Was going back to the 4-3 Defense a huge mistake?

[Fletch]

In a 34, it is a weakness. Lee would be on the shelf more in a 34 then he is now. Doesn't matter how good a player he is, if he isn't on the field then you can't take advantage of his abilities.

I agree with Vinnie there.

Injuries happen. I'll take my chances with Lee in any given scheme.

 

[Doomsday101]

Gregory and Lawrence was both day two picks. Jones isn't scheme specific just a cb/s.

Yes Both Lawrence and Gregory were day 2 picks still considered high picks in a draft. Draft is not just day 1. Heck guys like Charles Haley was a 4th rd pick, when people say Dallas is not drafting defense that is not true they have used fairly high picks in the last 2 years addressing the DL.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Injuries happen. I'll take my chances with Lee in any given scheme.

Fortunately, that's exactly what's happening but not in a 34. If Lee were playing in a 34 his whole career, it would probably be over by now.

 

[Chuck 54]

Of course it's easier to find 3-4 DEs than 4-3 DEs.
Any oversized 4-3 DE or DT can play 3-4 DE...very few can bring a pass rush.

However, it's just as hard to find pass rushing OLBs for the 3-4 as it is to find pass rushing DEs for the 4-3. Even when we had Ware tearing it up at OLB, we never found a great one to pair with him...Spencer was our best, and he was nothing special. When Ware played DE, we couldn't find anyone for the other side.

Most teams never have a 12-15 sack DE or OLB; it's extremely rare to pair a guy like Ware with a guy like Miller. In the absence of a stud DE, you can still help your entire line with a stud DT like Donald or Cox. Best pass rusher available at any position is the way to go, not just DE or bust.

 

[khiladi]

I got ya. I still think Lee would work in a 3-4 alignment too. He's a playmaker.

Wade drafted him. And he coaches the 3-4 and probably the best in the game at it.

 

[khiladi]

Parcells ruined this defense when he went to a 3-4. They never were able to get better than the 4-3 there when he took over. He knew they wouldn't after a couple years and bailed on the team. His hand picked 3-4 personel was so bad, even bringing in the 3-4 guru Wade Philips couldn't fix it.

The linebackers that Wade inherited in Bradie James and Ayodele were awful in pass coverage.. Don't even get me started on our secondary...

 

[cowboyblue22]

for any scheme to work you have to have the players that are capable of running it and coaches that know how to coach it.

 

[lostar2009]

Yes Both Lawrence and Gregory were day 2 picks still considered high picks in a draft. Draft is not just day 1. Heck guys like Charles Haley was a 4th rd pick, when people say Dallas is not drafting defense that is not true they have used fairly high picks in the last 2 years addressing the DL.

To be honest I wasnt sold onGregory or Lawrence when they pick them. Lawrence is panning out but he needs help. Now when they went several years drafting offensive line they was investing serious resources to a specific part of the offense. That is what I want to see them do to the Dline. I want first rounders in the middle of that D. I don't care too much for projects or players with bad stock. I want this team to invest in some studs who are ready to play. We invested and gamble big with Gregory now he has his first strike and isn't usable the first 4 games.

 

[TheFinisher]

Idk, but the Seahawks Panthers and Broncos all seem to make it work.

 

[Doomsday101]

To be honest I wasnt sold onGregory or Lawrence when they pick them. Lawrence is panning out but he needs help. Now when they went several years drafting offensive line they was investing serious resources to a specific part of the offense. That is what I want to see them do to the Dline. I want first rounders in the middle of that D. I don't care too much for projects or players with bad stock. I want this team to invest in some studs who are ready to play. We invested and gamble big with Gregory now he has his first strike and isn't usable the first 4 games.

I liked the Lawrence pick but was skeptical of the Gregory pick mainly due to his size. I feel he needs to bulk up some as a 4-3 DE. Now with the latest off the field issue, I agree with you it is strike yet I call it strike 2 since he came into the draft with this issue of smoking weed. One more and I would cut him loose. I think he has talent but if he is not smart enough to figure out that smoking weed in the NFL is a major no no then he does not need to be playing. My main point is Dallas is not neglecting the defense and while I still want Dallas taking QB with the 1st pick I still want to see the remainder of the draft focused on defense.

 

[Section446]

No, we just don't have the talent to be very good at either defense. Having said that, it's a lot easier to cover up the flaws with a hybrid/C2/T2 defense than it is a 3-4.

 

[Galian Beast]

The move to the 3-4 is what set this team back.

The move back to the 4-3 was a smart decision, but it hasn't been backed up by any sort of resources.

We've largely ignored the defense since we switched to the 4-3. When the resources should have been primarily focused on defense.

 

[Redball Express]

Parcells ruined this defense when he went to a 3-4. They never were able to get better than the 4-3 there when he took over. He knew they wouldn't after a couple years and bailed on the team. His hand picked 3-4 personel was so bad, even bringing in the 3-4 guru Wade Philips couldn't fix it.

Yes.

And if you really want to rub it in..

look at Zimmer now in Minny.

In 2 seasons he has rebuilt their team and they have zoomed past us as a team.

Talk about mistakes.

Had we kept Zimmer and just gotten him more help..

he might now be our HC and we would be in experienced steady hands wit a HC who could also run the defense..

unlike with Garrett who was brought in to be an OC and couldn't do that and now has been promoted to HC and he can't do that.

Its just so demoralizing for real Cowboy fans anymore.

We are always in a 5 year rebuilding plan that takes 20 years.

 

[Alexander]

Easier to find players for a 4-3.

Not really.

 

[Alexander]

The move to the 3-4 is what set this team back.

The move back to the 4-3 was a smart decision, but it hasn't been backed up by any sort of resources.

We've largely ignored the defense since we switched to the 4-3. When the resources should have been primarily focused on defense.

LOL

Still a big ball of angst over a shift in philosophy.

With a competent front office on the same page with the coaching staff, it is not an issue.

Kind of scary that the D everyone wants right now was coached by Wade Phillips.

 

[BigStar]

How big of a part has the Golden Cock been in the failure of this defense? If you replace the Golden Cock (we have already) with a starting quality player, and you add an above average player at safety to demote Church, how much better is this defense this year?

I agree. The signing of Thornton could nip a lot of these run D problems in the bud, as well as collapse the pocket on passing downs on 1st and 2nd down. I think w/exception of RE (and we have Gregory in Week 5 and throughout TC/pre season to see if he has progressed) the remaining holes really remain @ a starting S and DL/LB depth. Joseph in the 2nd sounds good to me If Bosa was pure pass rusher he would be a lot more tempting than he is is. QB or trade down (hopefully w/STL). Use some of those 6th rounders on OLB 3-4 converts (usually undersized) that could compete for reps @ RE during TC/Pre Season to be worked into the rotation; ideally this year but more for next year, depth, or PS.

 

[Galian Beast]

LOL

Still a big ball of angst over a shift in philosophy.

With a competent front office on the same page with the coaching staff, it is not an issue.

Kind of scary that the D everyone wants right now was coached by Wade Phillips.

I would have fired Garrett before Phillips. Pretty sure I was clear on that at the time.

 

[TheCount]

Not really.

The ease of player flexibility and acquisitions was one of the reasons they gave for making the switch at the time.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Used Carpet Salesmen, it was a mistake to change both times but gimme' a break, this is a passing league and there are no pure bred Defenses. Schemes are numerous and offense dictates what formations are ran which are practically the same league wide.

 

[jazzcat22]

Parcels going to the 3-4 screwed us for the past what, 12 years now.