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  • another fearsome DL?

    I should check out Washington and NY papers too, and see what they're saying about their teams so far this TC.........

    Makes me even gladder to hear about how Andrews is a beast, Jamaal Jackson is ready to take over for Fraley, and see if Winston Justice develops well too!


    -----------------------------------------
    For Cowboys, it's worth the weight

    By CLARENCE E. HILL JR, .
    STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

    OXNARD, Calif. -- Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has heard the talk that the Cowboys could have the best defense in the league.

    He isn't ready to go that far. The Cowboys have yet to prove anything.

    What Zimmer does know is this will be the biggest and potentially most physical unit he's had in six years as coordinator in Dallas. It's certainly the biggest in team history.

    With all due respect to past players such as Dexter Coakley, Dat Nguyen and La'Roi Glover -- undersized, but highly productive, Cowboys of recent years -- the defensive motto in 2006 might as well be: No Midgets or Mascots Allowed.

    If the move of Greg Ellis (6-foot-6, 270 pounds) from defensive end to linebacker works out, the Cowboys will average roughly 6-3, 257 pounds at linebacker to go along with 6-4, 305 across the defensive front.

    "We are pretty damn big," Zimmer said. "If we hit somebody, they will know it."

    Adding size and physicality on defense is what coach Bill Parcells has been working toward since he came to the Cowboys in 2003.

    His hands were tied at first as the Cowboys had a roster full of players designed to play the 4-3 defensive scheme, including Coakley, whom Parcells nicknamed "mascot." A gradual overhaul was kicked up to warp speed last year when the Cowboys switched to Parcells' favored 3-4 scheme, which requires bigger players.

    This season's result is a front seven that averages nearly 20 more pounds per man on the line and 14 more pounds at linebacker than in 2003.

    "You have to have bigger and stronger guys to make plays in this defense," linebacker Bradie James said.

    James (6-2, 250) is a perfect embodiment of the team's transition on defense under Parcells. Although Coakley (5-10, 236) was a Pro Bowl performer in Dallas, James was drafted in 2003 with the idea of replacing Coakley in mind. That didn't happen until last season when the Cowboys moved to the 3-4 and Coakley was released before the season. Add in the retirement of Nguyen (243 pounds) after last season, and James suddenly finds himself as one of the smaller members of the starting linebacker corps. Fellow inside linebacker Akin Ayodele is 6-2, 250. DeMarcus Ware, who would play opposite Ellis at end, is 6-4, 257.

    Consider also that the Cowboys went from a defensive front of Ellis, Glover (285), Willie Blade (315) and Ebenezer Ekuban (265) to today's threesome of Jason Ferguson (310), 6-7 Chris Canty (300) and Jay Ratliff (305).

    It's all part of the "Planet Theory" hatched years ago by former New York Giants general manager George Young, when Parcells was with the Giants. Parcells not only endorsed it, but has put it into practice ever since.

    "Bigger is better if you can run," Parcells said. "This is a big man's game. There are so many big people on the planet. You need to get them stationed somewhere along your offensive and defensive front lines."

    Big is important to Parcells on defense because of the style and philosophy he employs. Parcells prefers to have players big enough and strong enough to win one-on-one battles.

    "I do like to play one on one," Parcells said. "It's [also] the ability to play lane defense as opposed to gap defense. Lane requires both sides, and the gap is one specific hole. We ask our players to play lanes."

    Even though the Cowboys finished No. 1 in the league in yardage allowed in 2003, the defense did not strike fear in opponents.

    The Cowboys are hoping for a return to Doomsday in 2006.

    "All good defenses are intimidating," James said. "We have the physical presence we were trying to have."
    "Philly fans are great....It's the only place where you pull up on the bus and you've got the grandfather, the grandmother, the kids and the grandkids - everybody flicking you off. At other stadiums, they give you the thumbs-down. Here, they give you the middle finger.”
    — Michael Strahan

    "No one likes us, no one likes us, no one likes us, we don’t care, we’re from Philly, F—-ing Philly, No one likes us, we don’t care!”
    - Jason Kelce with the best championship speech ever

  • #2
    Won't matter when Owens ruins the team. LOL.
    Carson Wentz ERA


    NFC East Titles:
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    • #3
      that parcells is such a wit:

      "Bigger is better if you can run," Parcells said. "This is a big man's game. There are so many big people on the planet. You need to get them stationed somewhere along your offensive and defensive front lines."


      frankly, it's hard to imagine coaches who are more diametrically opposed in their philosophy of defense as parcells and JJ, who wants smaller, faster, penetrating players.
      Don't kid yourself Jimmy. If a cow ever got the chance, he'd kill you and everyone you cared about!

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      • #4
        I'm just glad that we've got a lot of beef on our OL to combat it.
        http://shop.cafepress.com/content/global/img/spacer.gifOK, let's try this again...

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        • #5
          Re: another fearsome DL?

          Originally posted by balto-eaglefan
          OXNARD, Calif. -- Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has heard the talk that the Cowboys could have the best defense in the league.
          Let 'em dream.

          This Eagles defense is more talented man for man and better coached. I hope the of the rest of the league is expecting a repeat of last season, what they are going to get is carnage.

          All this team needs is to stay healthy. Look at the Squeelers -if Big Ben misses 1 more game last year they don't even make the playoffs. It really is just a crap shoot. You put what you hope is a good team together and pray you're more healthy (and lucky) than the next guy when the playoffs start.

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          • #6
            The Eagles will have a tough time being the top D with the weakness at OLB. But if the DL can create enough turn overs and sacks, they will be right up there with the best this season.
            www.disciplerocks.com

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            • #7
              Originally posted by saratoga
              The Eagles will have a tough time being the top D with the weakness at OLB. But if the DL can create enough turn overs and sacks, they will be right up there with the best this season.
              Probably. But they're always going to have a tough time statistically (yards & pts anyway) because of the offense they play. For the same reason the 'Girls (under Parcells) are likely to have somewhat inflated stats.

              I'll still take the Eagles D. Well.. 'cause.. they're the Eagles. That DL has the potential to really maul some ppl this year. If you have a dominating DL you really don't need much else. -- as long as your DB's keep the game in front of them

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              • #8
                Only stat I care about for a D is points allowed!!!!!!!!!!!! That's the name of the game, IMO.





                Not really THE only one--- but it's my top priority.

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                • #9
                  [quote="Parcells"]
                  "Bigger is better if you can run," Parcells said. "This is a big man's game. There are so many big people on the planet. You need to get them stationed somewhere along your offensive and defensive front lines."
                  quote]

                  How does this prepare him for McNabb, Westrook and LJ? How can big guys keep up with these ellusive players? Last time I checked, coaches tried to fit their defense to stop their toughest opponents' stars. This doesn't sound like the trick.

                  On the flip side, the Iggles Defense is ready for the quick-cutback style of Tiki, the three and four receiver sets and imobile QB of the SKins and the weak O-line in front of an old QB Cowgirls.

                  We have three very good corners and two safeties who can cover TE's and WR's to stop the Skins. We have a great pass rush without blitzing to beat down an aging Brunnell and Bledsoe. We have a big AND very fast front four to mess up anything that Tiki tries to do. The only thin that we don't have that we had in the past is a shut down SAM. But on nickel and dime packages, Dawkins and Reed will be in there to handle the two very gooe TE's in our division.

                  Now tell me what these other defenses have to shut down Westy, LJ and Donny running?
                  Pedro

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