Are you worried about our defense?

[Chocolate Lab]

I keep seeing where some people, both fans and media, are saying things like "This Dallas offense is great, but the defense is still shaky."

Do you think it is? To me, the defense isn't a concern at all. Sure, we started out poorly that first game, but we had several injuries and it was the very first game of a new system. I think the D is coming along just fine -- you have to love all those takeaways, which we've lacked in recent years.

So is the defense a problem?

 

[superpunk]

There are several ways you can look at that.

1.) As you mentioned, it was the first game in a new system, playing injured and against a couple guys who always torch us - and who torched the Phillips system the last time they played them, too. Looking at it that way, allows us to feel like they have really improved since then.

2.) The only teams we've played well against are some of the most dreadful offenses, with the most dreadful QBs, in the entire league. And neither of those teams had a true #1 WR the caliber of a Plaxico Burress - so maybe we haven't been playing so well, as much as we've been up against crappy teams.

I don't know which one it is - but I'll confess I'm at least worried that it's option #2.

 

[InmanRoshi]

I think there is a good chance that Miami and Chicago might both be in the bottom 5 in total offense by season's end. If Trent Green could just not overthrow wide open WR by 10 yards, that Miami game could have been pretty bad. And if New York would have just kept feeding Plaxico, he could have caught 250+ yards on us. We just had absolutely no answer for him.

The good news is that we get two weeks to patch things up before we're tested again.

 

[silverblue]

the defense is average, but appears to be getting better. we are getting some great play from new and rookie players and we anticipate the return of Newman, Ellis, and the arrival of Tank Johnson.

Our continued vulnerability is the deep speed receiver, but it seems as of late we are intercepting as many as we are letting get deep so at least we are balancing our risk/reward there.

This defense will be improving throughout season. I am not worried.

 

[superpunk]

And to add on to that - I am not worried about either option being true for at least the next two weeks. The next two teams that we face are so bad, and so unbelievably riddled with injuries, that it doesn't really matter how good the defense is. They just need to show up, smack Bulger in the ribs a few times and confuse Trent Edwards.

 

[03EBZ06]

The defense has been steadily improving so I'm not really worried about the defense, but if they regress for some reason, then I would be concerned.

 

[big dog cowboy]

New HC, new DC, Ferg out, TNew out, Ellis out, new FS........

 

[JBS]

There are several ways you can look at that.

1.) As you mentioned, it was the first game in a new system, playing injured and against a couple guys who always torch us - and who torched the Phillips system the last time they played them, too. Looking at it that way, allows us to feel like they have really improved since then.

2.) The only teams we've played well against are some of the most dreadful offenses, with the most dreadful QBs, in the entire league. And neither of those teams had a true #1 WR the caliber of a Plaxico Burress - so maybe we haven't been playing so well, as much as we've been up against crappy teams.

I don't know which one it is - but I'll confess I'm at least worried that it's option #2.

you are 100% right...however, last year we got scorched by the frickin atlanta falcons....at least this year it does not appear that the poor teams will be killing us...plus it has only been 3 games...according to those who want to say we havent faced a real offense just yet...other than our game against the pats which is in 2 and a half weeks we do not face a real offense for quite a while. So does this mean we wont know if we have a legit Defense until week 9 when we face the eagles? and if philly doesnt qualify or if we do have a good game vs them then there really isnt another team on our entire schedule with a "real offense" so maybe we will never know...lol...

my take is simple...good defenses will play good defense vs anyone and bad defenses will play poor vs anyone...right now we arent playing poor vs mediocore teams - which probably means that as of right now we have a mediocore defense...and really thats all we need...

 

[Idgit]

Not at all. Defense is definitely not where the offense is, but 1. we've been winning without Newman in the lineup, and his return changes everything, and 2. people underestimate just how well Eli Manning played in game 1.

We're stopping the run, and we've been able to take the ball away in the passing game--even without Newman. With this offense, that's the recipe for success.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Worry is for wussies.

 

[Champsheart]

When I look at the goal of winning the Super Bowl, YES I am concerned.

My concern rests with our Pass Defense. We have holes in the secondary and teams can throw on us, I do not like that.

We need Newman back and playing well.

If we can sure this up then I will no longer have the concerns, but we have to improve in this area against the top notch teams.

The last 2 weeks we have been coming up with the INT's, but against the better offenses and QB's I see some issues.

I do not like how we are having to play off so far trying to avoid the big play.

We need Newman back playing like he did last year for the defense to work like we want it to. I am not sure yet if that will happen.

 

[FCBarca]

Seems like each week, there's something new to focus on (From a fan's perspective, anyway) from the team...This week, for me, it's going to be how the secondary, in particular, can deal with a potentially high octane passing offense with Bulger & Co.

I realize they're 0-3 but they've been in all of their games and they remain a passing offense, especially with no Jackson...I think it'll be a good test to see how the secondary responds...Defenses take time to build into something special, these are the kind of games that you can develop from.

Here's hoping the confidence in the secondary soars after the Rams

 

[dargonking999]

I'm not worried about it

My main gripe last year was that our defense couldn't even stop the bad ones. Here or there we could stop a good team, but 90% of the time we got torched by bad teams.

At least now we're shutting down the bad teams, hopefully by the end of the season we can stop the good ones too.

But you guys have to understand, this is a new Defense system. our #1 CB is out, our #3 LB is out, we have a new FS, and we cut our #3 CB from last year. It's going to take more than TC to get these guys gelled and comfortable in the system. Time is something we have as long as the offense keeps up it's pace.

 

[Doomsday101]

I keep seeing where some people, both fans and media, are saying things like "This Dallas offense is great, but the defense is still shaky."

Do you think it is? To me, the defense isn't a concern at all. Sure, we started out poorly that first game, but we had several injuries and it was the very first game of a new system. I think the D is coming along just fine -- you have to love all those takeaways, which we've lacked in recent years.

So is the defense a problem?

I don't think the defense is as good as it is going to get. I think the more the coaching staff sees in game tapes from these player the more they will be able to correct mistakes and I also think the more comfortable the players get in this system the better they will play. Wade has always been able to produce very good defensive units and I think he will get his defense playing better as they move forward.

 

[YosemiteSam]

My concern rests with our Pass Defense. We have holes in the secondary and teams can throw on us, I do not like that.

If Ellis comes back and is effective, then I'm not the least bit worried. That will give us three guys who can put real pressure on the QB. That alone will cause a huge disruption in a teams passing offense. We are already seeing the fruit from having two pass rushers. We saw what happen last year when one of our only two pass rushers went down. (Ellis) The defense fell off the map. With three, we will have a very good defense.

 

[garyo1954]

Indianapolis last year. They spent the whole season working to get their defense going. They won the Super Bowl, right?

That said, the bigger question near the end of the year will be can we stop teams when we have too? Good teams rely on the others half; offenses rely defenses, defenses depend on offenses to bail them out.

Great teams have the offense and defense to step up when necessary.
At this point in the season giving up a lot of yards should not be a concern.
Giving up a lot of point should be. And we're not doing that.

Our offense is giving the defense time to get it together which will pay off later in the season when push comes to shove.

 

[superpunk]

My main gripe last year was that our defense couldn't even stop the bad ones. Here or there we could stop a good team, but 90% of the time we got torched by bad teams.

86.3% of statistics are made up on the spot - and this one is a doozy.

The only bad offense we got torched by was Atlanta. They had the top rushing offense in the NFL, but Mike Vick switched it up and passed all over us.

Aside from that, we beat the hell out of the Titans and Texans, Bucs and Cards, and stomped the Brunell Commanders. The only other bad team we couldn't stop was Detroit, and I think it would be foolish to claim that they had a bad offense.

Now, if your main gripe was that we couldn't force turnovers - then you'd have a point of contrast between last year's D and this years, so far. But saying we got torched 90% of the time by bad teams? It's just not so - not even close.

 

[wileedog]

I keep seeing where some people, both fans and media, are saying things like "This Dallas offense is great, but the defense is still shaky."

Do you think it is? To me, the defense isn't a concern at all. Sure, we started out poorly that first game, but we had several injuries and it was the very first game of a new system. I think the D is coming along just fine -- you have to love all those takeaways, which we've lacked in recent years.

So is the defense a problem?

We have our corners giving 15 yard cushions to not give up the deep play against two of the worst offenses in the NFL the past two weeks.

You might not be concerned with the defense, but somebody on the coaching staff is.

 

[YosemiteSam]

86.3% of statistics are made up on the spot - and this one is a doozy.

Actually, he upped the ante with that one. It's now 86.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.

 

[ZeroClub]

The Dallas defense is good while playing downhill, with a lead, against a team that has to pass.

But I'm not convinced they'd be much more than a speed bump to the better offenses in a tight game right now.

The good news is that as time goes on the defense should improve (with Newman, Ellis, more time in Wade's system, coaches increased familiarity with players, etc.).