Our Defense Has No Toughness!

[Everson24]

After watching Thursday night's Titans/Steelers game and then watching the Bears/ Packers game last night I came away wishing we played defense with the attitude those guys play with. It seems that their players were all trying to beat the other guys to the ball and when they got there they delivered big blows and punished the offense.

I just don't see our defense play with any kind of toughness or attitude. When we "tackle" a running back we grab at the ankles and let him drag our linebackers 3 to 4 yards down the field (watch Cadillac Williams completely destroy Ken Hamlin in the first quarter). And then throw in our complete lack of ability to create turnovers (the Packers had half our season's total in their first game alone). Don't even mention how Cutler threw the ball right to them, we played our share of bad QBs last year and still couldn't get INT's.

Don't get me wrong. I'll take the win and acknowledge that we did just enough on defense to do that, But with all the high draft picks spent on defense over the years (not to mention hiring a defensive coordinator as a head coach) I expect a hard hitting, turnover creating defense that strikes fear into the opponent.

Unfortunately our defense reflects the personality of the head coach. We just try to stay positive and try not to hurt anyones feelings.

 

[adbutcher]

After watching Thursday night's Titans/Steelers game and then watching the Bears/ Packers game last night I came away wishing we played defense with the attitude those guys play with. It seems that their players were all trying to beat the other guys to the ball and when they got there they delivered big blows and punished the offense.

I just don't see our defense play with any kind of toughness or attitude. When we "tackle" a running back we grab at the ankles and let him drag our linebackers 3 to 4 yards down the field. And then throw in our complete lack of ability to create turnovers (the Packers had half our season's total in their first game alone). Don't even mention how Cutler threw the ball right to them, we played our share of bad QBs last year and still couldn't get INT's.

Don't get me wrong. I'll take the win and acknowledge that we did just enough on defense to do that, But with all the high draft picks spent on defense over the years (not to mention hiring a defensive coordinator as a head coach) I expect a hard hitting, turnover creating defense that strikes fear into the opponent.

Unfortunately our defense reflects the personality of the head coach. We just try to stay positive and try not to hurt anyones feelings.

After we have a game where we cause 4 turnovers and hold the opponent to under 14 will you come back and give praise? I suspect you just lurk around just to take pot shots at a Wade, win, lose, or draw.

The fact of the matter is, we knew nothing of their tendencies or schemes. It is the equivalent of flying blind against a team who also got paid to play and contrary to popular belief Tampa ain't chopped liver.

 

[Everson24]

After we have a game where we cause 4 turnovers and hold the opponent to under 14 will you come back and give praise? I suspect you just lurk around just to take pot shots at a Wade, win, lose, or draw.

The fact of the matter is, we knew nothing of their tendencies or schemes. It is the equivalent of flying blind against a team who also got paid to play and contrary to popular belief Tampa ain't chopped liver.

I will give credit where credit is due. However, this is our third year playing the Phillips 3-4 and I just don't see the killer attitude that other teams show year in and year out with less pedigree than our defense.

The fourth quarter choke job against the Steelers when we were up 13-3 with ten minutes left, the two 70+ yard runs we gave up when Romo was bringing us back against the Ravens and the 44-6 season finale debacle against our division rival with the playoffs on the line give me very good reason to doubt the heart of this team and it's soft defense.

I can honestly say I have never been more disappointed by a Cowboys season in my life and I've been a loyal fan since the early 70's.

 

[adbutcher]

I will give credit where credit is due. However, this is our third year playing the Phillips 3-4 and I just don't see the killer attitude that other teams show year in and year out with less pedigree than our defense.

The fourth quarter choke job against the Steelers when we were up 13-3 with ten minutes left, the two 70+ yard runs we gave up when Romo was bringing us back against the Ravens and the 44-6 season finale debacle against our division rival with the playoffs on the line give me very good reason to doubt the heart of this team and it's soft defense.

I can honestly say I have never been more disappointed by a Cowboys season in my life and I've been a loyal fan since the early 70's.

Great job with stating the negatives since Wade has been here. Now can you state any positives? You know give some credit where credit is due. Our defense is plenty tough save for one player they even manage to win a few games since Wade has been here. Of course that little factoid will fall under selective amnesia.

 

[Ichill2]

I agree. 450 yds to the Bucs! Im cringing hoping they ran a vanilla defense against the Bucs so the Giants dont get much on game film. I am worried about the defense. Wade will be out if we cant stop the run.

 

[newlander]

Welcome to DC football for the last..............14 years. It's the same EVERY YEAR. Don't see it changing this year...especially under wade.

 

[StarHead69]

Did you even watch the game?

NEWSFLASH: The guys in Silver & Blue were knocking the spit outta the guys in Pewter & Orange.

People are getting bent outta shape over giving up 21 points to Tampa Bay at home. If you watched the game you would realize that our (awesome ) Big-play passing attack caused the defense to go without rest for long stretches on a hot and humid day. There were some questionable penalties that extended Tampa Bay drives. Last but not least, do not discount the lack of film preparation due to the new O.C.--- if you question the impact of that, go check out the Ravens game where they gave up 24pts to the Chiefs at home no less. The defense, barring injuries, will be fine,

 

[Doomsday101]

Did you even watch the game?

NEWSFLASH: The guys in Silver & Blue were knocking the spit outta the guys in Pewter & Orange.

People are getting bent outta shape over giving up 21 points to Tampa Bay at home. If you watched the game you would realize that our (awesome ) Big-play passing attack caused the defense to go without rest for long stretches on a hot and humid day. There were some questionable penalties that extended Tampa Bay drives. Last but not least, do not discount the lack of film preparation due to the new O.C.--- if you question the impact of that, go check out the Ravens game where they gave up 24pts to the Chiefs at home no less. The defense, barring injuries, will be fine,

21 points and the last 7 by Tampa came during trash time as they score with about a min left in the game. Defense needs to play better than they did but it was not a complete defensive failure

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I guess the Ravens have no toughness either cause they, you know, gave up leads to Pittsburgh, late, on 2 of their 3 games last year, and yesterday let an offense of the same ability as Tampa Bay score 24 on them and slice and dice them.

So does this mean that Ravens fans should be jumping up and down calling for the end of their HC right now as well?

 

[adbutcher]

Did you even watch the game?

NEWSFLASH: The guys in Silver & Blue were knocking the spit outta the guys in Pewter & Orange.

People are getting bent outta shape over giving up 21 points to Tampa Bay at home. If you watched the game you would realize that our (awesome ) Big-play passing attack caused the defense to go without rest for long stretches on a hot and humid day. There were some questionable penalties that extended Tampa Bay drives. Last but not least, do not discount the lack of film preparation due to the new O.C.--- if you question the impact of that, go check out the Ravens game where they gave up 24pts to the Chiefs at home no less. The defense, barring injuries, will be fine,

This is an excellent post but unfortunately it will fall on deaf ears for those who wish to bash Wade.

If you have any doubts about how physical our defense played, just ask Lefty, I betcha he is feeling less then normal this morning.

 

[CATCH17]

Did you even watch the game?

NEWSFLASH: The guys in Silver & Blue were knocking the spit outta the guys in Pewter & Orange.

People are getting bent outta shape over giving up 21 points to Tampa Bay at home. If you watched the game you would realize that our (awesome ) Big-play passing attack caused the defense to go without rest for long stretches on a hot and humid day. There were some questionable penalties that extended Tampa Bay drives. Last but not least, do not discount the lack of film preparation due to the new O.C.--- if you question the impact of that, go check out the Ravens game where they gave up 24pts to the Chiefs at home no less. The defense, barring injuries, will be fine,

Good post.

While some of that is true there is definetely some things we need to improve on.

Plus I feel like nobody is giving Tampa any credit.

Some of those catches they made were just absolutely amazing plays. Nothing you could do about it.

And even on their 1st scoring drive, on 3rd down, they tip the ball up 15 feet in the air and it just somehow goes to a wideopen guy.

I expect a different ball club when they get back home out of the humidity but the run defense is something to be a little concerned about.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Well, I am not ready to panic after one game, but this defense has a history of playing soft and sloppy and if things don't change the chickens will come to roost in December once again.

 

[ArmyCowboy]

After we have a game where we cause 4 turnovers and hold the opponent to under 14 will you come back and give praise? I suspect you just lurk around just to take pot shots at a Wade, win, lose, or draw.

The fact of the matter is, we knew nothing of their tendencies or schemes. It is the equivalent of flying blind against a team who also got paid to play and contrary to popular belief Tampa ain't chopped liver.

Doubt it.

Some fans have such an anti-Wade Phillips agenda that nothing short of a shutout with fewer than 100 yards in total offense will shut them up.

Check that, it wouldn't shut them up. They'd say, "Yeah well, let's see 'em do it two weeks in a row."

 

[miamicowboy21]

I guess the Ravens have no toughness either cause they, you know, gave up leads to Pittsburgh, late, on 2 of their 3 games last year, and yesterday let an offense of the same ability as Tampa Bay score 24 on them and slice and dice them.

So does this mean that Ravens fans should be jumping up and down calling for the end of their HC right now as well?

You're seriously trying to compare a defense that's tradtionally been in the top 5 yearly to ours, please. The ravens have a reputation of delivering when it counts. We won the game, but that run defense needs serious work.

 

[mmurray21]

I agree with this post. For me its not about the points or the yards its about the intensity. When you look at the Steelers, Eagles, Ravens, Giants, and even Washington, they come at you with a violent intensity. They don't just want to get you down on the ground, they want to inflict damage as they are doing it.

If you go back and look at all of Ware's sacks last year, you see him pulling the QB down by the shirt in almost all of them. Compare that to Harrison and you can see two players with completely different intentions. Ware and the Cowboys are trying to get off the field on third down, these other teams are trying to hurt and intimidate on the way to getting off the field.

 

[adbutcher]

Doubt it.

Some fans have such an anti-Wade Phillips agenda that nothing short of a shutout with fewer than 100 yards in total offense will shut them up.

Check that, it wouldn't shut them up. They'd say, "Yeah well, let's see 'em do it two weeks in a row."

Unfortunately what you said is very true.

Nonetheless, the defense will improve as the season wear on and in order for us to accomplish our goals they have to play better then what they displayed on Sunday.

Tampa is going to win some ball games this year provided Cadillac and their WR corp stay healthy. In addition to NFC East, the NFC South should be fun to watch save for Carolina.

 

[adbutcher]

You're seriously trying to compare a defense that's tradtionally been in the top 5 yearly to ours, please. The ravens have a reputation of delivering when it counts. We won the game, but that run defense needs serious work.

All that matter is the present, not last season or last Sunday's game. Our defense is very comparable to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and San Diego whether you are willing to acknowledge it or not.

 

[adbutcher]

I agree with this post. For me its not about the points or the yards its about the intensity. When you look at the Steelers, Eagles, Ravens, Giants, and even Washington, they come at you with a violent intensity. They don't just want to get you down on the ground, they want to inflict damage as they are doing it.

If you go back and look at all of Ware's sacks last year, you see him pulling the QB down by the shirt in almost all of them. Compare that to Harrison and you can see two players with completely different intentions. Ware and the Cowboys are trying to get off the field on third down, these other teams are trying to hurt and intimidate on the way to getting off the field.

Yep Ware is a big ole softy.

 

[Manster68]

After watching Thursday night's Titans/Steelers game and then watching the Bears/ Packers game last night I came away wishing we played defense with the attitude those guys play with. It seems that their players were all trying to beat the other guys to the ball and when they got there they delivered big blows and punished the offense.

I just don't see our defense play with any kind of toughness or attitude. When we "tackle" a running back we grab at the ankles and let him drag our linebackers 3 to 4 yards down the field (watch Cadillac Williams completely destroy Ken Hamlin in the first quarter). And then throw in our complete lack of ability to create turnovers (the Packers had half our season's total in their first game alone). Don't even mention how Cutler threw the ball right to them, we played our share of bad QBs last year and still couldn't get INT's.

Don't get me wrong. I'll take the win and acknowledge that we did just enough on defense to do that, But with all the high draft picks spent on defense over the years (not to mention hiring a defensive coordinator as a head coach) I expect a hard hitting, turnover creating defense that strikes fear into the opponent.

Unfortunately our defense reflects the personality of the head coach. We just try to stay positive and try not to hurt anyones feelings.

I am not going to throw the defense under the bus quite yet. However, Wade has to right this ship quickly, or the Cowboys will lose their inaugural home opener.

You cannot rely on Romo connecting on bombs constantly.

The Cowboys did have a nice stretch of games where the defense played great last season. I know they are capable of playing much better.

I hate to rationalize, but I wonder just how much of not knowing the new offensive coordinator and schemes played into Dallas' game plan?

 

[juck]

Did you even watch the game?

NEWSFLASH: The guys in Silver & Blue were knocking the spit outta the guys in Pewter & Orange.

People are getting bent outta shape over giving up 21 points to Tampa Bay at home. If you watched the game you would realize that our (awesome ) Big-play passing attack caused the defense to go without rest for long stretches on a hot and humid day. There were some questionable penalties that extended Tampa Bay drives. Last but not least, do not discount the lack of film preparation due to the new O.C.--- if you question the impact of that, go check out the Ravens game where they gave up 24pts to the Chiefs at home no less. The defense, barring injuries, will be fine,

Dude I agree with the no rest,and i also think the no tackling in practice is hurting. However Baltimore only gave up 188 total yards.We gave up over 400.Its a concern.