Game Day *** Cowboys vs Browns post game thread ***

[Clove]

Tough loss. Really hard to watch when the defense can't force a punt when the game matters. We rarely spend high leverage picks on defense but unfortunately, Vander Esch is always hurt, we lost Byron Jones because he was actually good and we didn't want to pay hiim... and Taco Charlton was a total bust. Based on this alone, our defense can be expected to be on bottom of the league.

We unfortunately need to go back to a milk the clock, super conservative, barely get first downs, run all the time, offense. It's too bad beacuse our pass attack is amazing. However, if your defense is completely overmatched, well, you gotta shorten the game. Keep the defense off the field. And pray you leave the game with a win. Most would argue we can't do this based on the fact that we are always losing early. However, even down 14 or 21 points.... we don't have a choice, keep the defense off the FIELD.

Teams aren't letting us run, so what do you do then? They were running plays leaving our RT one on one with a beast. If you do that, he will get to your QB.

 

[BBGTYCOON]

I would g0fundme Earl Thomas if he could punch Jaylon

What's your Cash App?

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Actually...no it's not. Nolan isn't going to change his scheme....Did you see some of the crap he was trying today? He had Aldon Smith playing OLB in a traditional 4-3 in space....WTH? the guy is a defensive end...Think your gonna see some really absurd lineups in desperation in the coming weeks.

Nolan has installed a complicated scheme, far different than what Marinelli did. That requires time, remember there were no OTAs, mini-camp or preseason games, so the team is "learning on the fly", and that's difficult to do. If nothing else, the players have to be evaluated as to whether or not they can handle the assignments. And playing Smith in a different spot was probably an experiment, if it didn't work, probably won't see it again much, if any. Didn't we all gripe about how we had a "vanilla" defense, teams knew what plays the Cowboys ran before they ran it? And Marinelli's scheme not working, being outdated and not having the players needed to run it?

So now we have a different scheme and coordinator, and after 4 games the sky is falling.

Well those of us who've been fans for decades have seen changes that didn't work for a while before, some were calling for Jimmy's head after 1989, the "he's a college coach, we need a real NFL veteran coach". But eventually he molded the team into what he wanted and it won 3 Super Bowls.

Now don't think I'm saying it's all good, the defense will turn it around in a few weeks and be top 10, that's unlikely to occur. But it was unrealistic to expect Nolan's defense to be an immediate success, and losing McCoy right away, and now LVE, Awuzie, Brown and Lee (who's not what he once was, physically, but he does know how to read offenses better than Smith, et al.), players that do have experience and at least camp in the new scheme but aren't on the field.

And don't discount the effect that the turnovers by the offense has had. In this last game, why did the Browns have so much rushing yardage? Gee, think having a 31-14 halftime lead might have something to do with that? And running is their strength, did anybody expect we'd shut down their running game?

Fix the offensive gifts to the opponents, if they can, and this defense by that reason alone will be better, at least score-wise...