Watkins: Defense's problems bigger than Monte Kiffin

[WoodysGirl]

We need to build in the trenches and work our way out. We need four new faces on that line on opening day. It is possible.

I think there will be a minimum of two. One draft pick and one high dollar free agent. They could even get two mid-level free agents for depth purposes.

Ware and Crawford are penciled in. The rest will be in rotation.

 

[scottsp]

We need to build in the trenches and work our way out. We need four new faces on that line on opening day. It is possible.

Aye. I know a lot of us would love to see several areas addressed, but even if we just bombarded this one personnel group with able bodies, it would make a world of difference. D-Line and linebacker are in such a state of disrepair.

Don't get me wrong, I would be in the market for any number of upgrades for different positions, be it draft or free agency. But this should be our primary focus, without question. It should have been last spring, too.

 

[DBOY3141]

I think there will be a minimum of two. One draft pick and one high dollar free agent. They could even get two mid-level free agents for depth purposes.

Ware and Crawford are penciled in. The rest will be in rotation.

Ware is done, cut him and fix the cap. Last two years he's been hurt and unproductive. Time really dive into the rebuild process. Draft two DL and maybe sign on in FA. Go with Selvie, Crawford, Bass, FA, 2 draft picks. Can't be worse than last year.

 

[cowboys1981]

Aye. I know a lot of us would love to see several areas addressed, but even if we just bombarded this one personnel group with able bodies, it would make a world of difference. D-Line and linebacker are in such a state of disrepair.

Don't get me wrong, I would be in the market for any number of upgrades for different positions, be it draft or free agency. But this should be our primary focus, without question. It should have been last spring, too.

If we invest and gamble on our Dline the way we did with our CB's we'll be in a much better state. We'd see more of that second half vs Eagles type of pressure/attack more often. That would be due to talent and not one of those "sudden sense of urgency approach" to one game or two a year.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Ware is done, cut him and fix the cap. Last two years he's been hurt and unproductive. Time really dive into the rebuild process. Draft two DL and maybe sign on in FA. Go with Selvie, Crawford, Bass, FA, 2 draft picks. Can't be worse than last year.

Put me on the side that doesn't believe this will be Ware's last year here.. 2014 maybe. As for the rest, I think they're going to draft one high DL..and one project DL. And they'll still sign a FA or two. The Cowboys NFL depth, not the spares they had to trot out this year.

 

[CATCH17]

I think Henry Melton is a guy we should bring in.

He's coming off a ACL and a run in with the Cops. We need a bargain there and he may have lost a lot of money.


Also.. I expect Josh Brent to be resigned. Tyrone Crawford will be back as well.

I could see Spencer being here too if we don't draft a DE because his value has plummeted.

 

[Soth]

It's sad that Kiffin has become the punch line in this sad affair.

This entire scenario is reminiscent of the scene in the Matrix where he is offered a chance to take the red pill or the blue pill. Kiffin should have told Jerry to take the blue (fake) pill and shove it up his nose. I guess his greed/pride led him to the blue pill even though the reality of it (red pill) was that he was given very questionable talent to work with this past season.

Of course he is a punch line. His defense was historically bad. The NFL and the Cowboys have been around for a long time, and I am sure many teams have had to deal with lots of injuries, but only 1 or 2 have been worse on defense than the 2013 cowboys.

And as I said in another thread, it's not just Dallas, Kiffin had historically bad performances at USC.

Kiffin was a great DC once, and I respect him for that. But it is time to retire. The NFL is a very demanding business and coaches need to work a lot and have unlimited energy. It's hard to do that at 73-74 years old.

 

[SportsGuru80]

Hire a young defensive mind from Carroll or Zimmer's staff pleaaaaaaaaaaase! I do not like the tampa 2 style we play.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Of course he is a punch line. His defense was historically bad. The NFL and the Cowboys have been around for a long time, and I am sure many teams have had to deal with lots of injuries, but only 1 or 2 have been worse on defense than the 2013 cowboys.

And as I said in another thread, it's not just Dallas, Kiffin had historically bad performances at USC.

Kiffin was a great DC once, and I respect him for that. But it is time to retire. The NFL is a very demanding business and coaches need to work a lot and have unlimited energy. It's hard to do that at 73-74 years old.

Do you know this because you are in this age group? Just curious.

My opinion when he was hired was that the talent was questionable so I saw no need for the change. I honestly do not know that he is no longer a good DC, all I know is that he did not have four HOF players at his disposal in his scheme like he did in Tampa. I said this before and I'll say it again: No single QB feared playing the Tampa 2, Flex defense, nor the Bears 46; what they feared were the players playing it.

Once again, I do not feel sorry for the man (Kiffin) because he accepted the job without question. Why, I do not know, nor do I care: it's his mess and now he has to clean it up if he is not fired first.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Do you know this because you are in this age group? Just curious.

My opinion when he was hired was that the talent was questionable so I saw no need for the change. I honestly do not know that he is no longer a good DC, all I know is that he did not have four HOF players at his disposal in his scheme like he did in Tampa. I said this before and I'll say it again: No single QB feared playing the Tampa 2, Flex defense, nor the Bears 46; what they feared were the players playing it.

Once again, I do not feel sorry for the man (Kiffin) because he accepted the job without question. Why, I do not know, nor do I care: it's his mess and now he has to clean it up if he is not fired first.

Added note: Four HOF-type players: Sapp, Brooks, Barber, Lynch. Thank you!

 

[Soth]

Do you know this because you are in this age group? Just curious.

No, I am not in that age group. But how many 73 year old coaches do you see in the NFL? These guys work a LOT. That's why a lot of coaches are now on Fox and NFL network.

 

[Corso]

So they were histori-bad. That should be a new word, like terri-bad.

Like Badong. Bad-wrong.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

No, I am not in that age group. But how many 73 year old coaches do you see in the NFL? These guys work a LOT. That's why a lot of coaches are now on Fox and NFL network.

Thanks for responding. I would agree that working 80-hour weeks when you are old is tedious but there are always exceptions. Kiffin may be the exception. As I mentioned, though, I never wanted the change in the first place.

 

[Deep_South]

I don't think Jerry can risk not letting Kiffin go. As the GM, he'll have nowhere to hide if we come out the gate with Kiffin next year and stink it up. He brought Kiffin in, got the worst defense in Cowboys' history, and he has to do something about it to protect his own image and credibility, IMO.

 

[Sasquatch]

Our DB wasn't playing the ball? Flashbacks of Dave Campo and Terrance Newman. The more things change, the more things stay the same, it seems.

 

[Risen Star]

We need to build in the trenches and work our way out. We need four new faces on that line on opening day. It is possible.

Not unless you want to draft for need.

 

[mahoneybill]

Whoever calls the plays has done a horrible job. But sorry the eagles game should not have been a win or go home game. This defense has snatched defeat fromt he jaws of victory too many times this year. One more stop against denver we win, one more stop against GB we win, one more stop against Det we win, one more stop against KC we win. Those games were all winnable but the defense could not get off the field when it matters. A spirited showing ever 4-5 weeks does not take the blame off of kiffin. Yes he had sub par personnel but many games he stubbornly stayed with his scheme instead of evolving or experimenting to make up for the shortcomings.

And three of those teams made the post season. Just shows how close, yet far away we really are.

 

[cowboys1981]

Not unless you want to draft for need.

In our case need for this position is an understatement. If we can add a DT (Joseph comes to mind) then it can open up what we can do with our first pick.

 

[Next Years Champ]

Yeah, I'm not sure how one play told any story about Claiborne. I thought he played a heck of a game Sunday night given how much time Foles had particularly in the first half.

I changed what I thought about him..

..he stepped up and played well.

We need to get him healthy and in the film room pronto..