No Ware, no Lee, no Hatcher, better results?

CarlHoudini · Post #1 » by **CarlHoudini** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 11:58 pm

So what gives? I mean, you can say Ware played hurt, and that actually hurt the Cowboys, You can say Hatcher was more interested in himself then the team, so there was that. What about Lee? Where's the benefit of losing him?

Not that I think the defense is great, but in terms of effort and tackling, they're clearly superior to the 2013 team. Do you think they needed the names (possibly being a little too kind by calling Hatcher a name) gone, or is this simply having a couple of years down in a particular system? What say you?

pools · Post #2 » by **pools** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 1:29 am

I think it has more to do with the fact the Rob was in charge

Romotodez · Post #3 » by **Romotodez** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 1:39 am

Marinelli definitely played a role but some of these guys are just dogs on the field. I think MCClain Hayden and Crawford really solidified the middle of the defense. Mix Melton and the other MCClain in there as well. Mincey , to me, has been kind of the leader of this gang - at least the line. I actually thought he would be cut. I think Durants leadership early helped a lot and that 4 rth round pick turned out to be a player. Mix all that with Scandrick and Church as well as the improvement of WIlcox and you have a decent defense on paper that plays extremely hard and mesh together well. This makes them a good unit

Manster7588 · Post #4 » by **Manster7588** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 1:46 am

The DL used 20 different players last year. That had a lot to do with the poor defense, it's also the reason I, PDay and Jarntt felt this year's D could be a defense ranked around 20 and the team had a shot at the playoffs.

Schmoopy1000 · Post #5 » by **Schmoopy1000** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:16 am

I think a couple of these players are just playing above their curve, but I would credit mostly better coaching, & part of that is having the players in a better mental state. Then there is also what manster mentioned. But if I had to point at just one thing. I would start with Marinelli. But I cant wait for Lee to get back into this defense next year!

Jarntt · Post #6 » by **Jarntt** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:44 am

Manster7588 wrote:The DL used 20 different players last year. That had a lot to do with the poor defense, it's also the reason I, PDay and Jarntt felt this year's D could be a defense ranked around 20 and the team had a shot at the playoffs.

Exactly. Injuries are a part of the game, but The injuries were devastating lat year. We literally were picking guys up off the street and then playing them the same week. I'm a big fan of the "weakest link" theory and we had some weak links last year...

PDay8810 · Post #7 » by **PDay8810** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:52 am

effort still counts for something when playing defense.
That's coaching and the concentrated efforts to get players that love playing football

Manster7588 · Post #8 » by **Manster7588** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:57 am

PDay8810 wrote:effort still counts for something when playing defense.
That's coaching and the concentrated efforts to get players that love playing football

Just an opinion but I doubt all the coaching and effort in the world wouldn't of helped last years D.

ncmalko1 · Post #9 » by **ncmalko1** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:04 am

The Cowboys MVP on D are Murray and the 3 star OLineman. Thats why the D was better.

Manster7588 · Post #10 » by **Manster7588** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:16 am

ncmalko1 wrote:The Cowboys MVP on D are Murray and the 3 star OLineman. Thats why the D was better.

Or the fact that Dallas didn't go through 20 players along the DL that included players who had no shot at making any team without those injuries, but then again you know more than the rest of us so I'll stop my arguing. It is my belief that had we not gotten all those injuries we were a defense in the 15 to 20 range last year, and most like had made the playoffs.

No I'm not saying Dallas had the most injuries last season, I believe the Giant injuries along the OL equaled or was worse than Dallas DL. Yes injuries are part of the game but when those injuries pile up week after week they become impossible to overcome.

bluejerseyjinx · Post #11 » by **bluejerseyjinx** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:28 am

I knew after we finally got rid of Ware last year we had a good chance to be better. The buying in and mental toughness it takes to play defense is something Ware never gave us. The most over rated player we ever had IMO with Harvey Martin a close second.

Fresh360Waves · Post #12 » by **Fresh360Waves** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:35 am

It was funny how literally everyone was counting out the Dallas defense because all three of those guys were gone: especially Ware. A lot of fans were whining saying we should have kept him and that Dallas will regret it. Lol.

RJ MacReady1 · Post #13 » by **RJ MacReady1** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 1:27 pm

bluejerseyjinx wrote:I knew after we finally got rid of Ware last year we had a good chance to be better. The buying in and mental toughness it takes to play defense is something Ware never gave us. The most over rated player we ever had IMO with Harvey Martin a close second.

I believe it's you that had this issue with Ware for a while. It is what it is.

But just know it has nothing to do with and it's as far away from reality as you can get.

Manster7588 · Post #14 » by **Manster7588** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:11 pm

Fresh360Waves wrote:It was funny how literally everyone was counting out the Dallas defense because all three of those guys were gone: especially Ware. A lot of fans were whining saying we should have kept him and that Dallas will regret it. Lol.

Ware would make this D better. Fact is the team simply couldn't afford his contract.

bluejerseyjinx · Post #15 » by **bluejerseyjinx** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 6:49 pm

RJ MacReady1 wrote:
bluejerseyjinx wrote:I knew after we finally got rid of Ware last year we had a good chance to be better. The buying in and mental toughness it takes to play defense is something Ware never gave us. The most over rated player we ever had IMO with Harvey Martin a close second.

I believe it's you that had this issue with Ware for a while. It is what it is.

But just know it has nothing to do with and it's as far away from reality as you can get.

That's a matter of opinion but that's o.k. And yes, I had an issue with Ware since 2009. And you are right, it is what it is. Funny though this year's team has bought into the defense scheme of things, they are taking better angles and tackling better and this year's team is so resilient and mentally tough. You can't tell me you haven't been waiting for this for quite a while now. This is the first time since 2003 that I have been truly excited about my team, the direction it Is going and I could not be happier.

CarlHoudini · Post #16 » by **CarlHoudini** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 8:03 pm

ncmalko1 wrote:The Cowboys MVP on D are Murray and the 3 star OLineman. Thats why the D was better.

That's key, but after watching all 15 games they've played, it's pretty obvious this bunch is doing a far better job of at least trying to track guys down, tackle them, team tackle them, and even strip a ball or two. They're certainly not the most talented group by any means, but in terms of effort, I think I see more out of them than any Cowboys defense in a while. I wish the 2007-2009 groups would have been this fired up and tackled this well. Not to say they were loaded, but Give this current group Ware and Spencer in their prime with a side of sane Jay Ratliff up the middle, and I think we'd be talking about the 13-2 Dallas Cowboys right now.

Fresh360Waves · Post #17 » by **Fresh360Waves** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:51 pm

Manster7588 wrote:
Fresh360Waves wrote:It was funny how literally everyone was counting out the Dallas defense because all three of those guys were gone: especially Ware. A lot of fans were whining saying we should have kept him and that Dallas will regret it. Lol.

Ware would make this D better. Fact is the team simply couldn't afford his contract.

Of course, but the defense was doubted before the season had even started. Just goes to show how coaching and effort is always needed.