ESPN Schefter: It's a lot easier to figure what's wrong with the Cowboys

[WoodysGirl]

San Diego is struggling, but many of its former players (LT, Cromartie) are excelling
By Adam Schefter
ESPN.com

It's a lot easier to figure what's wrong with the Cowboys than it is to fix them. Dallas is committing too many penalties and turning over the football too much. In a Week 1 loss to Washington, Dallas had 12 penalties and had one turnover. In a Week 2 loss to Chicago, it committed six penalties and had three turnovers. Compare those mistakes to a Week 3 win over Houston, when Dallas had eight penalties and no turnovers. No coincidence. But then, after its bye week in which it had time to correct some of its mistakes before it played Tennessee, Dallas had 12 penalties and three turnovers. Then last Sunday at Minnesota, Dallas had 11 penalties and two turnovers. Dallas isn't getting beat; it's beating itself.

That said, be on the lookout for the Cowboys and the Chargers. Despite all their troubles -- and they have been numerous -- they are the only teams in the league that line up top-five offenses and top-five defenses. The Cowboys rank third in the league in total offense, fourth in the league in pass offense, fourth in the league in total defense and fourth in the league in pass defense. The Chargers rank first in the league in offense, first in the league in pass offense, first in the league in total defense and first in the league in pass defense. As down as these two teams are now, they are far from dead.

Read more Schefter's 10 Spot: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=schefter_adam&page=10spot/10week07

 

[Teague31]

it's been said before- there is only one team in the league that can beat us but unfortunately we play them 16 weeks a season.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Mannnnnn just play football!!!! I'm not into could and would be's!!!!

 

[john van brocklin]

it's been said before- there is only one team in the league that can beat us but unfortunately we play them 16 weeks a season.

Funny, but sadly true ...................

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I agree with Shefter to a point. In my opinion, the bigger turnover issue is not that the Cowboys commit turnovers but that they don't get any. Their utter ineptitude in forcing takeaways is one of the more puzzling phenomenon I've witnessed in some time. It seems that, even if left entirely to luck and random chance, the Cowboys should intercept more passes than they do.

A team that can't generate turnovers is destined to lose the turnover battle, which, more than any other stat, determines the outcomes of games.

 

[Hoofbite]

it's been said before- there is only one team in the league that can beat us but unfortunately we play them 16 weeks a season.

hahaha

 

[wood28]

WOW youre a genius Adam Schefter .. now tell me something I do not know.

 

[Randy White]

it's been said before- there is only one team in the league that can beat us but unfortunately we play them 16 weeks a season.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I agree with Shefter to a point. In my opinion, the bigger turnover issue is not that the Cowboys commit turnovers but that they don't get any. Their utter ineptitude in forcing takeaways is one of the more puzzling phenomenon I've witnessed in some time. It seems that, even if left entirely to luck and random chance, the Cowboys should intercept more passes than they do.

A team that can't generate turnovers is destined to lose the turnover battle, which, more than any other stat, determines the outcomes of games.

Exactly!!!

Our defense is one of the worst defenses in the league when it comes to getting turnovers. So any turnover by our offense and we automatically lose the turnover battle.

I really think it is the technique being taught to our players. Our defensive backs never make a play on the ball, they play the receiver. That is why we are getting so many PIs week in and week out. When was the last time you saw a Cowboy's defender turn his head and make a play on the ball???

I put this on Wade and Campo. Seriously, with Ware and Spencer at bookends, it is down right embarrassing that our secondary cannot get any INTs.

Dont even get me started on our safeties. The fact that Ball is playing 40 yards off the LOS is down right embarrassing. Also, the fact that both of our safeties have combined for 0 INTs and 0 Pass Defenses and it is week 7 is downright putrid. Seriously, neither one of these stiffs should be starting in the NFL.

 

[Wrangler87]

Exactly!!!

Our defense is one of the worst defenses in the league when it comes to getting turnovers. So any turnover by our offense and we automatically lose the turnover battle.

I really think it is the technique being taught to our players. Our defensive backs never make a play on the ball, they play the receiver. That is why we are getting so many PIs week in and week out. When was the last time you saw a Cowboy's defender turn his head and make a play on the ball???

I put this on Wade and Campo. Seriously, with Ware and Spencer at bookends, it is down right embarrassing that our secondary cannot get any INTs.

Dont even get me started on our safeties. The fact that Ball is playing 40 yards off the LOS is down right embarrassing. Also, the fact that both of our safeties have combined for 0 INTs and 0 Pass Defenses and it is week 7 is downright putrid. Seriously, neither one of these stiffs should be starting in the NFL.

What he said.

 

[superonyx]

Turnovers result from pressuring or confusing the offense into making bad decisions. Our defense isnt designed to do this. We have a very predictable blitz package. And when we do blitz and get to the QB our corners and afeties are taught to play off their men. So it does result in incomplete passes but not interceptions. Wade is so afraid of the big plays. Like the ones Chicago got on us. The Bears game showed us what Wade would do if he didnt fear getting beat deep. At least in the beginning of the game. Our defense was dominating them. However, the took a few chances down field and that was all Wade needed to see to get soft again. He took 1 punch in the mouth and lost his desire to fight anymore.

Wade coaches out of fear. He doesnt do what the great defenses do. He doesnt confuse the other teams offense. He doesnt apply the pressure to make the opponent make mistakes. We need pressure and confusion to force the opponent into mistakes. And at this level it isnt about 1 or the other. You need both.

 

[STSINAZ]

Funny, but sadly true ...................

WE ARE THE BEST AT BEATING OURSELVES...THATS THE THING WE WILL BEAT OURSELVES BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE WILL BEAT US...THATS WHY I KNOW ITS GOING TO HAPPEN...NO DOUBT ABOUT IT

 

[fan62]

You have to teach a defense to tackle properly before you can teach them to strip the ball from someone. Wade is too afraid of physical contact in practice to teach these guys proper technique. Wade is too afraid of injuries in practice. Wade figures they learned how to tackle and strip the ball in high school and college; he doesn't need to teach it on the Pro level. Same thing with penalties; they learned that all in H.S. and college.

Wade's thinking "All I have to do is tell them - I need more turnovers, better tackling, and less penalties, than they will go out and execute it. Practice, are you kidding me - practice? These are grown men; They don't need practice. They already know it!"