Cowboys defense - Not all bad

[Direwolf63]

I agree very poor defense without the offense doing their job as 12th man. If the offense contributes than it is average, meaning running out clock, milking clock, slow long drives with scores. At this point in the season we are not going to be able to add to the talent pool on defense. We need to adjust our game plan to take advantage of our offense which in turn can possibly save maybe two or three less exposures of our defense per game and pray if you are inclined that our rooks are better than we thought.

So the offense has scored 28, 30 and 31 points the last 3 games, and now we need to rely on them being even better?

Good luck with that

 

[haleyrules]

So the offense has scored 28, 30 and 31 points the last 3 games, and now we need to rely on them being even better?

Good luck with that

Yeah, The defense gave up like 112 pts in three losses. That's hard to overcome.

 

[xwalker]

We can actually expect better LB play with Lee and Hitchens both in the lineup. Then the issue becomes improving play at S, where we've got Awuzie and Woods both as candidates for playing time. We're too thin at LB, though. Can't afford an injury at WIL or MIKE the rest of the way, and we've counting on two players with a history of injuries.

Woods, Frazier and Awuzie combined have played about as many snaps as Heath. If Awuzie was healthy it would likely be way more snaps. It's not as if they're just riding the bench.

Lee and Hitchens together is the key.

 

[Direwolf63]

Yeah, The defense gave up like 112 pts in three losses. That's hard to overcome.

No team can win consistently when your defense is worst in the league in points per possession given up.

No offense can overcome that every week and be a playoff team.

 

[xwalker]

No, what it means was the defense was kind of crappy last year but we could cover for it with a bizarrely efficient offense.

Your premise here is that the defense isn't that bad this year. Yes it is. It sucks. Anyone suggesting otherwise is acting dumb, trolling or doesn't realize he's a fan of the Cowboys but rather another team.

The only difference this year is that the offense hasn't been nearly as efficient to gloss over the fact this defense sucks.

Your saying the same thing that I said.

The defense is not much worse than last year but the offense just hasn't been as good as last year.

This defense might get better; whereas, last year's defense was not going to get better with the same set of players.

 

[xwalker]

Yeah I agree but at the first round level, he should be at least DECENT starting out. He's not even practice squad level yet. That's really bad.

That's not true. He has gotten some penetration, he just hasn't gotten that last foot to the QB. He has played better run defense than many rookie DEs.

 

[xwalker]

I'm pretty sure the Packers didn't score 28 points with FGs only.

You are not making sense.

The concept is that they have made some stops on defense which includes field goals.

Nobody is claiming they didn't score TDs.

I'm really beginning to question people's reading comprehension.

 

[gmoney112]

Bend but don't break will play into the hands of GB and ATL. We need to stop with the Tampa 2 look and look at what this franchise has historically done with their defense that was the pinnacle of all defenses. We had two eras of being a dominating force in the 70s and 90s. We didn't do that playing soft or by having soft personnel on defense. We need DTs that move the LOS more often than not over the fast twitch approach. It places QBs in an uncomforting situation throughout the game and that eventually leads to turnovers. This season we're losing that battle in the A gap. This concerns me more than us losing Elliott.

We don't run a Tampa 2.

 

[Sydla]

Your saying the same thing that I said.

The defense is not much worse than last year but the offense just hasn't been as good as last year.

This defense might get better; whereas, last year's defense was not going to get better with the same set of players.

Actually it is worse thus far. You must be watching a different team.

 

[xwalker]

LOL.

They are statistically one of the worst defenses in the league and even advanced stats like Football Outsiders has us as one of the worst defenses.

And it wasn't all just because of the Broncos game.

Are you saying they had no chance to win the Packers game? The only stat that matters is points scored in a game vs what the opponent scored. They've been within 1 score on 2 of the 3 losses.

Without TWill gifting the Packers 7 points, they probably win that game or if they run the ball to burn clock before the final TD, they definitely win.

 

[xwalker]

The defense has been bad enough that two offensive performances that should have won the football games resulted in losses. It's been pretty terrible.

There have been some bright spots on the defense, but the poor run fits, bad LB and S play have completely derailed everything.

The investment in the offense means by design the offense has to lead the way and the defense just needs to keep them in games. The defense has done enough to make winning possible in 2 of the losses.

 

[xwalker]

Actually it is worse thus far. You must be watching a different team.

They've been within 1 score in 2 of the losses and that's with the offense not dominating time of possession like last year.

 

[Idgit]

The investment in the offense means by design the offense has to lead the way and the defense just needs to keep them in games. The defense has done enough to make winning possible in 2 of the losses.

It really hasn't. Giving up more points per defensive series than any other team in the league can't reasonably be considered "holding its own."

The fact that the offense almost managed to outscore two other good offenses (but didn't) along the way doesn't give the terrible defense a pass.

 

[Arkyvarminter]

I think Xwalker is just pointing out that even with our D not being very good we still had a chance to win against some good teams. Without Lee we are really hurting. With Lee healthy and the rookies getting more reps we will only improve..........

 

[DoomsDayD]

After a miserable saturday of lets say "playing the odds" at least i got a good laugh tonight!!!!! The D isnt all that bad.

 

[Zman5]

You are not making sense.

The concept is that they have made some stops on defense which includes field goals.

Nobody is claiming they didn't score TDs.

I'm really beginning to question people's reading comprehension.

Then that's what you should have wrote. You included TDs for Packer's game and not on the Rams game. And that's what I was questioning. Not everyone can read your peculiar mind.

To say the defense isn't all that bad because they made stops, yet not mention the TDs they gave up, is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Even by your twisted standards.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Be more specific.

They won 13 games season and that defense really wasn't much better. The offense held the ball and kept the defense off the field.

If Lee and Hitchens get back on the field together, this defense might be better than last year.

Two things hurting the D this years IMO
1. Jaylon Smith.......not just physically but his lack of experience ( he's actually a liability )
2. Young secondary .......love the aggressiveness but it's offset by lack of experience.

How many times we've seen 3rd down conversion with ease and many times beyond 10 yards..........
Good news IMO the problem(s) are easily correctable if the coaches set aside their egos and stop being stubborn.......bench players who are not making plays.

 

[stiletto]

That's not true. He has gotten some penetration, he just hasn't gotten that last foot to the QB. He has played better run defense than many rookie DEs.

OK...

 

[Alexander]

You're just trolling now.

Yes, and it is too bad.

This is almost at Jermey Parnell is better than Doug Free level.

Not quite. But close.

 

[Alexander]

Yeah I agree but at the first round level, he should be at least DECENT starting out. He's not even practice squad level yet. That's really bad.

Charlton is approaching the Bobby Carpenter level of production. The only thing that is saving him from that complete indignity is that he has been active for every game.

Pretty soon some Dallas lineman will hang a disparaging nickname on him too.