Defense has large problem looming
Unit has had to make adjustments after being burned by big plays
02:37 AM CDT on Friday, October 13, 2006
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – The offense's inability to hold onto the football against Philadelphia wasn't the only major topic the Cowboys addressed this week.
Dallas gave up five plays of 20 or more yards resulting in two touchdowns. For the season, the Cowboys have given up 12 plays of 20 or more yards – all passing plays.
Although the Cowboys had allowed 14 plays of 20 yards or more through four games last season, coach Bill Parcells knows that if Dallas wants to be considered a Super Bowl contender the defense must eliminate big plays.
"We're not going to win if we do what we did [in the Philadelphia] game," Parcells said.
Players and Parcells agree the right defenses have been called. It boils down to a lack of execution.
Last week, rookie free safety Patrick Watkins guessed wrong on where a long pass was going, and it allowed tight end L.J. Smith to run free down the sideline and make a 60-yard catch.
On another long play, an 87-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb to Hank Baskett, the Cowboys sent cornerback Anthony Henry on a blitz forcing Watkins into single coverage. Watkins froze on the stop-and-go route and gave Baskett some distance. After Baskett caught the ball, Watkins tried to punch it out instead of making the tackle. The mistake cost him as Baskett ran into the end zone. Watkins said he made a rookie mistake trying to strip the ball.
"That game was so elementary to dissect," Parcells said. "I mean, it's just so elementary. You put yourself in a position where you're at an extreme disadvantage by what you did."
In Dallas' season-opening loss to Jacksonville, cornerback Terence Newman couldn't find the ball and was beaten on a 30-yard completion from Byron Leftwich to Ernest Wilford.
"You just have to correct what you can correct from [any] game," defensive end Chris Canty said. "The mistakes, the breakdowns and you move on from that. You have to understand from those lessons, and if you don't, teams will exploit those all season."
Parcells said he believes teams will try to throw deep, especially against Watkins, so the Cowboys will play Watkins and Keith Davis at free safety Sunday against Houston. Davis started 15 games at the position last season.
His experience should help the Cowboys make smarter decisions on pass plays.
Before the Eagles game, the Cowboys ranked eighth in the NFL in pass defense. After allowing 354 passing yards, the team is 20th. The Cowboys have given up five pass plays of 25 or more yards this season, two of which were touchdowns.
"Big plays, we have to make some," Newman said. "As much as you want to stop them, you have to make them. As a defense, with the talent we have, it's one of the biggest issues going into the game."
Pressure up front and making the right decisions in the secondary can help a defense prevent big plays. Parcells said the front seven has to better pressure the quarterback so throws come out faster, leading to mistakes.
"You have to be more disciplined," linebacker Akin Ayodele said. "You can't give up those big plays. You have to make them drive the length of the field. It's a copycat league, and Houston will see some of the things we did wrong and use it against us."
E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com
BREAKOUT PLAYS
The longest plays allowed by the Cowboys this season:
LONGEST PASS PLAYS
Yds. Player, opponent Date
87 Hank Baskett, Phil. Oct. 8
60 L.J. Smith, Phil. Oct. 8
40 Reggie Brown, Phil. Oct. 8
30 Ernest Wilford, Jax. Sept. 10
25 Matt Jones, Jax. Sept. 10
LONGEST RUNS
19 Santana Moss, Wash. Sept. 17
17 Ladell Betts, Wash. Sept. 17
15 T.J. Duckett, Wash. Sept. 17
12 Mark Brunell, Wash. Sept. 17
10 Fred Taylor, Jax. Sept. 10
02:37 AM CDT on Friday, October 13, 2006
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – The offense's inability to hold onto the football against Philadelphia wasn't the only major topic the Cowboys addressed this week.
Dallas gave up five plays of 20 or more yards resulting in two touchdowns. For the season, the Cowboys have given up 12 plays of 20 or more yards – all passing plays.
Although the Cowboys had allowed 14 plays of 20 yards or more through four games last season, coach Bill Parcells knows that if Dallas wants to be considered a Super Bowl contender the defense must eliminate big plays.
"We're not going to win if we do what we did [in the Philadelphia] game," Parcells said.
Players and Parcells agree the right defenses have been called. It boils down to a lack of execution.
Last week, rookie free safety Patrick Watkins guessed wrong on where a long pass was going, and it allowed tight end L.J. Smith to run free down the sideline and make a 60-yard catch.
On another long play, an 87-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb to Hank Baskett, the Cowboys sent cornerback Anthony Henry on a blitz forcing Watkins into single coverage. Watkins froze on the stop-and-go route and gave Baskett some distance. After Baskett caught the ball, Watkins tried to punch it out instead of making the tackle. The mistake cost him as Baskett ran into the end zone. Watkins said he made a rookie mistake trying to strip the ball.
"That game was so elementary to dissect," Parcells said. "I mean, it's just so elementary. You put yourself in a position where you're at an extreme disadvantage by what you did."
In Dallas' season-opening loss to Jacksonville, cornerback Terence Newman couldn't find the ball and was beaten on a 30-yard completion from Byron Leftwich to Ernest Wilford.
"You just have to correct what you can correct from [any] game," defensive end Chris Canty said. "The mistakes, the breakdowns and you move on from that. You have to understand from those lessons, and if you don't, teams will exploit those all season."
Parcells said he believes teams will try to throw deep, especially against Watkins, so the Cowboys will play Watkins and Keith Davis at free safety Sunday against Houston. Davis started 15 games at the position last season.
His experience should help the Cowboys make smarter decisions on pass plays.
Before the Eagles game, the Cowboys ranked eighth in the NFL in pass defense. After allowing 354 passing yards, the team is 20th. The Cowboys have given up five pass plays of 25 or more yards this season, two of which were touchdowns.
"Big plays, we have to make some," Newman said. "As much as you want to stop them, you have to make them. As a defense, with the talent we have, it's one of the biggest issues going into the game."
Pressure up front and making the right decisions in the secondary can help a defense prevent big plays. Parcells said the front seven has to better pressure the quarterback so throws come out faster, leading to mistakes.
"You have to be more disciplined," linebacker Akin Ayodele said. "You can't give up those big plays. You have to make them drive the length of the field. It's a copycat league, and Houston will see some of the things we did wrong and use it against us."
E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com
BREAKOUT PLAYS
The longest plays allowed by the Cowboys this season:
LONGEST PASS PLAYS
Yds. Player, opponent Date
87 Hank Baskett, Phil. Oct. 8
60 L.J. Smith, Phil. Oct. 8
40 Reggie Brown, Phil. Oct. 8
30 Ernest Wilford, Jax. Sept. 10
25 Matt Jones, Jax. Sept. 10
LONGEST RUNS
19 Santana Moss, Wash. Sept. 17
17 Ladell Betts, Wash. Sept. 17
15 T.J. Duckett, Wash. Sept. 17
12 Mark Brunell, Wash. Sept. 17
10 Fred Taylor, Jax. Sept. 10
posted by The Gryphon at 7:31 PM
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