How is our defense so bad?

[Cowboy Brian]

I mean, I know last year it was not the best, but looking at the talent you have DeMarcus Ware, best defensive player in the league, you have Jay Ratliff top 3 DT in the league, you have Jenkins who flashed greatness, Spencer who people were comparing to D-Ware just a year ago, saying Ware & Spencer both top 5 LBs in the league.


Then look at the veteran talent, Bradie James- Decent starter. Terrance Newman- Good starter.

Then look at our 2 young guns at ILB, Sean Lee can become a dominant force for a decade, Bruce Carter hopefully can aswell. Victor Butler can start on 90% of 3-4 teams. Sean Lissemore sounds like he is coming along well too.

I don't know why people talk about our defense like our most talented player is Anthony Spencer, we have a good defense talent-wise, sure we lack safeties and we could use more depth at CB otherwise I don't see a problem. Can someone explain it to me?

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I mean, I know last year it was not the best, but looking at the talent you have DeMarcus Ware, best defensive player in the league, you have Jay Ratliff top 3 DT in the league, you have Jenkins who flashed greatness, Spencer who people were comparing to D-Ware just a year ago, saying Ware & Spencer both top 5 LBs in the league.


Then look at the veteran talent, Bradie James- Decent starter. Terrance Newman- Good starter.

Then look at our 2 young guns at ILB, Sean Lee can become a dominant force for a decade, Bruce Carter hopefully can aswell. Victor Butler can start on 90% of 3-4 teams. Sean Lissemore sounds like he is coming along well too.

I don't know why people talk about our defense like our most talented player is Anthony Spencer, we have a good defense talent-wise, sure we lack safeties and we could use more depth at CB otherwise I don't see a problem. Can someone explain it to me?

I said it before and I will say it again: Dallas has to run the football if they want to win more games.

Even the best defensive players wear down if they have to play too many minutes. Most games last year this defense just ran out of gas or quit. I do not see that as being the case if they can run the football and dominate the TOP.

 

[TheCount]

The are inconsistent, not bad. Huge difference. In a lot of ways, inconsistency is even worse than being just plain bad, because when you stick your finger in a hole in that dam, another one just springs up.

 

[cowboys2233]

I don't know why people talk about our defense like our most talented player is Anthony Spencer, we have a good defense talent-wise, sure we lack safeties and we could use more depth at CB otherwise I don't see a problem. Can someone explain it to me?

Did you ever seen the movie "300?" Remember how the deformed Spartan wanted to join the fight but Leonidas wouldn't let him, explaining to him that an army is only as strong as its weakest link?

Same things applies when it comes to team defense. Yes, you have mentioned several very talented players. The problem is that in only takes one weak link to upset the whole dynamic. If your defense has a chink in the armor, offensive coordinators will find it and they will take advantage of it. People make too much of a team's star players, particularly on defense. In reality, in order to have truly good team defense, you cannot have a glaring weakness at ANY position, they don't have to be stars, but all players must be competent or you will get exposed.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Did you ever seen the movie "300?" Remember how the deformed Spartan wanted to join the fight but Leonidas wouldn't let him, explaining to him that an army is only as strong as its weakest link?

Same things applies when it comes to team defense. Yes, you have mentioned several very talented players. The problem is that in only takes one weak link to upset the whole dynamic. If your defense has a chink in the armor, offensive coordinators will find it and they will take advantage of it. People make too much of a team's star players, particularly on defense. In reality, in order to have truly good team defense, you cannot have a glaring weakness at ANY position, they don't have to be stars, but all players must be competent or you will get exposed.

Very true, but if you look at other super bowl winning teams, like the Packers last year, they had a giant glaring whole as an offensive line excluding Bryan Bulaga(who should be a cowboy) and their starting RB was james starks. I'd rather start Booker T.

 

[cowboys2233]

Very true, but if you look at other super bowl winning teams, like the Packers last year, they had a giant glaring whole as an offensive line excluding Bryan Bulaga(who should be a cowboy) and their starting RB was james starks. I'd rather start Booker T.

James Starks was unknown, but he performed admirably for that team. I think Green Bay's offensive line was horrible a couple of years ago and early last year, but they sure came together as the season progressed. I did not see an awful lot of pressure on Rodgers later in the year, I saw a QB who had all day to throw.

 

[cowboys2233]

Very true, but if you look at other super bowl winning teams, like the Packers last year, they had a giant glaring whole as an offensive line excluding Bryan Bulaga(who should be a cowboy) and their starting RB was james starks. I'd rather start Booker T.

And as I said, the whole idea of not having a chink in the armor applies more to a team's defense than it does their offense. As an offensive coordinator, you can scheme to protect your weaknesses, but a defense has to react to what the other team throws at them. And what the other team throws at them is very likely going to target the weak spots on that defense.

 

[burmafrd]

James Starks was unknown, but he performed admirably for that team. I think Green Bay's offensive line was horrible a couple of years ago and early last year, but they sure came together as the season progressed. I did not see an awful lot of pressure on Rodgers later in the year, I saw a QB who had all day to throw.

Love how some here just are always looking at the downside.

Interesting that Green Bay was not dominating at all during the season. They got hot right at the end and Rodgers played out of his mind. Not likely that will happen again. the SB winner syndrome usually rules.

The weakest link is so over used its ridiculous. every D has a weak link. It depends on where it is and how good the DC can do to compensate for it. Your attitude is that since Wade failed no one else can do better. I was never that impressed with Wade as a DC anyway. We have a better one now.

 

[JackWagon]

This defense gave up more points last year than any cowboys defense in history. Then has proceeded to Re-sign Marcus Spears who has been a bust on the defensive line. They havent done anything in the draft or free agency to get rid of Brooking, James, or Spencer. They also havent done anything at SS or FS. TNew is older than dirt and has lost a step about 2 years ago. "toast" Jenkins cant cover his mom. Basically you are relying on a new coach to pull a miracle.

 

[CATCH17]

They are unreliable.

They can't get off the field on 3rd downs and they stink at creating turnovers.

They also give our offense bad starting position. We hardly ever get a 3 and out.

Demarcus is our defense pretty much.

 

[burmafrd]

This defense gave up more points last year than any cowboys defense in history. Then has proceeded to Re-sign Marcus Spears who has been a bust on the defensive line. They havent done anything in the draft or free agency to get rid of Brooking, James, or Spencer. They also havent done anything at SS or FS. TNew is older than dirt and has lost a step about 2 years ago. "toast" Jenkins cant cover his mom. Basically you are relying on a new coach to pull a miracle.

Then how do you explain 2009 with virtually the same players playing NOW?

 

[cowboys2233]

I was never that impressed with Wade as a DC anyway.

It's amazing to me that some can say things like this with a straight face. Yeah you're right, Wade knows nothing about defense. That's the reason he's one of the most highly regarded defensive coordinators in the league by folks who do this stuff for a living. That's the reason he was snatched up in about oh, five seconds after being fired as the HC here.

Yup, you're right, Wade as a DC is...unimpressive.

 

[CATCH17]

Then how do you explain 2009 with virtually the same players playing NOW?

Better corner play. Better play from Spencer. They got hot at the end of the year.

 

[The30YardSlant]

The best defensive end on our roster is Marcus Spears. Ouch.

Orlando Scandrick is our nickel corner...again, ouch.

Currently, we have the worst safeties in the league in terms of both starters and depth. In fact, outside of QB I have a tough time finding ANY position that ANY team is weaker at than we are at safety.

Outside of DeMarcus Ware, we don't have one single defender who we know what we will get from them on a week to week basis....check that, the only defender who we know we will get a GOOD performance from every week.

Newman isnt what he once was, Jenkins is all over the place, Spencer goes 100% only about half the time, and Ratliff had a down year last season.

Our defense isnt very good because we are inconsistent and we frankly just don't have that many good players on that side of the ball.

 

[Ren]

Did you sleep trough last season? They where the worst D in Cowboys history what have they done since then to give anyone any reason to think they'll be so much better this year?

 

[JackWagon]

Then how do you explain 2009 with virtually the same players playing NOW?

Its 2011 ... All those players have another year of wear on the tires. And hits on the field.

Wade Phillips is an Excellent D coordinator. Has done awesome everywhere he has been at. I dont get why everyone thinks that Buddy Ryan's kid is any better than Wade. It takes strong young good players to win superbowls. We cant seem to draft those type of players lately. I blame this whole roster on crappy drafting by the GM. This team will be on that roller coaster in and outta the playoffs never good enough to win the SB until Jerry finally retires.

 

[Nightman]

The difference between playoffs and 6-10 in the NFL is mainly desire and execution. That is how teams like Cleveland beat NO last year. Week to week the Cowboys didn't bring enough intensity under Wade. He may be a good DC, but he wasn't a good leader. The players knew they could slack off with no repercussions.

Ryan and Garrett have to get more out of both units.

 

[The30YardSlant]

nm...

 

[The30YardSlant]

The difference between playoffs and 6-10 in the NFL is mainly talent and depth.

FIFY...

 

[cowboys2233]

Then how do you explain 2009 with virtually the same players playing NOW?

You mean the team that was essentially only playing against one other team in the division, a totally mediocre Eagles team? The team that lost twice to another divisional rival, the Giants? The team who managed to beat the previously mentioned mediocre Eagles three times, only to get absolutely embarrassed and demolished by the Vikings in the divisional round of the playoffs?

I don't know why everyone looks at the 2009 Dallas Cowboys as some shining example of what this team can be.