Sturm: Marinelli Report - Miami

[Sturm1310]

Bob Sturm: What Cowboys defense must do in make-or-break game vs. Panthers

The Dallas Morning News

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli wears a t-shirt reading "HAH!" during an interview at training camp on Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, in Oxnard, Calif. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

In terms of great military minds, none other than George Washington is credited with uttering a phrase that resembled one of our favorite clichés today used in football:

"The best defense is a good offense."

To use our friends at Wikipedia, it is described thusly, "Generally, the idea is that strong offensive action will preoccupy the opposition and ultimately hinder its ability to mount an opposing counterattack, leading to a strategic advantage."

So, as we look at the Cowboys performance against the Miami Dolphins and then turn it forward to examine their approach to Carolina and any future opponents, we are left to wonder about how many of our perceptions of this defense are linked directly to the QB that runs the offense.


http://www.sportsdaydfw.com/dallas-...miami-gave-defense-rest-thanksgiving-showdown

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[ElGatoGrande]

Quality stuff right there,,, everybody needs to play well, but the supposed impact players really need to shine this week.

 

[Idgit]

Good stuff.

One small typo: "Tannehill things" should be "Tannehill thinks."

 

[casmith07]

Sturm always writes good stuff.

 

[cowboys2233]

Good stuff.

One small typo: "Tannehill things" should be "Tannehill thinks."

After reading this article, I really only have one pressing question -- does Marinelli's shirt say "Hah!" as if he is laughing at all the noise surrounding the team, or does it say "Ham!" because he is a very big fan of cured meats?

 

[Idgit]

After reading this article, I really only have one pressing question -- does Marinelli's shirt say "Hah!" as if he is laughing at all the noise surrounding the team, or does it say "Ham!" because he is a very big fan of cured meats?

Those shirts are dumb. They count 'hah!' plays and they count loafs. Problem is, it's possible to play so bad it's funny, and so 'hah' can be interpreted both ways.

 

[BigStar]

Hasn't this team given up leads in the second half? That's what we are "supposed" to be built for; pass rushers closing the game. The D will look better with Romo, but let's not strain our backs reaching for something here.

 

[John813]

Very good read.

Tannehill telegraphing his intentions. | In other words, Miami's offense appears lost and without a clue right now. |

Bingo. Tannehill loves to stare down his receivers. Really hasn't progressed all that much since his rookie year. Lazor is over his head. Everyone thought Garrett abandoned the run too early in previous years? Lazor is an expert at abandoning the run when the team is losing.

One of the weirdest elements of Sunday was how little the Dolphins got Lamar Miller going. The Cowboys were not stopping him with any regularity and he had piled up 7 carries and 44 yards on the ground along with 2 catches for 11 more. 9 touches found 55 yards and yet they stopped using him altogether. I really think the Dolphins made themselves very easy to defend on Sunday, so we should temper our enthusiasm on the great results until we see more of it.

Bill Lazor ftw.