Six Teams that will give the Cowboys Trouble in 2005

[SkinsandTerps]

I honestly want to know why so many of you think that the Carolina Panthers are going to be a great or competitive team this season......

And jt, you and I will discuss the Commanders talent level on a different thread at some point in the future I am certain.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

I honestly want to know why so many of you think that the Carolina Panthers are going to be a great or competitive team this season......And jt, you and I will discuss the Commanders talent level on a different thread at some point in the future I am certain.

Last year, Carolina's overall standing in the NFC was 8; Washington was 9 (I Believe your team will surprise a lot of teams with upsets this year; perhaps even the Eagles; or not).

Point is, Carolina had a end-of-season surge that kicked them right over top of your standing. They've tewaked some positions in the draft that promise to be improvements.


*yz-Philadelphia 13-3-0


2 yz-Atlanta 11-5-0
8 Carolina7-9-0
9 Washington6-10-0

10 N.Y. Giants6-10-0

13 Dallas6-10-0

There's no hard-N-fast formula to determine there worth (we all know that), but on paper, based on previous year standings, they will not be scrubs!

 

[Waffle]

1 game, what are you referring to? Don't the Steelers and Ravens run the 3-4?
Are they easy to run on? Didn't Parcells use the 3-4 with the Giants and were they easy for us to run on. I don't think so.

Hos is right, Kartr. The major knock on the 3-4 is that while it does create pressure and at times confuses opposing QBs, it's susceptible to giving up yards via the run. Last season's 3-4 teams did indeed fair better against the run than in years past, but primarily because their opponents decided to pass a majority of the time.

For example, Pittsburgh and San Diego both finished in the top 10 in yards/carry rushing defense. But both of these teams, usually playing with a lead in 2004 I might add, ranked 31st and 32nd in rushing attempts/game by their opponents. So naturally, their rushing defense looks better on paper simply by default because their opponents were abandoning the run and throwing the ball in the second half to try and catch up.

Oakland, who ran a 3-4 last year, faired decent against the run when you look at yards/carry. However, they gave up more rushing TDs than any team in the league except for SF and Cleveland in 2004.

Not even the big time 3-4 supporters like Nors and HH ever said we should make the switch so "we can stop the run." It's all about QB pressure and sacks when they are selling the 3-4 to the rest of us.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

Six Teams that stand in your way (there are more, but these six are 2005 standouts non-NFC-East Teams). How will the 2005 Draft picks impact -- take a look ...

San Diego
Merriman, ShawneOLBMaryland
Castillo, Luis DTNorthwestern
Jackson, Vincent Northern Colorado
Sproles, Darren Kansas State
Britt, WesleyOT Alabama
Sims, Wes Oklahoma
Mruczkowski, Scott Bowling Green

Oakland
Washington, Fabian Nebraska
Routt, Stanford Houston
Walter, Andrew Arizona State
Morrison, Kirk San Diego State
Hawthorne, AnttaJ Wisconsin
Riddle, Ryan California
McMahon, Pete Iowa

Seattle
Spencer, Chris Mississippi
Tatupu, LofaI Southern California
Greene, David Georgia
Hill, Leroy Clemson
Willis, Ray Florida State
Huckeba, JebOL Arkansas
Jackson, Tony Iowa
Wortham, Cornelius Alabama
Nienhuis, Doug Oregon State

ArizonaRolle, Antrel Miami (Fla.)
Arrington, J.J.RB California
Green, EricCB Virginia Tech
Blackstock, Darryl Virginia
Brown, Elton Virginia
Mitchell, Lance Oklahoma
McCoy, LeRon Indiana (Pa.)

Denver
Williams, Darrent Oklahoma State
Paymah, KarlCB Washington State
Foxworth, Domonique Maryland
Clarett, Maurice Ohio State
Myers, Chris Miami (Fla.)
Ernster, PaulP Northern Arizona

St. LouisBarron, Alex Florida State
Bartell, Ronald Howard
Atogwe, Oshiomogho Stanford
Incognito, Richie Nebraska
Carter, Jerome Florida State
Terrell, ClaudeG New Mexico
Collins, Jerome Notre Dame
Ridgeway, Dante Ball State
Hodges, Reggie Ball State
Fitzpatrick, Ryan Harvard
Hedgecock, Madison North Carolina

http://www.nfl.com/draft/drafttracker/school/AUB
This should prove to be an interesting contrast.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Hos is right, Kartr. The major knock on the 3-4 is that while it does create pressure and at times confuses opposing QBs, it's susceptible to giving up yards via the run. Last season's 3-4 teams did indeed fair better against the run than in years past, but primarily because their opponents decided to pass a majority of the time.

For example, Pittsburgh and San Diego both finished in the top 10 in yards/carry rushing defense. But both of these teams, usually playing with a lead in 2004 I might add, ranked 31st and 32nd in rushing attempts/game by their opponents. So naturally, their rushing defense looks better on paper simply by default because their opponents were abandoning the run and throwing the ball in the second half to try and catch up.

Oakland, who ran a 3-4 last year, faired decent against the run when you look at yards/carry. However, they gave up more rushing TDs than any team in the league except for SF and Cleveland in 2004.

Not even the big time 3-4 supporters like Nors and HH ever said we should make the switch so "we can stop the run." It's all about QB pressure and sacks when they are selling the 3-4 to the rest of us.

The 3-4 is being implemented because Tuna believes you can draft, find, and teach more good linebackers in this league to rush the passer than draft, find and teach good pass rushing linemen, and the lbs are cheaper to pay.

But the Parcells-Belichick 3-4 always made giving up yards to the run the cardinal sin, which is why after the Pats SB year in 2001, the inability to stop the run in 2002 persuaded Mumbles to sign Ted Washington, and shore up the LB corps with Roosevelt Colvin, who ended up getting hurt...but Bruschi and Johnson picked up the slack.

Parcells 3-4 with the Jets was highly dependent on Mo Lewis and Marvin Jones as last line of defense run stoppers, not just Fergy at the point of attack.

We shall see, but Tuna won't tolerate a sloppy run defense. You'll see rush/blitz quickly become a secondary concern if that's the case.

 

[kartr]

Hos is right, Kartr. The major knock on the 3-4 is that while it does create pressure and at times confuses opposing QBs, it's susceptible to giving up yards via the run. Last season's 3-4 teams did indeed fair better against the run than in years past, but primarily because their opponents decided to pass a majority of the time.

For example, Pittsburgh and San Diego both finished in the top 10 in yards/carry rushing defense. But both of these teams, usually playing with a lead in 2004 I might add, ranked 31st and 32nd in rushing attempts/game by their opponents. So naturally, their rushing defense looks better on paper simply by default because their opponents were abandoning the run and throwing the ball in the second half to try and catch up.

Oakland, who ran a 3-4 last year, faired decent against the run when you look at yards/carry. However, they gave up more rushing TDs than any team in the league except for SF and Cleveland in 2004.

Not even the big time 3-4 supporters like Nors and HH ever said we should make the switch so "we can stop the run." It's all about QB pressure and sacks when they are selling the 3-4 to the rest of us.

Okay. I wont belabor the point, I was just asking a question. I don't claim to be an expert X's and O's guy, but I do have a good feel about drafting and overall team building. Those are issues that I get revved about, for instance, I love Roy Williams because I'm a Sooner fan, but I would have drafted John Henderson in round 1 in 2002 and Lamont Thompson in round two and Brian Westbrook in round three. As every knows, both Westbrook and Henderson are both keepers;now I here that Lamont Thompson of Tennesee is going to be locked up long term after being released by Cinncinati(pick 1 round 2). I knew he'd be a keeper.

 

[Alexander]

Mumbles

Funniest nickname ever!