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Eatman: Stats Don't Lie, This Defense Has Been Historical
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - This defense has two players starting in the Pro Bowl.
This defense held Adrian Peterson to 73 yards rushing.
This defense picked off Peyton Manning four times in a game, and returned two for touchdowns.
This defense has produced three NFC Defensive Players of the Week.
This defense ... is the worst defense in Cowboys' history? Could it really be?
Depends on how you look at things. But if you're one that uses a simple formula - like points allowed - then yeah, this is the worst defense in the now 51 seasons of Cowboys football.
If you look at things like total yards allowed, then by the end of Sunday's game in Philadelphia that very well too could be the most in club history.
And if you think about the season, and the expectations that went with it, and the way the Cowboys have struggled all year in term of stopping people, then another case can be made about this defense.
Throw in the fact that the defensive coordinator was fired, which also meant the ousting of the head coach. It wasn't all because of the defense, but a healthy portion of the problems were attributed to that side of the ball.
Plain and simple, the Cowboys defense is one of the worst units in franchise history.
All of those things that happened this year - beating Eli and Peyton Manning in a span of a month, and getting more interceptions this year, especially in the second half of the season, can't hide the fact that the Cowboys have just been inept on defense.
So what's the problem? How did it go so wrong, so quickly? It can't just be an overnight thing. This was a defensive unit last year that not only sent four players to the Pro Bowl and had five players with All-Pro selections, but finished the season with back-to-back shutouts heading into the playoffs.
Those two teams that were shut out, the Redskins and Eagles, both scored 30 points in consecutive weeks earlier this month. And they did it with Michael Vick and Rex Grossman leading the way.
No matter what the specific reasons are for the collapse, it has been a collapse.
For starters, players we expected to perform better this season simply haven't. Actually, you can pretty much name every guy on the defense as someone we thought would've played better. When the team has won only five games, everyone should be included here.
But let's go with a few of the obvious.
I thought Mike Jenkins was going to be better. He seemed like a player ready to take the leap to not only the No. 1 corner on this team, but possibly in the top five of the league. Instead, he's gone backwards.
Jenkins has made a few plays here and there, but overall his play has been too erratic, especially for a guy we thought had truly arrived. Now, I don't agree at all with any notion to replace him. Jenkins is too young, with too much upside to make any changes with him. He's just a guy we thought would be better.
Also in that category has to be Anthony Spencer. Again, another player who came on strong to end the season last year. It seemed only logical he would keep improving. But Spencer hasn't been that type of catalytic player he appeared to be. He doesn't consistently get to the quarterback. And when he's there, or close to making another play, he always seems to be just an inch or two away from finishing it.
Spencer is the king of almost making the play. We just thought that tag was behind him.
Yes, Jay Ratliff made the Pro Bowl, but we thought he'd be even better. Teams found a way to contain him at times. And they found ways to control DeMarcus Ware, too. Yes, he's got 12.5 sacks, but he shouldn't be free from blame, either.
Granted, with the constant attention Ware gets, you'd think Spencer could've made more plays. But Ware doesn't get doubled all the time - not every play. There have been too many times this year when Ware was absent for too long.
The middle linebackers have been there every game. They've been playing hurt, but they don't seem to make a lot of plays. They don't generate a lot of sacks or turnovers.
And the safeties ... oh, the safeties. While Gerald Sensabaugh has shown up here lately with some turnovers and sacks, the body of work for this position has been inconsistent.
Never thought we'd say it ... but this team really did miss Ken Hamlin. It misses a guy that not only got the players lined up correctly - something we obviously took for granted - but Hamlin wasn't allowing many deep balls.
Go up and down the depth chart, with the backups, too. Nobody on this defense has really met expectations this year.
The Pro Bowlers - Ware and Ratliff - have had better years. Obviously, the three other players who have made Pro Bowls - Terence Newman, Keith Brooking and Jenkins - have seen better years.
So the players have underachieved. That led to a midseason coaching change. And they've allowed more points than any other defense in franchise history.
You guys don't need me to reiterate how disappointing this defense has been. Really just pointing out that it very well could go down as the worst they've ever had here.
And the numbers are there to prove it.
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - This defense has two players starting in the Pro Bowl.
This defense held Adrian Peterson to 73 yards rushing.
This defense picked off Peyton Manning four times in a game, and returned two for touchdowns.
This defense has produced three NFC Defensive Players of the Week.
This defense ... is the worst defense in Cowboys' history? Could it really be?
Depends on how you look at things. But if you're one that uses a simple formula - like points allowed - then yeah, this is the worst defense in the now 51 seasons of Cowboys football.
If you look at things like total yards allowed, then by the end of Sunday's game in Philadelphia that very well too could be the most in club history.
And if you think about the season, and the expectations that went with it, and the way the Cowboys have struggled all year in term of stopping people, then another case can be made about this defense.
Throw in the fact that the defensive coordinator was fired, which also meant the ousting of the head coach. It wasn't all because of the defense, but a healthy portion of the problems were attributed to that side of the ball.
Plain and simple, the Cowboys defense is one of the worst units in franchise history.
All of those things that happened this year - beating Eli and Peyton Manning in a span of a month, and getting more interceptions this year, especially in the second half of the season, can't hide the fact that the Cowboys have just been inept on defense.
So what's the problem? How did it go so wrong, so quickly? It can't just be an overnight thing. This was a defensive unit last year that not only sent four players to the Pro Bowl and had five players with All-Pro selections, but finished the season with back-to-back shutouts heading into the playoffs.
Those two teams that were shut out, the Redskins and Eagles, both scored 30 points in consecutive weeks earlier this month. And they did it with Michael Vick and Rex Grossman leading the way.
No matter what the specific reasons are for the collapse, it has been a collapse.
For starters, players we expected to perform better this season simply haven't. Actually, you can pretty much name every guy on the defense as someone we thought would've played better. When the team has won only five games, everyone should be included here.
But let's go with a few of the obvious.
I thought Mike Jenkins was going to be better. He seemed like a player ready to take the leap to not only the No. 1 corner on this team, but possibly in the top five of the league. Instead, he's gone backwards.
Jenkins has made a few plays here and there, but overall his play has been too erratic, especially for a guy we thought had truly arrived. Now, I don't agree at all with any notion to replace him. Jenkins is too young, with too much upside to make any changes with him. He's just a guy we thought would be better.
Also in that category has to be Anthony Spencer. Again, another player who came on strong to end the season last year. It seemed only logical he would keep improving. But Spencer hasn't been that type of catalytic player he appeared to be. He doesn't consistently get to the quarterback. And when he's there, or close to making another play, he always seems to be just an inch or two away from finishing it.
Spencer is the king of almost making the play. We just thought that tag was behind him.
Yes, Jay Ratliff made the Pro Bowl, but we thought he'd be even better. Teams found a way to contain him at times. And they found ways to control DeMarcus Ware, too. Yes, he's got 12.5 sacks, but he shouldn't be free from blame, either.
Granted, with the constant attention Ware gets, you'd think Spencer could've made more plays. But Ware doesn't get doubled all the time - not every play. There have been too many times this year when Ware was absent for too long.
The middle linebackers have been there every game. They've been playing hurt, but they don't seem to make a lot of plays. They don't generate a lot of sacks or turnovers.
And the safeties ... oh, the safeties. While Gerald Sensabaugh has shown up here lately with some turnovers and sacks, the body of work for this position has been inconsistent.
Never thought we'd say it ... but this team really did miss Ken Hamlin. It misses a guy that not only got the players lined up correctly - something we obviously took for granted - but Hamlin wasn't allowing many deep balls.
Go up and down the depth chart, with the backups, too. Nobody on this defense has really met expectations this year.
The Pro Bowlers - Ware and Ratliff - have had better years. Obviously, the three other players who have made Pro Bowls - Terence Newman, Keith Brooking and Jenkins - have seen better years.
So the players have underachieved. That led to a midseason coaching change. And they've allowed more points than any other defense in franchise history.
You guys don't need me to reiterate how disappointing this defense has been. Really just pointing out that it very well could go down as the worst they've ever had here.
And the numbers are there to prove it.
