Big Gainers - Area of focus and need improvement from Dal Defense

[DeaconMoss]

I mentioned last week that I thought the "middle of the field was wide open" against the Raiders and the Fish.

Same story this week. Larry Fitz would have ended up with about 150-175 yards in this one easily. And probably would have had a teammate or two with over 100+ to match him. Fitz was simply eating Carr's lunch. I know Fitz is awesome, but just saying....

The Dallas defense is giving up huge chunks to receivers across the middle and up the seams.. Too much for my taste. I know you will say look at the low scores, and the injuries to Mo and Allen, but its the overall performance that worries me.

The Defensive line and the LBers seem to be doing well, I'm hoping the secondary will start grasping this new Defense a little better and start closing up the "holes" in this zone coverage and make the qb throws a little tighter.

Long plays

miami - 45, 25, 27, 24, 21, 29
raiders - 40, 23, 18, 18, 17
arizona - 33, 34, 23, 24, 25

 

[pugilist]

yeah i feel you, it sucks. on the flip side the starting defense has yet to allow a TD in preseason, which historically has kinda been the trend for Kiffin's 4-3 (bend but don't break).

if we can't get to the QB it's something we're just going to have to deal with

 

[1LoyalCowboyFan]

I haven't looked at the plays too close but did not see a lb drop meaning they blitzed. I agree with dwarecwby311, defense is designed to not give up big play. Middle of the field is where we are most vulnerable when blitzing in this scheme. And yes Fitz made it look easy but he always does. If anything it was good practice for Carr.

 

[Sasquatch]

Kiffin said not to pay attention to yards gained when judging his D but points scored per game. The performance of the first team D thus far seems to bear out that statement.

 

[morasp]

We pulled a lot of defensive starters quickly. That's when Arizona's starting offense had that long drive.

 

[DeaconMoss]

There was one play where Sean Lee was covering Fitz 20 yards down the field? The bunch formation had our secondary confused badly.

 

[Future]

There was one play where Sean Lee was covering Fitz 20 yards down the field? The bunch formation had our secondary confused badly.

He was chasing, I dont think that was supposed to be his coverage. I dont see why a MLB would be covering Fitz on a deep cross like that. I would think that a safety should have picked him up, but against a cover 2, that might just be a well designed play.

The thing we are going to have to accept a bit with this defense is that certain plays will simply win, especially if there is going to be so much emphasis on a zone. With young guys in the secondary and a lot who havent played in this defense, expect to see some guys running free at times.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

If we actually had some decent safety help it wouldn't look this bad.....but we gotta play the hand we are dealt.

It will be a problem all season, as the field becomes more condensed near our goaline its easier for the D but when the opposition has the whole field to work with watch out for the middle and seams......for another season.

 

[morasp]

He was chasing, I dont think that was supposed to be his coverage. I dont see why a MLB would be covering Fitz on a deep cross like that. I would think that a safety should have picked him up, but against a cover 2, that might just be a well designed play.

The thing we are going to have to accept a bit with this defense is that certain plays will simply win, especially if there is going to be so much emphasis on a zone. With young guys in the secondary and a lot who havent played in this defense, expect to see some guys running free at times.

It looked like Will Allen was over him and let him go. The reason that play got called back was holding on Ware who probably would have had a sack.

 

[Idgit]

As far as any trends go, I'm seeing a lot of backup Ss out of position. Not a good thing, but not shocking with Johnson and Wilcox missing some time and our starters getting little run. Not too worried about it at this point, though I'd like to see the guys who are going to be getting regular season snaps more in less in position here the rest of the preseason.

The Cards made a living running off of RT at us all night this week, too, once the starters went out. That's another area I'd like to see improve.

Overall, though, 14 points on 6 turnovers is an impressive defensive effort. We've done a good job in the red zone so far here. And it'll get better when we have our starting DL all playing, finally.

 

[xwalker]

Allen went out of the game fairly early. With Wilcox and Johnson unavailable, they had to use a 3rd or 4th string Safety.

At CB, Webb played a significant amount of time. He is the #5 CB and if he plays during the regular season, then they've got problems because he is not ready.

 

[CowboyDiver]

The defense gave up 12 points despite being backed up by all the turnovers....and yet we are complaining about the defense?

NO game plan, a lot of backups playing, and we still are not giving up points. That is what Kiffin's defense does. Our problem right now is the offense isn't scoring. What is even worse is we aren't scoring despite the fact that the offensive line is playing pretty well and we have had OL go late into the games due to the injuries.

 

[cowboys2233]

The defense gave up 12 points despite being backed up by all the turnovers....and yet we are complaining about the defense?

NO game plan, a lot of backups playing, and we still are not giving up points. That is what Kiffin's defense does. Our problem right now is the offense isn't scoring. What is even worse is we aren't scoring despite the fact that the offensive line is playing pretty well and we have had OL go late into the games due to the injuries.

Each one of those 12 points killed a little part of me. LOL.