Yakuza Rich: Bad Coaching Causes Problems on Defense

[Yakuza Rich]

I forgot about Ellis getting injured at that time.

So, I guess that means it wasn't all the coache's fault.

Except Dallas' sack total was still below average at the time of Ellis' injury. And Dallas couldn't stop the short passes and Zimmer had no answer for it, which he even admitted to.





YAKUZA

 

[joseephuss]

You couldn't be more off.

In the Saints game Drew Brees threw a total of six passes that traveled 9 or more yards in the air.

The Falcons scored 2 TD's on passes to fullback Justin Griffith.

Then the Lions decided to have Mike Furrey come across the middle to get Bradie James in coverage against him and Furrey had an 11 catch, 102 yard day.

Because Dallas couldn't stop the short passes, it opened up the deep passing game for opposing offenses.



YA

You said passes to the tailbacks, which I disputed. Now you give me a fullback and a wide receiver as an example. Come on, you can bring better than that.

Like I said, Zimmer was not great, but he was limited in what he could work with last year. Was Burnet healthy enough to come in for Bradie as he has been last year? Was he up to the task? I remember in the 2nd Philly game last year that Burnett is the one who blew the coverage on tight end(again not a tailback: ) that went for a big gainer. It was an all out blitz and Burnett simply let the tight end run right by him. Not much any DC can do when the player just does not do his job. If Burnett runs with Smith it still may be a completed pass, but it at least diminishes the chances.

Philly didn't attack the Cowboys using an over abundance of passes to the backs and neither did Seattle in the playoff game. The Falcons did use Griffith around the goal line. I don't see attacking a defense around the goal line with an athletic fullback as a team following a blue print of the Saints. It just seems like good sense. Even in the Saints game it made sense. They had the Dallas defense on its heels. Why not look at your seldom used fullback as a surprise weapon?

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Was Burnet healthy enough to come in for Bradie as he has been last year? Was he up to the task?

I still believe Burnett is a poor linebacker and they really need to improve at his spot. In my mind, they Cowboys went from an awful nickel linebacker in Burnett in 2006 to a poor nickel linebacker in 2007.

It's really one of the positions Dallas needs to improve upon next year and Burnett being healthier this year probably had little to do with the improved pass defense this year.




YAKUZA

 

[joseephuss]

I still believe Burnett is a poor linebacker and they really need to improve at his spot. In my mind, they Cowboys went from an awful nickel linebacker in Burnett in 2006 to a poor nickel linebacker in 2007.

It's really one of the positions Dallas needs to improve upon next year and Burnett being healthier this year probably had little to do with the improved pass defense this year.




YAKUZA

I agree. The interior LB position and their coverage abilities has been a weakness for several years in my opinion. That includes Fat Dat. :

 

[BAT]

I never saw Nguyen as a coverage linebacker. He was great at flowing to the ball in rush defense, but he never looked like he had the instincts for pass defense. Similar to Bradie James.

Then you should have paid more attention. Dat was better than average in coverage, especially RBs out of the backfield.