Dallas D Going Forward

[theebs]

Indy won a SB with a defense like this.

Probably even a worse defense vs. the run than Dallas.

There's not one team in the NFL that's going to blow the doors off this Cowboys team... Not one.

They may sneak out a victory over Dallas but they aren't laying some sorta whooping on them.

Yea this is exactly what this reminds me of. That colts defense. They had a couple of pass rushers however but were never really good until the playoffs. Bob sanders played better than he did before or after and they rode it to a championship.

 

[theebs]

No sacks-- but they did "affect the passer" on a number of occasions. Kirk got hit about 8 times yesterday.

yea, I thought tyrone crawford had a good game. he forced a couple of passes to be thrown early.

 

[drawandstrike]

The key thing is with this offense, all we need to do is have the defense 'hold serve' and force enough punts/FG's from the other team so that they can't 'catch up' late in the game.

Washington's offense was potent enough that it finally started racking up the points in the 4th quarter after being denied for the first 3 quarters of the game.

Only by then...it was too late. They got lucky on one deep bomb vs our rookie CB, and then were forced to try two onside kicks, neither of which they got.

 

[xwalker]

For this offseason, I hope we get Demarcus ware, Julius peppers, and Lorenzo Alexander AND draft 2-3 DEs. I think this could be accomplished for around 18-22 million a year ( romo's salary), and if it does cost a little more just make it work.

These seasoned vets can hold down the fort while the young guys either develop or bust.

Chandler Jones will be a free agent. He is 26 years old. I guess AZ will franchise him, but if not he would be preferred to 3 old guys.

Chandler Jones + 1 draft pick would could instantly turn this into a really good defense.

 

[BAT]

The two biggest problems on the defense is a lack of talent at DE, which isn't going to be fixed this season and the injuries in the secondary, which may.

I agree that DE is the most pressing issue on D, but there are significant fixes (draft, FA) and there are incremental fixes. Cowboys need some incremental fixes right now, scour the PS for teams with great depth and talent on DL. I would love to see Cowboys roll dice on Raiders DE James Cowser, Jets DE Victor Ochi, OLB Davis Tull or 9ers pass rusher Marcus Rush. All are more pedigreed and more productive than Mayowa, Wilber or Even Davis. Churn the bottom of this roster, we may unearth a gem or two. Not doing anything ensures we get the same old same old QB pressure next Game, or lack there of.

Would also look to at least working out Chris Culliver and Antonio Cromartie. Maybe steal a Safety or two as well from other teams PS.

 

[BAT]

Chandler Jones will be a free agent. He is 26 years old. I guess AZ will franchise him, but if not he would be preferred to 3 old guys.

Chandler Jones + 1 draft pick would could instantly turn this into a really good defense.

Jamie Collins would be another option as well.

 

[xwalker]

No sacks-- but they did "affect the passer" on a number of occasions. Kirk got hit about 8 times yesterday.

IIRC most of those hits were after he threw the ball and most of those throws ended up being complete. Irving seemed to get the most pressure of any DL.

 

[LandryFan]

I still feel this D is going to keep us from making any kind of playoff run this year. Heck, the D we rolled out there yesterday could likely make us go one-and-done.

Not so sure about the "one and done" because our first opponent would have flaws themselves. We get to the NFCC game, though, our D could very well get exposed in a bad way. There usually aren't any bad QB's in the playoffs, especially as you get deeper into them. Cousins, Eli, Stafford, Ryan, or Wilson...any of them would be a major threat to this secondary. All the more reason why our offense has to be efficient, effective, and put together time consuming drives that end with 6 points. That's pretty much been the formula up to now...it has to continue. All that said, our D has still - somehow,someway - found a way to get the job done...they have been pretty effective at not giving up a lot of points.

 

[LandryFan]

After going 4-12 just getting into the playoffs looks good to me.

But really I don't see any team out there that the Cowboys would be an "automatic" loss to in the playoffs.

Put another way, I don't see any team out there that would rather play Dallas than some other team. We will be a tough out for anybody, including Seattle and New England.

 

[Cowboy172]

We really need a pass rush. Without heat on the qb, Eli and Cousins will continue to torch us. Not to mention Brady in a SB.

 

[xwalker]

Jamie Collins would be another option as well.

Yes, he is a terrific player but at what position? He played WLB in the Patriots 4-3 defense and he is playing LB in the Browns 4-3.


Chandler Jones Sacks
2016 8
2015 12.5
2014 6
2013 11.5
2012 6

Jamie Collins Sacks
2016 1
2016 1
2015 5.5
2014 4
2013 0

Demarcus Ware Sacks
2016 2
2015 7.5
2014 10
2013 6

Julius Peppers Sacks
2016 4.5
2015 10.5
2014 7
2013 7

Lorenzo Alexander Sacks
2016 10
2015 0
2014 1
2013 0

 

[DandyDon1722]

I still feel this D is going to keep us from making any kind of playoff run this year. Heck, the D we rolled out there yesterday could likely make us go one-and-done.

Excellent observation. There have been some unstoppable offensive seasons derailed by a one game playoff (or SB) spoiler.

The undefeated Patriots season.
The Vikings 15-1 season.
The Broncos 2013 season.
Even go back to the Bills of the 90's.

And it's also why a great defensive push can actually win you a Super Bowl (both recent Giants Super Bowls).

It's a very dangerous proposition.

It's why Seattle scares the hell out of me.

 

[BAT]

Yes, he is a terrific player but at what position? He played WLB in the Patriots 4-3 defense and he is playing LB in the Browns 4-3.


Chandler Jones Sacks
2016 8
2015 12.5
2014 6
2013 11.5
2012 6

Jamie Collins Sacks
2016 1
2016 1
2015 5.5
2014 4
2013 0

Demarcus Ware Sacks
2016 2
2015 7.5
2014 10
2013 6

Julius Peppers Sacks
2016 4.5
2015 10.5
2014 7
2013 7

Lorenzo Alexander Sacks
2016 10
2015 0
2014 1
2013 0

Would play Jack position, similar to how Seahawks played Bruce Irvin. So SAM on base downs and as the 4th or 5th rusher on passing downs.

But give me Jones or Ware.

 

[dallasdave]

By now we should realize that tank is a good #2 DE, and we need a super hoss DE, a Charles haley- Reggie white type.

Heck I'd settle for a Julius Peppers or Kerrigan type right now

 

[drawandstrike]

The game plan with our limited defense was working fine until we lost Mo and Church. Go back and look.

The first 8 games, nobody ever ran away from us. We got nipped by 1 point in the opener by the Giants. The goal is to rack up points on offense and just have the defense be average and keep the other team's scoring down to a RESPECTABLE level.

Until we lost MoC and Church, here's the other's team scoring over the first 8 games of the season:

20
23
17
17
14
16
23
10

What happened then is an injured secondary then started catching up with us. We played the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

30

That was followed by a home game vs the Ravens, who were tough & brought their #1 defense with them.

17

And then the NFL's #1 offense came to town, bringing it's #2 passing game into AT&T stadium.

26

The game plan is score early and often and stay ahead while the defense holds serve just enough to keep the other team behind until the clock runs out.

Which is exactly what happened yesterday. Even with the 20 points the Commanders scored in the 4th quarter, they NEVER got the lead in this game and were forced into desperate onside kicks. They were too far behind and our offense kept scoring.

This has been the game plan all season long. It's the hand we were dealt after the draft and FA and then suspensions led to no real pass rush. It's too late to cry about it, the season is underway and the coaches MUST find a way to make it work with what they've got.

Guess what? They're doing it.

They're making it work.

We're 10-1 with no pass rush for a reason. All we need now is to get some guys back healthy in this secondary and get back to mid-season form back there.

 

[Hawkeye19]

IIRC most of those hits were after he threw the ball and most of those throws ended up being complete. Irving seemed to get the most pressure of any DL.

Yes-- you are correct. Cousins had a great game. We had no answer for Reed or for their WRs. However-- our red zone D was great. We held them to FG attempts in the first half and that was a key factor in the game.

We caught them when we were depleted and they were playing at a very high level...and we still won

 

[xwalker]

Yes-- you are correct. Cousins had a great game. We had no answer for Reed or for their WRs. However-- our red zone D was great. We held them to FG attempts in the first half and that was a key factor in the game.

We caught them when we were depleted and they were playing at a very high level...and we still won

It helped that Reed was out for 1/2 the game. That guy is good.

 

[windward]

Could be one & done.

But they were NEVER behind Washington yesterday.

Just something to think about.

Moreover, they never had the chance to take the lead the entire second half.

 

[drawandstrike]

Just checked NFL.com. The Dallas offense is averaging 28.7 points a game; the defense is yielding an average of 19.4 points a game.

This is a big reason why we're 10-1.

Our 'game plan' for this entire season is only going to work as long as the offense keeps scoring. If we meet a team that can shut our offense down, we're in trouble.

 

[dguinta1]

These kids are playing their hearts out! Sure I am pissed, at some of the whiffed tackles and amount of yards; but appreciate the RED ZONE D!