Defensive Backfield Solved?????

by Brother J on Apr 29, 2008 7:10 PM CDT

Ok so the question that everyone is asking IS........ ARE OUR DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD PROBLEMS SOLVED????????

Being the optimistic person that i am, i would say YES!!!!!! Ok here me out....

First down setup: Henry and Newman at the corners and Roy and Hamlin at the safeties. This is all hinging on Roy being the old Roy like he said he was going to be this year at the end of last year. If he is not then the packages goes as follows.

2nd and 8. With our defense only giving up 2 yards on first down, this becomes a passing situation. Henry and Pacman ( or Jenkins) at the corners, Newman on the slot and Hamlin at Free Safety. This would be our nickel package.

3 and 8. Dime package. Henry and Pacman at the corners, Newman on the slot and Jenkins as Free Safety, and Hamlin as Strong Safety.

*Remember Ware, Ellis, Ratliff, and Spencer will be creating havoc up front. Our interceptions should go up by at least 5 more than we had last season! No more Plaxico long bombs and sorry i am slow as molasses Amani Toomer beating us. Also Shockey( if he ends up staying with them) or Kevin Boss will be shut down, cause now you can put Jenkins on them and he should shut them down.

Special Teams: Pacman taking it to the House on punt returns. ( If he plays the whole season he will probably only have one punt return for a touchdown, no more than two. Hey, hes been out of football for a year so he wont have all his mojo with him yet. Altho one or two touchdowns will be more than what we had ALL SEASON with Crayton!!!!! lol

Felix Jones and Miles Austin on kickoff returns. I only see one touchdown for each BUT there will be at least 18 returns taken to the 40 yard line of the opponents side of the field!!!!! And i also see 4 kickoffs going out of bounds cause the opponents are scared of their ability and we get the ball at our 40 to start the drive!!!!

Overall i only see the Boys winning 12 games this year, maybe 11 but i think we will be a better team at 12-4 or 11-5 THIS year than 13-3 LAST year!!!

Does that make any sense? If not than go ahead and shoot holes in my theory. LMAO i am a big boy , i can take it!!! Lol

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Comments

this is all well and good if Pacman

ever sees the field. I wouldn’t assume that pacman being reinstated is a given, I’m telling you Goodell has it out for this thug.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Apr 29, 2008 8:22 PM CDT 0 recs

I agree Terry

If Adam jones sees the field we are gonna be very strong against the pass…And the run!

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Apr 29, 2008 11:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

we know, BELIEVE ME, you've made that clear to us.

by calebsmith on May 1, 2008 4:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

goodell and adam jones

terry, i think goodell isn’t that bad of a person, and he seems like a guy genuinely interested in both the best interests of the league and of the players. do i agree with all of his ideas and decisions (banning most td celebrations, fines for silly uniform violations, etc…)? hell no, but i can see where he’s coming from most of the time. but to comment on the main post, you can bet our defense is going to be pretty formidable with jenkins instead of jacques reeves. if we do get adam jones back and he can play at a solid nfl level, it would increase our superbowl chances exponentially. dang i cant wait until the season starts!

Give 'em hell! Give 'em hell! Make 'em eat sh*t!

by HornsBoy on Apr 30, 2008 2:17 AM CDT 0 recs

One thin that ocurred to me

was that Jenkins might be an All-Pro in the making as a FS. A lot of his scouting reports mentioned that he might be better suited there and in fact played a little safety in college.

Any chance the Cowboys – assuming Pacman is reinstated – think about moving him, or at least using him as a safety situationally?

by dunkman on Apr 30, 2008 5:22 AM CDT 0 recs

Not sure that they would move him full time. . .

But I do think that our nickel and dime defenses could easily hold more CBs than safeties. . .like maybe Hamlin is the only safety consistently on the field. Watkins is also a good cover safety so it would depend on what scheme we were playing – zone vs man

Bum's Boy Boyz

by JerrodWheeler on Apr 30, 2008 6:04 AM CDT up 0 recs

Interesting

Another option: We move Henry to Free safety. Let Jenkins learn under him for a while to make the transition easier, and when AH’s contract expires in ‘09 he can play FS.
Of course, that’s down the road a bit, and next year’s draft looks to be full of good safeties.

Livin' in Heartbreak Central...
heartbreakplex.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Apr 30, 2008 6:10 AM CDT up 0 recs

I wondered about this too

I think it depends on several things. First, Jenkins will need to put on some pounds, because he’s not supposed to be the most physical guy. Safeties have to make key tackles, as we are all painfully aware. Second, it depends on if we get Hamlin extended. If we only have to replace one safety instead of two, things are a lot better. Third, it depends on Henry. I think he’d be the ideal FS if we’re confident enough in the CBs to move him. But really, the question for all of these alternatives is whether Watkins is going to be better than all of these guys. I feel like he could start for us at FS and move Hamlin to SS, assuming the RW reclamation project doesn’t go well.

by grapejoos on Apr 30, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up 0 recs

All good points

Some of the in-depth pieces on Jenkins say that he is actually a good tackler when it’s left to up to him. He just has a tendency to let others tackle.

by dunkman on Apr 30, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

Jenkins was actually a High School All American SAFETY....he knows the position...

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones

by BoyzRback on Apr 30, 2008 7:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

NO, NO, NO

I want to see Newman on the opposing teams best WR, period! I hate the fact that he’s covering the slot guy… If he’s our best cover guy, he should check the best WR on the other team.

by BK Arsonist on Apr 30, 2008 8:51 AM CDT 0 recs

The slot is usually the hardest to cover.

by quincyyyyy on Apr 30, 2008 9:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

Newman's a small guy

Do you really want him covering Larry Fitzgerald?
Although he did do an excellent job on Plax whenever they were paired up… hmm.

Livin' in Heartbreak Central...
heartbreakplex.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Apr 30, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up 0 recs

Yes,...

I definitel want to see Newman on the opposing teams best WR, period. I don’t care where he’s lined up. Naturally, playing a team like New England, I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the slot on Welker and doubling Moss, but playing a team like the Giants – he should be on Plax. Deion was bigger than Newman, so it’s difficult to compare. Plus, Deion was a playmaker and Newman is NOT. I remember Deion being matched up with Irvin – who was known for being a physical WR and Prime held him to 1 catch for 5 yards. Newman should be able to give the bigger WR’s room and be able to make a play on the ball.

by BK Arsonist on Apr 30, 2008 1:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

Newman's not a playmaker?

He’s recorded four interceptions in 3 of his 5 years in the league. Not many players can say that.
Samuel and Trufant only did it once before this year. Nnamdi Asomugha did it once. Guys like Champ Bailey and young Ty Law are the exception, not the rule. T-New actually does very well for himself as far as picks; if he had the ball thrown at him as often as Samuel or Trufant do, those numbers would balloon.
Btw, Deion during his time here: 5 years, 14 interceptions. How does this make him more of a playmaker than T-New?

Livin' in Heartbreak Central...
heartbreakplex.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Apr 30, 2008 4:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

Don't get me wrong....

... I don’t want you guys to feel I’m anti-Newman, because I love the dude. I played CB in high school and college, so corners always hold a special place in my heart. With that being said, I still say that with all of the gifts that T New has, he doesn’t make enough plays. He is the most physically gifted corner in the league, hands down. But it doesn’t translate into enough big plays. Do you realize that before the TD against the Jets, he’d never returned one for a TD? This is what I mean by not being a playmaker. Yes, he’s steady as hell, but I’d like to see him take a few more chances out there and stop playing it safe.

by BK Arsonist on May 1, 2008 9:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

Deion vs Irvin

Let’s not forget that Irvin beat Deion like a drum in the 1994 NFC Championship game: 12 catches for 192 yards and two TD’s. That is about as thorough an ass whuppin’ as a receiver can give a corner.

by Cowboy Louie on May 1, 2008 7:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

You're joking, right?

Irvin beat Eric Davis like a drum in that championship game… The ‘Boys moved Irvin away from Deion, hence the 12 catches. Remember Alvin Harper was non-existent in that game.

by BK Arsonist on May 1, 2008 9:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

true that, but...

there were other times Mike went up against Deion and had good games. It’s not like Deion always shut him down completely – especially on the slant Deion would be all over him but Mike was just too big and would seal him off and make the tough catch.

And as was mentioned below, Deion would often take away the #2 receiver while they’d double team the #1 – not sure if it was that the boys moved Irvin away (memory’s foggy now though…). In any regards, whether against Deion for some or against double coverage for others, the fact that Mike hauled in 12 that game was very impressive.

by Scoobay on May 1, 2008 9:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

show and prove

what does one consider a good game? I cannot remember Mike doing anything against Sanders.

by BK Arsonist on May 1, 2008 9:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

not sure if there's a way to find it

for sure unless someone has tapes of old games…
best i could do was look up stats (NFL.com) for Mike against Deion’s teams (Mostly ATL, except SF for 1994)

1989 – 5 catches, 115 yards, 1 TD; Deion 1 int
1990 – 1 catch, 16 yards, Deion 1 int returned for TD
1991 – 10 catches, 169 yards 1 TD
1992 – 6 catches, 89 yards
1993 – 1 catch, 5 yards
1994 – 8 catches, 94 yards; Deion 1 int
12 catches, 192 yards 2 TD

Now as i said, there were times when someone (presumably Deion?) or perhaps double teams kept Mike in check, but to say that Mike never did anything against Deion? I don’t think so. Granted, we don’t know if Deion was on Mike all the time or not – would have to have the games to review Mike’s catches, but if Deion really shut Mike down completely every time, why wouldn’t you put him on Mike and leave him on an island? in the NFC championship game, Mike’s eating you up for 12 catches and 2 TD’s and possibly more – why not iso Deion on Mike if he can really shut him down every time? or even give Deion help over the top if needed?

I do believe Deion played Mike as tough as anyone, but Mike was never one to be stopped completely which is why i think he’s one of the best ever. The skins used to put Darrell Green on him solo and Mike would do the same, beating him with physicality and boxing him out on slants and posts.

by Scoobay on May 1, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

Mike vs. Redskins '88-'95

1988 – 6 catches 149 yards 3 TD
1989 – 5 catches 78 yards
1990 – 3 catches 30 yards1 TD
1991 – 4 catches 44 yards1 TD
9 catches 130 yards1 TD
1992 – 5 catches 89 yards
5 catches 105 yards
1993 – 7 catches 88 yards
5 catches 53 yards1 TD
1994 – 5 catches 49 yards
3 catches 36 yards
1995 – 7 catches 105 yards1 TD
10 catches 101 yards1 TD

was curious to see if my memory of Mike taking it to Darrell Green and the skins was correct or not – above are Mike’s stats in games when they both played. Again can’t remember if Green was always on him 1 on 1 but at least some of the time he was and Mike turned in good performances also.

by Scoobay on May 2, 2008 5:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

Well, I certainly don’t have the stats of who was guarding Irvin. But my memory (now 14 years later) is that near the end of the game Deion committed a grievous pass interference penalty on Irvin by the sidelines about five yards short of the goal that wasn’t called.

I suspect Deion was on Irvin on at least some of those catches, if not a majority. But again, my memory has faded with time and the only way to tell is to watch the game tape – something I have no interest in doing since I would probably want to throw up all over again after those three turnovers.

by Cowboy Louie on May 1, 2008 3:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

Was that the non-call that caused Switzer to go ballistic?

I think he was actually grabbing the ref to make his point. That was classic Switzer.

Sidenote: I was recording that game, but shut off the VCR in disgust after the Niner’s went up 21-0. I wish I hadn’t now, because that was one of the grittiest comeback attempts of the Triplets era. Great game, minus the first 5 minutes.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on May 1, 2008 4:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

yes you're correct

terrible no call that could have given the Boys a lift – still no way to know what would have happened, but that was a pretty blatant interference that would have given them more of a fighting chance.

by Scoobay on May 1, 2008 4:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

Thank you guys

for stirring up memories of the one game from my childhood that I have tried to forget. I cried. Then again, I was 13. That game had the most nightmarish start I’ve ever seen.

But I sure do remember being pissed about the lack of a PI call on Deion. So I’m going to assume that happened.

by grapejoos on May 1, 2008 8:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

I was actually throwing a huge playoff party......talk about immediate heart dropping...

especially when most of my friends were anti Cowboys fans…made for a rough day….needless to say…I got very drunk that day…. :-(

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

by BoyzRback on May 2, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

I liked how they did it with Deion.

When Deion was with the Cowboys, they would put him one on one with the second best receiver, so they could feel comfortable that that guy was effectively eliminated from their game plan, and they would then double or roll coverage to the best receiver. This was good since even the best corners will get burned by an equally good receiver – Michael Irvin made a career out of it – but it’s always hard to beat the double team.

by Baked Potato Soup on Apr 30, 2008 10:06 AM CDT up 0 recs

Yep, nothing wrong with that

Especially with the rest of our corners being quality. If Jones gets on the field this is without question the deepest CB rotation in football.

Livin' in Heartbreak Central...
heartbreakplex.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Apr 30, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

solved?!?!

probalby not solved but addressed as best we can for the money right now…
Drafting a corner high was a given, Adam Jones or NO Adam Jones, and if Jones does play we have all the bases covered.
- two returing vets as starters (1 a pro bowler)
- a first round rookie to play nickle
- a vet that could potentially take over one of the starters (non pro bowler) jobs
If Jones does not play we will have to find a fairly inexpensive vet via free agency or minimal cost in a trade to play nickle, until our rookie is seasoned enough to start; once again leaving us fairly vulnerable to the big pass play.
guess the QB pressure will have to step up.

by stephena on Apr 30, 2008 10:26 AM CDT 0 recs

Cowboys are set at CB with or without Pacman

Newman, Henry, Jenkins, Ball, Scandrick, (Butler, Brown,Oglesby) If anything they will have to cut 2.

I doubt you can find any vet CB who is inexpensive before the season starts. And if you do, then they must really stink. The QB pressure should be better this season, so I don’t think the Boys are will need to worry about finding any more CB’s unless they suffer a rash of injuries at the position.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Apr 30, 2008 6:29 PM CDT up 0 recs