The Defense

[Bleu Star]

There was a very telling stat that Chris Collinsworth spoke to just after halftime. The stat provided a bar chart of our defense's total yards allowed from scrimmage. You could clearly see what looked to be an uphill climb from left (1st Q) to right (4th Q). Surely you all remember that chart. Why is it that our defense tends to start games like world beaters in the 1st quarter and get progressively worse with each successive quarter?

That 4th quarter stat was sickening. One would believe the benchmark of a truly solid defense is one that has more of a level distribution for all four quarters. I found the stat very interesting because it spoke to the overall defensive performance this season which, to me, gives it more credence. What is it with these fast starts and pedestrian finishes?? If anyone happened to grab that screenshot last night, please feel free to post it. It's a marathon. Not a sprint.

 

[SultanOfSix]

Yeah, I saw it. It was something like 880 total yards given up in the fourth quarter, and I think it was either the most in the league or near the top. If a team is winning, that can be explained by being dominant and playing a prevent defense. Unfortunately, in the case of this team sitting at 2-6, this is the definition of being choke artists.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Romo and Murray kept them off the field last season. Not the case this season. I guess the aren't as good as advertised.

 

[RunDMC]

Pretty simple really. Offense doesn't scare anyone. Backup quarterbacks give games away with dumb decisions. Defensive coordinator refuses to bench his lover Hayden in favor of a much better player. We had zero linebacker depth. DL gets worn down because teams just pound the football on us all day because we have zilch on the interior. Marinelli doesn't blitz even when we can't get a rush with our four man rush.

 

[CCBoy]

Pretty simple really. Offense doesn't scare anyone. Backup quarterbacks give games away with dumb decisions. Defensive coordinator refuses to bench his lover Hayden in favor of a much better player. We had zero linebacker depth. DL gets worn down because teams just pound the football on us all day because we have zilch on the interior. Marinelli doesn't blitz even when we can't get a rush with our four man rush.

The injured linebacker status last night, was a definite disadvantage. As was a 'tired' defensive front that hasn't overcome missed time and injury yet as a group. They are a strength when at top reaction speed. Right now, they aren't lasting into the second half of games. Injury is a killer for this type of a defense.

 

[RS12]

Lack of adjustments, and too much time on the field. Most of the linebackers and some of the secondary are complete liabilities in coverage.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

offense adjusts and rod rides out the "well, that wont happen on the next play" repeatedly.

 

[DenCWBY]

There was a very telling stat that Chris Collinsworth spoke to just after halftime. The stat provided a bar chart of our defense's total yards allowed from scrimmage. You could clearly see what looked to be an uphill climb from left (1st Q) to right (4th Q). Surely you all remember that chart. Why is it that our defense tends to start games like world beaters in the 1st quarter and get progressively worse with each successive quarter?

That 4th quarter stat was sickening. One would believe the benchmark of a truly solid defense is one that has more of a level distribution for all four quarters. I found the stat very interesting because it spoke to the overall defensive performance this season which, to me, gives it more credence. What is it with these fast starts and pedestrian finishes?? If anyone happened to grab that screenshot last night, please feel free to post it. It's a marathon. Not a sprint.

2 words: Coaching Adjustments. Oh ya but I read here that evidently coaches really don't have time to do that during the game.

 

[SultanOfSix]

offense adjusts and rod rides out the "well, that wont happen on the next play" repeatedly.

 

[Bleu Star]

Pretty simple really. Offense doesn't scare anyone. Backup quarterbacks give games away with dumb decisions. Defensive coordinator refuses to bench his lover Hayden in favor of a much better player. We had zero linebacker depth. DL gets worn down because teams just pound the football on us all day because we have zilch on the interior. Marinelli doesn't blitz even when we can't get a rush with our four man rush.

The injured linebacker status last night, was a definite disadvantage. As was a 'tired' defensive front that hasn't overcome missed time and injury yet as a group. They are a strength when at top reaction speed. Right now, they aren't lasting into the second half of games. Injury is a killer for this type of a defense.

I hear you guys but that stat was over the course of the 1st seven games. Not just last night.

 

[Frosty]

The injured linebacker status last night, was a definite disadvantage. As was a 'tired' defensive front that hasn't overcome missed time and injury yet as a group. They are a strength when at top reaction speed. Right now, they aren't lasting into the second half of games. Injury is a killer for this type of a defense.

One big factor is a lack of production at the LBer spot (the entire year)......McClain was awesome most of last year, Hitchens was to, but they both have been MIA in 2015. Sean Lee is the one bright spot at LBer but he can't stay on the field.... add to the fact Crawford and company are to busy stealing Jerry Jones money to play football and you got a recipe for disaster.

 

[CowboyStar88]

Romo and Murray kept them off the field last season. Not the case this season. I guess the aren't as good as advertised.

Ding Ding Ding winner winner chicken dinner

 

[Bleu Star]

Romo and Murray kept them off the field last season. Not the case this season. I guess the aren't as good as advertised.

Nailed so hard I almost called the cops on you.

 

[Kalyan]

I am tired of these tweener DT who weigh 280 lbs and get tired by 4th quarter. We need DT's who can't be run against at any quarter, god I wish we have a defense that we can count on and can get a 3 and out in cruch time and help the offense

 

[Bleu Star]

Yeah, I saw it. It was something like 880 total yards given up in the fourth quarter, and I think it was either the most in the league or near the top. If a team is winning, that can be explained by being dominant and playing a prevent defense. Unfortunately, in the case of this team sitting at 2-6, this is the definition of being choke artists.

I wish I had grabbed that screen. It was a very sad telling stat that left me feeling a bit helpless as the second half began.

 

[MRV52]

Romo and Murray kept them off the field last season. Not the case this season. I guess the aren't as good as advertised.

Not true, we are still tied with Atlanta in time of possession this year averaging 33 min a game.

http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/team-time-of-possession-statistics/2015/


The real problem is lack of turnovers by this defense and lack of conditioning which is evident as they get worse as the game gets into the 4th quarter.

 

[Craig]

It makes perfect sense that short possessions would do that to a defense over the course of a game, but im not sure what the excuse was yesterday.

 

[texbumthelife]

What's crazy is this is the third or fourth game where the defense has come out with an aggressive, blitzing game plan early on and its worked and then they totally abandoned it after the first couple drives.