RED_N_BLACK_98 Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 ARLINGTON -- Barry Church sat at his locker with a bandage under his nose the length of his upper lip, covering a six-stitch gash.Sean Lee stood at his locker with a cut of his own on a very thick lower lip that also required stitches.Yes, the Cowboys got smacked in the face Sunday.That's what happens when the Dallas defense gets overexposed -- the Atlanta Falcons did the overexposing on this day, slapping the Cowboys around for five touchdowns and 438 yards in a 39-28 triumph.The Cowboys entered the game with the NFL's second-ranked defense. But let's not kid ourselves. A unit playing without its two best pass rushers (Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory), its best run defender (Rolando McClain) and its best cover cornerback (Orlando Scandrick) was not the second-best defense in all of football.This unit survived the opening two weeks of the season by staying off the field. Rod Marinelli's defense played only 22 minutes, 50 seconds in a season-opening 27-26 victory over the New York Giants, then played only 19 minutes, 30 seconds in a 20-10 triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles in the second week.That was just a continuation of 2014 when the Cowboys overachieved on defense playing barely 27 minutes per game. The less this defense plays, the better it plays. Fresh legs are productive legs.The Cowboys had the NFL rushing champion and the best ball-control offense in the NFL a year ago to make sure the defense wasn't overexposed. The Dallas defense forced enough turnovers in 2014 to get off the field, then the legs of DeMarco Murray kept his defensive teammates off the field.The defense was asked to play more than 30 minutes in a game only five times a year ago in that 12-4 season. They Cowboys lost three of those games and the needed overtime to win another of them.It was more of the same Sunday. Atlanta held onto the football for more than 34 minutes, reducing the Dallas defense to the role of overmatched sparring partner. The Dallas defense couldn't get off the field in the second half -- and a Cowboys offense could not keep them off the field.The Cowboys held a 28-17 halftime lead but did absolutely nothing on offense the rest of the way, managing only three first downs and 52 yards in the second half. The best way to protect your defense is to run the ball and control the clock -- yet the Cowboys ran the ball only five times in the second half for a minus-4 yards.That put the pressure on the defense to win this game -- and that wasn't going to happen."We knew coming in we had to stop three things -- the running game, Julio (Jones) and Matt Ryan," Lee said. "We didn't stop any of them."The Cowboys entered the game first in the NFL in run defense, allowing only 53 yards per game. But with starter Tevin Coleman sidelined with a rib injury, Atlanta's backup tailback Devonta Freeman gashed the Cowboys for 141 yards on 30 carries.The Cowboys entered the game ninth in the NFL in pass defense, allowing only 204 yards per game. But Jones caught 12 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns on the day and Ryan completed 13-of-17 passes in the second half alone for 153 yards and both of those scores.The Cowboys sacked Ryan on his first dropback but didn't get him again on his final 36 pass attempts. The Cowboys also didn't intercept any passes or recover any fumbles.Ryan in the second half reminded me of Aaron Rodgers in the second half of the Green Bay playoff game last January. It's difficult to cover receivers when the quarterback has all day to throw, especially when one of those receivers is Julio Jones. He caught nine second-half passes for seven first downs.The Falcons outscored the Cowboys 22-0 in the second half, mounting touchdown drives of 83, 89 and 62 yards. Atlanta pieced together another 80-yard touchdown drive in the first half.It was an ugly afternoon for this defense."It's on me," Marinelli said. "I thought we were ready. We weren't. When you don't have any takeaways, you can't stop the run, we didn't get a rush...that comes back to coaching. We just didn't execute."This defense needs to get healthy and at full strength. In the meantime, it needs to get to the quarterback, get to the football and get off the field. The NFC East is there for the taking -- but not if the Cowboys continue to play defense like they did Sunday. The Cowboys don't necessarily need to win games on defense. But they do need to compete -- something they didn't do Sunday.http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/columnists/rick-gosselin/20150927-gosselin-overexposed-cowboys-defense-got-smacked-in-the-face-by-falcons.eceSure is nice to hear the Falcons smacked somebody in the mouth for once. One thing to talk about being physical; these Falcons are doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaigle Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 thanks for posting this article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Yet another in a never-ending list of reasons why people should stop using raw yardage statistics as "rankings" Especially after two games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keys Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Quinn is going to be coach of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerSteve Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 "We knew coming in we had to stop three things -- the running game, Julio (Jones) and Matt Ryan. We didn't stop any of them." Rod Marinelli. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great American Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Fresh legs are productive legs. That's a fine phrase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4dabirds Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 The game would have been different with Romo and Bryant playing, as they maybe could have eaten the clock and kept the Falcons offense off the field, but there was no denying the fact that the Cowboys got eaten alive with the run and pass of the Falcons in the second half. I can't feel sorry for them. Weeden wasn't terrible, not to mention the Cowboys did not run the ball well in the second half at all, simply because Atlanta new they would try to run, since the Cowboys had a good lead. The OL, not Weeden played terribly in the second half. Weeden did throw down field, but he didn't have much time to get to his second option. No doubt the Cowboys were wounded, but they still had lots of ply makers playing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wjcorner Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Kept telling people that defense is a product of clock management. They're pretty much like our 2012 defense but they win on 3rd downs. Once they get some of their players back they'll be better but I wasn't worried about our offense that game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 That's how we have to play people. Everybody is expecting to play us like we are a bunch of girls. We have to hit them in the mouth early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwifalcon Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 The game would have been different with Romo and Bryant playing, as they maybe could have eaten the clock and kept the Falcons offense off the field, but there was no denying the fact that the Cowboys got eaten alive with the run and pass of the Falcons in the second half. I can't feel sorry for them. Weeden wasn't terrible, not to mention the Cowboys did not run the ball well in the second half at all, simply because Atlanta new they would try to run, since the Cowboys had a good lead. The OL, not Weeden played terribly in the second half. Weeden did throw down field, but he didn't have much time to get to his second option. No doubt the Cowboys were wounded, but they still had lots of ply makers playingThey did exactly what Koetter did last year when they got behind they go pass happy.Thats the big thing this year for us with Shananhan regardless in front or not the commitment to run the F/ball isn't talk its a reality and our RB's & O-line seem to be responding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tandy Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 The Cowboys entered the game with the NFL's second-ranked defense. But let's not kid ourselves. A unit playing without its two best pass rushers (Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory), its best run defender (Rolando McClain) and its best cover cornerback (Orlando Scandrick) was not the second-best defense in all of football.Break that down.Came into the game as NFL's second ranked defenseThey played all previous games this year without Greg Hardy, Rolando McClain or Orlando Scandrick. Randy Gregory played in (did not start) 1 game - and had no interceptions, tackles, assisted tackles, sacks, safeties, passes defended or forced fumbles, How can this statement even be made then? They came in second ranked without those players - so this is totally a non-issue. Period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight of God Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Break that down.Came into the game as NFL's second ranked defenseThey played all previous games this year without Greg Hardy, Rolando McClain or Orlando Scandrick. Randy Gregory played in (did not start) 1 game - and had no interceptions, tackles, assisted tackles, sacks, safeties, passes defended or forced fumbles, How can this statement even be made then? They came in second ranked without those players - so this is totally a non-issue. Period.Cowboys have more excuses than we do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerosmith67 Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 2 Cowboys had to leave the game with bloody faces/lips, the Falcons were hitting HARD yesterday. The mindset has changed, the SOFT Falcons teams loved to mock are gone. (forever hopefully) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconstwopercentsized Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 2 Cowboys had to leave the game with bloody faces/lips, the Falcons were hitting HARD yesterday. The mindset has changed, the SOFT Falcons teams loved to mock are gone. (forever hopefully) I love this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 "We knew coming in we had to stop three things -- the running game, Julio (Jones) and Matt Ryan. We didn't stop any of them." Rod Marinelli.hardly a profound statement - what else is there to stop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeRom Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Why is it that the coaches of a losing team which just received a bu** kicking always says; " We just didn't execute"? I guess they are right in one sense, but not for the reason they seem to imply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wjcorner Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Break that down.Came into the game as NFL's second ranked defenseThey played all previous games this year without Greg Hardy, Rolando McClain or Orlando Scandrick. Randy Gregory played in (did not start) 1 game - and had no interceptions, tackles, assisted tackles, sacks, safeties, passes defended or forced fumbles, How can this statement even be made then? They came in second ranked without those players - so this is totally a non-issue. Period.They broke it down for you later on in the article. They were on the field for under 25 minutes in games 1 and 2, when you don't have to constantly stop another team your stats will look better than you really are. If you go back and watch games, it was bad passes in clean pockets and penalties that was stopping drives more than anything else. They don't have a good defense right now.When I said this earlier everybody dismissed it like that was impossible for Dallas to have an average defense. Everybody was stuck on stats instead of just watching football Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconstwopercentsized Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Why is it that the coaches of a losing team which just received a bu** kicking always says; " We just didn't execute"? I guess they are right in one sense, but not for the reason they seem to imply. Because they can't say Sean lee is a ******* dripping ***** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vent King Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 We're coming up next on Around the NFL on NFL Network just fyi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
direwolf Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Why is it that the coaches of a losing team which just received a bu** kicking always says; " We just didn't execute"? I guess they are right in one sense, but not for the reason they seem to imply.Because it's true. Football almost always comes down to who executes more effectively. Coaching is important, but if the players don't execute as well or better than the opposition, it goes for naught. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimifalcon Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 I saw that too,the defense of the Cowboys were gassed,they all had their hands on their hips gasping for air.We were better conditioned for the long fight and we got tougher as the game progressed.We definitely got some blows in.The look on Sean lees face in the second half after somebody busted his lip was stunning.the shots of Cowboys bleeding on the sidelines was something I haven't seen before!We definitely hurt them,both physically and mentally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayOzOne Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Kept telling people that defense is a product of clock management. They're pretty much like our 2012 defense but they win on 3rd downs. Once they get some of their players back they'll be better but I wasn't worried about our offense that game. I've said for two years running that extending two more offensive series per game would make our defense much better. It seems like we have had problems with the offense making third down conversions for at least four years, especially in the third quarter. That led to blown leads and ultimately to tired defenses and losses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egoprime II Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 They can rationalize all they want, the fact is our O line and defense came out in the second half and played a physical game that the Cowboys were not expecting at all. Our team was fired up, Dallas was not. Case in point....when Ryan took off to run, he ran with a purpose, you could tell Matt was fired up. He got the first down and, spotting a defender homing in on him, Ryan did not slide, oh no. Ryan juked out the defender, spotted another, seemed to realize he wasn't really supposed to be -doing- this run the ball thing...and slid at the last second. This showed me that even Ryan was fired up by his teams' physical play. And even though coaches preach against it, you know Ryan's team mates appreciated Ryan for running the ball the way he did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR400 Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 I think Patrick DiMarco caused some of those bloody lips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
direwolf Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 I certainly wouldn't want to try to tackle Freeman - if you don't get good and low, his "lower-the head and explode through the legs" approach to contact is going to have his helmet coming up right under your chin.Ouch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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