DC.COM/DMN Blog: Fixing Run Defense Is Goal No. 1/D absolutely has to play better

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by jellis at 9/14/2009 12:59 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

There were some corrections the Cowboys made in the second quarter and at halftime of Sunday's win over the Buccaneers to slow down Cadillac Williams and the opposing rushers, but the Cowboys feel like more can be done.

A lot of players said they were either too hyped for the opener, or were caught off guard by some of Tampa's play calls and schemes. Either way, they feel like they could have done better, which is what today is about.

The Cowboys checked out the film and observed some of the fixes they can make ahead of the coming game against the Giants, a team they know will try to establish the ground game. For now though, they're glad they got things turned around enough against Tampa to come out victorious.

"The work and preparation we put in to stopping guys from running the football, it bothers you a lot," defensive end Marcus Spears said. "And I would be absent minded not to say it didn't. At the end of the day in this league sometimes you have to do enough to win, and sometimes you're not going to feel like you had your best Sunday or your best game, and you still get a win.

"The only thing about it is if those turn into losses, then it's worse."

I'll have a story later on the Cowboys' plans to correct their mistakes against the run.
Comments (0) | Permanent Link

 

[WoodysGirl]

Cowboys defense 'absolutely has to play better'
12:44 PM Mon, Sep 14, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon/Blogger Bio | E-mail | News tips

There is no denial on the Cowboys' defense. Those guys know their performance against the Bucs won't cut it on a regular basis.

The Cowboys were able to win convincingly, thanks to an explosive offense and excellent special teams play. But several defensive player expressed a sense of urgency to make significant improvements after Tampa Bay put up eye-popping offensive numbers: 450 total yards, 26 first downs.

"We absolutely have to play better," DE Marcus Spears said.

This is a defense that has three primary goals: Stop the run, pressure the passer and create turnovers. It failed to accomplish any of those yesterday. The Bucs rushed for 174 yards while averaging 5.6 per carry. Byron Leftwich wasn't sacked, although the Cowboys did hit him repeatedly during Tampa Bay's desperate comeback attempt. And the only turnover the Cowboys was created was negated by a penalty.

"They ran the ball and we didn't get any sacks," LB Bradie James said. "For us, it was like, 'Wow, what defense is this?' We've just got to go back to the drawing board and work harder this week."

The Cowboys were able to get away with a subpar defensive performance in the season opener. However, if they don't fix their flaws, the Giants are likely to ruin the regular-season JerryWorld opener by running the ball all over the Cowboys.

"There has to be a sense of urgency," LB Keith Brooking said. "I just watched the film by myself, and we can't accept that defensively.

"I know without a doubt we will go in there and get the mistakes corrected and guys will be accountable. I know that all 11 guys on our defense have the right mentality and the right attitude. They are going to focus just like I am going to focus, and we aren't going to let this happen again."

 

[YosemiteSam]

Fire Wade now!!!! :laugh2:

 

[Hostile]

The Cowboys players know nothing. They can't fix the run defense. Plenty of posters on here have already proclaimed this. Don't they read? [/sarcasm]

 

[DBOY3141]

The Cowboys players know nothing. They can't fix the run defense. Plenty of posters on here have already proclaimed this. Don't they read? [/sarcasm]

3 games in a row they have looked awful (Baltimore/Philly/Tampa), how much time do we give them.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

damn didn't know that i form off tackle was game breaking.

 

[DallasDomination]

Glad the players are steping up to the plate after a poor performance. Expect them to turn it around for next week.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

The Cowboys players know nothing. They can't fix the run defense. Plenty of posters on here have already proclaimed this. Don't they read? [/sarcasm]

Yeah man it's clearly improved since last season. At least we won the last game at Texas Stadium oh wait....

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The Cowboys players know nothing. They can't fix the run defense. Plenty of posters on here have already proclaimed this. Don't they read? [/sarcasm]

I think we will improve. I see a situation similar to the first game of the year a couple years ago when the Giants torched us and ran up a lot of yards and points. Wade got it corrected and we improved that year.

But I don't see this unit ever being a shut down defense. Yesterday at one point I looked on the field and saw Stephen Bowen, Bobby Carpenter and Alan Ball on the field at the same time. That hardly has the makings of a dominant defense.

 

[Hostile]

3 games in a row they have looked awful (Baltimore/Philly/Tampa), how much time do we give them.

Hate to tell you this slick, but 2008 is irrelevant to this year.

 

[Hostile]

Yeah man it's clearly improved since last season. At least we won the last game at Texas Stadium oh wait....

You wouldn't want to put a little green on it would ya?

Geez, look who I am asking.

 

[Oh_Canada]

A lot of people have also said nothing is wrong....guess the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

 

[superpunk]

They should just give up. Jay Ratliff is a small NT.

 

[Doomsday101]

A lot of people have also said nothing is wrong....guess the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Yeah they played poor run defense and need to correct it. To say run defense was not a problem is untrue acting like the problem can't be corrected is also untrue.

 

[Chief]

"There has to be a sense of urgency," LB Keith Brooking said. "I just watched the film by myself, and we can't accept that defensively.

"I know without a doubt we will go in there and get the mistakes corrected and guys will be accountable. I know that all 11 guys on our defense have the right mentality and the right attitude. They are going to focus just like I am going to focus, and we aren't going to let this happen again."

I love these quotes.

No wishy-washy excuse making. No shrugging it off. There isn't a thin-skinned, defensive tone.

He is forceful, determined, accountable and positive.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

You wouldn't want to put a little green on it would ya?

Geez, look who I am asking.

Welp we will just have to see this sunday. Big difference from Brandon Jacobs and Cadillac.

 

[Hostile]

Welp we will just have to see this sunday. Big difference from Brandon Jacobs and Cadillac.

Um hmm.

 

[superpunk]

Welp we will just have to see this sunday. Big difference from Brandon Jacobs and Cadillac.

Yeah. Cadillac is a good RB.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Um hmm.

So you are happy with the way our defense performed against the run? You aren't the least bit concerned about our rush defense going up against a team with a better rush defense? If not what makes you so confident?

 

[zrinkill]

McCordsville Cowboy will be here any second ...... I heard he loves this.


.
.
.
.
.