Why are we letting the defense off the hook?

[Nova]

They had one bad drive that they gave up. Or rather, SF got things moving on that drive enough, and the defense kept the 9ers alive with a few costly penalties and missed opportunities.

In the playoffs, you expect that kind of dog fight.

The offense never answered.

 

[vicjagger]

If anyone is off the hook w/o merit, it's Dalton Schultz.

 

[jsb357]

So they were suppose to hold them to 11?

 

[Vtwin]

I agree.

Clearly we need a defense that gives up 0 points. These bums just aren't going to cut it.

 

[Nova]

Maybe the question is.....What could the Defense have done better? Purdy did get some passes in, across the middle. Of course Kittles didn't get neutalized like you'd want. SF did have safe effective runs that moved chains in the second half. Just questions, not a blame on the defense......just, what could have been done better or more?

not much they could have done better. Maybe have Micah as LBer on obvious run downs? That seemed to be a key difference on the one drive 49ers got the TD.

Our defense was behind the chains often on that drive often because the SF run game was picking up 4-5 yard chunks on 1st down with Micah at DE.

 

[Silly]

They can't stop the run, but everyone knows that already and it will hopefully be addressed in the off-season. But they honestly played well all things considered. The offense can't do nothing and expect the defense to just hold on indefinitely.

I think the defense stopped the run good until the they became fatigued and lost their spirit in the late 3rd quarter. But everyone watching the game and the fans in the stands knew the offense wasn't going to do jack. Dominated all game!

 

[nate dizzle]

When you hold a team to 19 points when it averages over 30 points, your defense is not the problem. Your offense should be able to deliver a victory to you under those conditions.

Especially when your offense gives their offense 2 extra possessions with sloppy turnovers.

 

[Nova]

If anyone is off the hook w/o merit, it's Dalton Schultz.

He deserves a lot of ire, 100%. But he's probably not getting much blame because his two boneheaded plays were largely inconsequential since the game was basically over at that point.

Also, I think some of us are giving him a break on the play where the ref wound the clock. The refs normally would not play it that letter to the law.

Typically, the Refs give it to the runner going out of bounds so long as they went out of bounds on their own will and weren't obviously going backward.

See Evan Engram dragging Kearse in the Jags game.

 

[nate dizzle]

YES they played good, it's like someone flicked a switch and said, it's time for the offense to be dominant we're taking a break until next game!

Was it asking too much for the defense to continue to do well against the 49ers? Their first drive after halftime it was evident they made adjustments, and the defense that played well all first half stayed in the same game plan.

So we're putting a lot of blame on the offense, let's give like 2% to the defense!!

I feel like 2% is fair!

 

[tyke1doe]

When you hold a team to 19 points when it averages over 30 points, your defense is not the problem. Your offense should be able to deliver a victory to you under those conditions, especially when your (the Cowboys') offense averages 30-plus points a game.

Fixed that for ya!

 

[tyke1doe]

Other suggested thread title: Let's shift the rightful scrutiny Dak should receive for not delivering to the defense because it failed to pitch a shutout.

 

[Powerforward88]

What more could you ask of the D? SF scored 1 TD. Deebo and Mcaffery were almost non factors.

 

[cowboys5xsbs]

This take is braindead. Asking the defense to play a perfect game to win is asinine and unrealistic.

 

[Sydla]

They scored 9 in the first half. 10 in the second. Yet somehow the first half was so much better than the second?

LOL.

Stop. The O dropped the ball on Sunday, not the D.

 

[CowboyFanInLexKy]

What more could you ask of the D? SF scored 1 TD. Deebo and Mcaffery were almost non factors.

Exactly.... Our D did their job. Our O lost us the game...

 

[Staubacher]

99% of that 2% is on Diggs.

This math is making my head spin. 100% on Dak is easier haha

 

[leeblair]

YES they played good, it's like someone flicked a switch and said, it's time for the offense to be dominant we're taking a break until next game!

Was it asking too much for the defense to continue to do well against the 49ers? Their first drive after halftime it was evident they made adjustments, and the defense that played well all first half stayed in the same game plan.

So we're putting a lot of blame on the offense, let's give like 2% to the defense!!

They did pretty well considering Dak kept making them come back out on the field. When they are having to play by themselves, and being handicapped by a quarterback that is helping the other team it's hard to complain about the defense.

 

[Kingofholland]

YES they played good, it's like someone flicked a switch and said, it's time for the offense to be dominant we're taking a break until next game!

Was it asking too much for the defense to continue to do well against the 49ers? Their first drive after halftime it was evident they made adjustments, and the defense that played well all first half stayed in the same game plan.

So we're putting a lot of blame on the offense, let's give like 2% to the defense!!

OK we can put 2% on Diggs for not securing the int that would have taken points off the board and not trying harder on the long kittle catch.

 

[links18]

They did give up a like 90 yard TD drive, much of it on the juggle catch by Little that never should have happened.

 

[Mr_437]

2% on the defense? OK, they could have done better on that one play.

Yep, the play Diggs closed his eyes and fell down while Kittle made a play.