Defensive film review

[superpunk]

Not if it's Cover 4.

When you watch the replay, the one where they are shooting from the end zone and focusing on Henry, right before they run the cross (half-pick) and Hamlin follows the inside receiver to the sideline, it looks like Henry believes that there is a safety over the top. If you can watch that, take a look at it.

 

[theogt]

When you watch the replay, the one where they are shooting from the end zone and focusing on Henry, right before they run the cross (half-pick) and Hamlin follows the inside receiver to the sideline, it looks like Henry believes that there is a safety over the top. If you can watch that, take a look at it.

Yeah, I've watched it. It's a tough call that we'll never know for sure. My point was that it's not obvious or beyond question.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Yikes.....

Don't take it completely out of context. (Henry's 6-6) Remember, Eli was taking one step drops and we were playing zone with 10+ yard cushions and our coverage schemes were not conducive to stopping what they were doing. Reasoning for it? Fear of exposing our old/young CBs. Top it off with severe tackling issues and the defense gets trounced.

In my opinion, there were two main issues that caused the breakdown of the defense. First was tackling, second was defensive scheme. If you are going to blitz, you are taking a risk. Why take a risk if you arn't going to put yourself in position to win. If you were going to blitz, press the CBs (bump the receivers) allowing the blitz a few more moments to get to the QB. Maybe not all the time, but at least a few times. Third down would be a good time to do it.

 

[BulletBob]

I just noticed a mistake in these stats. When I counted up the catches he allowed, I must have counted the 9-yarder twice (it was to Burress in the fourth quarter).

Reeves' actual number should be 7-for-13, 63 yards, one TD, one INT and two other PD. And yes, I did still have him for 13 attempts, not 12.

Adam, great job (as usual) - thanks for the time you put in.

As far as pass defense, I recall a pass to Shockey running a 10-15 yard out at the sideline which was being defended by Spencer. Anthony had OK coverage (looked like he was a bit behind), and Eli tried to float it over Spencer's head, but overthrew Shockey out of bounds.

Was this one included in your stats?

Either way, I think the bright spot coming out of Sunday night's game was Spencer's play. In his first-ever action he was a disruptive force, taking out two starters and breaking up a key 2-point conversion that could have changed the complexion of the entire contest.

All in all, I think we have some reason to be optimistic that Wade may have found his Merriman/Phillips-type bookends. Give these guys some time to digest what Wade is trying to get them to do, and I am pretty sure that they will both flourish. Stick Ellis out there on the same field on third down and look out!

The Giants did an awesome job of diffusing the pressure-strategy that Wade had drawn up. It worked in part because this was the first game of the season (with the defenders being a bit tentative) and more importantly because the Giants had the weapons to execute the quick-drop, hot-read, high-tempo offense, and because those weapons performed almost flawlessly (especially Manning, Burress, and Shockey).

Not every team we face will have the weapons to diffuse the attack, and I believe that the attack will become more natural and relentless as time passes. This in turn will help the seconday (as will a healthy Newman).

I was originally as pessimistic as most after the defensive drubbing. But I am pretty confident after further review that given the strides of Mr. Spencer, and some more time under Wade's tutelage, we'll all start blinking our eyes to make sure we are seeing stars instead of lightning bolts on our boys' helmets.

 

[Doomsday101]

Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said home crowd noise can play a factor, but he was more concerned with the defense's mental errors.

One example occurred on the third play from scrimmage, when Giants receiver Plaxico Burress beat cornerback Anthony Henry 60 yards on a slant route for a touchdown.

Henry took the blame Monday, saying, "I went inside and the safety had to go away, so that was a mistake on my behalf." But Phillips said Burress never should've gotten behind the coverage because the Cowboys were playing a two-deep zone.

Phillips refused to single out players and deflected several questions about strong safety Roy Williams' performance in coverage aside from his team-high eight tackles. He said the Cowboys played less man-to-man coverage without Newman, who was kept inactive after testing his partially torn plantar fascia in pre-game warmups.

"Our coverage overall wasn't good enough, obviously," Phillips said. "We really had some pressure but we just didn't play our zone stuff well enough. We had guys doubled and they caught it for touchdowns. And those kind of things bother you a little bit."

 

[dboyz]

Yes and no.

Here's the clip from the recap.


Their 3-4 same as yours?
No, they offset it some. Play a few more shades. Wade has made some changes. The fundamentals of the same.

Does that help your offense?
In some cases it does, we practice against the same look. It’s the players playing in those looks that make it effective.

Good research. My memory is only so good. :laugh2:

It does sound to me like Parcells is changing his tune a little.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

2 things


1. Letting Shockey get that first down was inexcusable. We had him short and got it. Not good.

2. We all think that with Newman coming back and playng that things will be so much better. Remember last year... when we were getting spanked on defense.... Newman WAS playing. Its deeper than this... he could sit for another week as far as I am concerned.

 

[Smith22]

2 things


1. Letting Shockey get that first down was inexcusable. We had him short and got it. Not good.

2. We all think that with Newman coming back and playng that things will be so much better. Remember last year... when we were getting spanked on defense.... Newman WAS playing. Its deeper than this... he could sit for another week as far as I am concerned.

Shock always gives us fits, especially against Roy. The tackling on that play was awful.

TNew will make a big difference. TNew won't be giving WR's 10 yard cushions every down.

 

[YosemiteSam]

2. We all think that with Newman coming back and playng that things will be so much better. Remember last year... when we were getting spanked on defense.... Newman WAS playing. Its deeper than this... he could sit for another week as far as I am concerned.

Things will get better with Newman because schemes will change allowing for better coverage. Anyone that thinks Newman will just shutdown anyone he faces is dreaming for several reasons. That just doesn't happen one, and two he is injured and will be for the rest of the year. I was quite pleased with Reeves. I knew he was better than Nate Jones, but as I noted. Impressed overall was my impression. Experience will make him better, and I think the defense will be better if they put a little more trust in him and based on what I saw; he deserves the chance.

 

[big dog cowboy]

TNew will make a big difference. TNew won't be giving WR's 10 yard cushions every down.

Some of those cushions were MORE than 10 yards.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Shock always gives us fits, especially against Roy. The tackling on that play was awful.

TNew will make a big difference. TNew won't be giving WR's 10 yard cushions every down.

I hear ya on Shockey. That could have been the game. Almost cost us. Thank you Hurd and Romo.

TNew will take care of his side. Our safety play will still be susceptible. Unless Hamlin can get freed up with Newman out there. I hope.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Some of those cushions were MORE than 10 yards.

DING DING DING. My wife can attest to how annoyed I became with those 10+ yard cushions. They showed zero faith in the CBs.

 

[Doomsday101]

2 things


1. Letting Shockey get that first down was inexcusable. We had him short and got it. Not good.

2. We all think that with Newman coming back and playng that things will be so much better. Remember last year... when we were getting spanked on defense.... Newman WAS playing. Its deeper than this... he could sit for another week as far as I am concerned.

I agree about the poor tackle on Shockey but I differ on Newman. This is not last years D and I do think we will see Newman in 1 on 1 with Henry getting deep help on his side from Hamlin with Roy playing close to the line once Newman returns. As for Newman return I think only he will know when he is ready and hopefully it is this weekend

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I agree about the poor tackle on Shockey but I differ on Newman. This is not last years D and I do think we will see Newman in 1 on 1 with Henry getting deep help on his side from Hamlin with Roy playing close to the line once Newman returns. As for Newman return I think only he will know when he is ready and hopefully it is this weekend

I would like to agree with you.... but cant...

until I see this defense working... nothing has changed... tackling is horrible... we dont know where the ball is(in the air or on the ground)... safeties getting burnt(Roy wake the flip up). Its more than Newman.

 

[Doomsday101]

I would like to agree with you.... but cant...

until I see this defense working... nothing has changed... tackling is horrible... we dont know where the ball is(in the air or on the ground)... safeties getting burnt(Roy wake the flip up). Its more than Newman.

I do think when Newman is back Dallas will run a lot more of the man over zone coverage. I do agree it more than just Newman but his return will make a very big differance in how the coaching staff runs the defense.

 

[Iago33]

I'd like to bottle the optimism everyone has that Newman will play this year.

 

[Hiero]

wow whats going on with Hamlin didnt know he was such an unreliable tackler.