Defensive Trends in Wrong Direction: Cowboys Face Tough Questions.
This season, the defence under Dan Quinn had a negative trend for the most of the year.
After a poor conclusion to the season, they now have a lot of questions.
Like most of the Cowboys fan base, I was ecstatic when Quinn was brought back a season ago, but as the season progressed, that joy gradually subsided.
With the exception of a few defensive standouts, Quinn’s team was unable to halt a nosebleed.
They had trouble stopping the run the entire season, and the playoff defeat to Green Bay was just another example of that.
Aaron Jones gained 118 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
It seemed like Quinn was at his worst on Sunday. The Packers had guys running free all over the place.
They didn’t sack Jordan Love one time, the first it has happened in over 15 games.
Quinn seemed checked out, and he might be considering he has had interviews for head coaching jobs.
He might have knocked himself out of some offers with the performance last week.
Time To Go
All I’m waiting on is word from Ian or Shefty that Quinn has been fired. McCarthy is returning, which is bad enough already.
To be honest, though, Quinn is more likely than McCarthy to miss the upcoming season.
Although this defence includes players who can produce big plays, they are not performing well enough against elite opponents.
Jordan Love had the entire day to throw, and Quinn had them in zone 90% of the time against a team that primarily used man coverage all season. They did not press Love in any way.
I find that completely nonsensical.
I understand that when the playoffs hit, pressure gets pumped up, but these guys have played here before.
They got beat up by a team who had never been there before.
I understand the offense was not good, but the defense forced, what, one or no punts?
Right from the start they had a sack wiped on a defensive penalty.
Mike McCarthy talked about Quinn at his press conference on Thursday morning.
He said that he wants Quinn to return if he doesn’t take a head coaching job.
To be honest, I loved him returning last season, but I don’t want him now. He gave up 40 to the Niners, 40 to the Packers, 40 to the Seahawks.
He didn’t have an answer for teams with above average offenses this season. He has the play makers, they just didn’t show up.
He ran drop coverages all wild card game when Aaron Jones was gashing them on the ground.
Even when Trevon Diggs returns next season, these problems are going to carry over into next year.
Who would take over?
The Cowboys have a couple people in the building that could get an opportunity to take over as DC if Quinn decides to accept a head coaching position.
I’m starting to like Al Harris.
The former wide receiver for Green Bay has 12 years of NFL coaching experience.
Two of the players he has brought to Dallas in his brief tenure have led the league in interceptions.
I would start with Joe Whitt Jr. to assume the helm.
Whitt, Quinn’s second-in-command, is the clear front-runner among the internal contenders. Whitt occasionally steps in to replace Quinn as the play-caller.
End of the day is that no matter what happens, this defense against above average teams might carry over.
Talent is everywhere, but fail to show up when it matters.
Aaron Jones ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns.
It seemed like Quinn was at his worst on Sunday. The Packers had guys running free all over the place.
They didn’t sack Jordan Love one time, the first it has happened in over 15 games.
Quinn seemed checked out, and he might be considering he has had interviews for head coaching jobs.
He might have knocked himself out of some offers with the performance last week.
Time To Go
All I’m waiting on is word from Ian or Shefty that Quinn has been fired. McCarthy is returning, which is bad enough already.
To be honest, though, Quinn is more likely than McCarthy to miss the upcoming season.
Although this defence includes players who can produce big plays, they are not performing well enough against elite opponents.
Jordan Love had the entire day to throw, and Quinn had them in zone 90% of the time against a team that primarily used man coverage all season. They did not press Love in any way.
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