My Thoughts, Cowboys going deep

ConstantReboot

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Well, for a long time there, our Safety play was awful. It's actually been pretty consistent this year. I don't know why people are down on Wilcox. He's a decent young player with some real strengths to his game who's still got upside to develop. He plays hard. He hits. He tackles well in space with the guy in front of him. He's got range. He's just got to recognize faster and take some better angles when he's not hammering a guy on the edge at the line of scrimmage.

I'm beginning to like Wilcox. He seems very athletic and is starting to show potential is a pretty good safety. He'll need to work on his pass coverage but I feel that he's now considered decent and getting better each game. I would not replace him.
 

ConstantReboot

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I used to be a big Wilcox fan and I thought he had potential to be a good player for us. I no longer think that, but I do think he can be a serviceable safety in this league. Will he impact games? No, probably not. But he's a 2nd year player who isn't embarrassing himself. Low bar, but I'll take it with the relative lack of talent we have on the defense elsewhere. Or at least, I'm ready to see what he can do in year 3.

I don't think that Wilcox is the problem in the secondary. Frankly, I think he was one of the unsung heros in the Eagles game. He is on his 2nd year and learning as he goes along. He has a improved much since and has been a solid player. Not great but good enough. Remember, Dallas got torched alot with the long bombs not so long ago. I think that problem is somewhat fixed.
 

Idgit

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I'm beginning to like Wilcox. He seems very athletic and is starting to show potential is a pretty good safety. He'll need to work on his pass coverage but I feel that he's now considered decent and getting better each game. I would not replace him.

Yeah. I like him, too. I also think he's got a mentality that you can use on defense. He likes to hit (remember his pop on Dez in camp?). And he's got a little bit of fire to him. Just the fact that he's got some range, alone, makes me want to keep him around. Add to it some of the plays he's made at the line on screens and those smoke routes or whatever...he does some good stuff. He's just got to get better with experience at recognizing what's going on with routes that are designed to be confusing. If he gets that down, he'll be a good player.
 

ConstantReboot

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Yeah. I like him, too. I also think he's got a mentality that you can use on defense. He likes to hit (remember his pop on Dez in camp?). And he's got a little bit of fire to him. Just the fact that he's got some range, alone, makes me want to keep him around. Add to it some of the plays he's made at the line on screens and those smoke routes or whatever...he does some good stuff. He's just got to get better with experience at recognizing what's going on with routes that are designed to be confusing. If he gets that down, he'll be a good player.

Two things that I believed that this defense has fixed. #1 - the long bomb jumpball. I remember all that a team had to do was throw the ball up for grabs in the endzone and its an instant TD. #2 - Screen plays. Phillys offense revolves around the screen. Has anyone noticed how effectively our defense was able to stop it? Darren Sproles is not easy to contain and I think we did a pretty good job. I believe that these two issues that affected us long ago no longer seem to be a big problem. This is because of Wilcox's play at safety. Of course its not all on him. But I think his play at safety has helped us containing these issues which were once a big problem with our defense.
 

LatinMind

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Well he is there. I don't understand the logic for him going there since the only reason you've stated is that their friends. Kiffen is here and will probably be here next year. So there is a high possibility Marinelli will be back. Sorry but I don't buy that Marinelli wants to be with Lovie all the time. Its seems that some here wants it to happen.
Kiffin will def not be back. he had a 2 yr deal. Hes done. TC even talked about this in depth during the offseason. Even more recently talked about the team being comfortable with eberflus
 

DogFace

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Not sure how you refer to the deep safety who wasn't covering Ertz as out of position. He's in deep patrol, then when the ball is thrown to a buy coming across the middle, he moves in from the opposite direction...the TE is running left to right, and the S is running right to left and forward to get in on the tackle. The TE dives and tips the ball which then goes in a different direction, and the S twists and adjusts to make a play.

Maybe you have seen a different view, but I'm not sure how a deep safety coming up on a short crossing route is out of position.

I'm pretty sure you're exactly right. Regardless, it was not a lucky play.
 

DogFace

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Kiffin will def not be back. he had a 2 yr deal. Hes done. TC even talked about this in depth during the offseason. Even more recently talked about the team being comfortable with eberflus

You answer this but not several of the other comments that claimed your points in your post were inaccurate?

I would like to hear your response if you are going to present yourself as one of the analysts on this site.

The others do a very good job of this while also staying less confrontational. And that gives them credibility. In my opinion.
 
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casmith07

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I'm pretty sure you're exactly right. Regardless, it was not a lucky play.

Nope. Tip drill in position.

Remember a few years ago where we would NEVER intercept tipped balls?

You practice this stuff. But for LatinMind to get that, it would require a rudimentary understanding of playing defense in football.
 

CCBoy

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Nope. Tip drill in position.

Remember a few years ago where we would NEVER intercept tipped balls?

You practice this stuff. But for LatinMind to get that, it would require a rudimentary understanding of playing defense in football.

You know, Sir, even a specialized knowledge of the actual past of the Cowboys would point towards nuggets of truth...

After '91, the Cowboys had a defense longer on work ethic than first round talent. Tom Landry's flex defense no longer was the structure to measure by. Even though the new Dallas defense was also a 4-3 defense as was Landry's. Both had four linemen, three linebackers, and four in the secondary.

But Dallas had a good defensive coordinator, just like today in Rod Marinelli. That was Wannstedt.

The flex was a step and read defense.

Wannestedt's defense was a read on the move. Sound familiar today?

Players are to shade and shoot the gaps instead of controlling them.

Speed...quickness...ends crashing upfield...linebackers gang-tackling...safeties playing like linebackers

Due to a Jason Garrett attitude on the locker room, one sees signed and unsigned out on the field busting their ***. They're getting the feeling that they can be part of something great here.

Where with Jimmy Johnson, players often didn't know where they and Jimmy stood, that just isn't the case with a Jason Garrett.
 

ConstantReboot

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I wasn't sold on him before the season because he's not a RGK but the more I watch Suh the more he absolutely dominates people. He has become the only free agent that I think we sell out for.

We're in a Romo window and I think the Cowboys will be Super Bowl contenders next season and Jerry has to do whatever it takes to get him in here.

Funny everyone here thinks we should get Suh. But just months ago when I said he is worth getting everyone rode me like I was crazy. I think he might be the one person that can take defense to the top. Will see if they go after him and I hope they at least try. But I doubt it. He might cost too much.
 

CCBoy

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Funny everyone here thinks we should get Suh. But just months ago when I said he is worth getting everyone rode me like I was crazy. I think he might be the one person that can take defense to the top. Will see if they go after him and I hope they at least try. But I doubt it. He might cost too much.

Me, I think that the one piece that would push this defense tremendously, is a top shelf outside pass rusher, who can get the tough sacks when there's a lot on the line.
 

ConstantReboot

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Kiffin will def not be back. he had a 2 yr deal. Hes done. TC even talked about this in depth during the offseason. Even more recently talked about the team being comfortable with eberflus

One things for sure is that Lovie likes Leslie Frazier as DC in Tampa. If Marinelli is going to leave Dallas for Tampa he's gonna take a downgraded position under Leslie Frasier and possibly less pay. Besides, there is chaos in Tampa and they aren't going anywhere for a very long time.

Marinelli seems like a great fit here. He is well respected and this defense has adopted his philosophy. Jerry will open his checkbook and Marinelli will be DC next year. He isn't going anywhere.
 

Risen Star

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I wasn't sold on him before the season because he's not a RGK but the more I watch Suh the more he absolutely dominates people. He has become the only free agent that I think we sell out for.

We're in a Romo window and I think the Cowboys will be Super Bowl contenders next season and Jerry has to do whatever it takes to get him in here.

RGK. Right guy......kinda. I like it.
 

casmith07

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One things for sure is that Lovie likes Leslie Frazier as DC in Tampa. If Marinelli is going to leave Dallas for Tampa he's gonna take a downgraded position under Leslie Frasier and possibly less pay. Besides, there is chaos in Tampa and they aren't going anywhere for a very long time.

Marinelli seems like a great fit here. He is well respected and this defense has adopted his philosophy. Jerry will open his checkbook and Marinelli will be DC next year. He isn't going anywhere.

The only way I see Marinelli walking to coach somewhere else is if we win the Super Bowl, or if he's offered a head coaching job.

He's building something here in Dallas. These coaches want to see the fruits of their labor, would be my bet. He's not going anywhere.

If we have to pay him as a head coach to keep him, we will.
 

xwalker

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I'm beginning to like Wilcox. He seems very athletic and is starting to show potential is a pretty good safety. He'll need to work on his pass coverage but I feel that he's now considered decent and getting better each game. I would not replace him.

Yes, Wilcox was one of the 3 players awarded players of the game by the network against Philly.

Also, the announcers said before on the of the other games (maybe the 1st Philly game) that that team thought the biggest improvement in the Cowboys defense from last year to this year was the play of Wilcox.
 

mahoneybill

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I don't think that Wilcox is the problem in the secondary. Frankly, I think he was one of the unsung heros in the Eagles game. He is on his 2nd year and learning as he goes along. He has a improved much since and has been a solid player. Not great but good enough. Remember, Dallas got torched alot with the long bombs not so long ago. I think that problem is somewhat fixed.

Agree. When Eli didn't throw his normal 2-3 long bombs I knew times had changed...
 

Joe Realist

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IM going to start this week by saying sometimes its better to be lucky then good. And i mean this wholeheartedly in reference to Wilcox. The guy was so out of posistion on that INT that you just have to laugh when something good comes out from something so horrible that you wonder why he is starting. He is single high and he is literally going in the opposite direction from the way intended pass is going. LOL its tipped and falls right to him. He held on to it so thats all that matters.

The Defense started great and end the game ever better. It was clear that the defense benefited from the practice bootcamp the team put them through this week. That move was pure genius. That got them prepared for the tempo they were going to face vs philly.

Mincey is turning into the DLs workhorse. He's slow and not very strong but the guy never stops moving and finds ways to get sacks. I dont know what happened to him in jacksonville and i dont care, all i know is the guy is a gamer for this team. He never quits.

I think we mightve saw the starting DTs for 2015 tonight in Crawford and McClain. Melton is clearly affected by not getting on the field because of Crawford. And im not even mad about it.

In 2015 this team needs to get some DEs. I have a feeling Jerry is going to sell out and i wouldnt be suprised to see JPP in Dallas next yr. I would love to see him rushing from the right side. If he was the only FA signing for the defense he would make a big difference for this team.

Rolando McClain will make some super plays like the first series of this game and them level off and make you scratch your head. Thats why i dont think he is a lock for this team next yr.

The OL dominated today early, and Free went out of the game. Xwalker Parnell is a backup plain and simple. Sorry to bust your bubble but all this you talk about Free getting all this help is so wrong its not even funny. Free is a huge peive to the success of this OL. I see a 3 yr deal coming for Free at the end of the yr.

Dez bryant had a monster game, but i have to say give alot of that credit to Romo with them perfectly placed balls. But he abuse fletcher tonight. That had to be the longest game of his career.

Romo had a couple misthrows but the guy was money the whole game. Romo got them back in the game with his arm tonight and that was a good thing to see.

Why the hell has it taken this long to get Beasely involved in the gameplan?

I know i mention this alot but it really gets to me. There are some of you in this forum who have to be some of the worst fans this team has. Its like some of you get more happy with Cowboy failure then theyre success. And thats a sad thing.

And lastly ill say Leary didnt win the battle with cox tonight but he didnt lose it either. He controlled Cox for the most part. And Barwin was controlled aswell for the most part. And those two were the two most disruptive players on thanksgiving.

Get ready to have some fun cause the boys are playing for keeps. And the ride is just starting. So get on the wagon and enjoy it. Every minute of it.

I think we could get Brandon Graham cheap and he gets 9 sacks next year.
 

ConstantReboot

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The only way I see Marinelli walking to coach somewhere else is if we win the Super Bowl, or if he's offered a head coaching job.

He's building something here in Dallas. These coaches want to see the fruits of their labor, would be my bet. He's not going anywhere.

If we have to pay him as a head coach to keep him, we will.

Frankly, thats the only reason why I would see him leaving Dallas as well. However, I don't think he wants to be head coach. He is one of those types that do better as a coordinator than a head coach. Besides, Jerry can just open his wallet and hand him a contract that can pay him head coaching wages. I think that will suffice for him to stay here.
 
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