Once again, NTs Matter

[Floatyworm]

Just before the season started, I started a thread highlighting the importance of a NT. A lot of people here tried to mock me and make me look like a dunce. Yes, they're not as important as a QB. However! We are seeing all season why NTs are critical. We can't stop the run! Teams are running the ball on us at will, which is putting our pass defence at a significant disadvantage. I think we put a dagger in our season when we got rid of Ridgeway. We lost a player that could swallow up blocks and help protect against the run. Then, we also lost Hankins to injury. Where we were strong defencively was we had Ridgeway and then Hankins helping to shut down the run, which then set our pass defence up to attack. That was why Parsons had success before, but is now struggling to get after the QB.

If we are going to have success, we MUST take NTs more seriously. We need to draft a NT within the first 3 rounds. That will help us shut the run down, and then our pass defence can pin their ears back. Until the Cowboys take NT more seriously, we are going to break down defencively every season because we will be unable to stop the run.

We needed a NT.....But Ridgeway wasn't the answer. That pre-season beatdown vs Seattle...is all you need to see of his work. The guy literally was almost paralyzed he got bent backwards...so bad...on multiple plays.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

We needed a NT.....But Ridgeway wasn't the answer. That pre-season beatdown vs Seattle...is all you need to see of his work. The guy literally was almost paralyzed he got bent backwards...so bad...on multiple plays.

True, and it shows that the Cowboys do need to take the position much more seriously.

 

[Bagman]

We need a big bodied DT that can stuff the run and get a push on pass plays.

We need THREE of them. We have Hankins. He gets hurt and bingo....we have none. We need more than just one guy.

 

[nate dizzle]

The legend of Ridgeway grows. Didn't look too special last night when Barkley was gashing them up the middle. On their final drive to make it an 8 point game, Barkley had 3 consecutive runs of 12, 15, and 14. Right up the gut.

 

[Rayman70]

losing Hankins killed us. We been getting gashed since. Unless we get him back, we will be a quick out in the playoffs. Just the facts.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

losing Hankins killed us. We been getting gashed since. Unless we get him back, we will be a quick out in the playoffs. Just the facts.

Exactly. We need him back in the playoffs if we want to stand a chance.

 

[Acceptablename]

Just before the season started, I started a thread highlighting the importance of a NT. A lot of people here tried to mock me and make me look like a dunce. Yes, they're not as important as a QB. However! We are seeing all season why NTs are critical. We can't stop the run! Teams are running the ball on us at will, which is putting our pass defence at a significant disadvantage. I think we put a dagger in our season when we got rid of Ridgeway. We lost a player that could swallow up blocks and help protect against the run. Then, we also lost Hankins to injury. Where we were strong defencively was we had Ridgeway and then Hankins helping to shut down the run, which then set our pass defence up to attack. That was why Parsons had success before, but is now struggling to get after the QB.

If we are going to have success, we MUST take NTs more seriously. We need to draft a NT within the first 3 rounds. That will help us shut the run down, and then our pass defence can pin their ears back. Until the Cowboys take NT more seriously, we are going to break down defencively every season because we will be unable to stop the run.

Hankins is an adequate DT it’s not that I disagree with you I don’t yeah we need to draft a fire DTs

 

[Rayman70]

The legend of Ridgeway grows. Didn't look too special last night when Barkley was gashing them up the middle. On their final drive to make it an 8 point game, Barkley had 3 consecutive runs of 12, 15, and 14. Right up the gut.

Ridge looked awful. He was made 2 look foolish. he was so far out of position on those big runs that he was a huge liability. That guy is a bust and I was sure wrong about him when we drafted him. I guess u never can tell til ya draft them.

 

[Rayman70]

Hankins is an adequate DT it’s not that I disagree with you I don’t yeah we need to draft a fire DTs

We need at least another dude like Hankins. Agree.

 

[Rayman70]

Hankins is an adequate DT it’s not that I disagree with you I don’t yeah we need to draft a fire DTs

He is a space eater. He diverts the runs and helps us that way. He stuffs the run consistently. Now we are back to smoke and mirrors. Same thing that got us beat last year.

 

[Acceptablename]

losing Hankins killed us. We been getting gashed since. Unless we get him back, we will be a quick out in the playoffs. Just the facts.

Yep Hankins was really messed

 

[lukin2006]

We need THREE of them. We have Hankins. He gets hurt and bingo....we have none. We need more than just one guy.

Agreed.

 

[Rayman70]

the defensive line went back 2 playing undisciplined hero ball and it beat us. Much of this was the fact we miss Hankins, so we try to do more than we should. In this league, that gets u beat.

 

[Rayman70]

side note, Texans damn near beat the Chiefs Sunday. So the lesson is, NEVER EVER let the lesser team have a chance. When will this team learn?

 

[Rayman70]

Agreed.

We have Big Bohanna, but he's still learning. MAYBE in 2023.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Hankins is an adequate DT it’s not that I disagree with you I don’t yeah we need to draft a fire DTs

Maybe, but we need more depth. We can't just settle for one NT either, and I'd like a higher caliber NT

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Ridge looked awful. He was made 2 look foolish. he was so far out of position on those big runs that he was a huge liability. That guy is a bust and I was sure wrong about him when we drafted him. I guess u never can tell til ya draft them.

Yeah, I was wrong too on him. Still, I do defend that we need more NTs.

 

[nate dizzle]

Ridge looked awful. He was made 2 look foolish. he was so far out of position on those big runs that he was a huge liability. That guy is a bust and I was sure wrong about him when we drafted him. I guess u never can tell til ya draft them.

He may very well turn out to be a solid run stuffing DT, but epic poems lamenting his loss are just way too premature.

 

[INCowboysFan]

For the most part, we are getting gashed on the edges, not up the middle.

 

[nate dizzle]

For the most part, we are getting gashed on the edges, not up the middle.

We really suck at stopping outside runs, pitches, and screens. Which is surprising considering the speed we have on this team. Is it a football IQ thing? Slow to identify the play? Honest question.