Shaun O'Hara (Giants Center) on the Phillips 3-4

[5Stars]

Don't forget that the chargers, even though they're in the same division as the raiders, are in the afc and generally played a higher level of competition. Take that into consideration when comparing the two defenses.

Good point! The AFC has been kicking the NFC's butt to long now! And I'm getting tired of it!!

 

[superpunk]

Don't forget that the chargers, even though they're in the same division as the raiders, are in the afc and generally played a higher level of competition. Take that into consideration when comparing the two defenses.

I think their strength of schedule was still less than ours.

And they played a far easier defensive schedule than we did. The average rank of their offensive opponents was 20.5. The average rank of our offensive opponent was 14.5.

We had to play 4 games against the top 3 offenses in the league. The best offense they EVER played was STL - the #6 offense, and they let them roll up 419 yards.

 

[Holloway805]

Pretty much what he said was last year they would always count Demarcus Ware as a Defensive End and whenever he was walked up on the line (and not out covering someone) they would "Fan" to Ware's side, meaning who ever the last man on the O-Line is (Tackle or TE) would immediately block Ware, the next man would Block the Defensive End, and the RB would pick up any clutter in the A Gap.

What this tells me is that teams schemed against our Vanilla attack because a Fan block against a normal blitz is a great counter. However, if we had looped Ware through the B Gap and Had Spears or Canty Slant out, they would have been screwed.

This is just another reason why i'm extrememly excited for this year.

You certainly sound like you know what you're talking about Coach. I am not being a smart ***, but if you can figure this out, what is Parcells excuse? Stubborness? My way or the highway? I, like you, am looking forward to this season if only for seeing an aggressive defense get after someone.

 

[Jake0]

I think their strength of schedule was still less than ours.

And they played a far easier defensive schedule than we did. The average rank of their offensive opponents was 20.5. The average rank of our offensive opponent was 14.5.

We had to play 4 games against the top 3 offenses in the league. The best offense they EVER played was STL - the #6 offense, and they let them roll up 419 yards.

I just took a quick glance before I said that, looked like it'd be much worse, but I guess since the broncos and chiefs fell off it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked. Saw teams like cincy and NE and just figured the comp was worse. I suppose I was wrong on this one.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

You certainly sound like you know what you're talking about Coach. I am not being a smart ***, but if you can figure this out, what is Parcells excuse? Stubborness? My way or the highway?

He hated to stunt because he was afraid of getting gashed on run plays.

I guess that's fine, just like not liking blitzing. After all, you can get gashed then, too. But it's funny how some of the best DCs do stunt and blitz, and are still somehow successful. Hmm.

It's funny: If Parcells had fired Zimmer and hired Wade to replace him, people wouldn't be saying that execution is all that matters, or that scheme doesn't matter, or any of the other excuses that are made for Parcells. But because of the names -- because "Zimmer" = pariah and "Parcells" = legend -- then it's the players' fault. Hmm again.

I say once more, some people act like we could resurrect Lombardi and have him run off-tackle sweeps all day long and have it work in today's NFL. After all, it works on the chalkboard. So if it doesn't work on the field, it must be the players' fault. Right?

I get SP's point -- it's that we shouldn't expect to become the 1985 Bears just because Wade is in town. Of course that's true. But it's also fair to think that we might be a better defense than we were the last couple of years. After all, what's the best defense we had in Parcells' tenure? The 2003 defense, when we blitzed more than almost any team in the league... And which was completely contrary to almost all of Parcells' theories.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Of course that's true. But it's also fair to think that we might be a better defense than we were the last couple of years. After all, what's the best defense we had in Parcells' tenure? The 2003 defense, when we blitzed more than almost any team in the league... And which was completely contrary to almost all of Parcells' theories.

don't you think having a better defense means that we have players who better understand how to run the defense, plus players who now have a few 2/3 years to understand the speed of the game, and who are up to strength? the only advantage I see over Parcells' scheme w/ Phillip's 3-4 is that it's an easier D to grasp, but other than that, it's the same key to success as in any other scheme, 4-3, 3-4, cover-2, one-gap, 2 gap...execution

btw, that '03 D was crushed once the blitz-scheme was figured out, which comes back to execution, you can't rely on smoke and mirrors for too long

 

[sbark]

Cross them up with some of each,

 

[FLcowboy]

Let's say that's true for a minute.

Why was San Diego never appreciably better than the Cowboys as a defense? If their scheme was vastly superior, why didn't they outplay the Cowboys? Is our personnel just THAT much better than San Diego's, that we were somehow able to overcome these archaic schemes with our magnificent talent, and San Diego's pathetic talent was propped up by Phillips' magnificent scheme?

It will be more exciting.

That does not mean it is any better. Let's just hope our players execute this scheme better than they did Parcells'.

Thanks for spoiling a great thread with your reality.:laugh2:

 

[firehawk350]

"We knew that they leave the middle open a little bit,'' said Furrey, who caught 11 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. "There are some catches to be made in there. That's their normal defense to leave four deep all the way across.

"And we knew we would be able to take advantage on the outside because they never switch off routes.''

This says to me, and I may be wrong, that since Parcells didn't like to blitz his ILBs as much as Wade does (from the little I know of the schemes), doesn't that make the inside even more vulnerable? Unless you are counting on Carp coming for James and shoring up James' coverage deficiences but then again, isn't James supposed to be the "QB of the defense"? I don't imagine a second year guy coming in (with a new scheme) and being able to run a defense.

 

[Beast_from_East]

It was the same interview, I believe. Sorry, no link. I'm 100% positive the comment was made, almost word for word.

And by the way, we just gave them 4-3 looks with the front 7. That doesn't mean we changed anything at all in the secondary.

Dude, it was the freaking Lions.

Let me say that again.

Dude, it was the freaking Lions.

I was at the game and we looked like a freaking JV team on defense. One of the most embarrassing games I have ever watched. Watching the Lions go up and down the field like it was freaking spring practice made me want to puke.

It is one thing to get it handed to you by a good team, like the Pats, but when doormat losers are celebrating on your own field, it is inexcusable.

 

[cowboyz]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/b...sort=530&old_category=Total&old_group=Offense

san diego allowed less pts/g, rushing, and passing per game.

san diego's defense is much better no question. no team would trade san diego's defense for the cowboys, whether it's due to the scheme or players is the question. their dl/lb core is definately better, but not their secondary.

until last year their pass defense has been pretty much dead last. quentin jammer has been a total bust. this past year, they got a veteran safety that shored up the defense, and merriman became a monster.

also note, before last year, they have had close to the #1 rush defense due to jamal williams. so perhaps they traded a little of their run defense for a better pass rush.

 

[gbrittain]

They were appreciably better than us, period.

We have a much better secondary in terms of talent. That's the bottom line.

You are correct they were much better no matter what any stats may or may not say:

2006 San Diego Defense:
18.9 Points Per Game
301.6 Yards Per Game
100.8 Rushing Yards Per Game
200.8 Pass Yards Per Game


2003 Dallas Defense:
16.3 Points Per Game
253.5 Yards Per Game
89.1 Rush Yards Per Game
164.4 Pass Yards Per Game

The stats are conclusive that the Dallas defense of 2003 is statistically better than the Chargers 2006 defense.

Stats do not always tell the story.

I can't prove it and it is not really worth arguing, but the 2006 San Diego defense was better than the 2006 Dallas defense by more than a small margin.

 

[Wolfpack]

We all love Terrence Newman. I would have his children. But isn't it possible that our conservative scheme protected guys like him and Henry? For all the stating that the best way to fix a secondary is a pass rush, it ought to be awful tough to find holes with 8 men in coverage, as Parcells liked to do oftentimes.

5 of those our on short routes....if you know that then its easy to flood a deeper zone and make a safety "pick his poison".

BP liked to drop 8 as a change up to catch you trying the quick 3 step to beat his rush.

No rush + drop 8 = pointless as we all saw.

 

[SultanOfSix]

I'll be happy just to see a "fing" disguised blitz sometimes.

 

[Wolfpack]

By David Moore
The Dallas Morning News

IRVING, Texas — Mike Holmgren has already begun to put together a plan for Seattle's playoff game against the Cowboys.

Mike Furrey won't be asked to take part in those sessions. But the Detroit receiver doesn't have to be in the room to know what's coming. Furrey, receiver Roy Williams and the rest of the Lions became the latest offense to expose the Cowboys secondary for the flawed, predictable unit it has become.

"I think you're going to see Seattle come out with three wides and spread them out a little bit,'' Furrey said of Saturday's first round matchup. "You've got Shaun Alexnader up there, so they're going to be able to run the ball.

They're not going to be able to close the defense enough. I think they (the Seahawks) are going to be able to ...'' Furrey paused. Maybe he sensed Detroit's season-high 39 points were indictment enough and anything else he said would be piling on.

<snip>

What the Lions did — and what other teams did in December — is flood a zone with three receivers. Most teams will alter their coverage in that situation.

<snip>

"We knew that they leave the middle open a little bit,'' said Furrey, who caught 11 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. "There are some catches to be made in there. That's their normal defense to leave four deep all the way across.

"And we knew we would be able to take advantage on the outside because they never switch off routes.''

<snip>

"It's a copycat league,'' the Lions' Roy Williams said. "This is what worked for those three teams. Let's try it for us, too.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76470&highlight=detroit+furrey

Just in case anyone didn't get the memo here....the Detroit Football Lions are talking smack about how easy it was to put up SEASON high points on the Dallas D. Not much else really matters.

 

[theogt]

The fans scream it. Who care what us fans think. Then the opponents say it. They're just scrubs, so who cares. Then the players say it. Oh, they're just crybabies, not taking responsibility. But wait, our own coaches say it. What? And, now, our division rivals?

But some people just know better I guess.

 

[speedkilz88]

Even Zimmer said it when he left.

 

[WoodysGirl]

The fans scream it. Who care what us fans think. Then the opponents say it. They're just scrubs, so who cares. Then the players say it. Oh, they're just crybabies, not taking responsibility. But wait, our own coaches say it. What? And, now, our division rivals?

But some people just know better I guess.

Call me clueless, but what point are you trying to make?

 

[theogt]

Call me clueless, but what point are you trying to make?

Was it really not evident?

 

[WoodysGirl]

Was it really not evident?

I wouldn't have asked.

Cuz based on your post, I could come to several conclusions. It's why I asked.