Defensive positives and negatives and where improvement must come

[Bobhaze]

Game 3 positive and negatives vs the ravens and more importantly where this defense MUST improve…
POSITIVES - honestly not many but here they are:

• The ravens had 12 possessions and we forced 3 punts and two 4th down stops.
• We had two red zone stops
• Held Derrick Henry to less than 4 yds per carry.

NEGATIVES

• 34 points on 387 yds; 7 splash plays (20 yards or more)
• Lamar Jackson had no pressure and had a 9.2 yards per attempt passing, well above leave avg.
• Gave up nearly 200 yds rushing
• No sacks
• Zero turnovers

Btw - interesting stat from Bob Sturm on Cowboys defense the last decade: We are 0-10 in games where we get no sacks and no turnovers. The defense that led the NFL in TOs during the Dan Quinn era is long gone, at least at the moment.

WHERE WE MUST IMPROVE TO HAVE A SHOT AT BEING A PLAYOFF TEAM

• We must start getting some sacks and TOs) No sacks or to’s mean we have no chance. (Again we are 0-10 in last decade when we get no sacks and no TOs)
• Stop giving up so many big plays.
• Stop the run. (Where have we heard this before?)

One reason I’m a little “meh” on the Joey Porter trade - he won’t pressure the QB. It’s hard to get picks when there’s no pass rush.

So I will be watching to see if we can manufacture any kind of pass rush the next few weeks. Through 18% of the season, our defense has to blitz to get pressure which puts it all on the secondary. Maybe Porter helps in coverage some. Time will tell.

 

[Cowboys5217]

Sacks and picks. Can't generate much of either. Of the two sacks we do have, they only amounted to -1 total yards lost. Basically, no-gain plays rather than an effective sack that costs a team 5 to 8 yards or more.

 

[Bobhaze]

Sacks and picks. Can't generate much of either. Of the two sacks we do have, they only amounted to -1 total yards lost. Basically, no-gain plays rather than an effective sack that costs a team 5 to 8 yards or more.

That’s why I thought getting some help for the pass rush was way more important than getting a corner. Porter can be good but I’m not sure even a guy like Deion or Champ Bailey can cover somebody for 10 seconds, lol

 

[cald0d30s0]

Another great post, Bob.

I believe they all look lost most of the time, the scheme isn’t there and I believe our beloved DC has no sense of adjusting to play situational football, just look at the pitiful last play vs Ravens.

Dallas needs real coaching, but that won’t be happening in this so called football team.

 

[75boyz]

To your successes list I thought Barham was THE catalyst to most of those by his own production or by setting the example/mentality that others followed his lead.

I hope this last game wasnt one where the defense just got really up for the challenge of tackling Henry and now will regress to Game one and 2 standards.

BUT.. Does that sound even close to good enough after reading all the negatives listed to include still giving up 192 yards rushing anyway?

I guess it's still a CowboysZone suffering from that 2025 hangover, debacle or PTSD in which any almost bare minimum improvement can be a positive.

I still think there's no edges. 1 linebacker and 1 and a half corners (since Durant is currently hurt) at all 3 levels.

My opinion.

 

[beware_d-ware]

The interior run defense did a good job - shockingly good, cause Baltimore is about as tough as that test gets. Our weakness is on the edges.

And of course, the secondary is trash. You aren't going to win many games where you give up 9 YPA.

 

[Redline360]

It doesnt matter if you have all pros in the backfield. When you generate no pressure and get run over in the trenches its going to be a loooong game.

Let alone the scheme and miscommunication

 

[shabazz]

One reason I’m a little “meh” on the Joey Porter trade - he won’t pressure the QB. It’s hard to get picks when there’s no pass rush.

Nice write up Bob but I'm not meh on the Porter pickup because im not looking at it from the prism of 2026.

In my bloodshot eyes im looking at 2027 in which they pickup their Edge guy in the offseason along with another LB and we have Curious George Pickens for one more year on another franchise tag.

Defenses just dont go from 30th to middlin in just one season. However, they must show at least tangible evidence that they've improved this season for 2027 to be realistic...... the clock is ticking.

 

[Diehardblues]

Bottomline is this isn’t what was being hyped all offseason. Not even close.

I was in wait and see mode but I at least thought it would be improved. WTH is going on?

We’ll see what the mood is if we drop to 1-3.

 

[Chasing6]

Game 3 positive and negatives vs the ravens and more importantly where this defense MUST improve…
POSITIVES - honestly not many but here they are:

• The ravens had 12 possessions and we forced 3 punts and two 4th down stops.
• We had two red zone stops
• Held Derrick Henry to less than 4 yds per carry.

NEGATIVES

• 34 points on 387 yds; 7 splash plays (20 yards or more)
• Lamar Jackson had no pressure and had a 9.2 yards per attempt passing, well above leave avg.
• Gave up nearly 200 yds rushing
• No sacks
• Zero turnovers

Btw - interesting stat from Bob Sturm on Cowboys defense the last decade: We are 0-10 in games where we get no sacks and no turnovers. The defense that led the NFL in TOs during the Dan Quinn era is long gone, at least at the moment.

WHERE WE MUST IMPROVE TO HAVE A SHOT AT BEING A PLAYOFF TEAM

• We must start getting some sacks and TOs) No sacks or to’s mean we have no chance. (Again we are 0-10 in last decade when we get no sacks and no TOs)
• Stop giving up so many big plays.
• Stop the run. (Where have we heard this before?)

One reason I’m a little “meh” on the Joey Porter trade - he won’t pressure the QB. It’s hard to get picks when there’s no pass rush.

So I will be watching to see if we can manufacture any kind of pass rush the next few weeks. Through 18% of the season, our defense has to blitz to get pressure which puts it all on the secondary. Maybe Porter helps in coverage some. Time will tell.

A shut down CB also you to blitz more frequently.

 

[75boyz]

The interior run defense did a good job - shockingly good, cause Baltimore is about as tough as that test gets. Our weakness is on the edges.

And of course, the secondary is trash. You aren't going to win many games where you give up 9 YPA.

Yep, THAT shockingly good part I want to see consistently. I think they just might have got up for the challenge of Henry.

IF the interior can play that well all the time this is extreme progress and I will acknowledge it.

Yep, and I also agree with you on these edges pass rushing or trying to set the edge have been horrendous along with the corners coverage.

 

[Chasing6]

Yep, THAT shockingly good part I want to see consistently. I think they just might have got up for the challenge of Henry.

IF the interior can play that well all the time this is extreme progress and I will acknowledge it.

Yep, and I also agree with you on these edges pass rushing or trying to set the edge have been horrendous along with the corners coverage.

Again when you can't stop the run, everyone has to commit to it and it will hurt the pass rush and your coverage in the secondary.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Game 3 positive and negatives vs the ravens and more importantly where this defense MUST improve…
POSITIVES - honestly not many but here they are:

• The ravens had 12 possessions and we forced 3 punts and two 4th down stops.
• We had two red zone stops
• Held Derrick Henry to less than 4 yds per carry.

NEGATIVES

• 34 points on 387 yds; 7 splash plays (20 yards or more)
• Lamar Jackson had no pressure and had a 9.2 yards per attempt passing, well above leave avg.
• Gave up nearly 200 yds rushing
• No sacks
• Zero turnovers

Btw - interesting stat from Bob Sturm on Cowboys defense the last decade: We are 0-10 in games where we get no sacks and no turnovers. The defense that led the NFL in TOs during the Dan Quinn era is long gone, at least at the moment.

WHERE WE MUST IMPROVE TO HAVE A SHOT AT BEING A PLAYOFF TEAM

• We must start getting some sacks and TOs) No sacks or to’s mean we have no chance. (Again we are 0-10 in last decade when we get no sacks and no TOs)
• Stop giving up so many big plays.
• Stop the run. (Where have we heard this before?)

One reason I’m a little “meh” on the Joey Porter trade - he won’t pressure the QB. It’s hard to get picks when there’s no pass rush.

So I will be watching to see if we can manufacture any kind of pass rush the next few weeks. Through 18% of the season, our defense has to blitz to get pressure which puts it all on the secondary. Maybe Porter helps in coverage some. Time will tell.

Haze something has to give, we can't continue just to almost get pressure, I think eventually someone will hit home and maybe that begins to get contagious

 

[Bobhaze]

Bottomline is this isn’t what was being hyped all offseason. Not even close.

I was in wait and see mode but I at least thought it would be improved. WTH is going on?

We’ll see what the mood is if we drop to 1-3.

I’ll never forget the loud cheers all off-season that “this year just feels different”, lol.

I certainly hope we get better of course. But with the hype and marketing this franchise sells to our fan base, I have adopted the philosophy of “I will believe it when it happens.”

There’s a huge difference between hope and belief. After 30 years I I only have hope. Do I believe this FO is capable of building a winning roster and culture that can compete for a championship? No I don’t. I hope it can happen. But I don’t believe it will happen. Until it does.

 

[75boyz]

Again when you can't stop the run, everyone has to commit to it and it will hurt the pass rush and your coverage in the secondary.

No doubt.
At least the interior first line run defense finally showed somewhat of a pulse along with Barham doing his best at the 2nd level.
Now as far as the edges...
They cant seem to set the edge to save their life.
Nor get home on the pass rush for that matter but that's a different discussion.

 

[Diehardblues]

No doubt.
At least the interior first line run defense finally showed somewhat of a pulse along with Barham doing his best at the 2nd level.
Now as far as the edges...
They cant seem to set the edge to save their life.
Nor get home on the pass rush for that matter but that's a different discussion.

Barham and Downs have at least provided some hope for the future but the talent we added in FA and the Draft cumulatively were expected to make a bigger impact this year becoming at least closer to an average middle tier defense which provided all the hype offseason.

The fact this defense is about as bad as last year has to place someone’s butt on the hot seat. Parker was touted as this young up and coming genius whose scheme was going to set the tone . So far it’s a bust.

And when you have a bust someone is getting fired . Could that be on Shotty if he was one who wanted Parker?

Unfortunately our GM’s butt won’t be on the hot seat. I’d say based on this trade that our dumbutts in FO thought this was going to be a contender instead of another turd.

What a waste this could be again with an offense talented enough to contend . And why someone’s butt must be held accountable if this falls apart.

 

[Kwyn]

That’s why I thought getting some help for the pass rush was way more important than getting a corner. Porter can be good but I’m not sure even a guy like Deion or Champ Bailey can cover somebody for 10 seconds, lol.

I’ll never forget the loud cheers all off-season that “this year just feels different”, lol.

The problem is when you’re shopping you can only buy what’s on the shelf.

Phillips is having a good start and Hendrickson is at least active, but they signed $30m/$28m deals. I don’t remember many fans pounding the table for them.

As far as trades, were there any real difference makers traded? Garrett for Verse? That wasn’t an option for us.

This off season has been different. The team has totally changed its approach to the cap and to risk taking. That’s undeniable.

That never meant it was going to pay off in results on the field, but at least the team is actually going for it instead of talking and then not doing anything different with taking risks.

 

[Cowboys5217]

That’s why I thought getting some help for the pass rush was way more important than getting a corner. Porter can be good but I’m not sure even a guy like Deion or Champ Bailey can cover somebody for 10 seconds, lol

I agree with that. Yeah, Porter is a good player, but without a pass rush it won't make much of a difference.

 

[jaythecowboy]

I think Porter could help the pass rush with sticky coverage. I've already seen that Ezeiruaku and Lawrence in particular have good pressure rates. If the qb has to hold the ball a tick longer then maybe some of the sacks materialize.

 

[DuncanIso]

NFL teams that start 1-2 have a 33 percent chance of making the playoffs.