Sturm: Morning After: Checking In With The Linebackers

[Wolfpack]

Its really just a continuation of last year, throwing bodies into different roles to see what sticks. I don't think that builds continuity at all and actually shows internal panic mode, again.

You hear "next man up" in the pressers but the reality is" we don't know". The players certainly notice this.

 

[speedkilz88]

Its really just a continuation of last year, throwing bodies into different roles to see what sticks. I don't think that builds continuity at all and actually shows internal panic mode, again.

You hear "next man up" in the pressers but the reality is" we don't know". The players certainly notice this.

Kiffin/Marinelli have been doing it just that way for quite some time.

 

[Idgit]

Sturm did a good job a few years ago with his blogs, but since the Cowboys moved from the Ticket to the Fan as their flagship station, it seems he now tries harder to find fault than to do an objective analysis.

I wasn't too impressed by this article, but overall, I still think he's great. He's not a fan of Garrett, though, which colors either his analysis or my reaction to it.

 

[Idgit]

Its really just a continuation of last year, throwing bodies into different roles to see what sticks. I don't think that builds continuity at all and actually shows internal panic mode, again.

You hear "next man up" in the pressers but the reality is" we don't know". The players certainly notice this.

I agree. Some of that's been because of the DL injuries, but here we are going into the dress rehearsal, and we've really yet to see the guys we hope to be starting on the interior DL play together. We've got rotational candidates in Spencer and Okoye and, now, Minter, getting inserted into the lineup last minute. And our entire LB corps has the potential to shuffle with our MLB-elect trying to get himself into football shape and convince us he wants to be here. That doesn't even touch on our CB position.

I don't fault the organization or the coaching staff for all of that. Some of it is a bizarre string of injury. Some of it is the flux you get when you're putting a defense together with scraps. But more than anything, I think, I wanted to see us fiddle with our personnel on defense early, then stick with a rotation and see the guys get the time to at least be sure that everybody was crystal clear on their responsibilities. I can live with getting beat because we're just not talented enough on that side of the ball. The missing run fits and the bad safety play diagnoses and the getting sucked by play action stuff has to stop, though. We're going to give up yards and points. But it can't be like it was on that first drive of the second half on Saturday.

 

[big dog cowboy]

trade carter now when he still has some value for a 4th or 5th rd pick because they wont re-sign him.

It would be interesting to see what his value would be to a 3-4 team.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Actually, people thought (rightly so) that Lee and Carter should benefit from playing in the 4-3 because that's what they BOTH EXCELLED in at the college level. Carter was a 4-3 WLB for most of his college career while Lee played both MLB and OLB in the 4-3. So, the idea wasn't a stretch at all. The problem has simply been health for Lee and smarts for Carter.

and the rest of the defense? that had played 3-4 all along? and Carter had played 3-4 LB for a couple of years and now had to switch to a different 4-3 scheme than he was used to in college in the kiffin one. Lee is lee. he is smart player that can play in almost any scheme and succeed if not for his injuries.

this is the NFL not pop-warner football. the defensive schemes are very complex with different reads/assignments and processing and reacting. you simply don't throw a switch from one to the other and expect it to work by simply trying to explain it away. what we saw was the proof in the pudding. it sucked and nobody was on the same page. can't argue with results.

and I think we need to some serious over haul in our defensive talent evaluation process as we have invested heavily on that side for years with FA and draft picks and haven't seen any results on the field. compare that to the investment made on the offensive side and the return on that.

 

[jazzcat22]

Sturm did a good job a few years ago with his blogs, but since the Cowboys moved from the Ticket to the Fan as their flagship station, it seems he now tries harder to find fault than to do an objective analysis.

The entire station seems to have become more negative since then. Norm this morning, taking everthing that was said and put a negative spin on it, so it seemed. He can't take what is said is for what it is meant, he thinks there is some underlying "untruth" to everything Jason said.
Especially has it out for mcClain also. I used to think the ticket was heads and tails over the Fan, but starting to think the Fan has moved ahead. And I think the Fan morning guys are idiots. LOL. but they make more sense anytmore than the ticket.

 

[casmith07]

Bruce Carter is a SOLB, in my opinion. His instincts, size, and strength lend him well to playing that role on the left side where he can stack up guards and tight ends, shed them, and make the first hit or tackle against the run, and cover tight ends in the pass when called upon, or play the flat zone.

He's not a WOLB in this scheme. If we played a more symmetrical 4-3 scheme and less of the Tampa 2, he would actually probably succeed big time at WOLB since the responsibilities would be the same but without a TE to worry about on 55-65% of the snaps (lots of dual tight end sets these days).

 

[Dodger12]

Sturm did a good job a few years ago with his blogs, but since the Cowboys moved from the Ticket to the Fan as their flagship station, it seems he now tries harder to find fault than to do an objective analysis.

What's not objective in his article/analysis?

 

[xwalker]

The entire station seems to have become more negative since then. Norm this morning, taking everthing that was said and put a negative spin on it, so it seemed. He can't take what is said is for what it is meant, he thinks there is some underlying "untruth" to everything Jason said.
Especially has it out for mcClain also. I used to think the ticket was heads and tails over the Fan, but starting to think the Fan has moved ahead. And I think the Fan morning guys are idiots. LOL. but they make more sense anytmore than the ticket.

Yes, I don't listen to the Fan morning guys, but I've started to prefer the Fan in all of the other time slots. They do really good interviews and do some funny stuff that reminds me of the early days with the Ticket. The Fan is the only one with a live local evening show.

 

[TheDude]

Sturm did a good job a few years ago with his blogs, but since the Cowboys moved from the Ticket to the Fan as their flagship station, it seems he now tries harder to find fault than to do an objective analysis.

What was not objective? The whole 2nd paragraph was an acknowledgement of the apparent offensive strength? He said Wilbur has been solid at the Sam and McClain and Carter have concerns.

 

[Bluestang]

Sturm gives you the truth whether it's good or bad.

He talked about the OL was in shambles and how that was fixed.

He then talks about the defense and how it is shambles too.

If you think otherwise given the state of the DL and LBs than you are not being objective.

The irony.

 

[gmoney112]

Sturm is always a good read, I also noticed his writing shifting a bit too over the years. Just little nuances that show he's probably frustrated with the team, but he didn't used to include things like that.

He made some odd assumptions too, if Lee is back next year Rolando is gone? Why? I'm all for objectivity, and I understand pessimism towards McClain, but that's just a strange conclusion to arrive at.

Other than that, pretty much told it like it is. I'd also like to point out that I called Hitchens to will LB right after the draft. I am awesome.

 

[Silver N Blue]

trade carter now when he still has some value for a 4th or 5th rd pick because they wont re-sign him.

Not a big trade guy esp in a area with no depth but Arizona is really hurting there and they play the 3-4. Just not sure what help they could send back on def?

 

[morasp]

Sturm gives you the truth whether it's good or bad.

He talked about the OL was in shambles and how that was fixed.

He then talks about the defense and how it is shambles too.

If you think otherwise given the state of the DL and LBs than you are not being objective.

The irony.

What I heard him say about the defense is that with them trying to get younger there are question marks because they have guys that have talent but haven't done it before that they are counting on to step up. Or as Marinelli put it during training camp STEP THE **** UP.

 

[reddyuta]

It would be interesting to see what his value would be to a 3-4 team.

I don't think he is the same player who had over 100 tackles and used the punish people, now he looks shell shocked and unsure of himself.

 

[jterrell]

Sturm is my fave local sports guy but he has been off the mark on his recent Cowboys stuff.
Or put another way it is lackluster compared to his previous Cowboys work.
Maybe he has less time, maybe he is beat down because they aren't very good but truth is what he writes now is far below his best work.

The supposed LB breakdown gets into very few specifics but lots of generalizations.
--McClain has no chance to remain here when Lee returns?
says whom exactly? Didn't he just spend the rest of the blog telling us we have 1 SLB right now and 1 guy who can play anywhere?
So Lee at Will, McCalin and Mike and Durant at Sam with Wilber playing passing downs and acting as SLB in case of any injury elsewhere is bad and not possible?

If this is a breakdown of this week where are the specific plays where Carter was stuck to an OL? Can't be that hard to find if he is so bad at fighting off blocks.
Why are we generalizing in a breakdown? That's just lazy and belongs here not in an article by an accomplished sports journo.

FWIW I don't mightily disagree with his sentiment regarding any particular players.
I think there are far harsher things he could say that are backed up by evidence.
But he is pretty shallow in giving us any of that evidence and seems quite content to just generalize.
AFAIK the entire reason he started doing this was to provide a higher quality of content.
I wish he'd meet the bar he set previously.

 

[jterrell]

Yes, I don't listen to the Fan morning guys, but I've started to prefer the Fan in all of the other time slots. They do really good interviews and do some funny stuff that reminds me of the early days with the Ticket. The Fan is the only one with a live local evening show.

I can't listen more than a few mins to the Ticket morning show. There's not a guy on that show that even appears to like sports at this point in their lives.

The Fan is also pretty bad in the morning so its pick your poison.

I do like the rest of the day from the Fan and I still listen to BAD radio a fair amount. --tho Bob has started clinging to agenda instead of dispelling that nonsense as he used to do.

 

[Sasquatch]

That was an uplifting read.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

His comments on McClain aren't exactly positive. Let's hope McClain is just shaking off the rust.

"Oh, sure, Rolando McClain is here and the Cowboys desperately want him to take this position and run with it, but from all I have seen to this point, McClain has done very little to show that he can be anything better than serviceable. He is big and full of ability, but if you are not fit and fired up, then you can quickly become a liability.

I have no idea how his body is snapping back into NFL shape, but for much of Saturday night against Baltimore, it was very ordinary stuff from the standout at Alabama. You just don't see that destructive force that existed a few years back where he attacked the line and blew up plays. Now, in fairness, the defensive tackles are often getting shoved back into his lap, but I just don't see him going north very often.

From all I can see from McClain, he still is a ways away from being that guy we all remembered. And, when you read stories that indicate his heart just isn't really into it, it all seems to make more sense. "​

He needs to rewatch 3rd and 2 then. His attacking the gap and blowing up the FB kicked the RB outside and gave the play a chance. He missed it but it was exactly what he was talking about.