Defense needs help

[Irvin88_4life]

Pittsburgh has a very good offense, maybe top 3 in the league especially at home. To hold them to 30 tells me we can hold any team under 30. Our defense is much better then people think and hopefully we get Mo back soon

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Seattle needs better defense, they gave up tons of points to the Patriots on the road yesterday......oh no

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You can't gauge how good or bad our defense is based on yesterdays game. We are not going to face a team with a top 5 QB, top 3 RB, top 3 WR again this year.

If our defense looks like crap next week against the Ravens, then I would worry.

Yep.

The thing that folks are ignoring is that the rush defense was darned good. P'burg wasn't going to be able to run the ball successfully.

The pass defense had their worst game of the season. Some of it was due to guys simply not playing well. Some of it was due to the talent level they were facing.

If the Ravens put up 28 points and 350 yards of offense... Then I'll worry.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Pittsburgh has a very good offense, maybe top 3 in the league especially at home. To hold them to 30 tells me we can hold any team under 30. Our defense is much better then people think and hopefully we get Mo back soon

You had some guys that didn't play well rushing the passer and in the secondary.

They can, and have played better this season.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

You had some guys that didn't play well rushing the passer and in the secondary.

They can, and have played better this season.

Its tough when steelers were holding and grabbing face mask all night. We had more sacks then they did....this defense is decent and good enough to go all the way. We need a defensive draft next year and they will enter elite status

 

[LocimusPrime]

With a legit pas rush, this team could win it all for years to come.

 

[KJJ]

Correction I'm a Dallas Cowboy fan first n foremost. Sure I'm also a Tony Romo AND Dak Prescott fan. I've had this nick for 2 yrs long before Dak came around. The simple truth is Romo is the better player at this stage. Those who don't see that have been duped by the media our weak schedule and the strength of our running game and there are a few of those who have been hating on Romo for long before Dak arrived. Those who diligently study the game film see that Dak is only reading half the field 80 percent of the time often leaving wide open recievers on the backside. He often reverts to poor mechanics and footwork. He has thrown into coverage double coverage resulting in end zone INTs and had several other INTs dropped. Most importantly the vets on the team have seen this on film and the coaching staff. In addition inside the locker room the vets prefer Romo for the playoffs. Its no surprise they no what he is capable of they are not going to risk this opportunity to get a ring because the best QB was not on the field. The plan all along was for Romo to return but now we have the luxury of pushing Romos return down the road to limit his exposure to injury. Dont believe me ? Just watch.

How can Romo be the better player "at this stage" when he's missed a full year of regular season games and is coming off a broken back? Do you think Romo can avoid the sacks that Dak has avoided and turn the ball over as few times as Dak has? Do you think Romo could hit the ground running after such a long layoff and play to the SAME high level that Dak has played at this entire season? The last time we saw Romo play in the regular season a full year ago did he look as good as Dak has looked this season? The last 2 regular season games Romo played against Miami and Carolina is that going to be good enough to keep us winning games the way we are? As for throwing into double coverage Romo's never done that and got picked? Romo tossed as many picks against Miami last season as Dak has all season. Dak has made fewer mistakes than Romo makes and he's taken fewer sacks. He can turn a potential Romo sack into a play because he can run. He's gotten out of all kinds of jams this season that Romo would have been sacked on and possibly injured especially against Philly.

The longer Romo sits out the more rust he'll have on his game. He's had issues in December and the last time he faced the Steelers and big Ben in Pittsburgh he melted down with 4 turnovers. I have nothing against Romo, he's been a very good QB but he turns the ball over too much, takes too many sacks and we've never won anything with him. The team never seems to step up with him at QB in the big games. Once things start going bad with Romo the team starts to crumble and we've seen it many times. That hasn't happened with Dak despite the rough moments vs Philly and Pittsburgh. He battled back in both games and when they were on the line he played his best football and the team stepped up with him. You never see that with Romo at QB.

 

[SportsGuru80]

We need to get Claiborne and Church back ASAP.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

I don't recall the Patriots ever having elite pass rushes. Maybe they did but just don't recall. Also, their offense in 2014 was far from just ok.

Was the Packers defense of 2010 really all that great? They also had a better than ok offense.

Yes, it was. They had the #2 overall rated defense, with three pass rushers having 7 or more sacks that season, including Clay Matthews' 14. Their secondary included Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams (6 picks), Nick Collins (4 picks), etc. You just don't win the Super Bowl with an average defense--period.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

Even if they scored 34, we scored 35. By my count we still win. We won't see another offense like that all year. Defense had a bad game, but we put them in a bad position twice. First was the Dak fumble on the first drive, and the second was the long punt return that put them past the 50. Byron also missed a fumble recovery that would of set us up on the 30. Worst game they played all year and we still won. I'll take it

They only scored 34 because their moronic HC went for 2 four straight times & lost. Give them the 4 points, & our offense plays a totally different game with 42 seconds remaining.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

We need a pass rush or it will likely do us in during the playoffs. We were getting toasted in the secondary yesterday and Ben had a lot of time to throw. It's going to catch up with us. We have a very good offense and although the defense has played better this season I'm still not comfortable with it.

Yep. I would like one of these "experts" on here below the age of 30 to name me ONE team, especially a Cowboys team, to win the SB without a great defense that included a great pass rush. Just ONE. I love the way the Giants built their defense, & how having 4-5 top DEs were the difference in stopping Tom Brady in his tracks, laying two SB losses on him. It's fun to watch 35-30 games, until you're on the losing end of one. Defense wins championships. Always have, always will.

 

[KJJ]

Yep. I would like one of these "experts" on here below the age of 30 to name me ONE team, especially a Cowboys team, to win the SB without a great defense that included a great pass rush. Just ONE. I love the way the Giants built their defense, & how having 4-5 top DEs were the difference in stopping Tom Brady in his tracks, laying two SB losses on him. It's fun to watch 35-30 games, until you're on the losing end of one. Defense wins championships. Always have, always will.

Last Sunday was a preview of what's to come in the playoffs if don't find a pass rush. We're going to end up on the losing end of one of those type games when it really matters and Dak is going to crumble eventually like any QB if you're having to score every time you get the ball. You're right, our championship teams all had a great pass rush led by Randy White and Harvey Martin in the 70's and Charles Haley and company in the 90s.

If you don't have a consistent pass rush especially in the 4th quarter of a tight game you're not going to get very far. Denver was all over Cam Newton in last years SB. Dak is going to be up against it at some point if we don't start finding a consistent pass rush. We can't put all the pressure to win games on a rookie QB and the offense.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Last Sunday was a preview of what's to come in the playoffs if don't find a pass rush. We're going to end up on the losing end of one of those type games when it really matters and Dak is going to crumble eventually like any QB if you're having to score every time you get the ball. You're right, our championship teams all had a great pass rush led by Randy White and Harvey Martin in the 70's and Charles Haley and company in the 90s.

If you don't have a consistent pass rush especially in the 4th quarter of a tight game you're not going to get very far. Denver was all over Cam Newton in last years SB. Dak is going to be up against it at some point if we don't start finding a consistent pass rush.

I'm afraid your right. With no pass rush and injurys in the secondary it is more then likely going to come back and bite us. There will more then likely be a game against a hot QB/receivers where we don't have "1 more possession" to tie/win the game. I love this team but also know we have a few shortcomings on defense.

 

[phildadon86]

Belicheck would much rather defend against Dak. He will throw exotic defenses at him he never could dream of. He will load the box on 1st and 2 down forcing 3rd n long in blitz Zeke all night just waiting for him to crumble. That's a lot of pressure to put on a 1st year rookie putting the championship hopes n dreams of long time vets on the shoulders of a rookie. Not a good idea.

So basically what Philly did to us with triple the talent on defense? Sure worked out for them. I'm not sure you have noticed but dak has gotten significantly better against the blitz since Philly. As evidenced against Pittsburgh twice. One on the screen to Zeke and 2 on the bomb to dez. Dak isn't a stupid kid. We are talking about a guy who turned down tickets to Kanye to sit in his hotel room and study playbook and game tape. Y'all are kidding yourselves if you think Romo is the man to lead this team in the playoffs. Sorry. 10 years 2 playoff wins. Not blaming Romo at all. It's a team sport. But the cohesiveness of our current team with Dak and Zeke leading it is something I haven't seen since the early 90s. We'd be crazy to throw that away. I've seen Romo in the playoffs. I haven't seen dak or Zeke. All I know is Zeke thus far has shown he saves his best for when the chips are down and so does dak. BIG GAME PLAYERS. @KJJ back me up?

 

[TheHerd]

Belicheck would much rather defend against Dak. He will throw exotic defenses at him he never could dream of. He will load the box on 1st and 2 down forcing 3rd n long in blitz Zeke all night just waiting for him to crumble. That's a lot of pressure to put on a 1st year rookie putting the championship hopes n dreams of long time vets on the shoulders of a rookie. Not a good idea.

I have no doubt BB would send Dak stuff he hasn't seen, but the best OL in football would take it as a challenge to not allow anything to force the Boys into 3rd and longs consistently. I fear the Pats offense, but I wouldn't bet against this OL to let Zeke and Dak keep up.

 

[KJJ]

I'm afraid your right. With no pass rush and injurys in the secondary it is more then likely going to come back and bite us. There will more then likely be a game against a hot QB/receivers where we don't have "1 more possession" to tie/win the game. I love this team but also know we have a few shortcomings on defense.

Every year we made the playoffs under Romo, the defense is what ultimately got us knocked out. In 06 we had Seattle down with around 7 minutes to play but gave up a 30+ yard TD to Jeremy Stevens. If our defense holds Seattle to a FG, that game probably never comes down to Romo having to hold for a FG attempt. In 07 vs the Giants in the playoffs we had no pass rush, giving Eli plenty of time and couldn't stop the Giants all day on 3rd down. We gave up a long TD drive right before the half and the game was put on Romo. Against the Vikings in the playoffs in 09, although our OL fell apart Brett Favre shredded us for 4 TD passes.

We couldn't force Favre into one turnover. Against the Packers in the 2014 playoffs we couldn't get any pressure on a one legged Aaron Rodgers and he ended up shredding us in the second half. Our championship teams had defenses that got after the QB. We have an excellent offense this season with a terrific rookie QB but our lack of a consistent pass rush is very likely to do us in unless it improves.

 

[xwalker]

I hate to pee in everyone's Cheerios the day after a great offensive win, but this has to be said. One aspect of yesterday's game should not be overlooked-had the Steelers not gone for two points an astounding FOUR times, they would have scored 34 points on our defense, including driving 75 yards in just over a minute to take the lead with 42 seconds remaining in the game. It's unfeasible to believe that our offense can bail us out like it did yesterday on a consistent basis. Except for DeMarcus Lawrence, our pass rush is nil. I was really surprised when the Browns were able to trade for Patriots Pro Bowl OLB/DE Jamie Collins for a possible 3rd round pick. I don't know if we made an offer or not, but we sure could have used him in our stretch run. He has their playbook down already, & was a one-man wrecking crew vs the Ravens Thursday night. That being said, we need to find a way to get more pressure on the QB, or we won't get very deep into the playoffs. Big Ben laid 408 yards passing on us. If we can't find someone else to help out this year, we need to draft at least two pass rushers in the first four rounds in 2017 if we're ever going to have a dominating defense. The only way to stop the Brady's of the NFL is to put them in the dirt early & often. We do not have that capability right now, & it will keep us from winning the SB until we do. Offensive games are fun to watch, but they don't win Super Bowls.

They had a rookie and a practice squad player playing CB.

They need Claiborne back...never thought I would say that.

The big runs by Zeke were great but didn't keep the offense on the field for long.

 

[the_h0wey]

They only scored 34 because their moronic HC went for 2 four straight times & lost. Give them the 4 points, & our offense plays a totally different game with 42 seconds remaining.

The final score of the game was Cowboys-35 Steelers-30. My point was even if they chose to kick all 4 extra points instead of going for two, we would have still won the game. Thank you very much for trying and good luck in your future posts.

 

[BAT]

Even if they scored 34, we scored 35. By my count we still win. We won't see another offense like that all year. Defense had a bad game, but we put them in a bad position twice. First was the Dak fumble on the first drive, and the second was the long punt return that put them past the 50. Byron also missed a fumble recovery that would of set us up on the 30. Worst game they played all year and we still won. I'll take it

37 if we kick the PATs instead of going brain dead like Steelers with the two missed 2 point conversions.

But I do not disagree with you, D needs to be improved especially pass rush and DB depth. Even if only churning bottom of roster and looking for incremental improvement like a David Irving signing. Still strongly suggest signing DE James Cowser off of Raiders' PS and sign OLB/DE Davis Tull (recently cut from Falcons). Cowboys can afford to let go of Wilber, Gachkar or Mayowa. We already know what they can do, or in their case what they CAN'T do.

 

[robjay04]

With a healthy Ben/Brown/Bell, Steelers score 30+ against any team in the NFL 7 out of 10 times.

So much negativity this week towards our defense. No they weren't perfect and they aren't great but it's like a lot of naysayers are coming out of the woods based on one poor performance.