The Football Educator: Sizing Up the 2014 Cowboys Defense

[Tawney88]

Some is objective and some subjective. You can look at tackles, sacks, etc. You can break down passes you defend and in which coverage scheme. A lot of it is looking at the film knowing the players assignment in a particular defense and with what the offense is doing and showing. Coaches know where they should be lined up, where they were supposed to go, what were the keys, drops, how fast did they see the RB and how fast did they get to the flats, yada yada. Most of that is empiric. There's too much to mention but there is a lot that goes into reading film and assessing what the players are doing including on the other side of the ball. It's execution and you can generally tell who is doing what and how well. That's a very small part of the answer. It's too bad all we see on film is the superficial part of the game although we do see the results.

This game is far over anyone's head here unless they are a very very good coach.

Hard cold Data isn't subjective but the interpretation of that data can be. It ceretainly becomes more subjective as you said when it comes to fans interpretation of the data. We don't know everything the coaches know. We don't know where player X was supposed to be or what his responsibilities were,

 

[jazzcat22]

Because at this level every players has had that level of coaching already. These are the top %.01 of people ever to strap on a football helmet and almost all of them come out of top rate football programs in college where they have already learned 95% of the technique they are ever going to learn.

I think there are definite advantages to good coaching in schemes and exploiting matchups on game day. And good coaches run good organizations. But at this level its very, very hard to find a ton of examples of anyone "coaching up" lesser talent solely based on technique. At this level everyone has the same basic coaching, and it is individual athleticism and mental makeup that are bigger advantages.

Marinelli could spend the next decade teaching me everything there is to know about playing DE, and I will still never get by Tyron Smith without a machine gun. And even then its 50/50.

So explain why and how many times, we hear...a QB has all the tools, but he needs this technique, or need to be taught this, or that...if he gets to a team that develop him, change his throwing motion, help with his foot work. That seems to me they need to learn more than 5% of the remaining basic techniques.

So it isn't out of the question that other postions can have this same philosophy. Like a pass rusher learning certain moves and techniques to get leverage on OL. A DB learning which hand is best to put up to defend a pass depending on the position they are in. I hear that one a lot too.

Many college players get by on just sheer better athletic ability, as opposed to getting 95% things learned up to that point. They get to the NFL, and many will say and admit, "I have a lot to learn at this level".
Now this is just my opinion of course, but I feel it's a pretty good sound opinion.

 

[xwalker]

We generally agree and I agree Free has a problem with his hands. He is also not the strongest guy around on the field. I think he covers the outside rush well if he stays with his man and doesn't quit on the play prematurely. I didn't see that last year but did the year before. He has to keep people off him or they get under him or push him back. That's his punch and hands primarily.

I think he's a marginal to adequate run blocker who does not have the best power game but can block well at times in it. I think he ran block better last year because of better technique but more so from playing the ZBS better and having Mack on the same page. I think he did better last year with working on his kick slide a bit and staying with his guy but mostly doing better with bullrushes and inside moves although these are still a problem. I don't think his hands are that much better but some. He's just doing what you said in keeping players off him with better technique like no chicken wings with the arms/elbows. I don't see as much scheming around him as you do but I'll admit you watched more film than I did last year so you may be 100% right about that.

Parnell is much more athletically gifted if he can shake the injuries and whatever mental problem(s) he's having freezing him in his stance.

I've probably studied Free more than any player that I've ever studied. I've just been intriqued with his issues for some reason.

I still wonder about the true reasons for his lack of upper body strength. If you've ever had shoulder problems, his issues tend to resemble those. When I had shoulder issues, I could function somewhat normally as long as my elblows were in but anytime they were out my shoulder issues would severly limit my functional strength.

Free seems to be weak in the same areas as if he has shoulder problems. I've wondered if he really has some shoulder problems that can't be repaired or if he is just weak in that area from a lack of commitment to the weight room.

In regards to Parnell freezing in his stance, I don't think that happened when he was playing OT. There were a couple of times when he came in as a blocking TE where he looked a little off.

 

[jobberone]

I've probably studied Free more than any player that I've ever studied. I've just been intriqued with his issues for some reason.

I still wonder about the true reasons for his lack of upper body strength. If you've ever had shoulder problems, his issues tend to resemble those. When I had shoulder issues, I could function somewhat normally as long as my elblows were in but anytime they were out my shoulder issues would severly limit my functional strength.

Free seems to be weak in the same areas as if he has shoulder problems. I've wondered if he really has some shoulder problems that can't be repaired or if he is just weak in that area from a lack of commitment to the weight room.

In regards to Parnell freezing in his stance, I don't think that happened when he was playing OT. There were a couple of times when he came in as a blocking TE where he looked a little off.

He definitely froze about 4 times year before last. Just never moved enough to even attempt to block his guys and that was pretty much his sacks given up I think. Not looking it up. If he got his hands on you that was it as best I can remember. All of that really surprised me as I thought he was a joke which should remind me not to judge without adequate data.

I agree about Free. I've had my left RC reattached and had a distal clavicle resection and an acromioplasty on both shoulders. Even with the surgery I can't really throw overhand nor use my arms long overhead although infinitely better than presurgery. I have little power if I don't keep my arms at my sides. That's just a function of how the shoulder works and the pathology associated with type III acromions. After awhile with the problems you can get atrophy of some muscles.

 

[jobberone]

Hard cold Data isn't subjective but the interpretation of that data can be. It ceretainly becomes more subjective as you said when it comes to fans interpretation of the data. We don't know everything the coaches know. We don't know where player X was supposed to be or what his responsibilities were,

I agree. But some 'hard' data is also subject to interpretation. Sacks are my pet peeve. I admit it is hard to discern at times who had whom and with a clusterfuge it can be difficult to assign sacks. One year Free had his guy blocked but the interior broke down and a guy broke thru near him and he got assigned the sack. Where the ball carrier is stopped etc. But most of that averages out over a season even from team to team. The part you're talking about and I mentioned is a real grey area even for the coaches at times.

 

[burmafrd]

I've probably studied Free more than any player that I've ever studied. I've just been intriqued with his issues for some reason.

I still wonder about the true reasons for his lack of upper body strength. If you've ever had shoulder problems, his issues tend to resemble those. When I had shoulder issues, I could function somewhat normally as long as my elblows were in but anytime they were out my shoulder issues would severly limit my functional strength.

Free seems to be weak in the same areas as if he has shoulder problems. I've wondered if he really has some shoulder problems that can't be repaired or if he is just weak in that area from a lack of commitment to the weight room.

In regards to Parnell freezing in his stance, I don't think that happened when he was playing OT. There were a couple of times when he came in as a blocking TE where he looked a little off.

if you have recognized his problems and it was due to not putting in the effort to get strong enough, then the team did and they would have given him virtually no choice about the matter. So it is much more likely it is shoulder problems, which would explain a lot.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I'm not "expecting" the worst. I am, and without putting words in Risen's mouth I suspect he is, doing what we all do this time of year. Speculating on what will be based on what we are going into the year with.

Again, quite frankly, this defense looked better on paper last year at this time than it does this year. There is certainly more potential this year, but also a ton more questions that simply have to fall right IMO for us to improve. Considering we are starting from a baseline of "worst in franchise history" last season, I think a little pessimism is understandable.

The defense that looked better on paper last year included a healthy Ratliff, a healthy Crawford, a healthy Ware, a healthy Lee, a healthy Bass. The team that finished the season certainly did not look better on paper than what we are going to camp with this year.

As of right now, there is no doubt in my mind that we are going into the season with more overall talent on defense than we finished the year with. That is the most important thing. Also, working on a defense for months that favors the talent that we have is a lot different than trying to get street free agents implemented into a new system and ready to play in three days.

If we are able to start the season with a healthy line of Crawford, McClain, Melton and Lawrence...with a nice rotation including Selvie, I think the DL will be better overall than what it was for a great part of the season last year. If Spencer can come back, and it seems like the expectations are getting higher in that regard, and a couple of the young guys can make some noise, then this defense might be able to get into the top 20. With what should be a pretty formidable offense, there is no reason that combination can't get us into the playoffs.

 

[CCBoy]

I've probably studied Free more than any player that I've ever studied. I've just been intriqued with his issues for some reason.

I still wonder about the true reasons for his lack of upper body strength. If you've ever had shoulder problems, his issues tend to resemble those. When I had shoulder issues, I could function somewhat normally as long as my elblows were in but anytime they were out my shoulder issues would severly limit my functional strength.

Free seems to be weak in the same areas as if he has shoulder problems. I've wondered if he really has some shoulder problems that can't be repaired or if he is just weak in that area from a lack of commitment to the weight room.

In regards to Parnell freezing in his stance, I don't think that happened when he was playing OT. There were a couple of times when he came in as a blocking TE where he looked a little off.

He to me, seems to have a habbit of lifting that comes up towards his body, if his arms aren't fully extended. He doesn't seem to have a full range of motion movement pattern, to include strength moves above the chest or higher. He probably, my guess, never had a mental sense of shoulder support in lifting and and extending the motion above the shoulder.

I think his shoulders just aren't fully developed beyond center of mass and lower adominal areas. Strictly arm related contractions, he can accomplish...but that puts at risk those arm muscles as well.

 

[xwalker]

if you have recognized his problems and it was due to not putting in the effort to get strong enough, then the team did and they would have given him virtually no choice about the matter. So it is much more likely it is shoulder problems, which would explain a lot.

I had basically concluded that he has some type of shoulder problem; however, after seeing the pic of him holding the fish, his upper body just doesn't look to have much muscle mass. I guess that shoulder problems could prevent him from lifting heavy in the weight room, but if it's that bad, I'm surprised that surgery was never an option.

It's just an odd issue. Free has the top things that you generally look for in an OT. Size (6-6, 325), decent arm length, above average foot quickness and good game knowledge/awareness.

 

[wileedog]

If we are able to start the season with a healthy line of Crawford, McClain, Melton and Lawrence...with a nice rotation including Selvie,

Lawrence and Crawford have 16 career tackles between and McClain is on his 4th team in 4 years. Selvie was right on the edge of washing out of the league before last year, who knows which one shows up this season. Melton is coming off major knee surgery.

I guarantee no other fan of any other team is looking at our Dline on paper and going "Hey, that's a pretty good rotation they got there."

Again, I'm not saying the group doesn't have potential. Maybe Lawrence is a rookie sensation, Crawford is the real deal and McClain takes the Selvie Express and finds himself under Marinelli too. But Its just as easy to argue that one or more of those things don't happen, and with the loss of Hatcher's production from last year the line could easily be just as bad as that one, or close enough not to matter.

 

[CCBoy]

Lawrence and Crawford have 16 career tackles between and McClain is on his 4th team in 4 years. Selvie was right on the edge of washing out of the league before last year, who knows which one shows up this season. Melton is coming off major knee surgery.

I guarantee no other fan of any other team is looking at our Dline on paper and going "Hey, that's a pretty good rotation they got there."

Again, I'm not saying the group doesn't have potential. Maybe Lawrence is a rookie sensation, Crawford is the real deal and McClain takes the Selvie Express and finds himself under Marinelli too. But Its just as easy to argue that one or more of those things don't happen, and with the loss of Hatcher's production from last year the line could easily be just as bad as that one, or close enough not to matter.

Yea, if that fan was buying inside information on both a fantasy football site and ESPN.

 

[jobberone]

Lawrence and Crawford have 16 career tackles between and McClain is on his 4th team in 4 years. Selvie was right on the edge of washing out of the league before last year, who knows which one shows up this season. Melton is coming off major knee surgery.

I guarantee no other fan of any other team is looking at our Dline on paper and going "Hey, that's a pretty good rotation they got there."

Again, I'm not saying the group doesn't have potential. Maybe Lawrence is a rookie sensation, Crawford is the real deal and McClain takes the Selvie Express and finds himself under Marinelli too. But Its just as easy to argue that one or more of those things don't happen, and with the loss of Hatcher's production from last year the line could easily be just as bad as that one, or close enough not to matter.

It may be terrible. I think a tad unrealistic to think all will go well just as it unlikely to all be bad.

 

[Hostile]

Lawrence and Crawford have 16 career tackles between and McClain is on his 4th team in 4 years. Selvie was right on the edge of washing out of the league before last year, who knows which one shows up this season. Melton is coming off major knee surgery.

I guarantee no other fan of any other team is looking at our Dline on paper and going "Hey, that's a pretty good rotation they got there."

Again, I'm not saying the group doesn't have potential. Maybe Lawrence is a rookie sensation, Crawford is the real deal and McClain takes the Selvie Express and finds himself under Marinelli too. But Its just as easy to argue that one or more of those things don't happen, and with the loss of Hatcher's production from last year the line could easily be just as bad as that one, or close enough not to matter.

One thing I want to clarify. I am not saying all of these guys will be great. I am saying they will be better than the Drake Nevus, Corvey Irvin, Marvin Austin, Everett Brown, and Frank Kearse variety of player we had to trot out last year.

If Lawrence is in the Tony Tolbert range of good I'm going to be very happy. Hatcher was not slated to start for us last year, Crawford was. Remember Hatcher moved to that slot when Crawford went down. Originally he was going to be the fill in for Ratliff, whom I am still pissed at. Hatcher himself called Crawford the real deal. Tony Romo has recently said he thinks people are going to be very surprised at how good he is. I don't think everyone is puffing.

If you improve overall talent and depth, you can conceivably improve the results. By that I am merely talking about stopping other teams. I think our Offense can score on anyone. I'm not looking for the Defense to be top 5. I just want them to give the Offense a realistic chance to win us games. We have NOT had that the last two years because of injuries.

I hope people will forgive me for thinking that having Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, and Anthony Spencer healthy the last 2 seasons could have yielded some better results, and I'm baffled that think if they had been things would have been exactly the same.

I will also say that I already expect the 2015 Draft to be DL and Safety early. LB if McClain doesn't pan out. Acquiring him does have me very excited. I think he's a player who can be an enforcer and we need one on this D.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Lawrence and Crawford have 16 career tackles between and McClain is on his 4th team in 4 years. Selvie was right on the edge of washing out of the league before last year, who knows which one shows up this season. Melton is coming off major knee surgery.

I guarantee no other fan of any other team is looking at our Dline on paper and going "Hey, that's a pretty good rotation they got there."

Again, I'm not saying the group doesn't have potential. Maybe Lawrence is a rookie sensation, Crawford is the real deal and McClain takes the Selvie Express and finds himself under Marinelli too. But Its just as easy to argue that one or more of those things don't happen, and with the loss of Hatcher's production from last year the line could easily be just as bad as that one, or close enough not to matter.

First off, Joe Blow the average fan probably didn't study much about Dallas' defensive downfall last year and probably doesn't know much about the new guys coming in.

It keeps getting hyped that we are losing Ware, Hatcher and Lee...some even mention Spencer, who basically didn't even play last year. The only one that had a big impact a year ago was Hatcher...and it was his first year in a defense that was suited for his skills, and as mentioned he likely wouldn't have even started if Crawford hadn't got hurt. I guarantee Hatcher won't be nearly as effective back at 3/4 DE. Ware had a mediocre year and was hurt a good part of it, continuing a trend of injuries. Lee missed a fair amount of time.

Melton has had years better than any year Hatcher has had outside of last season. If we compare adding the "norm" for Melton with the norm for Hatcher, it's a push at worst. Yes, Melton had a knee injury....but it happened early in the season and he will have almost a full year of recovery time....with the normal rehab time from ACL surgery dropping significantly over the years. Adrian Peterson had a miraculous recovery and his game is based all on speed and power. Melton should be just fine.

Crawford is expected to step in and be pretty good this year. Selvie started last year and very well could be a rotation player this year...which might just be a good thing for him. Lawrence was considered one of the top few pass rushers in this draft and his early work against Smith has opened some eyes.....people knew he had speed, but he apparently is quite a bit functionally stronger than people thought.

McClain has been an average player to this point, but seems energized to be working in Kiffin's system and seemed at time to be unblockable in OTA. Yes, it's not real football, but it is encouraging.

With what we ended up with on the DL and over the second half of the season....we probably won't have more than a couple of those players back and the ones that are coming in should be better. Crawford can be better than Selvie, Melton can be on par with Hatcher, Lawrence can be better than an injured Ware....and McClain can easily be better than Hayden, who is in a fight to even make the roster.

We have several candidates to replace Lee and it's much easier to scheme the defense when you have all training camp and preseason to tweak it instead of adding players on the fly. Many young guys got much more live work than they should have a year ago but it very well could pay off this year. Things wll slow down for guys like Wilcox, Holloman and a few others.

Do I think everything will be perfect? No, but I think enough will that we will have a better defense than a year ago, one that might be able to hold up better.

 

[CCBoy]

One thing I want to clarify. I am not saying all of these guys will be great. I am saying they will be better than the Drake Nevus, Corvey Irvin, Marvin Austin, Everett Brown, and Frank Kearse variety of player we had to trot out last year.

If Lawrence is in the Tony Tolbert range of good I'm going to be very happy. Hatcher was not slated to start for us last year, Crawford was. Remember Hatcher moved to that slot when Crawford went down. Originally he was going to be the fill in for Ratliff, whom I am still pissed at. Hatcher himself called Crawford the real deal. Tony Romo has recently said he thinks people are going to be very surprised at how good he is. I don't think everyone is puffing.

If you improve overall talent and depth, you can conceivably improve the results. By that I am merely talking about stopping other teams. I think our Offense can score on anyone. I'm not looking for the Defense to be top 5. I just want them to give the Offense a realistic chance to win us games. We have NOT had that the last two years because of injuries.

I hope people will forgive me for thinking that having Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, and Anthony Spencer healthy the last 2 seasons could have yielded some better results, and I'm baffled that think if they had been things would have been exactly the same.

I will also say that I already expect the 2015 Draft to be DL and Safety early. LB if McClain doesn't pan out. Acquiring him does have me very excited. I think he's a player who can be an enforcer and we need one on this D.

Dang, I enjoy your recounts and play by play descriptions...

 

[CCBoy]

First off, Joe Blow the average fan probably didn't study much about Dallas' defensive downfall last year and probably doesn't know much about the new guys coming in.

It keeps getting hyped that we are losing Ware, Hatcher and Lee...some even mention Spencer, who basically didn't even play last year. The only one that had a big impact a year ago was Hatcher...and it was his first year in a defense that was suited for his skills, and as mentioned he likely wouldn't have even started if Crawford hadn't got hurt. I guarantee Hatcher won't be nearly as effective back at 3/4 DE. Ware had a mediocre year and was hurt a good part of it, continuing a trend of injuries. Lee missed a fair amount of time.

Melton has had years better than any year Hatcher has had outside of last season. If we compare adding the "norm" for Melton with the norm for Hatcher, it's a push at worst. Yes, Melton had a knee injury....but it happened early in the season and he will have almost a full year of recovery time....with the normal rehab time from ACL surgery dropping significantly over the years. Adrian Peterson had a miraculous recovery and his game is based all on speed and power. Melton should be just fine.

Crawford is expected to step in and be pretty good this year. Selvie started last year and very well could be a rotation player this year...which might just be a good thing for him. Lawrence was considered one of the top few pass rushers in this draft and his early work against Smith has opened some eyes.....people knew he had speed, but he apparently is quite a bit functionally stronger than people thought.

McClain has been an average player to this point, but seems energized to be working in Kiffin's system and seemed at time to be unblockable in OTA. Yes, it's not real football, but it is encouraging.

With what we ended up with on the DL and over the second half of the season....we probably won't have more than a couple of those players back and the ones that are coming in should be better. Crawford can be better than Selvie, Melton can be on par with Hatcher, Lawrence can be better than an injured Ware....and McClain can easily be better than Hayden, who is in a fight to even make the roster.

We have several candidates to replace Lee and it's much easier to scheme the defense when you have all training camp and preseason to tweak it instead of adding players on the fly. Many young guys got much more live work than they should have a year ago but it very well could pay off this year. Things wll slow down for guys like Wilcox, Holloman and a few others.

Do I think everything will be perfect? No, but I think enough will that we will have a better defense than a year ago, one that might be able to hold up better.

A good look here. I attempt to look at the quality of play when it occurs, whether it is with Jason Hatcher or someone else. I don't rush to frame that in context of what perceive is his top potential or previous standards of play. That part, is what it is.

I plug in both Melton and Lawrence into what was lost from last season's performances and lost by Hatcher and Demarcus Ware moving on...hey, I grab the bird in hand rather than two in the bush. I see this as Melton and Lawrence equaling what was lost in play, not legends.

The other two parts that started, were George Selvie and Nick Hayden. Just doing a surmise, that has to at least be equal for the covered positions. Probably, those two positions are improved upon...or at the very worst, a rotations makes them much stronger as starters.

 

[Alexander]

Hatcher was not slated to start for us last year, Crawford was. Remember Hatcher moved to that slot when Crawford went down. Originally he was going to be the fill in for Ratliff, whom I am still pissed at. Hatcher himself called Crawford the real deal. Tony Romo has recently said he thinks people are going to be very surprised at how good he is. I don't think everyone is puffing.

Interesting.

This is from a recent interview from Broaddus.

Broaddus asked Crawford, who goes into the 2014 campaign with just 20 career tackles, if the coaches had given him any indication as to where they’d be using him next season--he can play both end and tackle.

“I thought they did and then I got confused again, so not yet. But I’m sure here eventually, pretty soon I’ll sit down with coaches and see exactly,” he said. “... whatever I am playing I just want to focus there.

Just curious why the ambiguity if their minds were made up last offseason.

 

[5Stars]

Interesting.

This is from a recent interview from Broaddus.



Just curious why the ambiguity if their minds were made up last offseason.

Uh, maybe that season was last season? Just a guess...

There are a lot more new moving parts on defense this season, so maybe they are trying to find the right combinations to work players in.

 

[Alexander]

Uh, maybe that season was last season? Just a guess...

There are a lot more new moving parts on defense this season, so maybe they are trying to find the right combinations to work players in.

If he was good enough to be named, as the starter over Hatcher, period, in his second season after being a role player the previous year, why would we be scratching our heads right now where we frankly have even less to choose from than a year ago?

 

[5Stars]

If he was good enough to be named, as the starter over Hatcher, period, in his second season after being a role player the previous year, why would we be scratching our heads right now where we frankly have even less to choose from than a year ago?

I don't know and cannot answer that question because I'm not the coach. It could be because of the influx of new players, a different approach to scheme...it could be many different things. Football is not static, it changes from minute to minute, game to game, year to year.

That is why I laugh at some that think just because the team sucked last year does not mean it will suck again this year. Football is dynamic.