Rob Ryan and the Secondary

[Galian Beast]

Rob Ryan really didn't hold back. He basically threw Newman under the bus, when he said that there really wasn't enough confidence at the end of the year, and we weren't challenging receivers. He said that was the primary down fall of the defense last year.

I definitely think it was that and health. Which really does make me think that we're going to keep Jenkins. You don't want your 4th and 5th corners getting serious playing time, but if a 4th corner is going to have some time on the field, let it be someone of Scandrick's ability.

Carr, Claiborne, Jenkins... that probably gives us the best corners in the league. I know I used to say the same thing about our receivers, but I guess it's all about health and development, so we will see.

I think in our second year, we're going to have players who are a lot more comfortable in Rob Ryan's defense.

There hasn't been TOO much turnover in terms of players in our front seven if you look at it.

What new starters will we have in our front seven? Bruce Carter. Year 2. He should know the system more than Brooking and James knew it last year. Maybe Lissemore? He should be used to the system as well. I don't think we're going to rely too heavily on Crawford or Wilber. And when you look at our depth players, I think they're going to all have larger roles. Lissemore, Butler, Brent.

I think our defense is going to be really good this year. If you think about us getting a redshirted Bruce Carter, Dan Connor, Morris Claiborne, Brandon Carr, Tyrone Crawford, Kyle Wilber, and Matt Johnson.

I would be really happy if Matt Johnson can win that job at FS, but it's probably not going to happen year one. Poole was brought in for a reason. He knows the system, and hopefully has more range than elam.

 

[theogt]

I recommend people listening to that interview. It was a good one. Will make you feel pretty good about Carter as well.

 

[Frozen700]

Rob Ryan really didn't hold back. He basically threw Newman under the bus, when he said that there really wasn't enough confidence at the end of the year, and we weren't challenging receivers. He said that was the primary down fall of the defense last year.

I definitely think it was that and health. Which really does make me think that we're going to keep Jenkins. You don't want your 4th and 5th corners getting serious playing time, but if a 4th corner is going to have some time on the field, let it be someone of Scandrick's ability.

Carr, Claiborne, Jenkins... that probably gives us the best corners in the league. I know I used to say the same thing about our receivers, but I guess it's all about health and development, so we will see.

I think in our second year, we're going to have players who are a lot more comfortable in Rob Ryan's defense.

There hasn't been TOO much turnover in terms of players in our front seven if you look at it.

What new starters will we have in our front seven? Bruce Carter. Year 2. He should know the system more than Brooking and James knew it last year. Maybe Lissemore? He should be used to the system as well. I don't think we're going to rely too heavily on Crawford or Wilber. And when you look at our depth players, I think they're going to all have larger roles. Lissemore, Butler, Brent.

I think our defense is going to be really good this year. If you think about us getting a redshirted Bruce Carter, Dan Connor, Morris Claiborne, Brandon Carr, Tyrone Crawford, Kyle Wilber, and Matt Johnson.

I would be really happy if Matt Johnson can win that job at FS, but it's probably not going to happen year one. Poole was brought in for a reason. He knows the system, and hopefully has more range than elam.

This is how you know, **** got real.

For him to not sugar coat anything, basically saying Newman, Ball, and walker(all that are gone) just flat out didn't cut it. I like it

We will see a different Defense...we may not completely dominate, but you will see more consistency....

I'll give it another year or 2....with everyone working together, till you see a baltimore type stout D...with Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Chris Mcalister, Rolle ect...back in the days D

 

[Stryker44]

What happened with Newman? Age? Injuries?

It wasn't all that long ago that he was one of the best CBs in the NFL and could muzzle a teams best receiver.

 

[Galian Beast]

This is how you know, **** got real.

For him to not sugar coat anything, basically saying Newman, Ball, and walker(all that are gone) just flat out didn't cut it. I like it

We will see a different Defense...we may not completely dominate, but you will see more consistency....

I'll give it another year or 2....with everyone working together, till you see a baltimore type stout D...with Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Chris Mcalister, Rolle ect...back in the days D

Not just Newman, Walker, and Ball, but Campo and Maxie too.

No one except Sensabaugh should have a similar role from last year. Scandrick should see the field a lot less, and Jenkins' role should be altered.

 

[Frozen700]

Not just Newman, Walker, and Ball, but Campo and Maxie too.

No one except Sensabaugh should have a similar role from last year. Scandrick should see the field a lot less, and Jenkins' role should be altered.

I agree....Sensy was the only real bright spot from last year.

Stats may not back it up....but if you watch the game, you see him flying all over the place...

But like Rob said, after a while playing with guys who have no confidence, and not communicating...**** will hit the fan, and everybody will get categorized as horrible.

 

[Galian Beast]

You know I looked at Baltimore's defense a while back to see when they became really good. And it's really a flash in the pan type thing. They had Ray Lewis for years, but I guess he wasn't much of a leader originally. They got some help on the backend, and all of a sudden they were a great defense.

Ray Lewis was drafted in 1996. Ravens didn't win their super bowl until 5 years later in the 2000 season.

In 1998 their defense ranked 16 in points, 22nd in yards.

In 1999 their defense jumped to 6th and 2nd respectively.

Who did they draft in 1999?

Chris McAlister.

The next year they were 1st and 2nd respectively.

Ed Reed wasn't added until after they won their super bowl.

 

[Galian Beast]

I agree....Sensy was the only real bright spot from last year.

Stats may not back it up....but if you watch the game, you see him flying all over the place...

But like Rob said, after a while playing with guys who have no confidence, and not communicating...**** will hit the fan, and everybody will get categorized as horrible.

I really think players like Bruce Carter are going to make a huge difference. He will look completely different than Brooking or James. You have more speed and athleticism than we've seen at that position in forever...

The faster he comes along with the reading of offenses and understanding of the defense, the quicker this defense will probably flourish.

I've been up and down on Spencer, but honestly I think he fits a role, and with all the pieces around him getting better, I think he will become better by default. It's the same with our safeties. If Sensabaugh doesn't get hurt, we probably beat the lions. His height and athleticism really make a difference. And he can really help shut teams tall corners and tight ends down.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm going to homer out and say this defense could be dominant this year. I'm not talking 2001 Raven's kinda dominant, but top-5 certainly.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Newman deserved to be thrown under the bus. That little 5-yard out pattern from Manning to Cruz was ridiculous.

 

[Frozen700]

I really think players like Bruce Carter are going to make a huge difference. He will look completely different than Brooking or James. You have more speed and athleticism than we've seen at that position in forever...

The faster he comes along with the reading of offenses and understanding of the defense, the quicker this defense will probably flourish.

I've been up and down on Spencer, but honestly I think he fits a role, and with all the pieces around him getting better, I think he will become better by default. It's the same with our safeties. If Sensabaugh doesn't get hurt, we probably beat the lions. His height and athleticism really make a difference. And he can really help shut teams tall corners and tight ends down.

Agreed bro.

And with Lee and Bruce, it would be light years better than Keith and James. If a RB cuts to the outside, we didn't have the lateral speed to catch him. Then on play action, with the LB's once sucked in, they didn't have the quickness to react and quickly get back in position.

Now we have that.....just have to work more with Bruce, I love this fast, ball hawking Defense we are developing

 

[Frozen700]

Newman deserved to be thrown under the bus. That little 5-yard out pattern from Manning to Cruz was ridiculous.

Yeah Cruz caught it, he looked so disgusting, with that little hesitant jog.

Then just got out ran by a mile. Loved the guy, but I am so confident, now that he is gone.

 

[Galian Beast]

I'm going to homer out and say this defense could be dominant this year. I'm not talking 2001 Raven's kinda dominant, but top-5 certainly.

I think what you want to be is in that low 200 points range, and I absolutely think we can do that.

I think replacing Brooking/James with Carter/Connor and improving our secondary gives us one of the best back ends in the nfl. I think our front has been pretty stout against the run as well. We were 7th against the run, but the difference between us and the 2nd place team was 7 yards per game. Only San Fran was really head over shoulders better than anyone in that group.

I just hurts you when you're 23rd in passing yards per game. We gave up 70 yards more per game than the best team in the nfl. That's a huge difference. But you have to remember that in large part we have a completely new secondary.

People want to be conservative in their expectations, but in this sense it doesn't make sense.

Imagine a scenario where you drive a Toyota Corolla in a race, and you come in 7th place out of 10. If you replace that Corolla with a GTR, you don't expect to say, hey you know we can probably jump up 2 or 3 spaces... no you probably expect to come in first now.

If you're top 10 in both running and passing defense, you're going to be a top 5 defense at least in yards, and likely in points as well.

 

[Galian Beast]

Agreed bro.

And with Lee and Bruce, it would be light years better than Keith and James. If a RB cuts to the outside, we didn't have the lateral speed to catch him. Then on play action, with the LB's once sucked in, they didn't have the quickness to react and quickly get back in position.

Now we have that.....just have to work more with Bruce, I love this fast, ball hawking Defense we are developing

i think that is a huge key. I think we may have to retool the defensive line next year, depending on Ratliff, but I really believe that we have basically everything we need in the back end.

 

[Frozen700]

i think that is a huge key. I think we may have to retool the defensive line next year, depending on Ratliff, but I really believe that we have basically everything we need in the back end.

Agreed

If the D-Line Pans out...Man we will be amazing

Ratliff we already know he is awesome once his motor is going....Hatcher took a big step last year...if he improves even a little...that would be great. ? at the LDE....hopefully somebody steps up, big. Like Miles Austin out of nowhere big.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think what you want to be is in that low 200 points range, and I absolutely think we can do that.

I think getting the points-given-up under 300 would indicate this is a very good defense.

 

[Cowboyz88]

Ryan couldn't have basically thrown Newman under the bus.

In regards to Newman, there were MANY know-it-all fans raking others over the coals with the patented "you don't know football" dribble.

Newman was "misunderstood," and from what I recall, "no one targets a CB in a zone defense."

Heck, from what these "genius" fans have said, we should be rolling Newman and James out again, to play right next to RW31.

I'll say it again, just because they wear the star doesn't mean they're beyond reproach, so please try to be somewhat objective when fellow Cowboys fans bring up a dissenting opinion about a player.

Okay, off my soapbox. I really hope this is the year the defense can step up.

 

[Galian Beast]

Agreed

If the D-Line Pans out...Man we will be amazing

Ratliff we already know he is awesome once his motor is going....Hatcher took a big step last year...if he improves even a little...that would be great. ? at the LDE....hopefully somebody steps up, big. Like Miles Austin out of nowhere big.

I think that person is Lissemore to some extent, but also I see a rotation of guys playing roles. I think Crawford can play a role. I think we've heard pretty good things about Geathers. I would like to see Lissemore supplant Spears/Coleman.

We can save a lot of money, and probably get more production with Lissemore.

 

[Galian Beast]

I think getting the points-given-up under 300 would indicate this is a very good defense.

The 2009 team only allowed 250 points. I completely expect us to be as good or better than that.

 

[Galian Beast]

Ryan couldn't have basically thrown Newman under the bus.

In regards to Newman, there were MANY know-it-all fans raking others over the coals with the patented "you don't know football" dribble.

Newman was "misunderstood," and from what I recall, "no one targets a CB in a zone defense."

Heck, from what these "genius" fans have said, we should be rolling Newman and James out again, to play right next to RW31.

I'll say it again, just because they wear the star doesn't mean they're beyond reproach, so please try to be somewhat objective when fellow Cowboys fans bring up a dissenting opinion about a player.

Okay, off my soapbox. I really hope this is the year the defense can step up.

I absolutely feel like there were players on this team that were a detriment performance wise last year. And most of them are simply gone.