Wed. Recap: Injury Issues Return In Physical Practice

[jobberone]

Durant has played the majority of his NFL snaps at OLB while McClain of course has always been an inside guy. That's why I put Durant on the outside. I'm still not big on Wilber being a 4-3 OLB.

I don't care just get some NFL talent on the field. The LBers are going to have to be physical and that may give McClain the nod at the Mike; esp if your concerns about stopping the run happens.

 

[cowboyblue22]

on talking cowboys they were really down on teams chances this season because of the defense

 

[Alexander]

Durant ought to be switched to one of the outside spots and McClain ought to man the middle.

This defense is going to be lacking so much talent over the first part of the season that it needs every bit of talent it can get.

Again, if Durant is having the best camp, he gets the MLB spot. Why would you take him from where he is doing well to give McClain a spot?

I get how everyone is freaking out right now.

But the real deal right now is stability and consistency.

Get it done, right now. Or not at all.

I know a lot of people think there is plenty of time, there really isn't.

 

[Bluestang]

I think we all should get our frustrations with the defense out before the season starts because right now it's looking ugly and it won't matter how peed-off we are with it.

It simply lacks talent.

Some of us already knew this. Some of us were optimistic, and some of us thought the Cowboys could do no wrong.

It need a playmaking DE a solid DT, at least one LB and a safety.

Even with Lawrence, I went back and looked at rookie pass rushers stats in their rookie year. The odds were against him, and it really isn't his fault because the management traded up for him and then proceeded to parade him as the next DeMarcus.

Marinelli, even admitted that the defense could be "saved" with the secondary. This was before Scandrick got suspended.

There is no question that this team tried to get help on defense in the draft, but our draft position didn't help us with any blue chip talent for defense. It happens, nothing you can do. But Mickey brought up a good point, about possibly trading down and getting Lawrence late first round with the added benefit of getting an another player.

That's hindsight talking but at least we have a formidable offensive line now.

The problem is that Tony Romo gets one year older and one more well placed hit from retiring.

If the team crashes and end up 4-12 it will probably have a new coaching staff, a great drafting position and some cap space in order to fortify the defensive side of the ball for next season.

I think Jerry's non-comittal to JG on the hot-seat is really making alot of sense now. You have an aging franchise QB in the system that he's only known for 7 years. He could learn a new system sure, but do you set the rest of the offense back too because they have to learn an entire new system?

Not so fast on cap space. Brandon Carr would count $12.151M in dead money if he gets released next year. There is a decision that needs to be made on Bryant, Murray, Free, Leary, Carter, Dunbar, Beasley, Harris. You could also had a productive Selvie, a healthy Spencer, and if R. McClain if he pans out.

Draft position would help this team but this team still makes poor decisions on draft day in order to find the home run hits.

 

[mahoneybill]

You can watch our two-minute drill here (capped with a back shoulder TD pass from Tony to Dez): http://www.dallascowboys.com/multim...aiders-D/e7e6d479-b94e-4a9b-9e19-a69c07d1d198.

Thanks for the link. Nice to see some action, even if it is somewhat controlled re tackling.

 

[RS12]

Some of us already knew this. Some of us were optimistic, and some of us thought the Cowboys could do no wrong.

Love is blind, and in some cases deaf, and dumb.

 

[Bizwah]

Yeah, not looking good for the defense. I'm still trying to keep some positivity. I think we will see improvement over the course of the year. But it may happen too late.

I think there is a possibility for us to field a solid DL....but as several have said, things will have to break nearly perfect.

D. Lawrence and T. McClain will have to come back healthy and strong.
Melton and Spencer will need to come back from injury and play like their old selves.
Selvie and Crawford will have to continue to develop their impressive skills.
R. McClain will need to come back to his old self.
Carr and Claiborne will need career years.

Too large a list. It's easy to look back and say we should've done things differently. The poor decisions JJ made, combined with the crippling cap penalty has brought us to this point.

Now, there can be some hope. If Spencer and McClain come back healthy early on....and, like him or hate him, Brent comes back in decent shape. We may have a chance.

Best possible scenario:
LDE: Selvie/Crawford
DT: McClain/Brent
DT: Melton/Coleman/Bishop
RDE: Spencer/Boatright/Lawrence

Again, so many whatifs....I will still love this team, but it may be tough to watch. Hate to see this team waste the talent on the offensive side of the ball.

 

[Sportsbabe]

Love reading this stuff. It is really good that McClain had a "light bulb" kind of day. If the light does go on for him then Dallas got a super-steal... and they got lucky as hell. He will be an enforcer in the middle of the defense. He will set the tone and the tempo for that entire unit.

Saban said that McClain might be the most talented defender he's ever had, so it will be no small thing for him to be roaming the middle of the defense. He could change everything.

And his "other brother McClain (the rook)" won't be denied.

 

[Sportsbabe]

The article says that the 2 minute drill is on Cowboys.com, when I click the link it says "We're sorry, but this video is no longer available". Anybody have a valid link?

It worked for me.

 

[Sportsbabe]

Durant is faster than McClain. I don't know which one is better in coverage though. Both the Mike and the Sam have to cover but I think the Mike has to cover more area in the base. I don't have any idea how often this defense will be in a defense typical for the Mike in a Tampa 2 either. So it may be whoever can play the run better should be the Sam. In the end it won't matter that much as teams attack weak areas anyway.

Whoever's faster needs to get the job, because teams are going to keep throwing to RB's out of the backfield until we show we can stop it.

 

[Sportsbabe]

I think we all should get our frustrations with the defense out before the season starts because right now it's looking ugly and it won't matter how peed-off we are with it.

It simply lacks talent.

It need a playmaking DE a solid DT, at least one LB and a safety.

If the team crashes and end up 4-12 it will probably have a new coaching staff, a great drafting position and some cap space in order to fortify the defensive side of the ball for next season.

I was with you until you said 4-12.

 

[Sportsbabe]

Yeah, not looking good for the defense. I'm still trying to keep some positivity. I think we will see improvement over the course of the year. But it may happen too late.

I think there is a possibility for us to field a solid DL....but as several have said, things will have to break nearly perfect.

D. Lawrence and T. McClain will have to come back healthy and strong.
Melton and Spencer will need to come back from injury and play like their old selves.
Selvie and Crawford will have to continue to develop their impressive skills.
R. McClain will need to come back to his old self.
Carr and Claiborne will need career years.

Too large a list. It's easy to look back and say we should've done things differently. The poor decisions JJ made, combined with the crippling cap penalty has brought us to this point.

Now, there can be some hope. If Spencer and McClain come back healthy early on....and, like him or hate him, Brent comes back in decent shape. We may have a chance.

Best possible scenario:
LDE: Selvie/Crawford
DT: McClain/Brent
DT: Melton/Coleman/Bishop
RDE: Spencer/Boatright/Lawrence

Again, so many whatifs....I will still love this team, but it may be tough to watch. Hate to see this team waste the talent on the offensive side of the ball.

I have no faith in Carr and Claiborne.

 

[Nirvana]

Durant is no savior at MLB and McClain is coming on, so he gets the nod. Put Durant at OLB with Carter. That's not impressive at all. In fact it's weak and we are in big trouble there and with the front 4. It's going to be a long year.

 

[jobberone]

Whoever's faster needs to get the job, because teams are going to keep throwing to RB's out of the backfield until we show we can stop it.

Maybe. Supposedly the Mike has more are to cover but I don't know how much we will play a Tampa 2 with the Mike dropping deep to cover 1/3 intermediate. Who ever has the best range via speed and instincts should play if so. But McClain will be superior at run stopping IMO and this may be more important.

IDK. We'll see.

 

[Idgit]

Love is blind, and in some cases deaf, and dumb.

The defense has been the issue for this team the last three seasons. Some of us were saying so while wading through hundreds of posts about missing the boat on $60m FA OGs.

This particular territory is not the domain of the Realists. They happen to be right in this case by virtue of the fact they complain about literally everything regarding this team.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I have no faith in Carr and Claiborne.

I have more faith in them because they are going to be put in a position that finally plays to their strength. The issue is they won't be getting a ton of support from the pass rush.

 

[Craig]

Claiborne needs to be healthy, but i think Carr is and has been fine.

 

[bayeslife]

Some of us already knew this. Some of us were optimistic, and some of us thought the Cowboys could do no wrong.



Even with Lawrence, I went back and looked at rookie pass rushers stats in their rookie year. The odds were against him, and it really isn't his fault because the management traded up for him and then proceeded to parade him as the next DeMarcus.

Marinelli, even admitted that the defense could be "saved" with the secondary. This was before Scandrick got suspended.

There is no question that this team tried to get help on defense in the draft, but our draft position didn't help us with any blue chip talent for defense. It happens, nothing you can do. But Mickey brought up a good point, about possibly trading down and getting Lawrence late first round with the added benefit of getting an another player.

That's hindsight talking but at least we have a formidable offensive line now.

The problem is that Tony Romo gets one year older and one more well placed hit from retiring.





I think Jerry's non-comittal to JG on the hot-seat is really making alot of sense now. You have an aging franchise QB in the system that he's only known for 7 years. He could learn a new system sure, but do you set the rest of the offense back too because they have to learn an entire new system?

Not so fast on cap space. Brandon Carr would count $12.151M in dead money if he gets released next year. There is a decision that needs to be made on Bryant, Murray, Free, Leary, Carter, Dunbar, Beasley, Harris. You could also had a productive Selvie, a healthy Spencer, and if R. McClain if he pans out.

Draft position would help this team but this team still makes poor decisions on draft day in order to find the home run hits.

Bryant is really the only need player on that list, and Free we could get for cheap. Everyone else is expendable.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Again, if Durant is having the best camp, he gets the MLB spot. Why would you take him from where he is doing well to give McClain a spot?

I get how everyone is freaking out right now.

But the real deal right now is stability and consistency.

Get it done, right now. Or not at all.

I know a lot of people think there is plenty of time, there really isn't.

I'd move Durant because he has played at a decent level at OLB for Detroit. He hasn't been a bad OLB.

But of course McClain has to play well enough to force the move.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I guess I'm assuming McClain will be there at the 1/3 tech. I think you put Spencer at SDE and Selvie at RDE and rotate some others. I still think Crawford can play some DE non-passing downs but I have to admit I'm getting a tad hesitant there. You can generate rush elsewhere but I'm not sure we have the DBs for it either. Again a lot has to go right and not a while lot wrong but its possible.

I agree with everything you posted jobber.

I'm getting concerned about DT McClain not getting enough time in during the preseason to claim the starting DT spot. If Hayden starts at the position– time to start manning the lifeboats.