The real reason this defense sucks

[GimmeTheBall!]

This defense sucks because this front office can’t draft good defenders or when they do they don’t keep them.

And while everyone bashes all the players who have been underperforming on the field, you need to remember who is RESPONSIBLE for the accumulation of talent for this team, and who has signed off on some bad decisions: Jerry and his front office.

I still believe Will McClay is a top eye for talent but don’t ever kid yourself into thinking he’s drafting these players. McClay racks the pool table and hands the cue to Jerry. And the drafts have been good at times, but drafting good players is only 1/3 of the equation. They have to be developed, coached, and then molded into a team that knows how to play together to win.

So where has this FO failed? They apparently don’t know how to draft defensive players. It’s now obvious. Let us count the ways- All these guys were in the Top 100 picks in the year drafted.

• Drafting defensive players with premium picks since 2015 has not been good:
  • 2015- 1st round- Byron Jones- CB- good player but let go in FA.
  • 2015- 2nd round- Randy Gregory- DE- Been a complete waste of a premium draft spot
  • 2016- 2nd round Jaylon Smith- LB- has been an overpaid- average at best LB
  • 2016- 3rd round Malik Collins- DT- a solid not spectacular player, let go in FA
  • 2017- 1st round- Taco Charlton- DE- a complete bust
  • 2017- 2nd round- Chidobe Awuzie- CB- been avg at best. Hurt at the moment.
  • 2017- 3rd round- Jourdan Lewis- CB- All I can say is meh.
  • 2018- 1st round- LVE- LB- Injuries have made him irrelevant
  • 2019- (gave up a 1st pick for Amari Cooper)
  • 2019- 2nd round- Trysten Hill- DT- Avoiding the bust label by a thread

That’s a ton of premium draft capital not working out! So when you wonder why this defense can’t tackle, cover or pressure, here you go.

I recommend this.

 

[Keithfansince5]

No, it's simple. These guys have no heart.

 

[buybuydandavis]

I didn't like Chaisson much at all.

Chaisson was the guy the stars were pointing at us getting stuck with as the default defensive pick in the first. I was glad that didn't happen. Wanted Kinlaw but he went way earlier.

We should just be playing Gallimore. Nice pick. Not ready, but he'll get ready faster if we play him rather than sit him. Sit Crawford and eat the bad cap spend. Looks done. We should consider cutting him outright and bringing up Justin Hamilton. People were saying nice things about him during camp.

Looney was playing pretty well, but Biadasz getting starts is better sooner than later too. And he doesn't seem to be holding up the offense while he's in there.

Old guys playing meh aren't going to save the season, and won't pay off as investments either. Play the young guys. Maybe they surprise us. At least they'll develop.

If we're gonna stink, stink with young guys trying hard and getting better. That's the way we *might* get unstunk. Just more fun to watch too.

 

[Diehardblues]

But our Fantasy Fans are tearing it up with this offensive lineup . And probably a sizable chunk of fans on an internet site.

 

[AbeBeta]

Good write up as usual Bob

Untrue

 

[Diehardblues]

I think we don't draft well on defense for what ever reason. its probably the mentality/culture of this team. its not flashy. it doesn't sell tickets. it doesn't show up on the stats. Jerry wants flash, points, excitement to sell tickets, merchendise. this team is the most valuable NFL team.....

and we invest in the offense. Martin, Smith, (fredrick, now gone), Cooper, Dak, Zeke all got huge contracts. this past draft, premium spot. Jerry even said they had their eyes on Chaisson, and hoping he would drop to them, but that shiny object distracted them.....we have invested unwisely in Lawrence and Jaylon Smith....neither had proven they were worth their contracts. Smith got his due to his busienss friendship with Jerry . then we let Jones walk and look at that secondary.....

the problem is with the culture, its not about winning championships. its about marketing. sales. merchendise. low scoring games don't excite the fans. offense does. and thus we are not built, nor plan to build or approach it in such a way to win championships.....

this is jerry's mess

Yep and our coaching isn’t helping.

 

[Diehardblues]

I thought Heath and Collins might be guys to keep, but per PFF, both seem to have cratered in Vegas. Both around 40.

How are the guys who replaced them ranked ?

 

[Floatyworm]

This defense sucks because this front office can’t draft good defenders or when they do they don’t keep them.

And while everyone bashes all the players who have been underperforming on the field, you need to remember who is RESPONSIBLE for the accumulation of talent for this team, and who has signed off on some bad decisions: Jerry and his front office.

I still believe Will McClay is a top eye for talent but don’t ever kid yourself into thinking he’s drafting these players. McClay racks the pool table and hands the cue to Jerry. And the drafts have been good at times, but drafting good players is only 1/3 of the equation. They have to be developed, coached, and then molded into a team that knows how to play together to win.

So where has this FO failed? They apparently don’t know how to draft defensive players. It’s now obvious. Let us count the ways- All these guys were in the Top 100 picks in the year drafted.

• Drafting defensive players with premium picks since 2015 has not been good:
  • 2015- 1st round- Byron Jones- CB- good player but let go in FA.
  • 2015- 2nd round- Randy Gregory- DE- Been a complete waste of a premium draft spot
  • 2016- 2nd round Jaylon Smith- LB- has been an overpaid- average at best LB
  • 2016- 3rd round Malik Collins- DT- a solid not spectacular player, let go in FA
  • 2017- 1st round- Taco Charlton- DE- a complete bust
  • 2017- 2nd round- Chidobe Awuzie- CB- been avg at best. Hurt at the moment.
  • 2017- 3rd round- Jourdan Lewis- CB- All I can say is meh.
  • 2018- 1st round- LVE- LB- Injuries have made him irrelevant
  • 2019- (gave up a 1st pick for Amari Cooper)
  • 2019- 2nd round- Trysten Hill- DT- Avoiding the bust label by a thread

That’s a ton of premium draft capital not working out! So when you wonder why this defense can’t tackle, cover or pressure, here you go.

......That should be the core of our defense......instead it's MIA

 

[ConstantReboot]

The culprit is Jerry. He is a terrible evaluator of anything football. We do pretty well in drafting in the 1st round. But when it comes to the 2nd and 3rd round, we tend to pick projects, injured players and basically risky players. Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith, Randy Gregory, Trystan Hill, Awuzie, Conner Williams, etc.

I think during the draft the 2nd and 3rd round is reserved for Jerry. He just picks whoever he wants just because he is the owner. He has no clue on what to do with any pick whatsoever.

 

[buybuydandavis]

How are the guys who replaced them ranked ?

Thompson at 50. I suppose McCoy is at 0.

I expect they could do better here. Don't know what's going on with the Raiders' defense.

 

[mmohican29]

That's one of our biggest problems. We draft "projects" instead of players. We're an all project team instead of an all pro team.

Exactly.

Instead of picking someone that can help today, the FO grabs someone with an issue for "value".

This is like grabbing generic Nacho Cheese flavored chips instead of Doritos. Or Mrs. Honeyknuckle Fig Cookies when Fig Newtons are staring you in your face in plentitude.

Grabbing "Joe Rochambeaux" LB from Oswego State because he's got terrific measurables if he can get that knee back to form, and leaving a player like a Josie Jewell behind is similar.

 

[ak47kaehu]

Who could the cowboys have gotten if they didn’t pull the trigger on Jaylon?

 

[IrishAnto]

@Bobhaze Byron Jones has done jack squat for the Dolphins. Barely on the field for the first 4 games and making $16M/yr.
Gregory is a good player but has a drug problem. It was a risk but it would have paid off greatly if he could have kicked his habit.
The Jaylon Smith pick was good and he played well for about 4 years. The 2nd contract was a mistake in hindsight.
Collins was a mid round pick who gave us some good years. Doing nothing for the Raiders.
Lewis was a 3rd round pick who hasn't done much. 3rd Round picks are no sure things.
Awuzie is a good pick. He got hurt this year. No one's fault.
LVE - Same thing. No one's fault he got hurt.
Charlton was a huge miss.
Trysten Hill has stepped up his game this year so far.

Defense just isn't playing well so far. I wouldn't blame it all on the FO. The players just are not getting it done. The defensive system may not be ideal for the talent on the roster.

Just isn't the Cowboy's year this year. Shame that it ended so soon into the season.

Seems it hasn't been the Cowboys year since 1995!
What's been the one constant?

 

[Carter]

Jaylon was a monster before he got his fat contract. Now he doesnt care anymore. Same for D-Law.

Problem here is and always has been: Players know they just need one good year to get a fat contract from Jerry. After that they dont care anymore and dont put their bodies on risk. Can u blame them
Its easy money.

Jerry hasnt learned a thing since Jay Ratliff and co. which was the exact same.

Its not Talent thats missing, its Accountability and that starts with the GM. The Players know that Jerry loves them and will do everything to not cut them. Its a country club.

If Jaylon was playing for the Pats he would have been cut after last night.

 

[HotDog37]

Unmotivated. Unprepared.

 

[doomsday808]

Can someone explain this?? OBJ's run, it just looks choreographed. SMH

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

Can someone explain this?? OBJ's run, it just looks choreographed. SMH

Those 2 do not even know where the ball is.

 

[Bobhaze]

Seems it hasn't been the Cowboys year since 1995!
What's been the one constant?

It’s not Jason Garrett or any player, who are usually the targets of current fan wrath.

 

[kskboys]

Chaisson was the guy the stars were pointing at us getting stuck with as the default defensive pick in the first. I was glad that didn't happen. Wanted Kinlaw but he went way earlier.

We should just be playing Gallimore. Nice pick. Not ready, but he'll get ready faster if we play him rather than sit him. Sit Crawford and eat the bad cap spend. Looks done. We should consider cutting him outright and bringing up Justin Hamilton. People were saying nice things about him during camp.

Looney was playing pretty well, but Biadasz getting starts is better sooner than later too. And he doesn't seem to be holding up the offense while he's in there.

Old guys playing meh aren't going to save the season, and won't pay off as investments either. Play the young guys. Maybe they surprise us. At least they'll develop.

If we're gonna stink, stink with young guys trying hard and getting better. That's the way we *might* get unstunk. Just more fun to watch too.

Trade deadline is OCT 29. Time to get some more draft picks for next season, see if someone will bite on one of our guys. Does the NFL ever do as baseball does, trade a guy to get rid of him but you still have to pay part of his salary? DLaw would be tradeable if we'd pay, say half his salary. Pass rushers are always at a premium.

 

[kskboys]

Jaylon was a monster before he got his fat contract. Now he doesnt care anymore. Same for D-Law.

Problem here is and always has been: Players know they just need one good year to get a fat contract from Jerry. After that they dont care anymore and dont put their bodies on risk. Can u blame them
Its easy money.

Jerry hasnt learned a thing since Jay Ratliff and co. which was the exact same.

Its not Talent thats missing, its Accountability and that starts with the GM. The Players know that Jerry loves them and will do everything to not cut them. Its a country club.

If Jaylon was playing for the Pats he would have been cut after last night.

And that's not even the problem. Bad drafting is a much bigger problem.