Whats really wrong with the defense?

[CaptainMorgan]

We have pedigree and money invested into both corner positions. We have pedigree and money invested into the LB positions. We also have one of the best sack men at end.

Is it a talent issue? Are our players seriously overrated? Is Kiffins scheme just old and tired? We are so horribly bad in pass defense Yet the pieces say we shouldnt be.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Talent and scheme imo

 

[CATCH17]

I think we're going to have to press more with the corners. We can't let these guys just come off the line uncontested.

Also.. Denver ran all over us yesterday.

I don't get it myself. We have really regressed. At least we're getting turnovers though.

 

[Nova]

It is a little baffling. A lot of people will harp lack of talent, but I just don't see it for our DBs.

Wilcox and Church have been playing very well. Claiborne has struggled but played well this last game, and Carr has been quietly a top 10 type CB this year... he neutralized Demaryius Thomas quite well yesterday. And Scandrick is actually one of the better slot corners in the league.

I haven't focused much on the defense as far as watching film goes, but it has to be the linebackers (who are very good players, so that's also strange).

 

[perrykemp]

NFL defensive success isn't so much about what you are good at as much as it is about minimizing what you aren't good at.

The pass rush isn't there.
Lee and Carter are tremendous in run game but so far they've been absolutely terrible covering TEs and RBs playing in a 3-4
They have a rookie safety who has a lot of potential but is very very raw. Church is a fantastic tackler however, 5 games, starting to look like a real liability in the pass game
Claiborne hasn't played up to expectations -- QBs are starting to pick on him. Carr has played well, but not great IMHO
With Spencer out for the season and Ware a shell of his former self, the pass rush is trending towards non-existent

In otherwords, what do the Cowboys really have to hang their hats on? All 3 of the tiers (DL, LB, Secondary) are not playing well.

 

[50cent]

So they suck in the 3-4 and now in the 4-3 and its the scheme?! SMH, someday we have to realize its the players or another factor like being worn down from a pass happy offensive gameplan that consistently keeps them on the field. I don't know which it is, but I don't think there are too many other schemes out there that can max their potential. So, I vote no on its the scheme!

 

[blindzebra]

No Ratliff, Spencer, Crawford and a beat up Ware and a nicked up, Selvie and Hatcher.

Somehow a DL of Rayford, Wilber, Hayden and Carter isn't going to cut it.

 

[perrykemp]

Wilcox and Church have been playing very well..

No they haven't. In fact, they are a big factor in opposing teams terrorizing the middle of the field. Chargers and Broncos combed for 450+ yards of receiving between their TEs and RBs -- the safeties are absolutely critical in controlling the middle of the field.

Church is the best LB on the team, however, a safety he is not.

 

[Direwolf63]

Where do you start?

Pass rush has been non-existent thse past 2 games. Sadly, Ware's best days are now behind him. These stinger/back issues will likely remain with him until he retires.
When there is no pass rush, the middle of the defense is wide open. RB's and TE's are running absolutely free. Gates and Moore had field days. It seems like nobody is picking up RB's out of the backfield. Woodhead and Moreno caught passes and when 10-15 yards before they were touched. Who is responsible for this.

Lee and Carter are playing terribly. They both admit to as much. They were terrific in the 3-4, but look lost in this scheme.

We all know about Claiborne's problems. He was a bit better yesterday. Hopefully he can build on it. Safeties are not playing well. But again, without a pass rush they will continue to be victomized.

I never liked the switch to the 4-3 from the 3-4. I thought Ryan was scapgoated when in fact the defense was decimated by injuries. They may turn it around. But if they don't get a pass rush, it will be more of the same the rest of the year. We still have to play Brees, Rodgers and Stafford among others. They will tear us up just like Peyton did if we don't come up with some kind of pass rush.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

We have pedigree and money invested into both corner positions. We have pedigree and money invested into the LB positions. We also have one of the best sack men at end.

Is it a talent issue? Are our players seriously overrated? Is Kiffins scheme just old and tired? We are so horribly bad in pass defense Yet the pieces say we shouldnt be.

Injuries and a traditional reliance of players such as hatchers, Ratliff and others who would struggle to even make other teams.
Also, a whole stable of journeymen corners and safeties and very young corners who we rely on to save the day.

 

[xwalker]

Lack of pressure on the opposing QB is the #1 problem. The old saying is that a good QB will beat the best coverage if he has enough time in the pocket.

Ware and Hatcher are the only DLinemen on the team with a pedigree. Ware is a shell of himself with off-season shoulder surgery and recurring "stingers" this season. Hatcher also had a stinger in the Denver game. A stinger is partial or complete numbness in the arm/shoulder which also causes a lack of strength.

The other DLinemen are:

Selvie: Playing well considering that he was a street Free Agent and minimum wage type NFL player.
Hayden: Didn't even play football in 2012.
Nevis: Cut from two other teams this year.
Carter: Cut by multiple other teams.
Wilber: Fourth round pick in 2012 that was drafted to be a 3-4 OLB.
Rayford: 27 year old NFL rookie.

 

[CaptainMorgan]

Until this last game I thought our run defense was fairly sound but outside of the Rams game we havent been able to slow down any ones passing game. Its historically bsd and it just doesnt add up.

 

[kevm3]

problem is that once qbs figure out they can attack us up the middle of the field and they do, our scheme falls apart. We have NO kind of pressure on the QB and QBs exploit this over and over. The past two games our guys have been stonewalled and have gotten to the QB maybe once or twice at most.

 

[mrmojo]

Boy Carter just looks lost out there and I noticed Sims was playing a lot in his place. Maybe it was the scheme yesterday that allowed the backs to be wide open, but it sure didnt stop the deep ball. It has to be the scheme....

 

[CaptainMorgan]

problem is that once qbs figure out they can attack us up the middle of the field and they do, our scheme falls apart. We have NO kind of pressure on the QB and QBs exploit this over and over. The past two games our guys have been stonewalled and have gotten to the QB maybe once or twice at most.

Can we not figure out how to create pressure by blitzing? It seems we have been unimaginative with that as well. Besides a couple corner blitzes its looked pretty vanilla to me.

 

[reddyuta]

over/under on rushing yards by the skins.I say 200 but i think we have chance to win even if they get 200.

 

[SDCowboy]

Easy. The defense is devoid of talent. It's got an injured Ware (likely at the end of his career), Lee who is having an off year and Carr. Outside of that that we've got.....

 

[Nova]

No they haven't. In fact, they are a big factor in opposing teams terrorizing the middle of the field. Chargers and Broncos combed for 450+ yards of receiving between their TEs and RBs -- the safeties are absolutely critical in controlling the middle of the field.

Church is the best LB on the team, however, a safety he is not.

Church is rated as the 6th best safety in the league. Wilcox, 13th.

In the 7 starts between them, Church and Wilcox have been responsible for 109 yards and 1 TD surrendered.

Lee and Carter? 509 yards, 6 touchdowns.

Now I haven't gone back and looked over the defense in depth, but I imagine there IS some kind of disconnect between the safeties and LBers.

But from the raw numbers on the stat sheet, it doesn't appear that the Safeties are to blame.

 

[Wheeltax]

IMO it all comes down to QB pressure, or lack thereof.

 

[Aven8]

I have to be honest. I hate it when my two best players (IMO) have to back pedal 20 yards at the snap of the ball to cover downfield. They are built to go sideline to sideline, not goal line to goal line.

That is what is hampering this defense, outside of Ware is hurt again IMO.