The Defense..To blame or not to blame

[Cajuncowboy]

So here's the thing. What we saw this year from this defense was pretty bad at times. Unable to get off the field in crucial situations. Failure to get turnovers when it was needed most. Heck even making dumb penalties that kept drives alive that would have gotten them off the field. By most accounts this defenses sucked.

But was it our defense? Not really. This team lost 9 players to IR (10 if you count Josh Brent). 5 of those players were starters. So basically half of your starting defense is gone. Then you start looking at the replacements and they start getting injured. Then you are down to guys who are sitting at home eating Captain Crunch and watching Judge Judy.

And with all of that they have held it together as best they could under the circumstances. Of the IR list only two were from the offense. Costa and a PS player named Donavon Kemp (WR).

Our defense wold have been a much better defense without the injuries obviously.

I think when we see the last game's stats and a 200 yard effort from a rookie RB, we need to keep in mind that this defense is practically a JV squad by comparison. Add to that the fact Ware was hurt the last few weeks and tonight he was playing with one arm and you have the makings of a gigantic melt down.

Hopefully next year the injury bug will be behind us and we can see what this defense is really all about.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

I honestly dont care about the street free agents or the injuries as it was Ware and Spencer blowing their outside contain assignments again and again and again and again. They needed to load up to stop the run and dare RG to pass it, if not from the onset of the game, then certainly in the second half where it was clear that they were just running the same play to different sides of the field.

Not impressed with Rob Ryan. I wont shed a tear when he gets cleared out with the rest of the losers on this coaching staff.

 

[FiveRings]

They're obviously to blame, but is the blame just? Yeah there's street FAs playing major roles but they still sucked tonight, so blame them

 

[Cajuncowboy]

I honestly dont care about the street free agents or the injuries as it was Ware and Spencer blowing their outside contain assignments again and again and again and again. They needed to load up to stop the run and dare RG to pass it, if not from the onset of the game, then certainly in the second half where it was clear that they were just running the same play to different sides of the field.

Not impressed with Rob Ryan. I wont shed a tear when he gets cleared out with the rest of the losers on this coaching staff.

I was referring primarily to the players. My concern s the scheme. How hard is it to actually spy RG3? Whether he has the ball or not you send someone with him regardless. That is surely on Ryan.

But the defense is the least of our worries. We had a healthy (for the most part) offense and we looked bad.

 

[LatinMind]

Dallas D did get them the ball back with over 3 mins left. And The offense turned it over. Say what you want but the defense is what kept Dallas in games.

 

[kevm3]

The defense did their job. They were decimated and yet they put the ball in Romo's hand with 3 minutes on the line with a chance to tie the game with a field goal or win the game with a touchdown. They kept the game in reaching distance even despite having to deal with two Romo interceptions. The fact that we have not scored more than 10 points in a half in a SINGLE game this season is a huge problem, especially when you have receivers like Miles Austin and Dez Bryant, and a hall of fame tight end in Jason Witten. You also have an excellent return man in Dwayne Harris and a solid number 3 receiver.

The thing is, it's not just that last interception that was disastrous. The first one was huge too. We 3 and out the Commander, Harris has a huge return and we're poised for easy points, whether it be touchdown or field goal, and then Romo throws an interception. It's not solely on Romo. Garrett is a huge part of the problem as well, such as his game management leading up to half-time. That should have been at least 3 points. We keep leaving points on the table and it comes back to bite us later.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

I was referring primarily to the players. My concern s the scheme. How hard is it to actually spy RG3? Whether he has the ball or not you send someone with him regardless. That is surely on Ryan.

But the defense is the least of our worries. We had a healthy (for the most part) offense and we looked bad.

Exactly with the spy thing.

You put a stop to this running QB nonsense by hitting him early and hard when he tries his runningback crap. Hell he was even diving HEAD FIRST and we had guys playing patty cake touching him down, helping him up and rolling out the red carpet.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

It's hard to say with so many people hurt. There were games early in the year, like the Bucs game, that the defense won for us.

I thought if we lost tonight, it would be in a shootout like the Saints game. I never imagined our O would struggle all night like that. Offense needed to carry this game for us to win, and they just couldn't do it.

 

[Gemini Dolly]

No blame.

They gave the ball to Romo with 3 minutes so he could play hero.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Playing a team that struggled to make a forward pass all night, to give up 200 yards to rookie RB is a sin. We played a one-dimensional team never could stop them from doing that one thing, and the funny thing is JG used it as an excuse that they are the #1 rushing team in the league.

Well if they are, prepare the team for it, don't make the guy look like Jim Brown, especially when RG3 was out there dribbling balls off the turf. The D is second to blame, right after Romo, if you like the blame game.

 

[Tabascocat]

Hard to blame a MASH unit today. They did their job and gave up 21 points and got the ball back for us to win.

I blame Garrett, first and foremost for this pathetic excuse for an offense. The offensive side of the ball is relatively healthy, there is no excuse to not have worked around the lines inabilities by week 17.

It was their job to win today and they did not show up.

 

[AdamJT13]

The only player on defense whom I would blame tonight is Hatcher. If not for his asinine penalty, our offense would have gotten the ball back with about 2:30 remaining with another chance to win it with a touchdown. We had the Commanders stopped, and he blew it.

 

[FiveRings]

The only player on defense whom I would blame tonight is Hatcher. If not for his asinine penalty, our offense would have gotten the ball back with about 2:30 remaining with another chance to win it with a touchdown. We had the Commanders stopped, and he blew it.

I hate to blame the refs but come on, with the amount of stuff they let go that game and they call that? This QB protection obsession really has to get looked at this off season because it's getting out of hand and making the game much less enjoyable

 

[Dale]

The only player on defense whom I would blame tonight is Hatcher. If not for his asinine penalty, our offense would have gotten the ball back with about 2:30 remaining with another chance to win it with a touchdown. We had the Commanders stopped, and he blew it.

That was a classic Cowboys finish through and through, wasn't it?

I know this sounds crazy, but in some regard I thought the defensive game plan essentially worked to perfection. Sure, they gashed us for tons of rushing yards, but they had 14 points to show for it entering the 4th quarter. Considering the amount of spare parts we have starting on defense right now, and considering that the Commanders possess a high-potent offense, I'd consider that a success.

Entering the game I thought the key was not letting them take the top off our defense. It was the 50-yard bombs, not the ground game, that killed us on Thanksgiving. And we prevented that from repeating tonight. Sure, they amassed tons of yards, but it generally led to stalled-out drives. It was a bend-but-don't-break approach, which I think was fine given all the defensive deficiencies.

Like someone else said -- the defense put the ball in the offense's hands to go win it, and did so having already overcome two turnovers.

 

[Tabascocat]

The only player on defense whom I would blame tonight is Hatcher. If not for his asinine penalty, our offense would have gotten the ball back with about 2:30 remaining with another chance to win it with a touchdown. We had the Commanders stopped, and he blew it.

That was a bone-headed play, but after watching it more, did it look like he was undercut at the point of impact and his arm swiped the helmet? I am not sure it was on purpose but more of a reaction to the undercut, I don't know though. Either way, it should not have happened.

 

[Dale]

I hate to blame the refs but come on, with the amount of stuff they let go that game and they call that? This QB protection obsession really has to get looked at this off season because it's getting out of hand and making the game much less enjoyable

I hated the call, but I've seen that same play consistently flagged throughout the league this season (Cowboys QB notwithstanding).

 

[tupperware]

Tied for dead last with the Chiefs with 7 INTs. Absolutely and unquestionably pathetic.

Guess what the Giants and Commanders have.. 21.

 

[IrishAnto]

So here's the thing. What we saw this year from this defense was pretty bad at times. Unable to get off the field in crucial situations. Failure to get turnovers when it was needed most. Heck even making dumb penalties that kept drives alive that would have gotten them off the field. By most accounts this defenses sucked.

But was it our defense? Not really. This team lost 9 players to IR (10 if you count Josh Brent). 5 of those players were starters. So basically half of your starting defense is gone. Then you start looking at the replacements and they start getting injured. Then you are down to guys who are sitting at home eating Captain Crunch and watching Judge Judy.

And with all of that they have held it together as best they could under the circumstances. Of the IR list only two were from the offense. Costa and a PS player named Donavon Kemp (WR).

Our defense wold have been a much better defense without the injuries obviously.

I think when we see the last game's stats and a 200 yard effort from a rookie RB, we need to keep in mind that this defense is practically a JV squad by comparison. Add to that the fact Ware was hurt the last few weeks and tonight he was playing with one arm and you have the makings of a gigantic melt down.

Hopefully next year the injury bug will be behind us and we can see what this defense is really all about.

They force us into coughing the ball up.
We don’t force them to cough the ball up.
Same every year.
Both sides of the ball are to blame.

 

[Tabascocat]

Tied for dead last with the Chiefs with 7 INTs. Absolutely and unquestionably pathetic.

Guess what the Giants and Commanders have.. 21.

How many of those were because of a great play on the ball? I only remember two, seems the rest were a result of a lucky bounce.

 

[Leadbelly]

I hated the call, but I've seen that same play consistently flagged throughout the league this season (Cowboys QB notwithstanding).

:laugh2: Exactly!