Poll - Which Cowboy "Unit" Is The Weakest?

[ThreeSportStar80]

I would have to say it's between the DL and the Linebackers.

 

[CF74]

A MLB that can't, at the very least, run stride for stride with a streaking TE down the middle of the field makes our defense very predictable. I'm guessing Wade isn't in favor of James unless he suddenly dropped 10-15 lbs in the offseason and comes back lighter on his feet.

We become very predictable otherwise.

James in = we're keying the run.

James out = we're keying pass.

Wade is not going to like this with his defense. Think about who he had anchoring the middle of his D last year. Donnie freaking Edwards. Wade wants a 3 down MLB period. He wants to keep offenses guessing so he can be free to let the dogs loose without compromising other facets of the defense. I'm sure this Bradie James thing will become more of a story as we get closer to draft time. He is clearly in the proverbial "line of sight" right now. (at least IMHO) Hopefully he is taking this coaching change seriously.

This has become a huge hole in our every down D. I almost feel like I only want the guy in there on goal line situations...

 

[Yeagermeister]

OL adding Davis doesn't convince me it's been fixed. I still want to see us draft oline earlier and often.

 

[Clove]

Teams didn't run on us, so I won't say D-Line or backers. But our secondary gave up a ton of big plays, and sometimes during certain games, it seemed as if teams could throw deep at will on us.

Edit:

Just want to say that schematically, Wade will fix the pass rush, but when the ball is in the air, we just don't have guys who can attack it. So this means that you can blitz all you want, they will throw a fade towards Roy or Henry and the receiver will come up with the ball almost always.

 

[AsthmaField]

That was actually a more difficult choice than I first thought it would be. We actually don't have a whole lot of weaknesses. There are things I would change, like the age of our starting WR's, or the fact that we don't have a sure fire starter at FS. However, overall they are all solid units.

I chose the DL because of the age of Fergie, who is very solid and good at what he does, and because of the lack of true depth at NT. Also, while I really like the potential of Spears and Hatcher (not crazy about Canty), we haven't seen a lot of production out of our DE's.

With Phillips, I do think that will change. I predict that Hatcher will beat out Canty at RDE and play very well under Wade's schemes. I also think that Spears will make a huge jump in production now that Phillips is running the D. I'm convinced that Spears is much more suited for how Phillips will use him than how he was used under Parcells/Zimmer.

Spears and Hatcher are both extremely athletic and have terrific movement skills for men right around 300 pounds each. I think either would do well as 4-3 strongside DE's and that both will produce good numbers in Wade's 3-4.

Just like Bruce Smith produced big numbers for Phillips and Castillo did... I think both Hatcher and Spears will flourish under Wade.

So, while I picked DL as the weakest unit... I think it has the potential to become a real strength for the team, too.

 

[Silverstar]

I voted Dline as well and here's why...

Here's a breakdown of our 34 sacks last year.

Defensive Line

Jay Ratliff - 4
Kenyon Coleman - 4
Jason Hatcher - 2.5
Marcus Spears - 1
Chris Canty - 1
Jason Ferguson - 0

Total Sacks = 12.5


Linebackers

DeMarcus Ware - 11.5
Greg Ellis - 4.5
Bobby Carpenter - 1.5
Kevin Burnett - 1
Al Singleton - 1
Akin Ayodele - 1
Stephen Bowen - 1
Bradie James - 0
Ryan Fowler - 0

Total Sacks = 21.5


Obviously, I think Ratliff, Hatcher and Carpenter need more playing time. Also, the defense gave up 3.9 yards a carry and that's just too high for me. Notice, we didn't have one DB sack the QB all year.

 

[theogt]

I'm going to hold off on judging the D-line until after about week 6 or so of this season.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

QB through K

we suck

 

[Catch-22]

For the people who selected RBs, can you ask for much better than a combined 1738 yards and 20 TDs?

Individually Jones and Barber have their issues, there's no doubt, but as a RB unit, they are very strong.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

QB through K

we suck

Thanks ah... "Bob".

 

[MichaelWinicki]

For the people who selected RBs, can you ask for much better than a combined 1738 yards and 20 TDs?

Individually Jones and Barber have their issues, there's no doubt, but as a RB unit, they are very strong.

I didn't quite get that one too.

It may not be the strongest position on the team but I can't see how it would be the weakest.

 

[CF74]

I voted Dline as well and here's why...

Here's a breakdown of our 34 sacks last year.

Defensive Line

Jay Ratliff - 4
Kenyon Coleman - 4
Jason Hatcher - 2.5
Marcus Spears - 1
Chris Canty - 1
Jason Ferguson - 0

Total Sacks = 12.5


Linebackers

DeMarcus Ware - 11.5
Greg Ellis - 4.5
Bobby Carpenter - 1.5
Kevin Burnett - 1
Al Singleton - 1
Akin Ayodele - 1
Stephen Bowen - 1
Bradie James - 0
Ryan Fowler - 0

Total Sacks = 21.5


Obviously, I think Ratliff, Hatcher and Carpenter need more playing time. Also, the defense gave up 3.9 yards a carry and that's just too high for me. Notice, we didn't have one DB sack the QB all year.

good work

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Although not an option on the choices... it could very well be our coaching staff.

Wade = average at best so far in coaching and he may be a puppet of sorts... maybe not like previous ones BUT puppet nonetheless... we will have to win in spite of Jerry's meddling IF we do win...

Garrett = we dont know what he can do

Wilson = same

Sparano = ?

Stewart = worked under Wade in SD before that with Texans

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I voted Dline as well and here's why...

Here's a breakdown of our 34 sacks last year.

Defensive Line

Jay Ratliff - 4
Kenyon Coleman - 4
Jason Hatcher - 2.5
Marcus Spears - 1
Chris Canty - 1
Jason Ferguson - 0

Total Sacks = 12.5


Linebackers

DeMarcus Ware - 11.5
Greg Ellis - 4.5
Bobby Carpenter - 1.5
Kevin Burnett - 1
Al Singleton - 1
Akin Ayodele - 1
Stephen Bowen - 1
Bradie James - 0
Ryan Fowler - 0

Total Sacks = 21.5


Obviously, I think Ratliff, Hatcher and Carpenter need more playing time. Also, the defense gave up 3.9 yards a carry and that's just too high for me. Notice, we didn't have one DB sack the QB all year.

I would hate to stat AGAINST us with opposing D-line and their sack total... the Bledsoe years(almost years... year and 5.5 games) must have been a high sack total for opposing D-lines?

 

[Bleu Star]

With all of the pouncing that goes on with regards to Terrell I am in utter shock that no one voted WRs/TEs.

 

[Crown Royal]

With all of the pouncing that goes on with regards to Terrell I am in utter shock that no one voted WRs/TEs.

I think it's just that obvious of how much our DEs blew it last year.

BTW - IMO TE is part of the OL more than WR. But it is a matter of opinion, of course.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

With all of the pouncing that goes on with regards to Terrell I am in utter shock that no one voted WRs/TEs.

So what does Bleu Star do??? He ASKS for it?:bang2:

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think it's just that obvious of how much our DEs blew it last year.

BTW - IMO TE is part of the OL more than WR. But it is a matter of opinion, of course.

Even though the poll indicates that many of us consider the d-line to be the "weak-link", virtually no one here has suggested that we draft a defensive lineman early in the first draft.

 

[Crown Royal]

Even though the poll indicates that many of us consider the d-line to be the "weak-link", virtually no one here has suggested that we draft a defensive lineman early in the first draft.

You just put words in my mouth. Ban yourself.:

I never called it a 'weak-link.' I said it was the weakest unit, per your original post. I still think it has enough talent to be effective - I think there might be a coaching issue that will hopefully be remedied.

I reiterate what I have said all offseason - this team is talented enough to win a superbowl. It's the coaching & mistakes that have been killing us.

I personally hope to draft some offense. Our entire defense, save Fergy, Henry & Ayodele is built off the draft and looks to continue on this team for a loooong time. On the other hand, we have drafted 3 of our starters on offense, and aquired the rest through FA/trade. Not a good way to build a unit.

I am sick of Jerry underrating offense in the draft.

 

[eduncan22]

I chose the defensive line as the worst -- I think it has potential to be much better with a change in scheme but at the moment it's the worst unit on the team.

And yet, we only gave up 3.9 yds per rush, or 103 yds per game.

That means our run defense was # 10 out of 32

The 3 guys on our D line are good.


Our Pass Defense was ranked # 24 out of 32.

That would be Henry, A Glenn, and Williams.

We will be drafting a CB in the 1st/2nd round.