Quick points and questions about Cincy game tonight.

[coult44]

I know these will be scatterbrained and all over the board but just some stuff running through my head.

1) Can Holloman play Strongside OLB? I like him a lot and for some reason I'm not high on Durant. I think Lee, Carter and Holloman could be a VERY GOOD corp if he can play on the strong side. Does it really matter now because of so many "unbalanced" sets in there being a difference between strong and weakside LB? And does Durant bother anyone else?

2) Where was Beasley tonight? Injured? If so what, and how bad?

3) With Dez coming into his own, along side of a healthy and pumped up Austin, T-WILL will have plenty of time to learn how to play in the NFL. Can you imagine those three guys, along with Witten in the stretch run? That could be scary good. I know he's kind of lost sometimes, and doesn't look real confident. But you can tell he has some serious skills and will be a play maker in the next two years.

4) I'm OK with the give up yards but not points thing on defense. I don't know what the proper term is. But is that a usual outcome with the real Tampa 2 that we are running? I hated Rob Ryan from the second he got to Dallas. Too many crazy shifts and confusing sets. One of the smartest things I think JJ has ever done was bringing in TWO defensive coordinators to change things up. I'll say it again, this defense can be dang good, and maybe "special" if we can remain healthy!!!

(one more, last one

5) Has anyone heard of any possible vet guards who might be cap casualties or other guys who we could bring in? I think it's to the point where even JJ has to know something has to be done. I love how Tanner ran the ball tonight, but is there anyway we were using him for trade bait? With him getting reps with the first team, along with the fact he didn't play at all last week, something seems strange. Randle and Dunbar are both good enough to back up Murray.

 

[Jerruh]

1. I'm right there with you on Holloman, dude looks like a real late round gem. Durante seems like JAG so far. Not sure if Holloman can play SAM but if they could get those three on the field together this LB corps can be dynamic.

2. I think I recall Beasley being day-to-day but can't remember the specifics.

3. Williams is going to give Dallas the ability to cut ties with Miles Austin within the next couple years. Book it.

4. The term you are looking for is bend but don't break or flex if I'm not mistaken. Coach Landry had this philosophy I think but I'm far too young to give specifics or be sure.

5. Not a clue about potential free agents but I am cautiously optimistic about the possibility of Free and Leary at the guard spots. Free looked solid from what I could tell and if Parnell can straighten himself out on the field this I-line is something to be excited about!

 

[Vintage]

Excellent post by an excellent poster. No wonder you have 69 likes in barely over 300 posts. That is a high percentage

 

[BourbonBalz]

1. I'm right there with you on Holloman, dude looks like a real late round gem. Durante seems like JAG so far. Not sure if Holloman can play SAM but if they could get those three on the field together this LB corps can be dynamic.

2. I think I recall Beasley being day-to-day but can't remember the specifics.

3. Williams is going to give Dallas the ability to cut ties with Miles Austin within the next couple years. Book it.

4. The term you are looking for is bend but don't break or flex if I'm not mistaken. Coach Landry had this philosophy I think but I'm far too young to give specifics or be sure.

5. Not a clue about potential free agents but I am cautiously optimistic about the possibility of Free and Leary at the guard sots. Free looked solid from what I could tell and if Parnell can straighten himself out on the field this I-line is something to be excited about!

Just as an FYI, the Flex defense had nothing to do with a bend but don't break philosophy. It was a defensive line alignment that was designed to stop the run by setting two of the linemen back off the line of scrimmage a bit

 

[Jerruh]

Just as an FYI, the Flex defense had nothing to do with a bend but don't break philosophy. It was a defensive line alignment that was designed to stop the run by setting two of the linemen back off the line of scrimmage a bit

Thank you for the clarification sir.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Thank you for the clarification sir.

No problem. The reasoning was that flexing two D linemen off the line gave them a little more time to read and react. I imagine it also kept the O linemen from getting their hands on them as quickly, giving the D linemen more mobility to flow to the ball carrier

 

[Jerruh]

No problem. The reasoning was that flexing two D linemen off the line gave them a little more time to read and react. I imagine it also kept the O linemen from getting their hands on them as quickly, giving the D linemen more mobility to flow to the ball carrier

Good info. I recall some years ago I remember asking someone what the definition of the flex was and bend don't break was the answer I got. I'm glad you cleared that up so I don't look like a moron when I'm talking to educated Cowboys fans.

 

[CowboyStar88]

Like I said before Holloman was my favorite pick in the draft. I have been on Sims bandwagon because I didn't think Holloman would be ready this year. I'm not high on Durant at all. I don't see how he compliments Lee and Carter. When Holloman and Sims are in there it makes them that much better. I think they show instincts and a knack for recognizing the play.


Beasley has been injured I know lots of people looooove him but with special teams needing some players on it can we really afford to carry a WR who is only good at one thing? And may
Not get many snaps on Gameday? That's why I think a guy like Armstrong offers a bit more in terms of special teams play. I know I'm in the minority but Beasley isn't going to supplant Miles in the slot.


Williams is going to be a solid player. He is big and fast and smart. I am hoping that he is going to pick it up pretty quick. Because he could become a real force on the offense and who are you gonna double? Dez? Miles? Williams? But I so think this is Miles last year in Dallas and the top 3 next year will be Dez Williams and Harris. Williams has that Harper size and spread and a compliment to Dez.

The defense will give up yards but they will be hard to score against because they are fast and fly to the ball. Also I think you are going to see a lot of TO this year but to be honest I'm a bit worried about the sacks. Not sure if we will see a ton of sacks. I think teams will go to 3 step drops and try and chip ware and exploit the seams in the defense. But as they get into the red zone it shortens the field and will force the offense to play into our hands.

Don't know about any good bet OG being released but think about that for a moment with oline a in the league seemingly having injuries and being weak who is to say there will be anyone worth a darn. Why would they be available. I do believe that Leary is a player and he has one of the OG spots locked up. I will say it speaks volumes that free played very well against one of the best dlines in the league with only a few practices. This tells me that Free has adjusted to the zone scheme and his technique is solid and that he is a very smart player. We might actually be on to something with Leary-Fred-Free at the interior with costa Bernie and killer backing them up. I noticed a few times that free made some awesome blocks cut blocks and being able to get to the 2nd level and seal blocks fast! I almost feel like the OG plays to Frees strengths. Anyways those are my thoughts


We will get you some more likes for a higher %

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I think Free's versatility makes it come down to who the coaches think is more of a liability: Parnell or Bernadeau. If they like Parnell better, the OL will be Smith-Leary-Frederick-Free-Parnell. If they like Bernadeau better, the OL will be Smith-Leary-Frederick-Bernadeau-Free. There's still always the possibility of Brian Waters. Free's versatility also allows us to look for the best RG or RT on the waiver wire.

 

[CowboyStar88]

I think they are really high on JP and with the camp that Free and Leary and Fred have had I think that's what they want to do

 

[coult44]

Excellent post by an excellent poster. No wonder you have 69 likes in barely over 300 posts. That is a high percentage

I guess I deserved that. If you weren't there for the apology or didn't go back and see it. Here it is again. I got carried away with a couple of the guys. It won't happen again.

 

[coult44]

Like I said before Holloman was my favorite pick in the draft. I have been on Sims bandwagon because I didn't think Holloman would be ready this year. I'm not high on Durant at all. I don't see how he compliments Lee and Carter. When Holloman and Sims are in there it makes them that much better. I think they show instincts and a knack for recognizing the play.


Beasley has been injured I know lots of people looooove him but with special teams needing some players on it can we really afford to carry a WR who is only good at one thing? And may
Not get many snaps on Gameday? That's why I think a guy like Armstrong offers a bit more in terms of special teams play. I know I'm in the minority but Beasley isn't going to supplant Miles in the slot.


Williams is going to be a solid player. He is big and fast and smart. I am hoping that he is going to pick it up pretty quick. Because he could become a real force on the offense and who are you gonna double? Dez? Miles? Williams? But I so think this is Miles last year in Dallas and the top 3 next year will be Dez Williams and Harris. Williams has that Harper size and spread and a compliment to Dez.

The defense will give up yards but they will be hard to score against because they are fast and fly to the ball. Also I think you are going to see a lot of TO this year but to be honest I'm a bit worried about the sacks. Not sure if we will see a ton of sacks. I think teams will go to 3 step drops and try and chip ware and exploit the seams in the defense. But as they get into the red zone it shortens the field and will force the offense to play into our hands.

Don't know about any good bet OG being released but think about that for a moment with oline a in the league seemingly having injuries and being weak who is to say there will be anyone worth a darn. Why would they be available. I do believe that Leary is a player and he has one of the OG spots locked up. I will say it speaks volumes that free played very well against one of the best dlines in the league with only a few practices. This tells me that Free has adjusted to the zone scheme and his technique is solid and that he is a very smart player. We might actually be on to something with Leary-Fred-Free at the interior with costa Bernie and killer backing them up. I noticed a few times that free made some awesome blocks cut blocks and being able to get to the 2nd level and seal blocks fast! I almost feel like the OG plays to Frees strengths. Anyways those are my thoughts


We will get you some more likes for a higher %

I'm never gonna live that down am I ? Open mouth - Insert foot....I think that's what my mom used to tell me.

 

[burmafrd]

Free was OK at guard- he was not really good. He was much better then I ever thought he could be there but do not let yourselves get carried away. He is a much better RT then Guard.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

No problem. The reasoning was that flexing two D linemen off the line gave them a little more time to read and react. I imagine it also kept the O linemen from getting their hands on them as quickly, giving the D linemen more mobility to flow to the ball carrier

couldn't get hands on them on those days--but it did give them more time and also screwed up angles for blockers

 

[CooterBrown]

The flex was designed to shut down the famed Green Bay sweep. And it worked. The tackle being off the line allowed him to flow laterally to get into the "alley" Lombardi was always talking about.

 

[Nova]

4. Many parts to your question. We're not necessarily running Tampa 2 every down is the first point I want to make. But the simple answer is-- yes. This is kind of what you'd expect to see from a Monte Kiffin defense.

Especially with what we're fielding up front at the moment. We don't have any real big run stoppers, so our guys are shooting gaps to get to the QB and playing the run along the way. The idea is to make the offense go the length of the field while putting pressure on the QB to make an error and turn the ball over. Now obviously, they're not just giving up yards for the sake of giving them up-- if they can stop the run and force a 3 and out then that's what they'll do.

I've yet to rewatch the game and really take notes but it seemed we were running a more 4-3 over defense last night opposed to the 4-3 under we'd been running mostly the first 3 games.

The 4-3 over is a more of a traditional defense and is pretty much what people think of when someone says 4-3. It's from this defense that you'll probably get the 'Tampa 2' look more often. I'd be willing to be they were in tampa 2 more often last night because of that and the fact that the secondary looked much better against better competition.

 

[coult44]

4. Many parts to your question. We're not necessarily running Tampa 2 every down is the first point I want to make. But the simple answer is-- yes. This is kind of what you'd expect to see from a Monte Kiffin defense.

Especially with what we're fielding up front at the moment. We don't have any real big run stoppers, so our guys are shooting gaps to get to the QB and playing the run along the way. The idea is to make the offense go the length of the field while putting pressure on the QB to make an error and turn the ball over. Now obviously, they're not just giving up yards for the sake of giving them up-- if they can stop the run and force a 3 and out then that's what they'll do.

I've yet to rewatch the game and really take notes but it seemed we were running a more 4-3 over defense last night opposed to the 4-3 under we'd been running mostly the first 3 games.

The 4-3 over is a more of a traditional defense and is pretty much what people think of when someone says 4-3. It's from this defense that you'll probably get the 'Tampa 2' look more often. I'd be willing to be they were in tampa 2 more often last night because of that and the fact that the secondary looked much better against better competition.

Without 2 starters on the DL last night I think the run defense was really good. In fact, I think this entire defense is gonna be very good. I hope I'm not getting to excited about it, but I'm getting more excited about the defense every time I see them...