Is there any reason for hope in 2013?

[boozeman]

I think going back to the 4-3 should make us better, since we weren't going to run the 3-4 correctly.

If Ratliff is what Jerry thinks he still is and teams don't figure out too soon they can run on our ends, yeah.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

If Ratliff is what Jerry thinks he still is and teams don't figure out too soon they can run on our ends, yeah.

Ratliff will not be facing as many double-teams. And run on our ends...? Not sure what games you watched, or maybe you are just spouting off due to frustratigon, but Spencer was probably one of the best run-stopping OLBs in the game. I don't see how that changes now that he is a 4-3 DE, and Ware is far from a slouch in the run game. Fact is, with the personel we have, we were more suited for the 4-3 anyway.

I guess that is another one of Jerry's innovations: run the 3-4 with 4-3 players.

 

[superpunk]

If we can have a pass defense thatis ranked in the top half of the league in terms of passer rating, pencil us in for one of the top two seeds in the nfc. Romo will be the nfc's top passer if we give him enough turnovers and chances with the ball.

Cry more, pussies.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

When I take a serious look at what the Cowboys can do this year, I always come back to the same problems. The trenches are still a big problem, but the biggest problem is something else. This team has done less with more talent. They can't even make the playoffs when they have as much, if not more talent than most of the playoff teams. For some reason, they don't play up to their talent level on offense, defense or special teams. Garret can't get the effort out of his players. They don't fear him. What is he going to do? He is not the boss, Jerry is. I keep going back to Jimmy's comments about Dallas being a country club. I think it is the problem this season and it has been in the past and will be in the future.

When it comes to becoming a juggernaut in the league like New England or like Pittsburgh was for years, yes, Jerry is the huge problem. But to get enough out of the team to win this craptastic 9-7 type division? All we have to do is be better schematically and not ice our own kicker, or let 25 seconds go off the clock so we can settle for 51 yard FGs in the wind in Baltimore.

 

[boozeman]

Ratliff will not be facing as many double-teams. And run on our ends...? Not sure what games you watched, or maybe you are just spouting off due to frustratigon, but Spencer was probably one of the best run-stopping OLBs in the game. I don't see how that changes now that he is a 4-3 DE, and Ware is far from a slouch in the run game. Fact is, with the personel we have, we were more suited for the 4-3 anyway.

Uhhh...Spencer was one of the best run stopping OLBs in the game. There is a big difference between being a 3-4 OLB and a 4-3 DE in terms of what you face each and every down.

He's going to face more OTs face to face each down and then also more double teams if a back and/or TE chip on him as most teams run to the strongside. The one technique is going to have to help him. Is Hatcher cut out for that?

As for Ratliff, so what? Don't pretend he has seen constant double teams the last few years because that is quite simply an exaggeration. He's been able to be single blocked quite often and simply is not as effective as he was three years ago. Ware too will face more resistance. It is not quite so simple to just think they fit perfectly in a 4-3. The interior has to control things just as much as the nose did in the 3-4. Same concepts.

 

[jnday]

Uhhh...Spencer was one of the best run stopping OLBs in the game. There is a big difference between being a 3-4 OLB and a 4-3 DE in terms of what you face each and every down.

He's going to face more OTs face to face each down and then also more double teams if a back and/or TE chip on him as most teams run to the strongside. The one technique is going to have to help him. Is Hatcher cut out for that?

As for Ratliff, so what? Don't pretend he has seen constant double teams the last few years because that is quite simply an exaggeration. He's been able to be single blocked quite often and simply is not as effective as he was three years ago. Ware too will face more resistance. It is not quite so simple to just think they fit perfectly in a 4-3. The interior has to control things just as much as the nose did in the 3-4. Same concepts.

You have a good point, teams haven't had to double team Ratliff in three or four years. I think fans are going to see just how much he has declined this year. Jerry screwed up when he overpayed him on that last contract. He was already showing signs of being injury prone and he couldn't hold his position at the LOS.

Ware and Spencer are a big question at DE. Both are showing signs of wear and tear. I don't know if they can hold up stopping the run on a every down basis without getting wore down by midseason.

 

[Rynie]

I can see the Midswat-becoming-a-homer transformation begin. Are you going to be predicting a Super Bowl by August? I'm just fucking with you, kiddo.

 

[Midswat]

I can see the Midswat-becoming-a-homer transformation begin. Are you going to be predicting a Super Bowl by August?

:errr


Probably

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Uhhh...Spencer was one of the best run stopping OLBs in the game. There is a big difference between being a 3-4 OLB and a 4-3 DE in terms of what you face each and every down.

He's going to face more OTs face to face each down and then also more double teams if a back and/or TE chip on him as most teams run to the strongside. The one technique is going to have to help him. Is Hatcher cut out for that?

Even though we played 3-4, we were mostly in 4-man fronts, and Spencer was converted to OLB from DE, like Ware, and so they did face off against the OTs quite a bit, when they weren't dropping back into space. Personally, I'd rather see Hatcher at 4-3 DE.

As for Ratliff, so what? Don't pretend he has seen constant double teams the last few years because that is quite simply an exaggeration. He's been able to be single blocked quite often and simply is not as effective as he was three years ago. Ware too will face more resistance. It is not quite so simple to just think they fit perfectly in a 4-3. The interior has to control things just as much as the nose did in the 3-4. Same concepts.

Ratliff has face more double-teams than you claim that, especially in 3-man fronts, that's no exxaggeration. And even when we were in 4-man fronts, he still faced double-teams

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

You have a good point, teams haven't had to double team Ratliff in three or four years. I think fans are going to see just how much he has declined this year. Jerry screwed up when he overpayed him on that last contract. He was already showing signs of being injury prone and he couldn't hold his position at the LOS.

Ware and Spencer are a big question at DE. Both are showing signs of wear and tear. I don't know if they can hold up stopping the run on a every down basis without getting wore down by midseason.

Wrong. And as for Ware and Spencer wearing down... any player ond efense would wear down if the offense was constantly going 3 and outs like the Cowboys. Defense makes a stop, and bartely has a chance to take their helmets off and get a drink, before they are back on the field because of having to punt the ball away because of our lousy playcalling HC.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Hope?

 

[jnday]

Wrong. And as for Ware and Spencer wearing down... any player ond efense would wear down if the offense was constantly going 3 and outs like the Cowboys. Defense makes a stop, and bartely has a chance to take their helmets off and get a drink, before they are back on the field because of having to punt the ball away because of our lousy playcalling HC.

I have watch centers drive Ratliff ten yards off the ball the last couple of years. They were able to do this without help. He is not half of the concern to offenses that he used to be. This year you will see how far he has declined.