- Messages
- 5,432
- Reaction score
- 0
Taylor: DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff have gone from great to good in just one season
11:37 PM CST on Tuesday, December 7, 2010
SportsDayDFW.com
Every week, Jean-Jacques Taylor answers questions from Cowboys fans as part of a weekly newsletter. To subscribe, click here:
Here's a sample of this week's Q&A, which will be sent out Wednesday along with the rest of the newsletter:
Q: When are the Cowboys going to get serious about having a defense? Whatever happened to the Doomsday and the Flex? Used to be a Dallas tradition. -- Marvin Glick
TAYLOR: It's hard to have a good defense when you can't rush the passer or stop the run. This team doesn't have anyone playing great on defense, which is a problem. DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff were great last year, but they're good this year. Mike Jenkins and Anthony Spencer looked like they were about to be stars, but Jenkins has struggled this season, while Spencer has been average most weeks. The same goes for Newman. Bradie James might be the only player on defense doing exactly what the coaches expected from him at the start of the season.
Q: It's time to have a real conversation about Terence Newman. He plays well at times but gets beat too often. Realistically, isn't he someone who "could" make the switch to free safety? -- Christian P. Cornette, Knoxville, Tenn.
TAYLOR: No. He's too small to play safety. Safety is a physical position because of the run responsibilities, and it would be too rough on his body. As a cornerback, his run defense is fine because he doesn't have to do too much of it. Down the road, he'll be a better nickel corner because he does have the toughness to play the run in the nickel. The problem with Newman is that he's paid like he's a great player, but he's performing like he's a good player.
Q: Is there any way Marion Barber gets his job back? Do you think in the future (say next year) that Tashard Choice will take the majority of the snaps and Felix Jones will go back to a 10- to 13-carry-a-game role? -- Greg Presutto, Shelton, Conn.
TAYLOR: So now we think Choice is better than Felix Jones? Let's just pump the brakes. Tashard is not Jim Brown. Or Emmitt Smith. Or even Adrian Peterson. There's a difference between being a spot player and being "The Man." No team is game-planning for Choice and trying to defend the plays he runs best. For now, let's say he should have a larger role than Barber as we enter the final month of a wretched season. You can't dismiss the fact that he does have fresh legs this time of year and the Colts are awful on run defense, but he's earned a bigger role.
11:37 PM CST on Tuesday, December 7, 2010
SportsDayDFW.com
Every week, Jean-Jacques Taylor answers questions from Cowboys fans as part of a weekly newsletter. To subscribe, click here:
Here's a sample of this week's Q&A, which will be sent out Wednesday along with the rest of the newsletter:
Q: When are the Cowboys going to get serious about having a defense? Whatever happened to the Doomsday and the Flex? Used to be a Dallas tradition. -- Marvin Glick
TAYLOR: It's hard to have a good defense when you can't rush the passer or stop the run. This team doesn't have anyone playing great on defense, which is a problem. DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff were great last year, but they're good this year. Mike Jenkins and Anthony Spencer looked like they were about to be stars, but Jenkins has struggled this season, while Spencer has been average most weeks. The same goes for Newman. Bradie James might be the only player on defense doing exactly what the coaches expected from him at the start of the season.
Q: It's time to have a real conversation about Terence Newman. He plays well at times but gets beat too often. Realistically, isn't he someone who "could" make the switch to free safety? -- Christian P. Cornette, Knoxville, Tenn.
TAYLOR: No. He's too small to play safety. Safety is a physical position because of the run responsibilities, and it would be too rough on his body. As a cornerback, his run defense is fine because he doesn't have to do too much of it. Down the road, he'll be a better nickel corner because he does have the toughness to play the run in the nickel. The problem with Newman is that he's paid like he's a great player, but he's performing like he's a good player.
Q: Is there any way Marion Barber gets his job back? Do you think in the future (say next year) that Tashard Choice will take the majority of the snaps and Felix Jones will go back to a 10- to 13-carry-a-game role? -- Greg Presutto, Shelton, Conn.
TAYLOR: So now we think Choice is better than Felix Jones? Let's just pump the brakes. Tashard is not Jim Brown. Or Emmitt Smith. Or even Adrian Peterson. There's a difference between being a spot player and being "The Man." No team is game-planning for Choice and trying to defend the plays he runs best. For now, let's say he should have a larger role than Barber as we enter the final month of a wretched season. You can't dismiss the fact that he does have fresh legs this time of year and the Colts are awful on run defense, but he's earned a bigger role.