Tank review

[YosemiteSam]

I've been keeping a close eye on Tank Johnson and I finally got to watch the Detriot game last night.

My thoughts? He is a serious liability at this point. I understand it takes Wade some time to figure out how to use a player best in a defense, but Tank just isn't getting it done. While he may make one or two plays, he plays himself completely out of plays several times during the game. I cannot tell you how many times I saw him lose containment on the running game or just flatout be a non-factor during the Detriot game. I was so irritated watching him last night, that I started to question whether it should have been him cut instead of Remi. (Now, I understand that sounds crazy, but thats how irate I felt about his play)

I can tell you Ratliff was a beast! He was all over the play and making stops behind the line of scrimage. I love this guy. Hey Jerry, get this guy locked up long term! I want him to be a Cowboy for life!

 

[Maikeru-sama]

If I am not mistaken, Wade Phillips said in his PC 2 days ago that Tank Johnson had the second best game on defense against Detroit.

 

[khiladi]

My thoughts? He is a serious liability at this point. I understand it takes Wade some time to figure out how to use a player best in a defense, but Tank just isn't getting it done.

Wade said he was the second best player on the team that game, next to Ratliff.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I don't care what he said, it was ugly. I watched it last night and couldn't believe how many times he played himself out of position.

On several of those long running plays up the gut, Tank was the NT. It was his job to brick up the middle.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Wade said he was the second best player on the team that game, next to Ratliff.

Oh my god, Ratliff owned during that game. He WAS by far the most dominating player on the field on either defense.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I don't care what he said, it was ugly. I watched it last night and couldn't believe how many times he played himself out of position.

In all fairness, couldn't you say that about just about everybody on defense?

It certainly can be said for our linebackers and Ken Hamlin.

 

[superpunk]

I view this review as bogus because you complained about Tank running himself out of plays but said nothing about Ratliff and Hatcher doing the exact same thing early for much bigger gains.

Wade heartily endorsed the play of Ratliff and Johnson in a PC. Mentioned them as two players on D who had good days against Detroit. In Wade's aggressive defense, we're gonna have to live with our slanting taking the wrong option away and surrendering run plays, just as we have to live with the shallow voids in coverage. You can't stop everything all the time. I'm gonna go with Wade's analysis on this one. Tank and Ratliff had similar problems, only Tank didn't make any noticable plays. I'd suggest looking at the game again and observing why the backside cutback was so wide open for so much of the day.

 

[YosemiteSam]

In all fairness, couldn't you say that about just about everybody on defense?

It certainly can be said for our linebackers and Ken Hamlin.

This is true, but I was reviewing Tank.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

This is true, but I was reviewing Tank.

Good point : .

 

[YosemiteSam]

I view this review as bogus because you complained about Tank running himself out of plays but said nothing about Ratliff and Hatcher doing the exact same thing early for much bigger gains.

Wade heartily endorsed the play of Ratliff and Johnson in a PC. Mentioned them as two players on D who had good days against Detroit. In Wade's aggressive defense, we're gonna have to live with our slanting taking the wrong option away and surrendering run plays, just as we have to live with the shallow voids in coverage. You can't stop everything all the time. I'm gonna go with Wade's analysis on this one. Tank and Ratliff had similar problems, only Tank didn't make any noticable plays. I'd suggest looking at the game again and observing why the backside cutback was so wide open for so much of the day.

Bogus? I'm just telling you what I saw. I was reviewing Tank here! If you like and time permits, I can review every player on the field!

 

[BlueStar II]

I see Johnson mainly as depth at the position. Perhaps with a full camp under his belt next year "might" be different, but for now, mainly just depth.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Bogus? I'm just telling you what I saw. I was reviewing Tank here! If you like and time permits, I can review every player on the field!

Let me ask you something, and trust me, I am not trying to be sarcastic.

Don't you think it is very odd that your opinion of Tank Johnson's play is the direct opposite of what the Head Coach's is?

I have to be honest with you, Wade Phillips knows defenses and has been around it all his life, I would have to take his word over yours .

 

[zrinkill]

Wade Phillips said

Wade said

I don't care what he said

All I needed to hear.

 

[khiladi]

Per Breer, Tank has had a tendency to run himself out of some plays. Part of this, I think, is because he is really quick off the ball, and hits his gap pretty quick. Whis should make him a force real soon in providing pressure on the pass.

Also, one should remember, they were aggressive to the gap because they were clearly not playing run, but pass, as Wade said. Wade faulted himself for this. They wanted to get penetration, and the Detroit OL, as per Breer, clearly took advantage of this by simply letting the DL penetrate deep, and the RB would run a quick counter.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Rat is awesome and I agree....lock him up!

 

[DCBoysfan]

This is true, but I was reviewing Tank.

How do you know what Tank responsibilities were on each play? Everyone's duties change from play to play.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Let me ask you something, and trust me, I am not trying to be sarcastic.

Don't you think it is very odd that your opinion of Tank Johnson's play is the direct opposite of what the Head Coach's is?

I have to be honest with you, Wade Phillips knows defenses and has been around it all his life, I would have to take his word over yours .

I'm just telling you what I saw. Now, Wade might have had something in mind when he had Tank do something that was well, wrong. Now, why do I think it was wrong? On a running play that went straight up the gut, Tank was upfield further than Chris Canty and was outside of Canty's containment. Logic tells me, that you do not vacate the middle of the line without filling the gap with someone. Considering they didn't stunt, I ask you. ***? Now, if that is what Wade intended on the play, then I haven't a clue at what he was thinking.

Part of the issue was James more worried about covering (probably because of the Kitna insult) than filling the gaps in the running game.

I'm not going to sit here and argue with you, or Wade. Rewatch the film and count how many times you felt Tank was out of position. I have watched him closely, and I'm not liking what I'm seeing on more plays than not.

Maybe I feel Wade just needs to rethink how he is using Tank. Maybe he is doing a damn good job at what Wade wants him to do, it's just what he wants him to do is not effective as it could be.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Per Breer, Tank has had a tendency to run himself out of some plays. Part of this, I think, is because he is really quick off the ball, and hits his gap pretty quick. Whis should make him a force real soon in providing pressure on the pass.

Also, one should remember, they were aggressive to the gap because they were clearly not playing run, but pass, as Wade said. Wade faulted himself for this. They wanted to get penetration, and the Detroit OL, as per Breer, clearly took advantage of this by simply letting the DL penetrate deep, and the RB would run a quick counter.

If what you say is true, several people arguing with me now how pie on their face as this is what I just said. He played himself out of position!

I also noted more than once, they it may not be Tank's fault, but how he was being used.

 

[kapolani]

I'm just telling you what I saw. Now, Wade might have had something in mind when he had Tank do something that was well, wrong. Now, why do I think it was wrong? On a running play that went straight up the gut, Tank was upfield further than Chris Canty and was outside of Canty's containment. Logic tells me, that you do not vacate the middle of the line without filling the gap with someone. Considering they didn't stunt, I ask you. ***? Now, if that is what Wade intended on the play, then I haven't a clue at what he was thinking.

Part of the issue was James more worried about covering (probably because of the Kitna insult) than filling the gaps in the running game.

I'm not going to sit here and argue with you, or Wade. Rewatch the film and count how many times you felt Tank was out of position. I have watched him closely, and I'm not liking what I'm seeing on more plays than not.

Maybe I feel Wade just needs to rethink how he is using Tank. Maybe he is doing a damn good job at what Wade wants him to do, it's just what he wants him to do is not effective as it could be.

And you got your football degree from where?

Seriously. As a fan you may perceive things out on the field, but unless you are privy to the calls and what is actually going on I suggest you defer to the dude that runs the team.

 

[cobra]

It was his job to brick up the middle.

You sure about this?

Or was it his job to beat the center to a gap?

NT is different under Wade than it was under Parcells.

If we had Fergy healthy (God, imagine how great that would be) then yeah, he might play the immovable object.

Tank's job is different from what the Coaches have said.