Wade Phillips

[theogt]

Actually, when Wade took the San Diego job, he said bump-and-run was more successful:

On whether it’s your preference to play bump and run:


We aren't playing that much bump-and-run from what I've seen... Even with the likes of a Newman, who can clearly cover the best a team has to offer, he's playing lots of zone.

That's quite a stretch to think that quote represents him saying bump and run is a better overall defense than playing a majority of zone coverage. Particularly considering he's mostly played zone coverage at San Diego and here. I think he's saying it is better, but only if you have the absolute best to play it. Here, clearly man coverage isn't something you're going to have Anthony Henry play. And it's not something I'd feel comfortable having Adam Jones do at this point. Newman, sure, but he's still a bit hobbled.

Or he could have just been telling the reporter that asked the question what he wants to hear. Most people would prefer man coverage. It's more "sexy" than zone. So it could just be the generic, give 'em what they want to hear, response. Certainly actions speak louder than words, and he's always seemed to play more zone coverage.

 

[Boysboy]

And its mind boggling that he doesn't really use it. Maybe because of Terrence Newman isnt 100%? Who knows. The defense needs to tighten up and they probably will. But it looks like the same defense as last year and these guys have had time in this scheme to figure it out.

In the second half of last season when we started getting healthy, Wade was starting to use his schemes that made SD so successful.

As much as I try not to blame injuries, they nonetheless tend to alter your game plans and playcalling. Look at the Giants last year compared to '06-injuries in the latter, and no so much coaching, was their downfall.

Remember when Flo went down in '05-Witten was asked to help Torren Tucker blocking about 1/2 of the time, that it ended up hurting our passing game.

 

[Boysboy]

That's quite a stretch to think that quote represents him saying bump and run is a better overall defense than playing a majority of zone coverage. Particularly considering he's mostly played zone coverage at San Diego and here. I think he's saying it is better, but only if you have the absolute best to play it. Here, clearly man coverage isn't something you're going to have Anthony Henry play. And it's not something I'd feel comfortable having Adam Jones do at this point. Newman, sure, but he's still a bit hobbled.

I'm glad CZ members aren't members of this coaching staff. Now THAT would be a disaster.

 

[khiladi]

I'm glad CZ members aren't members of this coaching staff. Now THAT would be a disaster.

So we should limit this defense because of Anthony Henry? If we have more man corners, then why are we going to adjust more zone coverage for just one guy. Im not arguing against zone coverage, but seriously, we are playing very little bump-and-run. Not only that, our zone coverage is 15 yards off a receiver zone coverage.

In the second half of last season when we started getting healthy, Wade was starting to use his schemes that made SD so successful.

I actually I disagree. Wade went vanilla by the end of the year. You didn't see him employ the Wade-Spencer-Ellis after the second Giants game. That line-up, as Breer pointed out, was very dominant in creating pressure for the QB.

Remember when Flo went down in '05-Witten was asked to help Torren Tucker blocking about 1/2 of the time, that it ended up hurting our passing game.

Actually, it was only when Romo came in, was Witten really used effectively as a passing tight-end. He was blocking too much under Parcells.

 

[theogt]

So we should limit this defense because of Anthony Henry?

Asked differently, so we should tailor our scheme to our players?

 

[khiladi]

Asked differently, so we should tailor our scheme to our players?

I'll let Wade answer that, but in the context of 4-3 and 3-4:

“I like them both as long as you have good players. We’ve had success in both of them. At Philadelphia certainly we had a dominant defense there with Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, Jerome Brown and those guys and had a 4-3 front. In fact, Marty was playing a 3-4 with Derrick Thomas (in Kansas City). They did a great job with that. We had some great success in Denver in a 3-4. I’ve been in both. Personnel dictates what you do. There isn’t a big difference. Everybody wants to say there’s a big difference. Actually, the end man on the line of scrimmage, if he puts his hand down, it’s a 4-3 and if he doesn’t, it’s a 3-4. It’s really how you utilize your personnel, whatever front you’re playing.”

Plus, I'm sure Anthony Henry can play some bump-and-run, while zone maybe his strong suit. He isn't Jacques Reeves...

 

[Boysboy]

Actually, it was only when Romo came in, was Witten really used effectively as a passing tight-end. He was blocking too much under Parcells.

Did you even watch a Cowboys game in '05?

To start that year, Parcells put in an '06 rookie RT(Rob Pettiti)-he was so bad that he got Dan Campbell to help him out most of the time. Flo, OTOH, was able to be by himself OK.

It wasn't until Flo went down when we had to get ANOTHER TE(Witten) to help out Torren Tucker in addition to Pettiti. This is where our offensive passing game ended up taking a hit. Forget how bad Bledsoe was-he was actually pretty darn good prior to Flo's injury.

As for Witten not being utilized in the passing game alot? Remember he was catching alot of balls when old-man Vinny was in there in '04.

 

[theogt]

I'll let Wade answer that, but in the context of 4-3 and 3-4:

I'm confused, are you trying to prove my point? Or are just agreeing?

BTW, I'm sure Anthony Henry can play some bump-and-run, while zone maybe his strong suit. He isn't Jacques Reeves...

Jacques Reeves' problems were wholly different from Henry's. They're totally opposite styles of corners. Reeves could play man or zone physically, he just couldn't recognize the pass or attacke the ball. Henry's the opposite in that he doesnt' have the physical ability to play man coverage. We'd get burned.

I've said it time and time again. What people don't like about our zone coverage is that it allows the underneath passes. People hate that. They think a 4 yard underneath pass is as effective as a 12 yard pass. To them, a pass is a pass. They'd rather see a 12 yard pass followed by an incompletion than two consecutive 4 yard passes. But the bend but don't break style of defense, forcing teams to chip their way down the field seems to be, statistically, an effective defense. Occasionlly it gives up a long, time consuming TD drive. But most often it results in a stalled drive or a FG attempt.

 

[Idgit]

DaBoys4Life goes on the ignore list. Ah that is better.

Quoted 4 truth.

 

[Rackat]

Last year, there was a saying about this type of thread:


"This ain't Madden."

 

[khiladi]

Did you even watch a Cowboys game in '05?

In 2005 and 2006, he had 66 and 64 catches respectively. He never had a 100 yard game prior to 2007, and in 2006, his highest reception total was 6. And those were the games when Tony Romo was playing.

 

[Boysboy]

In 2005 and 2006, he had 66 and 64 catches respectively. He never had a 100 yard game prior to 2007, and in 2006, his highest reception total was 6. And those were the games when Tony Romo was playing.

Again-he had only 66 catches in '05 b/c Flo missed over half the season. When he went down, he had to help Torren Tucker block for about 1/2 of the snaps. Even he himself expressed dissatisfaction over not being involved in the passing game as much during this stretch.

 

[khiladi]

I'm confused, are you trying to prove my point? Or are just agreeing?

Agree-ing and disagree-ing. If Henry sucks at man so bad, then why are we limiting the defense because of him. If it is an issue of personnel, Pac-man plays man, Newman plays man, and so does Jenkins. Scandrick, while zone is his strong suit, can surely man-up. Why 15 yards off the receiver?

I've said it time and time again. What people don't like about our zone coverage is that it allows the underneath passes. People hate that. They think a 4 yard underneath pass is as effective as a 12 yard pass. To them, a pass is a pass. They'd rather see a 12 yard pass followed by an incompletion than two consecutive 4 yard passes. But the bend but don't break style of defense, forcing teams to chip their way down the field seems to be, statistically, an effective defense. Occasionlly it gives up a long, time consuming TD drive. But most often it results in a stalled drive or a FG attempt.

What people don't like is a zone that allows underneath passes, because your playing 15 yards off a receiver. What people don't like is that we aren't mixing the zone up with the man often. If Wade tells you that bump-and-run can be successful with the personnel, than why isnt he using it?

And come on theogt, I'm sure I wasn't the only one baffled by how vanilla Wade went by the end of last year. When they played the Giants in the second game of the season, Wade brought pressure that forced Eli into 8 delay of game penalties. Not once, did he try and really rattle Eli in the third game they played. We played the Commanders when they were at the low-point of their season, to their last freaking drive. Jason Campbell moved the ball continuously on dinks-and-dunks and it took a great play by Newman to actually end the drive. Why did we play it so close with all the talent we have?

 

[khiladi]

Again-he had only 66 catches in '05 b/c Flo missed over half the season. When he went down, he had to help Torren Tucker block for about 1/2 of the snaps. Even he himself expressed dissatisfaction over not being involved in the passing game as much during this stretch.

I'm not criticizing Witten. He had 2 seasons where he caught 60 balls. All I stated is that he wasn't used in the passing game enough with Bill Parcells. While it may have happened in 2004, the trend was that he was being used to block more.

 

[Boysboy]

Agree-ing and disagree-ing. If Henry sucks at man so bad, then why are we limiting the defense because of him. If it is an issue of personnel, Pac-man plays man, Newman plays man, and so does Jenkins. Scandrick, while zone is his strong suit, can surely man-up. Why 15 yards off the receiver?



What people don't like is a zone that allows underneath passes, because your playing 15 yards off a receiver. What people don't like is that we aren't mixing the zone up with the man often. If Wade tells you that bump-and-run can be successful with the personnel, than why isnt he using it?

And come on theogt, I'm sure I wasn't the only one baffled by how vanilla Wade went by the end of last year.

It's only week 2, not week 12. There's a LONG way to go in this marathon race. We have time to improve/polish things up.

 

[khiladi]

It's only week 2, not week 12. There's a LONG way to go in this marathon race. We have time to improve/polish things up.

I thought the same thing last year, when the Cowboys were going into the play-offs. Players spoke about how they weren't showing any wrinkles in December, and they were going to bring it in the play-offs. When the play-offs came around, Wade played the same vanilla he showed by the end of the season.

I'm seeing a trend where Wade goes into a shell the bigger the spot-light. He forced Brady into 5 interceptions, during the play-offs with San Diego. Wade went soft-zone and Brady moved the ball and scored a TD, putting them right back in the game.

I like Wade and wanted him here when Dallas made the bid for a new head coach. I was mad as hell when I heard that Norv was going to be hired and any other coach besides Wade for that matter. But he seriously needs some swagger.

 

[theogt]

Agree-ing and disagree-ing. If Henry sucks at man so bad, then why are we limiting the defense because of him. If it is an issue of personnel, Pac-man plays man, Newman plays man, and so does Jenkins. Scandrick, while zone is his strong suit, can surely man-up. Why 15 yards off the receiver?

They're never lined up 15 yards off the receiver.

Pacman may be more comfortable in man coveverage, but he still gets burned in it badly. Newman is hobbled. And Jenkins, while showing potential, isn't someone you're staking your game on against a division rival at this point.

What people don't like is a zone that allows underneath passes, because your playing 15 yards off a receiver.

You can't protect against everything.

What people don't like is that we aren't mixing the zone up with the man often.

My guess is most of the people calling for man coverage have no idea how much we mix it up. I'm not saying you don't. You're clearly not in the group I was referring to in this thread.

If Wade tells you that bump-and-run can be successful with the personnel, than why isnt he using it?

Maybe you shouldn't read so much into that single quote as I suggested earlier.

And come on theogt, I'm sure I wasn't the only one baffled by how vanilla Wade went by the end of last year. When they played the Giants in the second game of the season, Wade brought pressure that forced Eli into 8 delay of game penalties. Not once, did he try and really rattle Eli in the third game they played. We played the Commanders when they were at the low-point of their season, to their last freaking drive. Jason Campbell moved the ball continuously on dinks-and-dunks and it took a great play by Newman to actually end the drive. Why did we play it so close with all the talent we have?

I was baffled by it. I was also baffled by how our offense collapsed in the 2nd half of that game. But you don't see threads criticizing Garrett, so that baffles me too.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Preach it, theo... I don't care what we played in the playoff game -- defensive scheme did not lose that game. Maybe Jacques Reeves' incompetence lost it, maybe the offense lost it, but defensive scheme didn't. Except for one drive, the defense more than held their own.

Too bad we can't say the same for the O.

 

[Doomsday101]

We have a HC who has lead the Cowboys to an overall 15-4 record since he has taken over and people want him fired? OK I don't quite understand that mindset.

I did not know a SB was a piece of cake as some are claiming or that you must accomplish this within 1 to 2 years of getting the job. I hope one day should Garrett get the job that fans will given him more of an opportunity than what some are giving Wade.

I seriously doubt these critics would have approved of Landry given the time it took to win a SB after years of falling short. As a long time fan I do remember those days and those who said Landry would not do it and his teams were a bunch of chokers now most consider Landry one of the all time great coaches.

 

[Boysboy]

I thought the same thing last year, when the Cowboys were going into the play-offs. Players spoke about how they weren't showing any wrinkles in December, and they were going to bring it in the play-offs. When the play-offs came around, Wade played the same vanilla he showed by the end of the season.

I'm seeing a trend where Wade goes into a shell the bigger the spot-light. He forced Brady into 5 interceptions, during the play-offs with San Diego. Wade went soft-zone and Brady moved the ball and scored a TD, putting them right back in the game.

I like Wade and wanted him here when Dallas made the bid for a new head coach. I was mad as hell when I heard that Norv was going to be hired and any other coach besides Wade for that matter. But he seriously needs some swagger.

No-they lost b/c Drayton Florence butt-headed a NE player when they got their O out of FG range(lead to a NE FG). They lost b/c a SD DB fumbled away an INT with 6 minutes to go that would have SEALED the game. NE went on to tie the game.

So what if Wade made a bad decision to play prevent that lead to a NE score before the 1st half? SD gifted the Pats ELEVEN pts b/c of boneheaded decisions by the players.