Vela on scrimmage, high praise offense, crushes the D Line

[Alexander]

BUT if it is a more Rob Ryan type variable defense with lots of pressure it could finish middle of the league.

Unless Marinelli has a super duper secret variable defense he has never shown, anywhere, good luck with that concept.

 

[gmoney112]

Our defensive line is pretty poor, there's no doubt about it. But it does have some better players and a more youthful enthusiasm than did the crop of now pizza delivery men that we graciously tipped for their services throughout the season.

They're definitely not going to scare anyone and our pass rush may be borderline bad, but if the defense can just manage to play assignment sound football and go from "terrible" to "convincingly below average", we should be ok

 

[reddyuta]

Defense is going to be just as bad as last year.

they wont be last but close,i just dont see major improvement from last year.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

The argument is not that it could have been fixed in one draft.

The argument is that it could have been fixed in an offseason in totality.

And since we could "do whatever we wanted in free agency", we decided to just throw everything in the Lawrence basket?

That means not only hitting on the player but also gambling a premium choice in the process. A very tall order, hence the "all eggs in one basket" commentary.

The reality is what few wanted to admit around here in the offseason.

They could not do "whatever they wanted" in free agency and made a cheap stab at replacing Ware and did a lot of finger crossing.

Got a nice field of strawmen to attack there, Alex. Bravo.

There is a difference being able to offer Jared Allen $20m over a couple of years and the wisdom of doing that. What I recall most of the offseason debates about the cap being on whether or not we had the money to resign Smith and Bryant but even then I would not characterize the conversation as only that. But hey when you can do that with ahnd waving and ridicule then why not? Who cares that we were spammed with the fact that we were tops in dead money over and again.

The 'reality' that I remember was talking about how it was going to take a couple of years to rebuild the DL after jettisoning two mainstays and a third undergoing microfracture.

 

[gmoney112]

Also just an addendum, not sure how he based conclusions off that scrimmage. Half the secondary was out, and Romo was letting them out pretty quick. When he did drop back pressure got there a few times, I'm also surprised the lack mentioning the corner blitzes. Rob threw a few in there and they were pretty successful, I think Ryan Smith got to Romo one slot blitz, so I wouldn't be surprised if we utilized the corner blitz more often to make up for some of our DL deficiencies

 

[silver]

You know the defensive line is bad when undrafted rookies are referenced when talking about it. Guys like Coleman and Bush wouldnt make it past the 75 roster cutdown in 1992. By the same token guys like #67, # 63 and #61 on the OL are camp bodies whose names nobody knows since the starters and second teamers are stout.

 

[Alexander]

The 'reality' that I remember was talking about how it was going to take a couple of years to rebuild the DL after jettisoning two mainstays and a third undergoing microfracture.

That would be nice if the prevailing thought did not change after the draft. The idea has been floating around here for quite some time, and even from the team itself, that we could just get two players and replace Ware. Well we did and we are doing what right now?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

You know the defensive line is bad when undrafted rookies are referenced when talking about it. Guys like Coleman and Bush wouldnt make it past the 75 roster cutdown in 1992. By the same token guys like #67, # 63 and #61 on the OL are camp bodies whose names nobody knows since the starters and second teamers are stout.

They ahd a shot to beat out Noonan who made that team.

 

[silver]

when we get the walking wounded back: spencer, lawrence & okoye, plus the ex-con brent, this line will look serviceable.

 

[silver]

They ahd a shot to beat out Noonan who made that team.

Noonan would be a starter in todays roster.

 

[Alexander]

when we get the walking wounded back: spencer, lawrence & okoye, plus the ex-con brent, this line will look serviceable.

Now Okoye is a savior too? I am speechless.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

That would be nice if the prevailing thought did not change after the draft. The idea has been floating around here for quite some time, and even from the team itself, that we could just get two players and replace Ware. Well we did and we are doing what right now?

I really think you should stick to speaking for yourself.

I recall people talking about using a rotation to replace them but not that it was sure to work. But hey if you keep saying that is what they meant then perhaps you can get someone to believe it.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Noonan would be a starter in todays roster.

Uh huh.

Sure thing. Have to love people grandstanding on things they have no way of kn owing much less proving.

 

[DCBoysfan]

The defense is not the best, the players are not the best, but they will do what is necessary to help this team win games.

They will not be last in the league and they won't have all pros like everyone wants! The roster is not even set and we have the psudo-GMs and their great knowledge saying "no chance" already because they could have done better!

Best post in the thread.

 

[silver]

Uh huh.

Sure thing. Have to love people grandstanding on things they have no way of kn owing much less proving.

He was a former 1st rounder who started 41 out of 67 possible games and recorded 15 sacks in his Cowboys career. Name a better starter in todays roster.

 

[Corso]

That can happen when your GM and your VP of Personnel have no ability to evaluate talent.

So you're saying they should have drafted for need?

Or are you talking about interior evaluation?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He was a former 1st rounder who started 41 out of 67 possible games and recorded 15 sacks in his Cowboys career. Name a better starter in todays roster.

Why would i do that? I have no interest in making guesses as to things that are impossible to prove.

 

[Idgit]

I read the report of Vela and I have to say that it was disappointing. I don't like that he s down on them. He is one of my preferred reporters/analysts.

I remember him talking about Ratliff back in the day. He talked about how he would take a knee when they read a double team and hold the point of attack. Bishop was getting some pressure using his quickness to attack a gap. He got a lot of snaps and the OL double teamed him at least three times. He took his knee and they could not move him.

I have to be honest. Vela has not been writing reports for the last week really. I am beginning to wonder if he is even out there. He is awful short on the particulars his analysis is known for.

He's great. Though he has been spending less time on his blog the last two years.

It's not shocking, really, that our first string DL isn't performing in a scrimmage situation. Not in limited snaps, not against this OL, and not when we're simply not very good along the DL, overall. If our starting 1-tech and hand-picked rush end are out, that compromises things further.

I'd have to look at Crawford's snaps to see specifically what Vela might have seen, because he's a player capable of delivering consistent play, and he's getting short-shrift here. I was pretty distracted when I watched the scrimmage tape, so I can't say anything one way or another about it, but I would be surprised if we're not getting at least decent production from him by the time the season starts.

 

[Alexander]

He was a former 1st rounder who started 41 out of 67 possible games and recorded 15 sacks in his Cowboys career. Name a better starter in todays roster.

Quit being contrary. We have Selvie coming off a career year but that just means he "emerged".

 

[Alexander]

I'd have to look at Crawford's snaps to see specifically what Vela might have seen, because he's a player capable of delivering consistent play

Even if I believed this, which I don't because he simply has not played enough, the injury clearly is still not something he has recovered from.