that you can only get at BTB. I second all of the above and add for your consideration –
7. Under Pressure – Stop going conservative on the pass rush on third and long. Bring more guys than they can block and let the secondary lock up on the WRs. Sure they’ll give up an occasional play but more often than not they’ll get a turnover or that rarest of rare three and out.
8. Who are You? - establish a real defensive identity – a hard hitting, fly to the ball mentality. Play with some anger. It’s what the best teams have on defense and come December (assuming that month is relevant to us) the team is going to need it.

regarding Spears.

ROBERT FERGUSON, SACHSE, TX: It sounds like Spencer will be taking significant snaps from Ellis. I know he doesn’t fit the traditional mold of a DE in a 3-4 scheme, but can we at least try Ellis at DE? I mean we are getting nothing from Spears. Your thoughts?

Mickey: My thoughts are you haven’t been watching Marcus Spears this season. He’s playing really well. For a guy who is not used on the nickel, he’s seventh on the team with 40 tackles and is tied for the team lead with three tackles for a loss and leads all the defensive linemen with four passes defensed. Greg Ellis is not a defensive end in a 3-4 defense. Those guys are run stoppers first and foremost, and need to be 300pounders, not 260. Ellis would get blown off the line of scrimmage playing inside like that. Crazy idea.

Nick: : That’s a tough one because Ellis has completely transformed his body to being a 3-4 linebacker. So to tell him to go inside as the 4-3 end, is quite a stretch. Those guys are forced to take on double-teams for most of the game. And you say nothing from Spears, but I think he’s providing a little more than Canty is right now. Those two players, rarely garner a lot of stats. I just don’t think that’s the right spot for Ellis. I think there is a way to get everyone on the field. Wade has been quoted as saying “you can’t ever have enough pass-rushers.” So maybe, it’s time he can prove that.

Josh: First of all I disagree that you’re getting nothing from Spears. I think he’s been the Cowboys best defensive lineman aside from Jay Ratliff. Now, playing Ellis at end is something you could have considered before the season, and maybe ask him to put on weight and change his body for. Now that he’s slimmed to linebacker size, though, there’s no way he can hold up against the run with offensive linemen double-teaming him.

Rob: The reason Ellis (6-6, 262)moved to linebacker in the first place was because he’s not big enough for end in this scheme. 3-4 ends need to be around 300 pounds to survive against the run, which is a very underrated part of Spears’ game. Don’t just look at sacks when evaluating his play.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=77FE7E9B-D2AC-F82B-C861BC6C2D332B5B&contentType=5

And nicely summarizes a lot of what I’ve been screaming at my television since the beginning of the Wade Phillips era, (especially what you’re saying about the coverage). I’ve been screaming for press coverage for 2 years now.

It’s just another example of how terrible this coaching staff really is. I have felt all season long that Cowboys have the players of 14-2 team w/ the coaching staff of a 2-14 team. This staff, over the past two years has shown zero ability to adjust, especially on defense.

But here’s the thing: This, and by this I mean discerning problems and fixing them ASAP, is not how we operate in Dallas.

Instead, we let things simmer until it’s painfully, unavoidably obvious that something must be done, then we wait some more, and then we get to it. See: MBIII and JuJo.

Or, we talk about the issue, wait till training camp, show tantalizing hints of what is possible and then completely ignore or forget the solution by the time the new season rolls around. See: Rat at DE.

In fact Carp, Tank, Thomas, and Burnett would do much better in a 4-3 IMO. We may need an offseason to pick up a couple of guys to fit our scheme, but I think with players we have a 4-3 would be a better fit for us IMO.

Jay Ratliff can do a lot more damage from the defensive end position. He’s undersized for the middle and teams are recognizing that if you double-team him

I’ve been saying this since the start of the season. He makes plays, but he is too inconsistant to be a good NT.

Marcus Spears should move inside and rotate with Tank Johnson. It’s not about lack of sacks with Spears, it’s about lack of penetration and not disrupting plays in the backfield. The guy just doesn’t have what it takes to get it done

I can’t agree more with this quote. I’ve been on the Spears hater train for some time going back to last season when I thought Hatcher should replace him. I also wasn’t fooled in preseason like many were with his good play against 2nd, 3rd and 4th stringers. I knew he would revert back to the same mediocre DE we have seen the past 3 seasons. I’m all for giving him a shot at NT, but I think he could be cut in the offseason.

Anthony Spencer is playing much better than Greg Ellis. So play him, like, a lot! I don’t care how much Greg Ellis whines about the situation, we need production and Spencer is producing. Ellis is the past, Spencer is the future. When those two meet in the present, go with the future.

I believe this would’ve happened alot sooner if not for Spencer getting injured. This is the last year of Ellis no doubt about it. Jerry would be better served going out and drafting a OLB to back up Spencer or sign a FA in the offseason.

they also need to blitz better. we really need to take advantage of matchups. overload one side. force a lineman to choose who to block. attack the tight end. bring more DBs off the corner. what, exactly, do we have to lose?

good stuff tho. never thought about moving around Rat. but it makes sense.

Practice like you play. I saw Hard Knocks and saw Barbie Carpenter and his golden blonde locks fly into kick return wedges, but I also saw a camp that was pretty soft by comparison to others. The ultimate team coach has let his team become soft, undisciplined and with no accountability (which starts with the GM).

Let’s turn this thing around. We have more on-paper talent than any team in the NFL. It’s time we start playing like it.