Interceptions Missing

[CowboyRoy]

I have concerns about the rookie DBs not getting any playing time in preseason games, but none about the lack of turnovers at this point. When we start the DL games and bring more pressure, you'll see more turnovers happen. It's going to end up being more of the same stuff we've seen from Marinelli all along, maybe with better LB play and maybe a slightly better front rotation overall. Then it'll be up to the new guys to tackle well or to try to make what plays there are to be made on the back end.

Whatever improvement we might or might not see this year in terms of defensive talent, it wasn't going to show in the preseason games.

How do u figure we have better linebacker play with Hutchins out and Wilson suspension looming?

And line rotation? Better than last year? With injuries and suspension the defense is depleted. And the hope of talented rookies coming on has been delayed due to lack of playing time.

 

[remdak]

Yeah because QB's sucked and were innacurate, and receivers ran half the amount of routes.

Plus, DBs could get away with alot more back then. Now, they breathe on the receiver and get a penalty.

 

[CowboyRoy]

INTs seem great but if they happen because players are undisciplined, it will result in more bad plays than good.

The players that fans think are great in the preseason often get lower grades from coaches than players the fans didn't notice.

Guys with talent often show up in preseason. Such as rush, such as woods, dak. And of course some don't. Even jaylon smith, despite not being 100% you can see the talent , the smarts.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I have concerns about the rookie DBs not getting any playing time in preseason games, but none about the lack of turnovers at this point. When we start the DL games and bring more pressure, you'll see more turnovers happen. It's going to end up being more of the same stuff we've seen from Marinelli all along, maybe with better LB play and maybe a slightly better front rotation overall. Then it'll be up to the new guys to tackle well or to try to make what plays there are to be made on the back end.

Whatever improvement we might or might not see this year in terms of defensive talent, it wasn't going to show in the preseason games.

Agreed with the rookie DBs comments. However I think we still will struggle with turn overs and I have no clue how our LB corps will do early on with injuries and suspension

 

[Established1971]

Yeah because QB's sucked and were innacurate, and receivers ran half the amount of routes.

No, because rules were different. DL could slap OL in the head. DB's could push and grab WR more. Anyone could manhandle the QB. You can call that "sucking" if you care to. It was a slightly different game and whatever the reason there were more int's, they could be exciting when it is your team doing the int. The old Boys used to pick them off a lot, not like teams such as Minnesota and Kansas City, but a lot.

 

[LandryFan]

Yeah because QB's sucked and were innacurate, and receivers ran half the amount of routes.

You have to also factor in that DB's could mug receivers all over the field, so the QB's didn't have the open receivers that you see today. Than, add in that things such as Deacon Jones's head slap being legal and pass rushers could do just about anything they wanted to a QB once they got to him...the QB's necessarily threw a lot of passes into coverages that today's QB's don't have to throw into...that's my theory on the subject.

 

[Texas_Pete]

 

[LandryFan]

No, because rules were different. DL could slap OL in the head. DB's could push and grab WR more. Anyone could manhandle the QB. You can call that "sucking" if you care to. It was a slightly different game and whatever the reason there were more int's, they could be exciting when it is your team doing the int. The old Boys used to pick them off a lot, not like teams such as Minnesota and Kansas City, but a lot.

I posted just about the same thing before seeing your post. You're right on the money.

 

[Idgit]

How do u figure we have better linebacker play with Hutchins out and Wilson suspension looming?

And line rotation? Better than last year? With injuries and suspension the defense is depleted. And the hope of talented rookies coming on has been delayed due to lack of playing time.

Jaylon has a chance to be a good player splitting time with Hitchens and Durant. Wilson isn't suspended. When that happens, it'll be a factor. Depending on the duration, though. He only started a third of the season last year.

DL, I like the rotation better with Charlton, Paea, Tapper and Moore than I did with McClain and Jack Crawford and Richard Ash. Collins ought to be improved in his 2nd season and with the full training camp. You're probably forgetting that Demarcus Lawrence had a 4 game suspension in 2016, which offsets the Irving suspension (Irving had one PD and 1 tackle in the first four weeks of 2016). We addressed the defensive talent only marginally in the offseason, which is why I essentially expect marginal improvement overall. And I'm not sure anybody on the site has been more critical of our defensive talent than I have been in recent years. I hate having mediocre defensive players.

But my point in this thread was that nobody should be looking at the coverage or the defensive approach in the preseason for the unit as a whole and make bold predictions about how we're likely to play. There are way too many variables between preseason and regular season play for that to make any sense.

 

[StylisticS]

I'm more shocked when we make a defensive play

Or at least...get off the field on 3rd down.

 

[RS12]

Interceptions have been missing for a decade.

 

[TheCoolFan]

Bend But Don't Break philosophy...which is just code for "Your Defense Sucks"

 

[stilltheguru88]

Everyone remembers Ed Reed but most of secondary coaches hated the way he played, even some of his team mates. He freelanced outside the scheme, yeah when he guess right he makes the Highlight shows but you never hear the talking heads bagging on the fact that he basically disregarded the call because he thought he knew better. He was wrong more often than not and made his team mates look bad doing so.

The goat coached loved Reed. What does that tell you about the other coaches?

 

[gmoney112]

Boys havent been an intercepting type of defense in a long time. On a related note I was watching some old NFL films recently (70's) and man picks were so much more common. It was exciting

2014?

It comes down to players making plays. Our corners have been allergic to them and there's been no threat in the middle of the field outside of Lee in the occasional zone assignment.

Combine interception deficient corners, safeties, and MLBs with an anemic pass rush and that's what happens.

In the interim, better corners will help.

 

[jrumann59]

The goat coached loved Reed. What does that tell you about the other coaches?

Huh?

 

[75boyz]

Anthony Brown showed good ball skills as a rookie. He'd turn his head and try to locate the ball. Awuzie's showed that ability too in TC and the little we've seen of him in pre-season. Lewis showed it in college. Heath has a knack for INT's.

I don't think it's a coaching thing, although Byron Jones makes me question it sometimes.

Byron and Scandrick are the two guys you can't expect any turnovers from. Scandrick's hands are trash, and Jones seems content playing it safe and swatting balls down.

Hope Jones can prove me wrong this year though, because he's made a lot of INT's in training camp.

Yup,

So true. Good post. You are also so very spot on in regards to Scandrick and Jones. Both of them are literally "stone hands."

Freaks me out how we hardly ever get picks. Ever. Eli served them up on a silver platter last year and all we did was drop them.

Hopefully, as you stated, the newbies along with Brown have better ball hawking skills than their predecessors.

The bend but don't break, keep everything in front of you crap drives me nuts if there is never any rewards (hint:jumping routes or tracking the ball).

Saints defense their Super Bowl year wasn't all that,but they led the league in getting turnovers. Wish we could.

 

[MRV52]

In watching NFL preseason game highlights. You see secondary guys you never heard of jumping passes & scoring in other team games.. Are the Cowboys coached not to take chances. We seem to be more worried about being in the right position than making a play. I know it's just preseason games, but I would think that would be the opportunity for more trash ints.

We don't need film out there on our secondary making picks, for teams to game plan us.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Huh?

Belicheck called ed Reed the best safety he's ever seen. He's the greatest coach and db coach that ever lived. I don't care what those other coaches said about Reed.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Jaylon has a chance to be a good player splitting time with Hitchens and Durant. Wilson isn't suspended. When that happens, it'll be a factor. Depending on the duration, though. He only started a third of the season last year.

DL, I like the rotation better with Charlton, Paea, Tapper and Moore than I did with McClain and Jack Crawford and Richard Ash. Collins ought to be improved in his 2nd season and with the full training camp. You're probably forgetting that Demarcus Lawrence had a 4 game suspension in 2016, which offsets the Irving suspension (Irving had one PD and 1 tackle in the first four weeks of 2016). We addressed the defensive talent only marginally in the offseason, which is why I essentially expect marginal improvement overall. And I'm not sure anybody on the site has been more critical of our defensive talent than I have been in recent years. I hate having mediocre defensive players.

But my point in this thread was that nobody should be looking at the coverage or the defensive approach in the preseason for the unit as a whole and make bold predictions about how we're likely to play. There are way too many variables between preseason and regular season play for that to make any sense.

Durant was here last year. Jaylon isnt ready and Wilson will get suspended. So your rotation theory is out the window. Taco has looked rough, Paea you know NOTHING about, Tapper has done absolutely nothing and looked lost. McClain and Crawford were solid players here for a few years and proved themselves. Demarcus Lawrence in a contract year is the ONLY thing this line may be better for. And he may get hurt or suspended anytime like he usually does.

Marginal? Well at least you admit its not much if anything.

 

[Idgit]

Durant was here last year. Jaylon isnt ready and Wilson will get suspended. So your rotation theory is out the window. Taco has looked rough, Paea you know NOTHING about, Tapper has done absolutely nothing and looked lost. McClain and Crawford were solid players here for a few years and proved themselves. Demarcus Lawrence in a contract year is the ONLY thing this line may be better for. And he may get hurt or suspended anytime like he usually does.

Marginal? Well at least you admit its not much if anything.

That's all your negative spin on what I already said. I don't agree with your take on any of that, but especially that Jaylon won't be an upgrade, or that Taco has looked rough, or that it's too soon to have a measure on Paea.

And, yes, I said marginal. And yes this is all beside the point of the thread.