How do they fix it? Looking ahead

[khiladi]

LVE is just done with his injury. The fact he’s in position to make a play is a testament to his football smarts. The fact he often gets abused is a testament to the deterioration of a fused vertebrae setting in.

 

[unionjack8]

Players are freelancing because they want to be heroic and make tge tfl or qb pressure/sack instead of doing their job.

If they are continually doing tge wrong thing I don't know why they aren't benched or outright released.

 

[Runwildboys]

Then to me it sounds like lack of either talent, brains, or desire…..I’m not sure what’s left. And they made no move other than Hankins to address a glaring weakness……I don’t get it.

Sounds to me like ego, mistrust in their teammates, or as you said, lack of brains or talent...if that's actually what's happening on the field, which is what it looks like to me...but I'm not an analyst, so I could be wrong.

 

[shabazz]

Players are freelancing because they want to be heroic and make tge tfl or qb pressure/sack instead of doing their job.

If they are continually doing tge wrong thing I don't know why they aren't benched or outright released.

It surprises me that Quinn would tolerate that but perhaps there is no better alternative at the present.

It’s obvious that we need to address the defense in the Draft next year, but methinks the GM will take a WR instead.

 

[shabazz]

Sounds to me like ego, mistrust in their teammates, or as you said, lack of brains or talent...if that's actually what's happening on the field, which is what it looks like to me...but I'm not an analyst, so I could be wrong.

What I wouldn’t give to hear Quinn’s uncensored and real explanation of what’s wrong…..we’ll never get to hear it but perhaps Micah has given us a real clue in his comments.

 

[big dog cowboy]

This question isn’t a knee jerk reaction to just a single game. This defense has been getting gashed by the run all season and it’s not improved no matter what scheme is being utilized.

So the question is , “what roster positions. ,specifically, have to be addressed via the draft and free agency to balance out the disparity between the pass and rush defense?

We are aware of the offenses issues of inconsistency but for this thread I’d like to just hear about the defensive side of the ball and how to fix it, because I think its obviously beyond repairing this season.

Give us some gems of wisdom

On defense - Fix the front 7.

On offense - score enough points to take a big enough lead that teams can't run any more.

 

[pasando]

Current personnel is what it is...." gotta dance with who ya brung"... What we can work on fixing is Gap integrity and "Want To" .... there are too many freelancing and trying to make highlight film plays which in turn promotes Poor run stopping.. Culture and coaching has a lot to do with this specific issue IMO...

 

[Mr_437]

I think it's fixable with the current personnel. For starters commit to stopping the run by taking a Safety off the field and going big. I don't recall a Safety stepping up. From left to right:
OLB (9/7T) Micah - goes to strong-side
RDE (7/5T) Sam/Golston
DT (3T) Watkins/Osa
NT (1T) Hankins/Bo
DE (7/5T) Tank/Golston
WILB Barr/LVE/Cox
MLB Clark

This is for 1st down. Two 1T types on the inside and run stopping DEs only. Fowler is actually decent, but he, Basham n Armstrong needs to sit this down out. Keep the soft dudes off the field.

 

[ClappingCarrot]

I think the defense does two things really well, and that's rush the passer and play opportunistic football.

You take those two things away like some teams are trying to do, and they are very mediocre, and possibly slightly below average. Based on Micah's comments last night, I am of the belief that after a few games some guys' heads got big, and once some adversity has set in - they're starting to freelance out there. And it shows.

I'm sure it'll be a hell of a day in the film room because that All 22 was not pretty.

 

[shabazz]

I think it's fixable with the current personnel. For starters commit to stopping the run by taking a Safety off the field and going big. I don't recall a Safety stepping up. From left to right:
OLB (9/7T) Micah - goes to strong-side
RDE (7/5T) Sam/Golston
DT (3T) Watkins/Osa
NT (1T) Hankins/Bo
DE (7/5T) Tank/Golston
WILB Barr/LVE/Cox
MLB Clark

This is for 1st down. Two 1T types on the inside and run stopping DEs only. Fowler is actually decent, but he, Basham n Armstrong needs to sit this down out. Keep the soft dudes off the field.

Excellent and well thought out insights. I hope what you say about it being fixable is true, but that remains to be seen. My main problem is that it’s seems to be getting worse and if it was fixable with the current personnel, I would think that we’d be seeing incremental improvement instead of the opposite

 

[Mr_437]

Excellent and well thought out insights. I hope what you say about it being fixable is true, but that remains to be seen. My main problem is that it’s seems to be getting worse and if it was fixable with the current personnel, I would think that we’d be seeing incremental improvement instead of the opposite

Bazz, DQ is jogging 3 safeties out there trying to stop the run, and Kearse ain't did nothing all year. But, I totally get your stance.

 

[shabazz]

Bazz, DQ is jogging 3 safeties out there trying to stop the run, and Kearse ain't did nothing all year. But, I totally get your stance.

so let’s take a look at the defensive line coach? Aden Durde. This is his first job at defensive line coach although he was an assistant at Atlanta. How is it that this guys name has been kept out of the equation by the media and the fans?……at this point, everything should be looked at and questioned


https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/coaches-roster/aden-durde

 

[KJJ]

The run defense has gotten worse since they added Hankins. Not saying he’s the problem, just pointing out that the run defense has gotten worse. Don’t see this being fixable until the offseason and even then I’m not sure they’ll get it fixed because it was a problem last season and in previous seasons. It’s become a very troubling ongoing issue.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Upgrade OT and we need to replace LVE ..... He has played fine but his play style does not fit Quinn's defense. He plays to upright and is to slow to fill the gaps.

Our players don't seem to be able to recognize formations and blocking schemes. LVE does a pretty good job of it, but too often he has to run halfway across the field to make the tackle, where are Will and Sam 'backers? That's their areas. And yesterday our DTs had a total of 11 tackles. Lawrence, LVE, Parsons and Wilson had 7 tackles each.

DT has been, and is, the biggest (pardon the pun) problem. Dallas won 5 SBs with teams having All Pro and HOF DTs. When's the last time Dallas had a Pro Bowl DT? 1993? 2002?

Cowboys will never win another SB unless they fix that....

 

[KJJ]

What’s really concerning about how bad our run defense has been is the fact that we’re going to be facing some formidable RBs coming up. We have Dalvin Cook next week and Saquon Barkley on Thanksgiving. We have Dameon Pierce with the Texans and we’ll be facing Derrick Henry in week, 17…Ouch! Barkley, Pierce and Henry are among the top five rushers this season.

 

[MysteryIceGuro]

There is no fixing this disastrous mash unit of a team. They’re clowns running a circus and that’s all they’ll ever be. It’s like asking a cat to be a dog. Not possible. Don’t get your hopes up by trying to find a “fix”. Hell, the players and coaching staff don’t know what to do.

 

[fivetwos]

I respect that answer so that’s why I was hoping that some fellow posters that study film can elaborate.

my main question is who on defense is consistently underperforming to allow this travesty?

Is it mainly the trenches? Linebacker play, or safety play?

it’s more important that the FO recognize it because if they don’t, expect more of the same next season. In order to have faith in success we have to see change and results.

That’s what I mean…..are we getting beat or blowing assignments?

Need better players to fix the former, need to get you head out of your rear for the other.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

How do they fix it?

Fire the Jones.

Nothing else will fix it.

 

[shabazz]

There is no fixing this disastrous mash unit of a team. They’re clowns running a circus and that’s all they’ll ever be. It’s like asking a cat to be a dog. Not possible. Don’t get your hopes up by trying to find a “fix”. Hell, the players and coaching staff don’t know what to do.

a lot of this is true. I just decided to fixate upon the most glaring defect and see what the forums brothers and sisters thought was a logical fix. I believe it can’t be done this season and thought it would be interesting to see and hear what others are seeing.

some of us here study game film ( not me) and I wanted to hear if the same players are regularly blowing assignments and see if the coaches make any changes….but if it’s personnel, it will have to be addressed next season at the soonest

 

[shabazz]

What’s really concerning about how bad our run defense has been is the fact that we’re going to be facing some formidable RBs coming up. We have Dalvin Cook next week and Saquon Barkley on Thanksgiving. We have Dameon Pierce with the Texans and we’ll be facing Derrick Henry in week, 17…Ouch! Barkley, Pierce and Henry are among the top five rushers this season.

that’s exactly why I started this thread. I’m trying to figure out exactly what some of our fans are seeing when they say that our team will finish 12-5. I’m logically not seeing it based on your exact assertions, which I agree with