Who is our weakest Link?

[Bob Sacamano]

I am going to use a boxing analogy that might clear up some glaring misperceptions people have in regards to our defense.

You can think of the Saints game as a tactical boxing match where they jabbed us in our soft spots until we got split open and then poured it on until the knock out. Each game thereafter followed the same script.

The Colts game was a simple brutal slugfest. The matchups were straight forward and simple. They did not try anything fancy. They lined up, man to man and dared us to knock them out. We happened to play our most aggressive game to date and it worked.

But there was no magic involved. It was just a physical game and the Colts played right into our hands because they did not get very fancy and lined up the same players in the same place and simply dared us to execute better. They were very basic and did not attack the same weaknesses as everyone did post New Orleans. And I am sure that helped out quite a bit. Either they missed it or did not care.

that's the point I was trying to get across, abs used the Detroit game as an example of us being aggressive and getting burned for it, I counter-pointed him w/ the Indy game, we were aggressive, and did well

 

[Alexander]

that's the point I was trying to get across, abs used the Detroit game as an example of us being aggressive and getting burned for it, I counter-pointed him w/ the Indy game, we were aggressive, and did well

And my point was that Indianapolis either did not expect it or did not care. Nor did they gear up to take advantage of it. In general, their offense was as simple and brutal as our defense. They depend on perfect execution and they have the players to do it. They do not bother to scheme. They play a simple brand of football and do not bring a bunch of tricks to the table.

Detroit did.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

And my point was that Indianapolis either did not expect it or did not care. Nor did they gear up to take advantage of it. In general, their offense was as simple and brutal as our defense. They depend on perfect execution and they have the players to do it. They do not bother to scheme. They play a simple brand of football and do not bring a bunch of tricks to the table.

Detroit did.

aggressiveness does not automatically equal exotic schemes, in the INdy game we played aggressive, even though the scheme didn't change, and we did well

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Coverage at the safety positions......

 

[juck]

I knew this repsonse was coming. He's never been a leader. I look for Romo to do this on offense. I keep hoping Roy will on defense. I think Burnett or Carpenter could, similar to Ray Lewis in B-more.

Owens? I seriously doubt it. Too focused on himself to put team first.

i dont know man he did a pretty good job of motivating and practically carrying a team to the superbowl,then playing his heart out hurt.thats pretty motivational to me.last year he was the only one on the sidelines revving players up.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Michael Irvin used to say that he had every offensive player's phone number, so if they were informally "practicing" in the offseason he could call up the missing people and give them a hard time.

We have to call TO up and ask him where he's at.

 

[Hostile]

i dont know man he did a pretty good job of motivating and practically carrying a team to the superbowl,then playing his heart out hurt.thats pretty motivational to me.last year he was the only one on the sidelines revving players up.

The Eagles got to the Super Bowl without him. In the Super Bowl he did perform well. However, as someone else has already pointed out he doesn't inspire anyone if he's not getting the ball. That's when he whines and wonders "why he was brought here."

That isn't leadership. You can sugarcoat it any way you want to, but you'll never sell me that he is a leader. He isn't. He's one hell of a good football player. That's where it ends.

 

[Alexander]

i dont know man he did a pretty good job of motivating and practically carrying a team to the superbowl,then playing his heart out hurt.thats pretty motivational to me.last year he was the only one on the sidelines revving players up.

Owens is not much like Irvin at all, really. I wish he were.

 

[JackMagist]

Who is our weakest link?

On Offense I guess it would be Kyle Kosier.
Truthfully though I thought he was pretty solid last year.

WR= Exceptional
TE= Exceptional
RB= Good
QB=Good
LT= Solid to Good
RT= Solid to Good
C = Good
RG = ??? but I think a motivated Davis is a better prospect than Kosier
LG =Solid


On Defense, of course FS comes to mind even though Hamlin makes this spot better.
But I also think we need more from or DE.

DE = Fair to Solid
NT = Solid to Good
OLB = Good to Exceptional
ILB = Solid
RCB = Solid
LCB = Exceptional
SS = Solid to Good
FS = ??? I would hope Hamlin is solid

I think that with the new scheme we will see Canty and Spears start to shine. We have the talent at DE now we just need the coach to let them play their game.

Also I think you are too hard on Kosier. I have him as "Solid to Good" because he Plays smart. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes even if he is not as powerful as I would like.

The rest of your assessment is pretty much spot on although ROLB remains to be seen.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I think a guy like T.O. may be an emotional leader, funny as it may sound intially but he's known to get teammates jacked up...

Or peeved off. Mostly peeved off.

 

[Verdict]

It was interesting watching the America's Game about our '92 team the other night. All the players said that while Jimmy was tough, he wanted his players loose and confident. We had that swagger everyone talked about. That's a vast difference from the way Parcells operated.

This is a very astute observation. I think Romo is very loose and has a lot of confidence. If he can play like he did early last year I think his loose confident demeanor might be contagious to the other players.

 

[Verdict]

Owens is not much like Irvin at all, really. I wish he were.

Owens and Irvin are similar in that they both want to win and were both passionate. They were different in that T.O. can run it straight in the ditch a lot faster than Irvin. For all of his weaknesses, Irvin was win first kind of player. Really, I think Michael Irvin and Keyshawn Johnson were similar players.

 

[Alexander]

Owens and Irvin are similar in that they both want to win and were both passionate. They were different in that T.O. can run it straight in the ditch a lot faster than Irvin. For all of his weaknesses, Irvin was win first kind of player. Really, I think Michael Irvin and Keyshawn Johnson were similar players.

I disagree. Owens might say he wants to win, but his own accolades are far more important than the team winning when it comes down to it.

Irvin once went a game against the Cardinals when his consecutive game streak was snapped. He did not create a fuss and was fairly calm about it considering. Put Owens in that same situation and you will get a different result.

They might both be "passionate" and like winning, I think Michael Irvin was a smarter social creature. Owens has yet to figure out how to play nice in the sandbox. I honestly think Michael wanted to be liked. That trait was over everything he did, even down to the legendary White House. I don't believe Terrell Owens actually cares if anyone likes him or not and at times he thrives on being unpopular.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

To me our weakest link is that we do not have an emotional leader on the team that everyone rallies around. They're all quiet, even tempered, good guys and decent players, but no one is in everyone's face demanding more.

We haven't had a true team leader since Darren Woodson retired.

I remember seeing Ellis being that guy. I dont know if that will continue though.

I can see L.Davis getting in guys faces as well, scaring the shart out of them

 

[Clove]

I think the entire offensive line is the weakest link. Too much pressure on our QBs over the past 3 or 4 years, and I could care less what they look like on paper, they've not proven squat.

 

[theogt]

I think the entire offensive line is the weakest link. Too much pressure on our QBs over the past 3 or 4 years, and I could care less what they look like on paper, they've not proven squat.

Agreed, the fact that Leonard Davis is the supposed savior to our line is sad. Let's face it. The line sucks. Gurode sucks. Kosier is average. Colombo is average. Flozell can really suck at times. We're not doing a damned thing until our line improves.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Gurode sucks

Come again?




The tackles scare me, watching some of these re*lays of boys games on NFLN, he looks so slow. Anyone with marginal s*eed goes right around him.

Columbo looked a little weak, *oor leverage, got *ushed back into Romos face

And we know the run blocking was bad. But honestly, Re*lacing Rivera alone will hel*. I think Davis will develo* a mean streak at guard, es*ecially if some DT's get in his face. And he definitely didnt look out of sha*e in minis. Looked down right cut

 

[AbeBeta]

Agreed, the fact that Leonard Davis is the supposed savior to our line is sad. Let's face it. The line sucks. Gurode sucks. Kosier is average. Colombo is average. Flozell can really suck at times. We're not doing a damned thing until our line improves.

One thing that folks don't want to acknowledge is that the line lost its leader. Rivera stank on the field but took all the young guys under his wing - we've heard that from several sources.

For a team that lacks leadership, this could be a huge loss. Someone on that line needs to step up and be the guy. Right now it looks like it has to be Columbo b/c he's the only guy I see that plays with fire.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Who is our weakest link?

I am going to make a case for a few positions

On Offense I guess it would be Kyle Kosier.
Truthfully though I thought he was pretty solid last year.

WR= Exceptional - If we do not get the ball to T.O. and use him for his strengths... he will just have padded stats like last year... nothing impacting.... We must get Terry the ball deep... more times than not... even if the play doesnt work... we gotta show that we will throw deep

TE= Exceptional - As great as Witten is... he needs to see more action. He should be Romo's Novacek

RB= Good - This is really up in the air.... lets be realistic... we can only hope for similar results as last year from the 2 headed RB monster.... I dont think that Barber sniffs that many TD's again... maybe he and Jones can split that 18 TD total

QB=Good - I love the guy... but we really dont know what we have in him.... he showed some real poor play in 2nd half of his season... he was real careless with ball too often and showed that BAD side of Brett Favre with poor decisions. He had to cut out the impulse stuff. Protect the ball and go with high percentage pass.


Below... the need to be a cohesive unit... neither guy is a real dominant player... they ALL have to play well
LT= Solid to Good
RT= Solid to Good
C = Good
RG = ??? but I think a motivated Davis is a better prospect than Kosier
LG =Solid


On Defense, of course FS comes to mind even though Hamlin makes this spot better.
But I also think we need more from or DE.


On defense... I want to say its mostly about philosophy and understanding... we looked confused out there last year.. .which contributed to poor execution. We were a better defense than it showed in the end. Hopefully, if nothing else... Wade can fix this.
DE = Fair to Solid
NT = Solid to Good
OLB = Good to Exceptional
ILB = Solid
RCB = Solid
LCB = Exceptional
SS = Solid to Good
FS = ??? I would hope Hamlin is solid


If defense can play better... I think the offense can almost run itself. It has all the making of a "well oiled machine" providing that they play to their strengths as I mentioned above.

 

[Stautner]

Agreed, the fact that Leonard Davis is the supposed savior to our line is sad. Let's face it. The line sucks. Gurode sucks. Kosier is average. Colombo is average. Flozell can really suck at times. We're not doing a damned thing until our line improves.

I don't hink Davis is supposed to be the "savior", just shore up one position and solidify one side of the O-line and take out a weak link. Obviously the hope also is that he will become the dominant force he is supposed to have the talent to be ...........

But I do share your concern about the O-line - this has been a problem for YEARS, and while I think we will be better this year, it still isn't going to be an outstanding unit.

Flozell may be the biggest problem - he goes through the motions too often and often just stands and watches as quality speed rushers blow right past him.