Poll: Front 7 or Secondary

[CowboyMcCoy]

Which has the most problems? In other words, which one has the most negative impact on our defense as a whole?

If you vote, great. Please provide an explanation.

Like me, I think the bad secondary play hurts our pass rushers, etc.

But be specific. I'm looking for reasons as well as which general area of the defense needs to be fixed and why.

P.S.

Mods, may I please get a poll? I'm thinking I will make a donation soon, even if we don't have football.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Its a bit of both. The MLB were slowfooted and could not get deep drops in zones adn Alan Ball was terrible in instincts and coverage in general. this allowed offenses to get the ball out quickly on three step drops and it murdered us.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Its a bit of both. The MLB were slowfooted and could not get deep drops in zones adn Alan Ball was terrible in instincts and coverage in general. this allowed offenses to get the ball out quickly on three step drops and it murdered us.

I agree. Our biggest weakness is down the middle of the pass defense - ILBs and Safety. Our inability to quickly read and react in that intermediate 7-15 yard area between the hashes has been a problem.


Hopefully Lee and Carter can help in this area. But Safety is a major issue. Currently we don't have a starting caliber S on the roster, let alone a good one.

 

[Future]

Definitely our front 7, by far. Our pass rush was atrocious last year....Combined with the fact that teams had just completely figured out what Wade was doing, the secondary never really had a chance. This doesn't mean the secondary played well all the time, but they were really hurt by the inconsistency of the pass rush and poor coverage of the linebackers.

 

[burmafrd]

BOTH.

With the exception of Ware and maybe Bradie James, no one in the front seven stood out last year. Teams could run on us and our pass rush outside of Ware was nonexistent.

as a FS Ball sucked. Flat out sucked. And that caused the other players to try and compensate; and they worried about that black hole, and that caused other problems. None of them played very well.


Wade as both HC and DC stank it up last year. But Campo certainly did not distinguish himself. Really sad he is still around.


So frankly the question is academic; both groups stank it up.

 

[Doomsday]

I believe the front 7 is more critical then the secondary. Being able to keep the eighth man out of the box and still wreak havoc is a huge advantage defensively.

 

[Haley94]

BOTH.

With the exception of Ware and maybe Bradie James, no one in the front seven stood out last year. Teams could run on us and our pass rush outside of Ware was nonexistent.

as a FS Ball sucked. Flat out sucked. And that caused the other players to try and compensate; and they worried about that black hole, and that caused other problems. None of them played very well.


Wade as both HC and DC stank it up last year. But Campo certainly did not distinguish himself. Really sad he is still around.


So frankly the question is academic; both groups stank it up.

I agree. So glad mumbling Wade is gone. I really think Ryan will spark some passion in the defense. Controlled emotion will do a lot to help. I'd rather see guys make mistakes while playing on the edge of chaos, than the lifeless, shellshocked defense we got last year.

 

[RS12]

Both but fix the front 7 and the secondary will look better regardless.

 

[perrykemp]

I kinda like the Packer's approach of playing the 3-2-5 as their base defense, worry less about the front-7, and invest heavily in having at least 5-6 good defensive backs vs today's pass happy offenses.

 

[JohnsKey19]

I kinda like the Packer's approach of playing the 3-2-5 as their base defense, worry less about the front-7, and invest heavily in having at least 5-6 good defensive backs vs today's pass happy offenses.

Packers are very stout up front. Pickett is a load. Raji and Jenkins are excellent 3-4 DL. When you drop Mathews down at End, you've got a very tough front 4. Their LBs are mediocre on paper but are hidden by the great play up front by the DL. I agree that they are probably tops in the league in talent on the back end.

 

[nyc-cowboy]

Short and to the point - its the old cliche - games are won and lost in the trenches.

 

[UnoDallas]

both

we need more disrubution with the 3 guys up front

we need better not sure better is the right word but quicker ISlbers

we need better coverage skills out our FS

but what team does not need this

 

[Zaxor]

Its a bit of both. The MLB were slowfooted and could not get deep drops in zones adn Alan Ball was terrible in instincts and coverage in general. this allowed offenses to get the ball out quickly on three step drops and it murdered us.

I agree. Our biggest weakness is down the middle of the pass defense - ILBs and Safety. Our inability to quickly read and react in that intermediate 7-15 yard area between the hashes has been a problem.


Hopefully Lee and Carter can help in this area. But Safety is a major issue. Currently we don't have a starting caliber S on the roster, let alone a good one.

I agree

 

[jobberone]

It always starts up front. We need a pass rush or the DBs will be left hanging out to dry. Doesn't mean that the DBs aren't important. Just less important.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I vote secondary. Last year, corner play was poor and safety play was abysmal.

Having said this, in my opinion, the major weakness on this defense is its interior, specially the middle linebackers and safeties. (Fuzzy has already touched on this.) The linebackers, especially Bradie James, lack ideal quickness and struggle in coverage. Gerald Sensabaugh doesn't have the speed necessary to be a true center-fielder at safety. Alan Ball has sprinter's speed, but has no idea where he's supposed to be.

Sadly, this is nothing new. The interior of the Cowboys defense has been susceptible every year since it began utilizing the 3-4 alignment back in 2005. (The only exception was 2009 when Keith Brooking turned in an inspired campaign, and the combination of Sensabaugh and Hamlin proved adequate.)

I'm not criticizing the 3-4. It's simply that Parcells favored size over speed, and the Cowboys have been trying to undo his personnel decisions for the past few seasons.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'm thinking I will make a donation soon, even if we don't have football.

We would thank you for a donation even if we don't have football.

But really, what does having or not having football have to do with it?

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

We would thank you for a donation even if we don't have football.

But really, what does having or not having football have to do with it?

:laugh2: ....that was supposed to be funny right?



Anyluau, the front 7 always stands out for ALL the good ones.....everytime.

 

[UnoDallas]

It always starts up front. We need a pass rush or the DBs will be left hanging out to dry. Doesn't mean that the DBs aren't important. Just less important.

and where do you get a pass rush from ?

3 down linemen

4 backers

safety or cb blitze

 

[fan62]

What an easy question. Use Romo as an example. If the QB is constantly under pressure the ball is going to be on the ground or the pass is off the mark. That's all there is to it.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

What an easy question. Use Romo as an example. If the QB is constantly under pressure the ball is going to be on the ground or the pass is off the mark. That's all there is to it.

If the secondary cannot cover and you can get the ball out to open receivers on three step drops then the pass rush will never get there.