The biggest issue with this team.

[DoctorChicken]

(note: this thread applies to Safeties as well. I'm just using Cornerbacks as an example)

I'm not going to go on a Jerruh rampage, but he's the biggest problem with this team. I'm taking about the biggest problem with the team that's fixable, and problems that aren't alcoholics and have dementia.

Hate on Garrett all you want. While dumb mistakes were an issue this year, the biggest issue this year was the defense.

I've seen quite a few posts slamming the secondary, mostly in the "Carr sucks, Mo sucks, Scandrick sucks" variety. They haven't been preforming well as of late, with the exception being Scandrick. All things cinsidered, Scandrick has been playing pretty well.


To find out why our defense is, um, not too good, let's take examples from some teams with good defenses. How about Seattle, Carolina, and San Francisco.


Let's take a trip down good old memory lane. Ok, 2009.



Since 2009, the Seattle Seahawks have drafted 12 DL players. That's 8 DEs, 4 DTs. They've drafted 5 CBs since then, too.



Since 2009, the Carolina Panthers have drafted 8 DL players. That's 5 DTs, 3 DEs. They've drafted 5 CBs since then, too.



Since 2009, the San Francisco 49ers have drafted 6 DL players. That's 1 DT, 4 DEs. They've drafted 4 CBs since then, too.



Now let's look at us. Since 2009, the Dallas Cowboys have drafted 3 DL players. That's 1 DT (Sean Lissemore), 2 DEs (Brandon Williams, Tyrone Crawford). The Cowboys have drafted 6 CBs.





Let's further extend these numbers.


Since 2009, Seattle has drafted 12 DL players.

1 in the 1st

1 in the 3rd

2 in the 4th

1 in the 5th

7 in the 7th

In that time span, Seattle has not drafted a CB above round 4.


Since 2009, Carolina has drafted 8 DL players.

2 in the 1st

1 in the 2nd

3 in the 3rd

1 in the 4th

1 in the 6th

In that time span, Carolina has not drafted a CB above round 4.



Since 2009, San Francisco has drafted 6 DL players.

1 in the 1st

1 in the 2nd

1 in the 3rd

1 in the 5th

2 in the 7th

In that time span, San Francisco has not drafted a CB above round 3.


Now, let's look at us.

Since 2009, the Dallas Cowboys have drafted 3 DL players.



1 in the 2nd

1 in the 4th

1 in the 7th



In that time span, the Dallas Cowboys have drafted their 6 CBs, including a 1st rounder.

Tell me, is every single CB and Safety we draft a bust, or do we have another problem we won't address?

I would have included Safeties, but then the numbers would have gotten out of hand.

You see, the good defensive teams constantly spend high picks on DL players. And guess what? They have solid, consistent defenses. And it makes their low-round CBs (Sherman was a 4th rounder, etc) look like studs.

Until one man, the General Manager, who influences every move this organization makes figures this out, can you really expect us to have a good defense?

 

[Zordon]

it's sickening, just sickening.

 

[goshan]

great post dude

 

[theogt]

Tell me, is every single CB and Safety we draft a bust, or do we have another problem we won't address?

Pretty much. We went through it for years with Oline too, but have somehow ended that drought.

 

[visionary]

this is true but not new
many of us have been saying this the last few years but were told by very knowledgeable football people of this board that great defenses were built by having great CBs

they are coming after you now

 

[wileedog]

But we have more TEs then they do, so there's that...

 

[cowboyfan4life2]

You don't build good defenses with cbs, you build them with pass rushers. Good pass rushers lead to good cb play.

 

[DoctorChicken]

Oh maybe I can't edit threads. Anyway, Seattle and the Cowboys run the same defense, the Tampa 2. Us Cowboys fans keep saying "it's old" and "it's been figured out by Great QBs" and all of that.

Well tell that to Seattle, a team who knows how to draft.

 

[egn22]

nice post. lots of info.

 

[wileedog]

I'll add this to the edit: Seattle runs the same defense we do. The Tampa 2. What's different?

Well besides the obvious, they also have arguably the best Safety in the league playing center field for them. We haven't anyone in his universe talent wise on this team since Woodson left.

 

[cowboys1981]

Off the field- GM
On the field- Dline

Need to fix one to get to two.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Its not the biggest issue. What sets us apart from the Seahawks and 49ers is they have great defenses with talent all over the field. Its not about where you draft. Its about finding the talent. You can sit here and talk about their defensive lines but where would the 9ers be without Willis and Bowman? Where would the Seahawks be without Earl Thomas and Sherman? All were high picks except Sherman.

 

[DoctorChicken]

Well besides the obvious, they also have arguably the best Safety in the league playing center field for them. We haven't anyone in his universe talent wise on this team since Woodson left.

Safety and probably best CB in the league. But they both benefit from the fact that Seattle can pressure the QB with just a 4 man pass rush. Put Sherman or Thomas on our team, and they're not nearly as good.

 

[wileedog]

Safety and probably best CB in the league. But they both benefit from the fact that Seattle can pressure the QB with just a 4 man pass rush. Put Sherman or Thomas on our team, and they're not nearly as good.

I still think they would be better than what we have by a lot, but point taken.

 

[MikeT22]

Jerry has always tried to build outside in, instead of inside out. He favors edge players like CBs over the trenches. But he's still learning on the job, just like Garrett.

 

[Sasquatch]

Jerry has always tried to build outside in, instead of inside out. He favors edge players like CBs over the trenches. But he's still learning on the job, just like Garrett.

Yes indeed.

 

[blindzebra]

The only team you can honestly compare us with is SF. Seattle and Carolina were both 4-3 teams over that time frame.

So you need to include OLBs into the comparisons for Dallas and SF.

 

[JBS]

The only good news I see is that the DL has become the OL of last year and the secondary of 2years ago. It's the unit that will get poured with resources this offseason.

I don't know if it will be successful. But I'm sure a lot of resources will get dumped into the DL

 

[punchnjudy]

A couple of those Panthers guys ended up in our stable this year.

Carolina and previous NYG squads are good examples of how you can build a quality team by hitting on a QB and some front seven guys even if your drafts/personnel moves overall are not so great.

The Panthers gm, Marty Hurney, was fired in 2012 the day after losing to Dallas. Everyone was disgusted with their drafts.

Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy were big steals for them, but even that didn't pay off big dividends for their D until the middle of their line improved.

http://www.drafthistory.com/index.php/teams/panthers

 

[DC Cowboy]

this is true but not new
many of us have been saying this the last few years but were told by very knowledgeable football people of this board that great defenses were built by having great CBs

they are coming after you now

Real knowledgable football folks would tell you that constant pressure from your D-line makes your CB's better. Well that is just my opinion.

By the way, great post!!!!!!!!!!!!