cowboyjoe
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Wade Phillips struggling as Cowboys' defensive coordinator
6:02 PM Tue, Sep 22, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Jean-Jacques Taylor/Columnist E-mail News tips
IRVING - Wade Phillips has well-documented issues that make me question his ability to succeed as the Cowboys' head coach, but he's always been an outstanding defensive coordinator.
Until now.
These Cowboys can't stop the run. Or the pass. At least not in the same game.
Here's the problem: The players don't know what they're supposed to do.
After giving up 174 yards to Tampa Bay's group of average runners, Phillips told us the Cowboys did a poor job of run blitzing. He said the defense hadn't practiced it much during training camp to avoid injuries during blitz drills, so the players weren't sure what gaps they were supposed to plug.
On Monday, Phillips said Eli Manning passed for 330 yards and two touchdowns, and a couple of average receivers such as Steve Smith and Mario Manningham combined for 20 catches, 284 yards and two touchdowns, in part, because the secondary didn't understand its defensive concepts.
Phillips cited Manningham's 22-yard touchdown catch late in the first half as an example.
The Cowboys blitzed, which meant Terence Newman, should've known the receiver was either going to run into the end zone or run a slant because Manning wasn't going to have time to throw anything else.
"Once our whole group understands the whole concept of what they can do, and we get a strong rush," said Phillips, "we can take away some things better than we've been doing."
Are you kidding me? What a joke.
These guys spend most of the off-season attending various OTAs and minicamps before spending about a month in training camp. Aren't they supposed to be learning the defensive concepts during those practices?
This isn't all about Phillips.
Some guys simply have to play better, especially Newman and Anthony Spencer. Each is supposed to be a key part of the defense.
Neither has contributed much. The time is now.
Besides, the NFL season is too short for on-the-job training. This isn't the NBA, NHL or Major League baseball, where you can easily overcome an awful start.
Whether he's having early morning tutoring sessions or late-night study halls, Phillips better make sure his guys know what to do against Carolina because they've been making mental mistakes, while often using poor technique.
Some physical mistakes such as missed tackles will always exist, though there were way too many against the Giants. The other miscues must stop.
The core of this defense is a veteran group that has played together for several seasons, so it's hard to fathom they're struggling mentally. Phillips said it's because the Cowboys have played more man than zone coverage this season.
"Our plan of attack was to be aggressive and play man-to-man, but we haven't played as well as I have liked," he said. "we have to make some adjustments."
The numbers are obscene, but SportsDay provided special permission to reveal them in a family newspaper. Here's where the Cowboys rank in several defensive categories:
*26th in points allowed per game (26.5)
*30th in yards allowed per game (438.5)
*30th in passing yards allowed (303.0)
*24th in rushing yards allowed (135.5)
Don't forget, the Cowboys are the only team without a sack. They haven't forced a turnover either.
Ridiculous.
They're better than that. At least, that's what we've been told all training camp, and that's what Phillips insisted less than 24 hours after Eli Manning passed for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
"It all comes back to me," Phillips said. "I know that."
And it should.
Brian Stewart, last season's favorite scapegoat, was fired soon after the season ended.
He's coaching the secondary in Philadelphia. No longer does he get assigned the blame every time the Cowboys' defense screws.
Sometimes, eliminating the middle man makes everything simpler, which is why Phillips is running all of the meetings and making all of the calls on game day.
This season, Phillips gets all of the credit. Or in this case, the blame for two weeks of bad defensive football.
6:02 PM Tue, Sep 22, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Jean-Jacques Taylor/Columnist E-mail News tips
IRVING - Wade Phillips has well-documented issues that make me question his ability to succeed as the Cowboys' head coach, but he's always been an outstanding defensive coordinator.
Until now.
These Cowboys can't stop the run. Or the pass. At least not in the same game.
Here's the problem: The players don't know what they're supposed to do.
After giving up 174 yards to Tampa Bay's group of average runners, Phillips told us the Cowboys did a poor job of run blitzing. He said the defense hadn't practiced it much during training camp to avoid injuries during blitz drills, so the players weren't sure what gaps they were supposed to plug.
On Monday, Phillips said Eli Manning passed for 330 yards and two touchdowns, and a couple of average receivers such as Steve Smith and Mario Manningham combined for 20 catches, 284 yards and two touchdowns, in part, because the secondary didn't understand its defensive concepts.
Phillips cited Manningham's 22-yard touchdown catch late in the first half as an example.
The Cowboys blitzed, which meant Terence Newman, should've known the receiver was either going to run into the end zone or run a slant because Manning wasn't going to have time to throw anything else.
"Once our whole group understands the whole concept of what they can do, and we get a strong rush," said Phillips, "we can take away some things better than we've been doing."
Are you kidding me? What a joke.
These guys spend most of the off-season attending various OTAs and minicamps before spending about a month in training camp. Aren't they supposed to be learning the defensive concepts during those practices?
This isn't all about Phillips.
Some guys simply have to play better, especially Newman and Anthony Spencer. Each is supposed to be a key part of the defense.
Neither has contributed much. The time is now.
Besides, the NFL season is too short for on-the-job training. This isn't the NBA, NHL or Major League baseball, where you can easily overcome an awful start.
Whether he's having early morning tutoring sessions or late-night study halls, Phillips better make sure his guys know what to do against Carolina because they've been making mental mistakes, while often using poor technique.
Some physical mistakes such as missed tackles will always exist, though there were way too many against the Giants. The other miscues must stop.
The core of this defense is a veteran group that has played together for several seasons, so it's hard to fathom they're struggling mentally. Phillips said it's because the Cowboys have played more man than zone coverage this season.
"Our plan of attack was to be aggressive and play man-to-man, but we haven't played as well as I have liked," he said. "we have to make some adjustments."
The numbers are obscene, but SportsDay provided special permission to reveal them in a family newspaper. Here's where the Cowboys rank in several defensive categories:
*26th in points allowed per game (26.5)
*30th in yards allowed per game (438.5)
*30th in passing yards allowed (303.0)
*24th in rushing yards allowed (135.5)
Don't forget, the Cowboys are the only team without a sack. They haven't forced a turnover either.
Ridiculous.
They're better than that. At least, that's what we've been told all training camp, and that's what Phillips insisted less than 24 hours after Eli Manning passed for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
"It all comes back to me," Phillips said. "I know that."
And it should.
Brian Stewart, last season's favorite scapegoat, was fired soon after the season ended.
He's coaching the secondary in Philadelphia. No longer does he get assigned the blame every time the Cowboys' defense screws.
Sometimes, eliminating the middle man makes everything simpler, which is why Phillips is running all of the meetings and making all of the calls on game day.
This season, Phillips gets all of the credit. Or in this case, the blame for two weeks of bad defensive football.
