Criticism of Secondary Makes No Sense

[T-RO]

Here is a summary of the first half passes where DBs were targeted. Absolutely super with the exception of one play on Heath.

30 yards on Heath
-2 yard completion, Scandrick
8 yard completion on Jones
Broken up, Xavier Woods (stop on third down)
Incomplete, Brown in coverage
Broken up, Jones
Complete, 0 yards, Brown
Everyone covered—thrown away
Incomplete - Brown, Woods in coverage
Broken up, Brown
7-Yard TD pass on Scandrick (pick play)
3-yard catch on Heath
8-yard catch on Brown
2-yard catch on Woods

There was also a catch where the receiver was in a hole in the zone between Jaylon and the DBs... 9 yards

 

[T-RO]

Second half:

Deep pass, blanketed in coverage…incomplete
Thrown away after everyone covered for about 6 seconds
Overthrown as Jones in superior coverage (maybe overthrown on purpose)
52-yard completion to Gurley…one could blame Jaylon or Heath…Gurley found gap in zone
20-yard completion was on Lewis or Woods
Interference on Scandrick…iffy call
Incomplete, Brown covering
Incomplete everyone covered…thrown away
Broken up by Jones (beauty…saved TD)
Incomplete…receiver wasn’t looking
Brown almost intercepts, incomplete
18-yard catch on Brown - pass was perfect so receiver could catch it low and shield Brown

There was also a deflected pass that was caught. Other passes were on LBs

 

[T-RO]

In summary...As a group the secondary, aside from Heath, was very good.

We lost because...
We were gashed for 170 yards rushing
LBs in pass coverage
Two turnovers
Dak's second half accuracy issues

 

[T-RO]

I see the secondary critics have turned to crickets and hopped away. Predictable.

First half
Secondary allowed 8/14 for a meager 56 yards

Second half
Secondary permitted 3/11 for 90 yards--and that's if you pin the 52-yard Gurley play on Heath instead of Jaylon, who was trying to run with him. 3/10 for 38 yards if you put that play on Jaylon.

 

[xwalker]

This week I've seen stinging criticism of Heath and Jones. Earlier in the season I've seen posters belittle Scandrick and Brown.

One guy dedicates a post to convey we need another round of secondary upgrades.

It's a mountain of ignorance because our secondary has played pretty well despite youth, inexperience and widespread injury.

Some folks around here flat can't analyze football. Case in point? What would you think of a secondary that permitted 14/26 for 161 yards. Not bad eh? Especially if we are talking about a young, injury depleted secondary behind a d-line that wasn't getting to the quarterback.

If you subtract what Gurley was able to do as a receiver when attacking Jaylon Smith and look at what the Rams did against the secondary? 14/26 for 161 yards.

That's good stuff, folks. With the additions of Woods, Awuzie and Lewis--especially as they heal up and get some experience--to Scandrick, Jones and Brown...this can be a Super Bowl caliber secondary.

We have problems on this team: linebacker, outside receiver, tight end, left guard, right tackle...but our secondary is going to be sexy this year...and for years to come.

Good post.

Many people basically judge players on 1 or 2 plays per game. They only see DBs when the ball (and camera) go towards that player. A player can play 70 snaps and many fans judge them on 1 or 2.

The DBs have played reasonably well even comparing them to other teams or past years. When you factor in their youth, injuries, lack of a preseason by Lewis, just OK pass rush and limitations of some LBs in coverage, then they have played beyond expectations.

It's one thing to have a rookie surrounded by veterans like Brown last season but to have multiple young players on the field together is a whole other level of challenge.
Lewis: Rookie
Woods: Rookie
Brown: 2nd year
Frazier: 2nd year
Heath: 1st time starter
Jones: 2nd year at FS
Awuzie: Injured
Carroll: New to Cowboys and Injured.

 

[T-RO]

Good post.

Many people basically judge players on 1 or 2 plays per game. They only see DBs when the ball (and camera) go towards that player. A player can play 70 snaps and many fans judge them on 1 or 2.

The DBs have played reasonably well even comparing them to other teams or past years. When you factor in their youth, injuries, lack of a preseason by Lewis, just OK pass rush and limitations of some LBs in coverage, then they have played beyond expectations.

It's one thing to have a rookie surrounded by veterans like Brown last season but to have multiple young players on the field together is a whole other level of challenge.
Lewis: Rookie
Woods: Rookie
Brown: 2nd year
Frazier: 2nd year
Heath: 1st time starter
Jones: 2nd year at FS
Awuzie: Injured
Carroll: New to Cowboys and Injured.

Exactly. A typical fan sees a completion...looks for the nearest defender and says, "what a bum!"

There is almost no appreciation for zone assignments and little respect for the facts of modern offenses--which favor QBs and receivers.

I'm not just pleased at our young defensive backs....I'm stoked. If we can get a similar infusion with the linebackers...and let these kids mature...we can definitely have a top ten defense in a year or two. Of course one more pass rusher along the front will push that along and maybe Irving can bring that.

 

[xwalker]

Exactly. A typical fan sees a completion...looks for the nearest defender and says, "what a bum!"

There is almost no appreciation for zone assignments and little respect for the facts of modern offenses--which favor QBs and receivers.

I'm not just pleased at our young defensive backs....I'm stoked. If we can get a similar infusion with the linebackers...and let these kids mature...we can definitely have a top ten defense in a year or two. Of course one more pass rusher along the front will push that along and maybe Irving can bring that.

Most people watch while drinking alcohol and are in a crowd of people with many distractions. They never go back and review the game but will create threads exclaiming somebody needs to be cut or the coaches need to be fired.

Message boards are a great view into the mentality of the masses or as I like to say "The Great Unwashed".

On the flip side there are many people here that have great insight and some are brilliant.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Since when is yardage the only stat that matters? What happened to measures like points against, opp 3rd down %, and turnovers forced?

Exactly.........the only stat that matters for a defense is how many points are you giving up, because points is the name of the game.

We are 26th in points allowed.

 

[T-RO]

....the only stat that matters for a defense is how many points are you giving up, because points is the name of the game.

We are 26th in points allowed.

Yes indeed. Boys got torched in two games. But what's been killing us is the linebacker group and the inconsistency w/pass rush.

If someone wants to point at the Denver game...I'd also remind them that half our secondary was hurt and Lewis was playing his first game--with no preseason.

The criticisms of the secondary in the L.A. game have been summarily crushed above.

In both the Giants and Cards games...it was our defense that won the games.

 

[Risen Star]

Focusing on the secondary at all is a mountain of ignorance. Ignore those comments. It's not what's wrong with this team..

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Focusing on the secondary at all is a mountain of ignorance. Ignore those comments. It's not what's wrong with this team..

We need better corners. lol

 

[Carson]

We need better corners. lol

I think we have plenty enough of talent in corners, minus Carroll. Brown, Scandrick, Lewis, Chido.

It's hard to play corner, when you're asked to play a soft zone, free release defense. We're asking our guys to just drop and cover too much ground.