DMN: Deion Sanders: Cowboys need to fix defense first

[CCBoy]

Deion Sanders: Cowboys need to fix defense first because they're built to win now, not later

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Related items Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback and Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders was interviewed on KESN-FM on Friday to discuss the Cowboys and how to fix the team. Here are some highlights:

What are your thoughts about Jerry Jones still being embarrassed and ashamed of the Cowboys and their play last season?

First of all, you know how humbling it is to host a Super Bowl and you wanted your team to play in it. That’s one thing; it’s very humbling and Jerry is still on that. He’s still thinking, “Man, I hosted this thing and we should have been in it and those teams are not that much better than we are.” So, I understand that. But no, he hasn’t moved on because Jerry loves to win. All of his life he’s won; it may not have come right off but he’s won, he’s a winner. So I understand the quote.

If Jerry called you right now and asked you how to fix the Cowboys, how would you respond?

Defense, man. I would shore up the defense. You’ve got offensive players for days. Fix the defense because you’re not built to win later. You need it now, so let’s do it now. Let’s fix it now; let’s try to fix it now. And I would go with the defensive guys. I would go right there...

 

[Silverstar]

I think drafting DE Cameron Jordan would be a good start.

Most of the draft boards have Jordan listed between 11-13 right now, but he should climb if he weighs in at 290+ and performs well at his Pro Day.


JMO

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Deion nailed it this time...

 

[SDCowboy]

Deion nailed it this time...

Agreed. If this team keeps trying to build for tomorrow they will never win today. This team has a lot of issues who knows when we'll have some of the top tier type players we have together now again.

 

[perrykemp]

Agreed. If this team keeps trying to build for tomorrow they will never win today.

Ever consider that structuring the whole offseason exclusively around winning the SuperBowl THIS YEAR is the problem -- especially doing that year after year?

That's certainly not the approach of the Packers who are always building for tomorrow with a ridiculously strong focus on the draft and stocking up on young players -- always being one of the top 5 youngest teams in the league etc.

I kinda wonder if the focus on doing whatever is needed to win a superbowl this year (let's not worry about next year) is why we haven't reach the NFC championship game since 1995.

 

[AmericasTeam2011]

I agree. We definitely aren't built to win long-term so improving the defense now would be our best bet.

 

[SDCowboy]

Ever consider that structuring the whole offseason exclusively around winning the SuperBowl THIS YEAR is the problem -- especially doing that year after year?

That's certainly not the approach of the Packers who are always building for tomorrow with a ridiculously strong focus on the draft and stocking up on young players -- always being one of the top 5 youngest teams in the league etc.

I kinda wonder if the focus on doing whatever is needed to win a superbowl this year (let's not worry about next year) is why we haven't reach the NFC championship game since 1995.

My point is we have known for years now this teams two biggest crippling issues. The oline and the secondary, yet those two areas continue to get ignored and don't get the help they they need.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Deion Sanders: Cowboys need to fix defense first

Thanks Mr. Obvious.

 

[AKATheRake]

Exactly! Defense is our real issue. Yes we could use 2 more o-linemen right away but what's keeping us from winning is our defense.

Our offense puts up points and our defense can't close out anyone. Not on third down, not to keep momentum after we score, not to take the game back with a timely turnover and certainly not to close the entire game out when we're ahead. Example, New Orleans.

This drafts best players are on defense and at all area's of our defensive needs early, except safety. Why not get a premier defensive player since we're picking where premier players should go?

All this talk around here about trading down to get an offensive player who will most likely be solid at best.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Thanks Mr. Obvious.

I don't think its that obvious. Some would argue that the Cowboys need to fix the offensive line before the defense.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I don't think its that obvious. Some would argue that the Cowboys need to fix the offensive line before the defense.

6th in scoring on offense, 31st on defense in points allowed.

That couldn't be more obvious IMO.

 

[Fletch]

I don't think its that obvious. Some would argue that the Cowboys need to fix the offensive line before the defense.

We need help on the O-line, without a doubt. But we also need secondary help along with a space eating interior lineman.

 

[RS12]

Um, giving up 4 touchdowns a game last year does not make this obvious?

 

[Future]

6th in scoring on offense, 31st on defense in points allowed.

That couldn't be more obvious IMO.

I still think OLine is more important. Our inability to run the ball or consistently move the ball down the field really hurts this defense. I know they score, but they have so many three and outs and turnovers that the defense is put into bad positions. Plus, all of the missed opportunities and struggles in the red zone from the offense increase the pressure on the defense so much so that every mistake is magnified.

The defense is often given a short field and has to play from behind, making it awfully difficult on them.

I don't know that the offense needs to be fixed more than the defense, personnel wise I think it does, but I think the relationship between the two is symbiotic. Helping one will help the other...and I think fixing the offense is going to help the defense more than the other way around.

 

[sonnyboy]

6th in scoring on offense, 31st on defense in points allowed.

That couldn't be more obvious IMO.

But how do you account for 2009 Big Dog Cowboy? 2nd fewest points allowed.

As I've always seen it, success is more telling, more certain, than failure.

An NFL team or more specifically a defensive unit can fail for all the wrong reasons in one season. A coach can loose a team, everything that can go wrong, does and you get sucked into a doward spiral from which there is no return.
I agree with all this because it's easier to fail.

But there's no faking success. Success is real. And this defense had real success in 2009.
I have to think it's because we have most of the horses needed on the defensive side of the ball.

Now throw Ryan into the mix and I'm feeling good about our defense's prospects for 2011. Just give me a FS.

I want to see every resource we don't use to get that FS thrown at the OL. That's been our consistent failing on this team for some time.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Hey Deion. A little less talkie, talkie and a little more shut the hell up.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

6th in scoring on offense, 31st on defense in points allowed.

That couldn't be more obvious IMO.

Yea but how many wins did our offense produce? IMO, protecting Romo is more important than anything we could do on defense. Kitna was fine but I don't share the same confidence that he would take us to the playoffs. You're also assuming the offensive line that is old won't get worse. I don't have any age concerns on defense.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

We need help on the O-line, without a doubt. But we also need secondary help along with a space eating interior lineman.

I agree. Honestly every position could use a upgrade. That's where we are at right now. But just for a example if the Cowboys had money to sign ONE big time free agent i'd take the dominant offensive linemen over the defensive linemen or the secondary player.

 

[brickman]

I think you win by having a great defense. Our offense was ok .... good enough to win more games than we won. The defense definitely was the achilles heal of this team. We couldn't stop anyone and it showed all year long. It got better towards the end of the year, but it was questionable at best.

 

[RS12]

Yea but how many wins did our offense produce? IMO, protecting Romo is more important than anything we could do on defense. Kitna was fine but I don't share the same confidence that he would take us to the playoffs. You're also assuming the offensive line that is old won't get worse. I don't have any age concerns on defense.

Short memory. Every game they lost after Garrett last year was because the defense folded in the fourth quarter. NO, Philly, and AZ. Offense scored enough even with that line to win every one of those games.