Kiffin says Cowboys' D needs improvement

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September, 11, 2013

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys' defense forced six turnovers in the season-opening victory over the New York Giants.

That might be the only good thing that happened.

Eli Manning threw for 450 yards and four touchdowns, and the Giants had three receivers who each posted 100-plus yards receiving. After one week, the Cowboys are ranked 30th in the NFL in defense after allowing 478 yards, and they rank last in average yards allowed per play at 9.94.

Yes, the Cowboys won the game, with their defense making some game-saving plays, including Brandon Carr's interception return for a touchdown with 1:50 remaining. Still, it felt like the team could have done better.

"That game’s over with," defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "We’ve got to go play. We had the turnovers and all this and that, but we’ve got to play better on defense too. We didn’t play as well as we should’ve. We won the game and we hung on, but we needed to play better. I think just being in the system and getting to learn what the other guy is doing and understanding the scheme and things like that. We’ve just got to keep getting better."

The Cowboys missed two starting defensive linemen due to injuries: defensive end Anthony Spencer and defensive tackle Jay Ratliff. Ratliff is out for five more weeks, at least, recovering from groin and hamstring injuries. Spencer (knee surgery) could return this week after missing the opener.

If Spencer plays, he'll be limited in the number of plays he can log because he missed all of training camp.

Starting cornerback Morris Claiborne, who played in three preseason games last year, missed all of the preseason with a knee injury. But he was ready for the Giants game and suffered a separated left shoulder in the game.

"He’s banged up a little bit," Kiffin said of Claiborne. "He’s trying to tough it out. He really is. You’ve got to respect him for that. There’s no doubt about it. A lot of guys might not have put the pads on, and he put the pads on. That shows us a lot about Mo. He’s trying to do it, but again, he’s definitely banged up."
 

Mr.Po

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Kiffin says Cowboys' D needs improvement

Ya think...........

After one week, the Cowboys are ranked 30th in the NFL in defense after allowing 478 yards, and they rank last in average yards allowed per play at 9.94.
 

cmd34(work)

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I'm actually not all that worried about the D. One, it was Eli and two, it's their first real game with this D.
 

Bob Sacamano

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Once Spencer comes back and that long-armed dude gets acclimated to the system, I think we'll be alright.
 

cmd34(work)

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I wonder if we should take the fragile but ballhawking Mo Claiborne and play him at Safety and move Orlando Scandrick, who's more suited to be a Tampa 2 corner, to the RCB spot? The problem is, Claiborne would have to learn the position quick and we are too thin at CB.

This is just the wrong scheme for Claiborne. He's talented and we gave up a lot to get him, so it's on us to find a way to use him.
 
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Scandrick sucks at tracking a ball
Hed be a terrible zone corner. He's good at just staying reasonably close to a reasonably athletic slot wr
 

cmd34(work)

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Scandrick sucks at tracking a ball
Hed be a terrible zone corner.

Zone Corners need to be disciplined and stay in their zone... plus be good in run support and sure tacklers. Less emphasis on tracking the ball.

I think Scandrick is more suited for that.
 
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ThoughtExperiment

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I think he should be better in a zone, too. He's not a tremendous athlete like most great man corners. He was more about his great ball skills in college. If he's going to be any good it's because he intercepts a lot of passes (even if he gives up a bunch) and zone will let him have his eyes on the ball more often.

Can't imagine putting a fragile guy like him at safety, though. Those guys get more contact, not less. And Mo doesn't like contact.

He'll probably be hurt enough for Scandrick to play more than enough corner. :/
 
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Zone Corners need to be disciplined and stay in their zone... plus be good in run support and sure tacklers. Less epmphasis on tracking the ball.

I think Scandrick is more suited for that.

The thret of the eyes being on the qb is lessened when the cb is allergic to the ball.

Scandrick is a good chaser. He's quick. Sudden movements.
 

cmd34(work)

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Can't imagine putting a fragile guy like him at safety, though. Those guys get more contact, not less. And Mo doesn't like contact.

Normally I 100% agree with that but this scheme is more about Safeties covering ground. Throw in that Barry Church and Will Allen are both better going forward, I'd be willing to get creative back there.
 

dbair1967

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This is just the wrong scheme for Claiborne. He's talented and we gave up a lot to get him, so it's on us to find a way to use him.

I still think he will be fine. He needed the reps during training camp and preseason to better adapt to the scheme and the reads etc etc and didn't get them. I think he'll be fine in a few weeks. He just needs reps.
 

dbair1967

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And Claiborne, IMO, looks way more lost in zone.

That's why he needed all the practice reps he could get in TC and PS. He's basically played the same defensive style all through his career at CB until now.

He'll be fine.
 

Jon88

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4129637880_b69354a617.jpg


I would make Claiborne wear pink gloves and pink shoes for the rest of the year.
 

JBond

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That's why he needed all the practice reps he could get in TC and PS. He's basically played the same defensive style all through his career at CB until now.

He'll be fine.
Claiborne looked lost at times, but he also looks like a potential keeper if healthy. I am not convinced he is healthy. He has a gimp to his gittyup. Confidence appears to be a issues. Will he run well against bigger wr's or come up lame? I hope he steps up. I'm not saying he is not suffering strong discomfort. He probably is. How he plays through it will matter.
 
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