Five fix-its that may upgrade Cowboy D
By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING -- The defense has been chided for picking up where it left off last season, and the "defensive-minded" head coach has already dropped his name of Mr. Fix-It.
One week into the season, the Cowboys' defense showed none of the major improvements so readily, and perhaps unrealistically, expected when the team hired Wade Phillips.
But their 45-35 win against the New York Giants was just one game.
And it was one win.
"We have to execute what we do more because, if we don't, we know what's going to happen," Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart said.
What happened against the Giants in Week 1 was ugly; the Cowboys allowed 438 yards, 5.6 yards per rush and four touchdown passes. But the theme emanating from their locker was that their defensive flaws are easily corrected.
"Yeah, everybody says that. That's coach speak," Phillips said. "If it's eight or nine games into the season, then you kind of see where you are."
Here are five ways the Cowboys defense can improve:
Get healthy
The Cowboys might play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins without three starters who were instrumental in their early 2006 success: nose tackle Jason Ferguson, cornerback Terence Newman and linebacker Greg Ellis.
"It would help if we get healthier at all the positions," said linebacker Kevin Burnett, who is coming off surgery on his foot and is ready to play more than the one defensive snap he did against the Giants.
But Ferguson is out for the season. Newman, who has a tear in the plantar fascia in his right heel, said whether he plays will be a game-time decision the next few weeks. He hasn't played in nearly a month. He practiced the past two days and did more work Thursday.
Ellis hasn't played since rupturing his left Achilles' tendon in November. He practiced some this week, and if/when he plays, the Cowboys hope for 15 to 20 plays.
When they return and how effective they are could go a long way in determining how good this defense is.
Play bad offenses
There is no greater antidote for a porous defense than a bad offense. The Cowboys' next two games are against two of the more lifeless offenses in the NFL: Miami and Chicago, who combined for 16 points in Week 1.
Behind 37-year-old quarterback Trent Green, the Dolphins scored one touchdown and averaged 3.3 yards per carry.
Behind Chicago's favorite chew toy, quarterback Rex Grossman, the Bears scored three points. They rely on former Texas running back Cedric Benson to carry the load, which he hasn't demonstrated he can do.
Unlike against the Giants, who have more talent at the skill positions, the Cowboys won't have that as an excuse should they be unable to contain the Fish or the Bears.
Tackle 'n' cover
The Cowboys don't chart missed tackles, but nearly every defender said there were far too many Sunday. Whatever the reason -- first game of the season, overpursuit, poor angles -- missing tackles is one of the "correctables" the Cowboys insist they can and will fix.
"There is no excuse for it, but we did it," Stewart said. "As a defense we missed tackles at key times, and we can't do that."
And the team's pass coverage wasn't exactly brilliant.
Close the deal
If the Cowboys are going to attack passers with greater frequency, they have to have more than one sack per game. They had one in the season opener, and six pressures.
"Four or five of those should have been sacks," end Chris Canty said.
Safety Roy Williams is playing closer to the line of scrimmage, but he hasn't had a sack since Week 5 of the 2005 season.
Defensive end Marcus Spears and Canty combined for fewer quarterback pressures Sunday than third corner Nate Jones.
"Yeah, OK, who blocked him?" Spears asked.
To which the answer is no one.
"We did OK," Spears said. "But we can do a lot better. We have to affect the play. We did some. We have to do more."
No self-destruction
Defensive linemen have to stay in their assigned areas rather than improvise. That means running the defense that's called. That means fewer penalties.
That means executing all over.
"We have to make the plays that are there to be made," Canty said. "If we run the defense that's called and don't make mistakes, keep our containment, we can make plays."
COWBOYS AT DOLPHINS, 3:05 P.M. SUN., KDFW/4
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING -- The defense has been chided for picking up where it left off last season, and the "defensive-minded" head coach has already dropped his name of Mr. Fix-It.
One week into the season, the Cowboys' defense showed none of the major improvements so readily, and perhaps unrealistically, expected when the team hired Wade Phillips.
But their 45-35 win against the New York Giants was just one game.
And it was one win.
"We have to execute what we do more because, if we don't, we know what's going to happen," Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart said.
What happened against the Giants in Week 1 was ugly; the Cowboys allowed 438 yards, 5.6 yards per rush and four touchdown passes. But the theme emanating from their locker was that their defensive flaws are easily corrected.
"Yeah, everybody says that. That's coach speak," Phillips said. "If it's eight or nine games into the season, then you kind of see where you are."
Here are five ways the Cowboys defense can improve:
Get healthy
The Cowboys might play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins without three starters who were instrumental in their early 2006 success: nose tackle Jason Ferguson, cornerback Terence Newman and linebacker Greg Ellis.
"It would help if we get healthier at all the positions," said linebacker Kevin Burnett, who is coming off surgery on his foot and is ready to play more than the one defensive snap he did against the Giants.
But Ferguson is out for the season. Newman, who has a tear in the plantar fascia in his right heel, said whether he plays will be a game-time decision the next few weeks. He hasn't played in nearly a month. He practiced the past two days and did more work Thursday.
Ellis hasn't played since rupturing his left Achilles' tendon in November. He practiced some this week, and if/when he plays, the Cowboys hope for 15 to 20 plays.
When they return and how effective they are could go a long way in determining how good this defense is.
Play bad offenses
There is no greater antidote for a porous defense than a bad offense. The Cowboys' next two games are against two of the more lifeless offenses in the NFL: Miami and Chicago, who combined for 16 points in Week 1.
Behind 37-year-old quarterback Trent Green, the Dolphins scored one touchdown and averaged 3.3 yards per carry.
Behind Chicago's favorite chew toy, quarterback Rex Grossman, the Bears scored three points. They rely on former Texas running back Cedric Benson to carry the load, which he hasn't demonstrated he can do.
Unlike against the Giants, who have more talent at the skill positions, the Cowboys won't have that as an excuse should they be unable to contain the Fish or the Bears.
Tackle 'n' cover
The Cowboys don't chart missed tackles, but nearly every defender said there were far too many Sunday. Whatever the reason -- first game of the season, overpursuit, poor angles -- missing tackles is one of the "correctables" the Cowboys insist they can and will fix.
"There is no excuse for it, but we did it," Stewart said. "As a defense we missed tackles at key times, and we can't do that."
And the team's pass coverage wasn't exactly brilliant.
Close the deal
If the Cowboys are going to attack passers with greater frequency, they have to have more than one sack per game. They had one in the season opener, and six pressures.
"Four or five of those should have been sacks," end Chris Canty said.
Safety Roy Williams is playing closer to the line of scrimmage, but he hasn't had a sack since Week 5 of the 2005 season.
Defensive end Marcus Spears and Canty combined for fewer quarterback pressures Sunday than third corner Nate Jones.
"Yeah, OK, who blocked him?" Spears asked.
To which the answer is no one.
"We did OK," Spears said. "But we can do a lot better. We have to affect the play. We did some. We have to do more."
No self-destruction
Defensive linemen have to stay in their assigned areas rather than improvise. That means running the defense that's called. That means fewer penalties.
That means executing all over.
"We have to make the plays that are there to be made," Canty said. "If we run the defense that's called and don't make mistakes, keep our containment, we can make plays."
COWBOYS AT DOLPHINS, 3:05 P.M. SUN., KDFW/4
posted by The Gryphon at 8:22 AM
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