Zimmer has to be next...

[Dwight]

Dallas hasn't been able to sack a freakin' lunch for ten years now... Up until Zimmer started running the D, it was an obvious lack of talent... We have the talent now, we're just running a defense with the parking brakes on... I hate it!:bang2:

Actually the cowboys haven't had a good pass rush since butch davis left after the 94 season.

 

[Ratmatt]

I don't care who the free safety is, he's going to look bad without a pass rush. Our 3-4 defense looks different than every other 3-4 in the league. We don't bring pressure from all directions like Steelers, Patriots, etc. We don't force turnovers, we simply sit back and wait on the other team to make mistakes. Romo was the right move and Zimmer must be the next.

Now let me ask you something.If this defense is non-aggressive,and passive like you say,and I agree.Don't you think Bill Parcells would step in and do something about it.Now think about it,this is Parcells defense,he is the 3-4 guy.Zimmer is in his 2nd year with the defense.The control freak that Parcells is,don't you think he would go to Zimmer and tell him he needs to blitz more,or bring more pressure.Mike Zimmer is running this defense exactly the way he is being told to run it.Every coach on this team is being told exactly what to do.Now why do you want to make Mike Zimmer a scapegoat for Bill Parcells.Come on people,Parcells is such a control freak,especially over his coaching staff,that no one is doing anything without being told what to do.This guy can't even name a offensive coordinator like most teams.Does anyone really know who is actually calling plays out there.How damm confusing is that.

 

[Ratmatt]

Sounds just as mundane as the 4-3 Zimmer ran as well... This is the most unagressive, uninspiring, no pass rushing defense I've ever had the displeasure to watch...

Dallas hasn't been able to sack a freakin' lunch for ten years now... Up until Zimmer started running the D, it was an obvious lack of talent... We have the talent now, we're just running a defense with the parking brakes on... I hate it!:bang2:

They didn't have the pressure in the 4-3,because they didn't have the 4-3 defensive ends to bring the pressure.

 

[Joe_Fan]

This is the answer right here! Although I'm not a huge fan of Zimmer, I think our style has more to do with what Parcells knows/is comfortable with than Zimmer (and I do like Parcells).

The 3-4 I was hoping for involves confusion, zone blitzing, line stunts/twists, line backers running free, QBs not having time to hit an open receiver 50 yards down field...

I don't know that he has flat out said it, but I think Parcells prefers a "me against you" defense and let the best man win.

Too bad for us all.

Well, we certainly can't say we don't have the players in place to run one of the newer, more exciting versions of the 3-4.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Why is it every year there is a new excuse for Zimmer? Yesteryear they say that he didn't have the talent. Now they say that its all Parcells fault for stifling Zimmers defense.

If Zimmer had any balls he would stand up to Parcells and play his style of defense. Bring in more stunts, let Roy Williams man the LOS, move Ware around, etc.

This is his final year to show the world how good he really is. It won't matter if he listens to what Parcells tells him to do. He needs to go out there and prove himself that he knows how to turn the dogs lose and put together a killer defense.

So far this defense is a dud. Its filled with talent. But Zimmer plays it like it doesn't have any talent.

Zimmer is the problem with the defense. He needs to go.

Lastly, lets stop giving him excuses. How do we know its really Parcells thats calling the defense? The way that Parcells was yelling at Zimmer after that corner blitz at Philly, it seems that Parcells didn't like it at all. Zimmer is calling this defense whether we like it or not. Thats why its so vanilla.

 

[mmohican29]

I'm not sure what the problem is on D, I just know our 3-4 looks much less aggressive then the Steelers, Chargers and Patriots. I would liken ours closer to Cleveland's.... semi-stout with a horrible pass rush.

 

[dbair1967]

Honestly, we have no one who consistently can make plays.

.

there's a reason nobody makes plays here, and its spelled Z I M M E R

major, major talent upgrades via the draft and free agency

new assistants

new head coach

new defensive scheme

same sorry results...no pass rush to speak of...no ability to make THE big play when its needed most...blown 4th qtr leads left and right....meltdowns vs above average to good teams because you've been outcoached in every sense of the imagination

worst move Parcells has made here, hands down...keeping Mike Zimmer as DC and passing over much more qualified people

David

 

[BigWillie]

dblair, I guess you missed the part where I talked about 3 different occassions where we were in position to make a play, but we didn't. Is Zimmer supposed to coach them and make the play as well?

Playmakers will make play regardless of if you line up 11 on 1 out there.

Do you think Urlacher is really happy playing in Lovie Smith's version of the Tampa 2? Do you think he is best utilized in coverage schemes?

How about Ray Lewis when he was lined up in the 3-4 when he consistently said he preferred a 4-3 to allow DT to eat up blocks, and give him space to roam?

We have the players to become playmakers. You can look at the game against Houston and see that Roy CAN be a playmaker when the switch comes on, but then you see this week and you wonder what the heck happened.

But I'm sure that's Mike Zimmers fault too, right?

 

[landryscorner]

I've been saying this for a while now....if were gonna stick to a 3-4 defesne we need a professional coach that was brought up teaching the 3-4 scheme zimmer isnt that guy....i agree get rid of him.....hes gone

 

[joseephuss]

Pittsburgh has played the 3-4 for years and this season is tied with Dallas in creating turnovers. The Steelers(20.8) defense is giving up 3 points more a game than Dallas(17.8). The Steelers are also 2-4. So, for those wanting the Steelers defense, looks like you got it.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I know everyone is entitled to their opinion...but people who think there is nothing wrong with this defense do not understand the big picture in my opinion. You HAVE to make the other QB uncomfotbale. Leftwich, Manning, and McNabb never felt uncomfortable. We don't try to confuse with our blitz...we bring the blitz from to far out...like I have said...good teams laugh at our blitz, because it is easy to spot and pick apart. Plaxico Buress got 50 yards downfield and Eli still did not get touched...we have TO wide open on the flea flicker, but we could not keep Arrington off Bledsoe.

 

[YosemiteSam]

totally agree. 5 years worth of high draft picks and big dollar FA's should equal much more than we are getting. A bend but don't break 3-4? Are you kidding me? Zimmer's entire blitz package consists of moving Ware and Ellis to DE and the occasional Roy up the middle that everyone sees coming from a mile away. Zimmer needs to go and a true 3-4 coach needs to take over.

While we arn't getting the pass rush we would like to see, the Cowboys defense is playing extremely well minus the play of Watkins. Everyone was screaming to start the rookie Watkins, sometimes you get what you ask for! I think the Cowboys will be better in the long run, but Watkins clearly wasn't ready. Maybe mixing Coleman and Watkins will allow him to transistion easier and without so much collateral damage.

 

[ccb04]

IMO, I think we'd be better off in the 4-3. Why saddle your two best pass rushers with additional (coverage) responsibilities and then hardly blitz on top of it? How the hell can you expect to consistently get to the QB that way?

We also don't get consistent interior pressure ... which is the shortest route to the QB. Primarily, because we don't send anyone up the middle.

IMO, we would be better off in the 4-3 ... with Ellis, Ratliff, Ferguson, and Ware upfront ... and Singleton/Ayodele, James, and Burnett at LB. In the nickel, Ratliff has shown the ability to get after the QB ... recording 3 sacks in limited time. Ware and Ellis would no longer have coverage responsibilities and could concentrate more on getting to the QB. Burnett is solid in coverage and is a good blitzer.

Given the fact that they're certain to remain in the 3-4 ... I would like to see them start Ratliff over Spears and Hatcher over Canty once he returns. Prehaps those two could generate a little more pressure upfront.

 

[joseephuss]

I know everyone is entitled to their opinion...but people who think there is nothing wrong with this defense do not understand the big picture in my opinion. You HAVE to make the other QB uncomfotbale. Leftwich, Manning, and McNabb never felt uncomfortable. We don't try to confuse with our blitz...we bring the blitz from to far out...like I have said...good teams laugh at our blitz, because it is easy to spot and pick apart. Plaxico Buress got 50 yards downfield and Eli still did not get touched...we have TO wide open on the flea flicker, but we could not keep Arrington off Bledsoe.

Manning had to move around to buy time on the TD to Burress. Canty forced him out of the pocket. Bledsoe could not move fast enough to get out of Arringtons way on the flea flicker. If he is a more mobile guy he at least gets the pass off.

The Cowboys o-line is not a good pass blocking line. Comparing what other defenses do to that line and Bledsoe to the Cowboys defense really is not a fair comparison.

I think everyone knows that the defense is not a high pressure defense. There is something wrong, but it isn't completely broken. I see criticisms of the defense that are way overboard. Some of the talk makes it seem like Dallas never pressures the QB and that is not the case. Heck, most of the big plays given up by Dallas this season they did pressure the QB, but the safeties failed to do their job. There are good reasons that McNabb completed less than half his passes in the 2nd half and Manning was barely over 50% in the game. It ain't all wrong or all right either.

 

[BigWillie]

I know everyone is entitled to their opinion...but people who think there is nothing wrong with this defense do not understand the big picture in my opinion. You HAVE to make the other QB uncomfotbale. Leftwich, Manning, and McNabb never felt uncomfortable. We don't try to confuse with our blitz...we bring the blitz from to far out...like I have said...good teams laugh at our blitz, because it is easy to spot and pick apart. Plaxico Buress got 50 yards downfield and Eli still did not get touched...we have TO wide open on the flea flicker, but we could not keep Arrington off Bledsoe.

Are people really consumed with a sack?

I've only been around 20 years in this short world, but I've learned two things about defense that are critical. Stop the offense from gaining yards, and keep them out of the end zone. If you do either of those things, your going to win quite a few ballgames.

But I do beg this question to so many resident defensive gurus of this forum -- how do we know that Zimmer isn't implementing the defense that gives us the best chance to win ballgames? Meaning if we sell out on blitzes, just to get everyones ever so important 'pressure', we end up leaving our CB's on an island?

In any case, since so many are totally overblowing the fact we are not like the Steelers of last year, or even the Patriots, I will present this to you.

I'm not even going to bring the Pats into this discussion, simply for the fact that NO other team that had the 3-4 in 2005 was a better overall defense than the Cowboys. Except one -- the Super Bowl Champion, Steelers.

Dallas was 10th overall in defense, while Pittsburgh was 4th.

Do you want me to compare overall passing statistics in which we had? I mean, if we are generating no pressure as opposed to the way they play, their passing statistics should be better ten-fold, correct? That's not even mentioning how Henry was hobbled towards the end, and we had one inept player in coverage (Keith Davis) and Roy, who isn't renowned for his coverage abilities either.

I'll put the passing statistics NFL offenses had against each defense like this, and these are ranked from the entire NFL. Guess which is which ...

Team A: 21st in total completions (315 passes completed), 16th in pass yards allowed (3168 yards allowed passing), tied-19th in interceptions (15 passes intercepted)

Team B: 3rd in total completions (270 passes completed), 11th in passing yards allowed (3083 yards allowed passing), tied-19th in interceptions (15 passes intercepted)

Want to guess which is which?

How about I just tell you Team B isn't the Steelers. Crazy, isn't it?

The only difference being that Dallas allowed 4.2 yards per carry, while Pittsburgh allowed 3.4. Complete different ends of the spectrum when talking about rush defense, not pass defense.

Complaining about Zimmer is a simple fact of him not doing things the 'sexy' way of blitzing and constant pressuring. It's what gets people talking, but is that really what we need? As long as it's effective, who cares?

 

[ConstantReboot]

But I do beg this question to so many resident defensive gurus of this forum -- how do we know that Zimmer isn't implementing the defense that gives us the best chance to win ballgames? Meaning if we sell out on blitzes, just to get everyones ever so important 'pressure', we end up leaving our CB's on an island?

I know that Zimmer is not implementing the right style of defense because we are losing. We fail to stop opposing teams from getting a crucial 1st down or we allow them to march down the field when they need to and we do nothing to stop their progress.

Zimmer is good in making a defense void of talent tick. But when it comes to a defense full of talent Zimmer coaches them as though they are less than talented.

Zimmer is really very vanilla. He has no creativity. No stunting. No moving Ware around and placing quite often into coverage. Not putting Roy Williams close to the LOS. ETC. ETC. Frankly, Zimmer sucks.

If the excuse this time is that Parcells is hampering Zimmers playcalling than Zimmer needs to really go. This is probably his last year in Dallas. He has nothing to lose if he allows his defense to do what they do best. But no he does none of that and his nothing more than a Parcells puppet.

Zimmer really needs to go. If he doesn't have the balls to stand up to Parcells and call the defense as how he sees fit, than his not right for the job.

 

[Clove]

For once I would like to see our passrush storm teams. I mean everytime they rush, we're in their face. I miss Charles Haley so much, he didn't get a ton of sacks, but by gosh he was in your face all the time.