cowboys attacked with their passing game. Romo trusted the pass protection. The receivers were able to get down the field. They went to an empty look plenty of times and flourished. With the defense struggling the way it has, the Cowboys need to go after other teams the way Peyton Manning goes after defenses. They can't play passively and hope the defense holds the opponent to 20 points. They need to go for the throat with Dez Bryant, Austin, Jason Witten, Terrance Williams, DeMarco Murray, Gavin Escobar, Dwayne Harris and Cole Beasley. Spread the field and go and live with the consequences. If you're going to go down, go down swinging.
4. I'm not a big fan of projecting numbers out, but sometimes it's fun. I wonder if people realize just how well Romo has played through the first five games.
Read the rest: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4716638/five-wonders-regret-on-scheme-switch
9:00
AM ET
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
Anyway, on to the Wonders:
1. I wonder if Jerry Jones wonders about the defensive switch he initiated in the offseason when Rob Ryan and the 3-4 scheme were fired for Monte Kiffin and the 4-3 scheme. Of course, he doesn't because that would mean Jones would have to realize the personnel he has put together on defense is flawed. The Cowboys can pay $50 million to a cornerback (Brandon Carr), trade up to the sixth pick for one (Morris Claiborne), pay top dollar for a defensive end (DeMarcus Ware) and extend their middle linebacker (Sean Lee) and not get the results. This isn't to blame those guys for the defensive woes, but the holes on the defense are obvious and were obvious before Anthony Spencer, Tyrone Crawford and Jay Ratliff were hurt. Games are won and lost up front and the Cowboys were content to go into the season with Crawford as the top backup defensive end, despite his inexperience, and Ratliff as the vaunted three-technique, even though there was real evidence he was a declining player. George Selvie and Nick Hayden are good role players as a fifth or sixth or seventh defensive linemen, not starters. Every defensive lineman is now “playing up” a level, so to speak, and the lack of pressure is killing the defense. Jones needed more foresight not because of injury, per se, but recent history and demonstrated ability.
3. I wonder if the Cowboys continue to attack offensively the way they did against the Broncos. If they don't, then I'll wonder why they didn't. Tony Romo was brilliant, according to many people after the game even with the turnover. The Cowboys attacked with their passing game. Romo trusted the pass protection. The receivers were able to get down the field. They went to an empty look plenty of times and flourished. With the defense struggling the way it has, the Cowboys need to go after other teams the way Peyton Manning goes after defenses. They can't play passively and hope the defense holds the opponent to 20 points. They need to go for the throat with Dez Bryant, Austin, Jason Witten, Terrance Williams, DeMarco Murray, Gavin Escobar, Dwayne Harris and Cole Beasley. Spread the field and go and live with the consequences. If you're going to go down, go down swinging.
4. I'm not a big fan of projecting numbers out, but sometimes it's fun. I wonder if people realize just how well Romo has played through the first five games.
Read the rest: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4716638/five-wonders-regret-on-scheme-switch
