Players playing too "robotic"?

[Rack]

It seems our players try to hard to be "Perfect" instead of just letting it loose sometimes.

I don't know why, but I suspect the players don't want to disappoint Parcells so it makes them too "Mechanical".

IMO, sometimes you gotta say "***?" and throw technique out the window. Just to and kick the guy's a** in front of you. I want the guys (especially Roy, the LBs, and the DL) to play with reckless abandon. Just like LT use to play. You think that guy was great cuz he was technically sound or cuz he was a rampaging beast that refused to be blocked?


The guys are thinking too much right now. They need to just play football. And that's including the week 1 game vs the Chargers. Hopefully it's just that they're getting comfortable with the 3-4, but I suspect it's not just that. I haven't seen our DL play with reckless abandon for years. Many years. Even Roy seems more "Tame" then he was as a rookie. But then that's probably more Zimmer, not Parcells. It seems Zimmer turns players into robots, instead of allowing them to use their instincts.


Educate the players, but give them options. Instead of saying "vs this formation, you do this" tell them "In this formation you could do this, this or this". Hope I explained that well enough. I just don't like seeing the guys so robotic. I hate that Ware thinks he has to do what other players do to be successful vs a given opponent (it was in one of the articles posted today). Don't do what others do, do what YOU do. Just do it fast and loose. I'd rather you screw up going 100 MPH then to "Do your job" but not do it very good. ATTACK the tackle instead of shadow boxing with him. Don't wait for him to give you an opening, FORCE him to give you an opening.

And when you do a spin move you might want to actually have your spin TAKE you somewhere instead of just spinning in one spot.

I know he has the ability, but like Parcells said, Does he have the heart? I know Ware is already a superhero to some here and questioning his heart will be sacriledge (sp?) to them, but I'll say it again, Does Ware have heart? He certainly hasn't shown any the first two games.

 

[Juke99]

I think there's a lot of validity to what you say.

Every PC sees Parcells discussing mistake free football or the number of mistakes he counted...which obviously IS important but should be balanced with not taking away a guy's instincts.

I feel things are out of balance.

Who's to say...we're removed from what's really going on.

 

[JDSmith]

I think one thing to consider is that everyone is equally new to the defense. Guys probably just aren't comfortable enough in themselves and the guys around them to freelance yet. LT freelanced, but it was allowed in part because everyone around him was doing his job technically correct. You can get away with one or two guys making spur of the moment plays when everyone else is in position. You get a couple guys all trying to make the play at the same time, getting out of position, and then you give up the big play. So I think that guys like Ware and Roy will freelance and make plays, but I think that's something that's going to build as the season progresses. The playmakers will get their chance, but right now I think it's more important to know what they are supposed to do and do it according to the way the D is designed. Once they know their job then they can choose to ignore it or not and make a play. But if they just start trying to make plays right away they are going to lack a grasp of the way the D is designed, and I think that would hurt us in the long run.

 

[Alexander]

It seems our players try to hard to be "Perfect" instead of just letting it loose sometimes.

I don't know why, but I suspect the players don't want to disappoint Parcells so it makes them too "Mechanical".

IMO, sometimes you gotta say "***?" and throw technique out the window. Just to and kick the guy's a** in front of you. I want the guys (especially Roy, the LBs, and the DL) to play with reckless abandon. Just like LT use to play. You think that guy was great cuz he was technically sound or cuz he was a rampaging beast that refused to be blocked?


The guys are thinking too much right now. They need to just play football. And that's including the week 1 game vs the Chargers. Hopefully it's just that they're getting comfortable with the 3-4, but I suspect it's not just that. I haven't seen our DL play with reckless abandon for years. Many years. Even Roy seems more "Tame" then he was as a rookie. But then that's probably more Zimmer, not Parcells. It seems Zimmer turns players into robots, instead of allowing them to use their instincts.


Educate the players, but give them options. Instead of saying "vs this formation, you do this" tell them "In this formation you could do this, this or this". Hope I explained that well enough. I just don't like seeing the guys so robotic. I hate that Ware thinks he has to do what other players do to be successful vs a given opponent (it was in one of the articles posted today). Don't do what others do, do what YOU do. Just do it fast and loose. I'd rather you screw up going 100 MPH then to "Do your job" but not do it very good. ATTACK the tackle instead of shadow boxing with him. Don't wait for him to give you an opening, FORCE him to give you an opening.

And when you do a spin move you might want to actually have your spin TAKE you somewhere instead of just spinning in one spot.

I know he has the ability, but like Parcells said, Does he have the heart? I know Ware is already a superhero to some here and questioning his heart will be sacriledge (sp?) to them, but I'll say it again, Does Ware have heart? He certainly hasn't shown any the first two games.

Great post.

I keep thinking back to Williams following his "assignment" through to the letter and that contributed to our loss Monday.

Remember the play in "North Dallas Forty" which was also loosely based on Tom Landry's days in Dallas--where Nolte's character catches a TD. He gets admonished for changing the play. He was chastized for not following with the program and the fact that he scored a touchdown was irrelevent.

There is a time a place when the players just need to play football and let it loose.

If there is one thing I do regret that Coach Parcells does it is try to control and dictate too much. The word of the year is "mistake". Well, Roy Williams did not technically make a mental error on that play, but it appears he ignored an instinct in order to stick to an assignment. But it this way, the coaches make errors too and sometimes players can compensate for them as well.

 

[Juke99]

Great post.

I keep thinking back to Williams following his "assignment" through to the letter and that contributed to our loss Monday.

Remember the play in "North Dallas Forty" which was also loosely based on Tom Landry's days in Dallas--where Nolte's character catches a TD. He gets admonished for changing the play. He was chastized for not following with the program and the fact that he scored a touchdown was irrelevent.

There is a time a place when the players just need to play football and let it loose.

If there is one thing I do regret that Coach Parcells does it is try to control and dictate too much. The word of the year is "mistake". Well, Roy Williams did not technically make a mental error on that play, but it appears he ignored an instinct in order to stick to an assignment. But it this way, the coaches make errors too and sometimes players can compensate for them as well.

On the nosey...great post.

It's an old world approach. Whether or not it can work today, we're about to find out. I have my doubts.

 

[K-Mart]

Besides your normal "young guy" mistakes like Keith Davis against McCardell in the end zone, Ware on occasion, special teams tackling, we have played well except for 4 minutes. As much as I want to walk in front of a moving bus, we have to remain positive. Bledsoe has been better than what 100% of this board expected and our young guys have the ability to make plays. Bill wants a bunch of robots out there not thinking and staying technically sound.

 

[Seven]

I'm not thinking so. Ask me this about 2003 and yeah, it definitely was the case. We have too many rookies, 1st year starters and 1st year starters with Dallas. I see confusion at times but not the "Drone" type of play like in 2003. I don't see BP dropping as many F-bombs directed at the players as well as that 1000 mile stare he used to give....... a lot. I think that aspect of his coaching style has changed. I see the guys having a lot more fun with football and the game.
What I also see is the team struggling for an identity right now. Who are the Dallas Cowboys? Hasn't been determined IMO. With all the variables we have on this team athletically, BP and the gang are still trying to figure this out. The players are also trying to figure it out. With that in mind I'd say they're doing a pretty good job and doing it rather quickly. Hats off to the coacing staff for keeping what could be total chaos into at least a functional football team.
JMO......of course.

 

[junk]

I agree. Especially on defense. I think guys are working so hard at trying to recognize what is going on and not make a mistake that it actually makes them tentative.

I think (hope) that the pass rush improves quite a bit once the team can recognize the transition between run and pass quicker. I know BP harped on this issue during training camp.

 

[Nors]

Funny the old world way in Parcells protege Bellicheck has won 3 of the past 4 Super Bowls doing about the same as Parcells is about to do.

Why don't David and all the "dispairers" go to a high building and jump.

We have not had talent on this team and coaching, schemes like this since mid 1990's.

 

[Nors]

They had it all figured out for 55 minutes junk. 5 sacks and a zero spot on the scoreboard. We went passive 4-3 cover 2 with Roy in centerfield and got scorched TWICE! TWICE for Td's. There were no run/pass recognition issues on those plays - JMO - those were pass plays all the way. Especially the 4th and 15.

 

[Alexander]

Funny the old world way in Parcells protege Bellicheck has won 3 of the past 4 Super Bowls doing about the same as Parcells is about to do.

Why don't David and all the "dispairers" go to a high building and jump.

We have not had talent on this team and coaching, schemes like this since mid 1990's.

I don't think anyone is disparaging Coach Parcells and surely only a fool would disagree about the fact that this is the best coaching and scheme since Johnson.

But we all know Coach Parcells takes a heavy-handed approach and rules with fear, perhaps even more than Coach Johnson did. Those Cowboys executed, but they also looked like they were carefree and having fun when they played. These players sometimes have a robotic slant to them. When is the last time you saw many of them smile. About the only starters we have that play that way are those who are "Parcells Guys" like Johnson and Glenn. Some of the kids look stiff and like they are going through a pattern of some kind.

 

[Nors]

Maybe we need to draft the Diet Pepsi machine?

 

[Justis]

Maybe we need to draft the Diet Pepsi machine?

I hate that commercial so bad, we don't need pepsi we need coke, after all it would give Ware that Lawrence Taylor confidence he seems to be lacking.

 

[THUMPER]

It seems our players try to hard to be "Perfect" instead of just letting it loose sometimes.

I don't know why, but I suspect the players don't want to disappoint Parcells so it makes them too "Mechanical".

IMO, sometimes you gotta say "***?" and throw technique out the window. Just to and kick the guy's a** in front of you. I want the guys (especially Roy, the LBs, and the DL) to play with reckless abandon. Just like LT use to play. You think that guy was great cuz he was technically sound or cuz he was a rampaging beast that refused to be blocked?


The guys are thinking too much right now. They need to just play football. And that's including the week 1 game vs the Chargers. Hopefully it's just that they're getting comfortable with the 3-4, but I suspect it's not just that. I haven't seen our DL play with reckless abandon for years. Many years. Even Roy seems more "Tame" then he was as a rookie. But then that's probably more Zimmer, not Parcells. It seems Zimmer turns players into robots, instead of allowing them to use their instincts.


Educate the players, but give them options. Instead of saying "vs this formation, you do this" tell them "In this formation you could do this, this or this". Hope I explained that well enough. I just don't like seeing the guys so robotic. I hate that Ware thinks he has to do what other players do to be successful vs a given opponent (it was in one of the articles posted today). Don't do what others do, do what YOU do. Just do it fast and loose. I'd rather you screw up going 100 MPH then to "Do your job" but not do it very good. ATTACK the tackle instead of shadow boxing with him. Don't wait for him to give you an opening, FORCE him to give you an opening.

And when you do a spin move you might want to actually have your spin TAKE you somewhere instead of just spinning in one spot.

I know he has the ability, but like Parcells said, Does he have the heart? I know Ware is already a superhero to some here and questioning his heart will be sacriledge (sp?) to them, but I'll say it again, Does Ware have heart? He certainly hasn't shown any the first two games.

The same thing was said about the Cowboys' players under Landry (as Alexander also pointed out). The difference I see is that Landry was much more innovative and our offense was more explosive than under Parcells.

As good as Parcells is he couldn't hold Landry's hat.

 

[Alexander]

The same thing was said about the Cowboys' players under Landry (as Alexander also pointed out). The difference I see is that Landry was much more innovative and our offense was more explosive than under Parcells.

As good as Parcells is he couldn't hold Landry's hat.

That is a good point about innovation.

Coach Parcells may be one of the all-time bests, but I would not call him all that creative. Even his star pupil Belichick outshines him in that regard.

This is a simple game, but there are times when you make it so simple that it doesn't work unless everything is completely flawless.

 

[junk]

They had it all figured out for 55 minutes junk. 5 sacks and a zero spot on the scoreboard. We went passive 4-3 cover 2 with Roy in centerfield and got scorched TWICE! TWICE for Td's. There were no run/pass recognition issues on those plays - JMO - those were pass plays all the way. Especially the 4th and 15.

You really don't get it. The team DID NOT play a 4-3 cover 2 at the end of the game. If you aren't smart enough to realize that, then your obviously have no clue about the fundamentals of football.

5 sacks....four of which came from the nickel.

Shutting down the Commanders offense for 55 minutes (with a lot of nickel and a few 4/3 over/under schemes) doesn't impress me. Giving up 28 to SD and almost losing the game at the end doesn't impress me.

There is a learning curve. I expected that. I am not, and this is the part you don't get, bashing the 3-4 or advocating a pure 4-3. I like the 4-3 over/under, but it is more 3-4 than anything. I encourage you to do some research and we can discuss some more. Learn the basics. Learn the difference between 4-3 and nickel. Cover 2 and Cover 4. Then we can talk again.

 

[Alexander]

You really don't get it. The team DID NOT play a 4-3 cover 2 at the end of the game. If you aren't smart enough to realize that, then your obviously have no clue about the fundamentals of football.

5 sacks....four of which came from the nickel.

Shutting down the Commanders offense for 55 minutes (with a lot of nickel and a few 4/3 over/under schemes) doesn't impress me. Giving up 28 to SD and almost losing the game at the end doesn't impress me.

There is a learning curve. I expected that. I am not, and this is the part you don't get, bashing the 3-4 or advocating a pure 4-3. I like the 4-3 over/under, but it is more 3-4 than anything. I encourage you to do some research and we can discuss some more. Learn the basics. Learn the difference between 4-3 and nickel. Cover 2 and Cover 4. Then we can talk again.

Can we please make this a Nors-free thread?

It was getting pretty thought provoking for a minute there.

 

[Rack]

Funny the old world way in Parcells protege Bellicheck has won 3 of the past 4 Super Bowls doing about the same as Parcells is about to do.

Funny how someone would read my initial post and come away thinking I was criticizing Parcells way of coaching eventhough I said the team has played like this since BEFORE Parcells arrived.

Why don't David and all the "dispairers" go to a high building and jump

After you.

5 sacks....four of which came from the nickel.

1. I don't know how many came from the Nickel, but I'm pretty sure 3 of them came on a blitz (at least 3). And at this point, against that offense, 5 sacks means nothing. Hell, we had 6 sacks against the Bears last year and still finished near the bottom of the league in sacks.


2. I'm more interested in how our front four (Nickel/Dime) do rushing the passer w/o needing help from a blitz. A blitz should be a luxury, not a necessity to put pressure on the QB.

Can we please make this a Nors-free thread?

IT would be nice if there was a feature where you could disallow certain members to post in a thread you create.

 

[ravidubey]

That is a good point about innovation.

Coach Parcells may be one of the all-time bests, but I would not call him all that creative. Even his star pupil Belichick outshines him in that regard.

This is a simple game, but there are times when you make it so simple that it doesn't work unless everything is completely flawless.

You and Thumper are right. Parcells really limits his own passing game when he thinks he can run instead. Jimmy Johnson didn't do that. That great 70 yard pass to Alvin Harper in the 1992-1993 NFC Championship game might never have happened had Parcells been coach.

The NFL has seen all ball-control teams come and go and rarely do these kinds of teams contend for the Superbowl despite being good enough to defeat most opponents. The best teams attack on both sides of the ball these days and passing games are more innovative and daring than ever. Better to aim for a 20 point lead and have to settle for a 10 point lead than to aim for a 10 point lead and leave the game within reach.

 

[ravidubey]

Funny the old world way in Parcells protege Bellicheck has won 3 of the past 4 Super Bowls doing about the same as Parcells is about to do.

Not true, friend. Belichek's attitude towards preparation might be old school-- but certainly not his offense and defense! He has a great passing QB and he utilizes him to brilliant effect. It doesn't matter whether Antoin Smith or Corey Dillon runs the ball, Brady is a QB for the ages and Belichek takes advantage.