Really wanna know how bad our defense is?

[perrykemp]

Ball hawking cannot be coached. You either have it or don't. Marcus Peters is a great example. He intercepted the ball a lot in college and now he is doing it in the pros. We don't have any ball hawks!

In first 2 years in the league Jones has 1 interception (on Hail Mary), 1 Forced Fumble, and 1 Fumble Recovery.

If you look at his career at UConn he averaged only 2 turnovers a season there as well.

I think it's unlikely he is somehow going to dramatically become a major ballbawk going forward.

 

[IrishAnto]

Sure...Rodgers and Cook made the play....Jones and the contain crapped the bed....no question. But you can have a great offense and mediocre defense or a great defense and a mediocre offense. Or you can get caught in between on both sides of the ball...it's almost impossible to be great on both sides due to the cap. GB, Atlanta, and Dallas all have the offense with so-so defense. NY and Seattle had the great defense and so-so offense.

What's the difference?

Atlanta's offense was near perfect and defeated Seattle.
GBs offense was unstoppable while NYs great defense and so-so offense both underperformed.
GBs offense was unstoppable again and overcame their defense because our offense underperformed early and got behind...last team with the ball won.

It's easy to blame our defense, but 13 points by our offense in the first half matched GBs 13 points in the second half. That's why we were tied. The game was decided on one play....that pass from Rodgers to his TE deep on the sideline.

Out defense was at full strength, the Packers was a rain wreck especially in the secondary and wasn't very good even at full strength..

Which unit did enough to win the game?

Which unit did what is usually does in these situations?

 

[Western]

Who you trust to fix the defense?

The Kiffin/Marinelli hire has been a failure.

Garrett has no overall defense philosophy, and never did when he was hired as head coach.
By default, there was no one to question or confront Jerry on the Kiffin/Marinelli hire.
Marinell's "success" prior to Dallas was based on being a coordinator for Lovie Smith in Chicago and a D-line coach for Tony Dungy in Tampa.
Both Lovie and Tony know defense -- something Garrett has no clue about.
And when Marinelli was the head person in Detroit running the defense, he was never good.

Combined with Jerry's very poor drafting for impact players on defense with premium picks (1st round - Anthony Spencer, Mike Jenkins, Clariborne, Jones) for over a decade -- not one defense lineman drafted in the 1st round since 2005 & his poor free agent signings on defense (Carr, Hardy, Thornton, etc.) have done nothing for the franchise.

Jerry and Marinelli as your GM and coach of the defense ain't going work.
A lack of defensive talent and defensive innovation remains.

In the playoffs, elite QB's or elite D's are the key.
At least, the franchise has something to work with with Prescott.

 

[DFWJC]

To Heath's credit. That was a monster interception on a well-thrown ball by Rodgers. Gave-saving type play.
And then he had another pick called off, and had the sack as well.
He's not what anyone would call a major impact player, but he was that yesterday.

 

[ilykdrama]

Why do y'all keep downing Heath? It's ignorant and corny. What makes Heath a bad player? I bet you can't answer that with any real facts. That dude basically had a sack and should've been two interceptions against an all time great qb and you in here takin shots. Man if you don't sit your *** down somewhere with this nonsense

Who says I am downing Heath? I said he had the most picks with the least amount of playing time on defense!

 

[Proof]

They are not using him correctly either though. We have seen over and over he is not consistent enough in man coverage. He should be back there playing deep instead of Church, especially this week with all 4 corners available.

Agreed. I was just in the camp of believing he could be used anywhere effectively and it's not the case. Shame.

 

[Proof]

Out defense was at full strength, the Packers was a rain wreck especially in the secondary and wasn't very good even at full strength..

Which unit did enough to win the game?

Which unit did what is usually does in these situations?

The thing is you're essentially arguing against the offense as well by citing their patchwork defense. Really should have been able to roll them, but unfortunately every penalty or dropped pass or questionable play all was directly exploited. Almost EVERY one cost them dearly.

 

[btcutter]

It is because no one turns their heads! If Lee would have just swiveled his head on that TD, it is an easy INT.....a knockdown at least.

I was always taught to watch the receivers eyes and arms....when those change,the ball is almost there.

How can you fault Lee for that play? You mean you would have done better? Give me a break! He did raise his arms at the last sec trying to deflect the ball by watching the WR's eyes and arms. That ball barely..I mean barely squeezed in under his arm pits. Watch the replay.

 

[jamesdojr]

Jeff Heath ended the season tied for lead in Cowboys interceptions. He's led that category for two years. Hmmmmm. Warm and fuzzy for next year.

That's because he is a better FOOTBALL PLAYER than Byron Jones or Barry Church. I know... Byron is such a great athlete though.... who cares. He is not a football player. He is invisible on the field. And, aside from the refs dictating a win for the Packers, Byron is the 2nd reason we lost yesterday. One play. Just don't let Rodgers make more than a 20 yard pass.... Jones is right there and was in a great spot to knock the ball away if he had any clue what was happening on the field.
1. Refs
2. Byron Jones
3. Garrett and Marinelli

Top 3 reasons our guys are cleaning out their lockers today.

 

[IrishAnto]

The thing is you're essentially arguing against the offense as well by citing their patchwork defense. Really should have been able to roll them, but unfortunately every penalty or dropped pass or questionable play all was directly exploited. Almost EVERY one cost them dearly.

Essentially I am saying both sides of the ball had a hand in the loss, just the defense had a much bigger hand and true to their MO allowed Rodgers to make a throw that should never have been allowed at the death to win the game.

Either way they made more plays on both sides of the ball despite being short handed on both sides of the ball.

If the shoe had been on the other foot, Dallas would have been blown out.

The Director changes the actors but the ending remains the same.

 

[percyhoward]

It's so bad, Carr had an incentive in his contract that would earn him an extra $250 K if he could get 2 INT this season.

And he didn't do it.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

It is because no one turns their heads! If Lee would have just swiveled his head on that TD, it is an easy INT.....a knockdown at least.

I was always taught to watch the receivers eyes and arms....when those change,the ball is almost there.

I felt like this was happening the first half of the season, but then for some reason they reverted back to their old ways.

 

[Proof]

I felt like this was happening the first half of the season, but then for some reason they reverted back to their old ways.

I mean Lee was running for dear life to try and keep anything other than a perfect pass and improbable catch from occurring. Yeah I'm a perfect world he turns his head, but he had little to no chance of anything other than obstructing and inches and perfection won out.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

I mean Lee was running for dear life to try and keep anything other than a perfect pass and improbable catch from occurring. Yeah I'm a perfect world he turns his head, but he had little to no chance of anything other than obstructing and inches and perfection won out.

If there is any team that seems to be on the short end of these incredibly close plays like that, and the Cook catch, it's the Cowboys. Of course I am still bitter about the loss and could be completely delusional.

 

[stilltheguru88]

@BoysfanfromNY remember I got laughed at saying Heath should be in on passing downs? All I heard was b b but Church is better in practice if coaches haven't made the move. Wilcox is better than Church too.

 

[Clove]

There was a time I used to preach offensive line, and now I must preach defensive line. You can't deny it. A team that can apply constant pressure with 4 guys is a tough tough defense. We need 2 difference makers in the secondary, is that guy Heath? Not sure, but he did make 2 INTs yesterday. We need 3 difference makers on the defensive line.

Ideally, I'd like a FAST FAST FAST DE with smooth swivel moves, and a constant threat from the other side. Then I'd like a bull he can push the pile right up the middle, give no room for the QB to step up. This is my ideal LiNE. JERRY JONES, GO OUT AND GET THIS DONE, YOU HAVE ALL OF THE MOTIVATION IN THE WORLD TO DO IT.

 

[kumizi]

Byron Jones lack of ball skills has been a huge disappointment.

 

[percyhoward]

Now I must preach defensive line...We need 2 difference makers in the secondary.

Now, Reverend?

Dallas Defense
avg of rank in points per drive, defensive passer rating, drive success rate
2016 20th
2015 19th
2014 18th
2013 29th
2012 27th
2011 22nd
2010 27th

 

[DCowboyz]

Anyone know a FA DB this off season? Someone like how Charles Woodson was to GB. We need turnovers man.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Now, Reverend?

Dallas Defense
avg of rank in points per drive, defensive passer rating, drive success rate
2016 20th
2015 19th
2014 18th
2013 29th
2012 27th
2011 22nd
2010 27th

Good thing we got that RB to help the defense.

We improved from 19th to 20th...hey wait a minute...