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NFL scout slams Dallas Cowboys' defense; says Morris Claiborne not playing well, Brandon Carr not worth big money
Tom Pelissero USA Today (MCT)
Published: 06 December 2013 02:15 PM
Updated: 06 December 2013 02:22 PM
What does Jerry Jones have to show for the Dallas Cowboys' recent investments on defense?
"They're not very talented," a high-ranking scout for another NFL team told USA TODAY Sports recently, speaking on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons. "That's why they're 32nd (in yards allowed)."
There's no doubt hiring 73-year-old coordinator Monte Kiffin – best known for running zone concepts in a Tampa-2 defense played out of a 4-3 front – was a curious decision after two years spent acquiring personnel for Rob Ryan's 3-4, man-heavy scheme.
More troubling at this point is the Cowboys lack defensive playmakers as they enter the stretch run of the race for the NFC East title and their first playoff bid in four years.
"Their D-line is a bunch of backups other than (DeMarcus) Ware, and he's hurt," the scout said. "Linebackers are hurt, and they don't have any safeties. They have a young guy (rookie J.J. Wilcox) who's going to be OK. They've struggled at corner. The LSU guy (Morris Claiborne) hasn't played that good. (Brandon) Carr – he's OK, but he's not worth what they paid him."
Carr signed a five-year, $50 million contract in March 2012. Claiborne was the No. 6 overall pick the following month. Linebacker Bruce Carter, a second-round pick in 2011, hasn't played well. End Tyrone Crawford, a third-rounder in 2012, is out for the season with an Achilles' tear.
The only other defensive players the Cowboys have drafted in the first three rounds since 2010 are Wilcox and middle linebacker Sean Lee, who has developed into Dallas' best player on that side of the ball and is expected back from his hamstring injury Monday night at Chicago.
Lee's four interceptions are part of why the Cowboys, for all their issues, rank fourth in the NFL with 25 takeaways. But they're also hemorrhaging 421.6 yards per game, including 294.9 through the air, and they rank 30th in sacks per pass play.
Ware, who has two years and $27 million left on his latest restructured contract, has five sacks while battling through a quadriceps injury at age 31. Anthony Spencer, who's making $10.627 million under the franchise tag, played in one game before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Jay Ratliff, who was released in October because of injury issues, counts $6.928 million against the Cowboys' strapped salary cap even though he now plays for the Bears.
Tom Pelissero USA Today (MCT)
Published: 06 December 2013 02:15 PM
Updated: 06 December 2013 02:22 PM
What does Jerry Jones have to show for the Dallas Cowboys' recent investments on defense?
"They're not very talented," a high-ranking scout for another NFL team told USA TODAY Sports recently, speaking on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons. "That's why they're 32nd (in yards allowed)."
There's no doubt hiring 73-year-old coordinator Monte Kiffin – best known for running zone concepts in a Tampa-2 defense played out of a 4-3 front – was a curious decision after two years spent acquiring personnel for Rob Ryan's 3-4, man-heavy scheme.
More troubling at this point is the Cowboys lack defensive playmakers as they enter the stretch run of the race for the NFC East title and their first playoff bid in four years.
"Their D-line is a bunch of backups other than (DeMarcus) Ware, and he's hurt," the scout said. "Linebackers are hurt, and they don't have any safeties. They have a young guy (rookie J.J. Wilcox) who's going to be OK. They've struggled at corner. The LSU guy (Morris Claiborne) hasn't played that good. (Brandon) Carr – he's OK, but he's not worth what they paid him."
Carr signed a five-year, $50 million contract in March 2012. Claiborne was the No. 6 overall pick the following month. Linebacker Bruce Carter, a second-round pick in 2011, hasn't played well. End Tyrone Crawford, a third-rounder in 2012, is out for the season with an Achilles' tear.
The only other defensive players the Cowboys have drafted in the first three rounds since 2010 are Wilcox and middle linebacker Sean Lee, who has developed into Dallas' best player on that side of the ball and is expected back from his hamstring injury Monday night at Chicago.
Lee's four interceptions are part of why the Cowboys, for all their issues, rank fourth in the NFL with 25 takeaways. But they're also hemorrhaging 421.6 yards per game, including 294.9 through the air, and they rank 30th in sacks per pass play.
Ware, who has two years and $27 million left on his latest restructured contract, has five sacks while battling through a quadriceps injury at age 31. Anthony Spencer, who's making $10.627 million under the franchise tag, played in one game before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Jay Ratliff, who was released in October because of injury issues, counts $6.928 million against the Cowboys' strapped salary cap even though he now plays for the Bears.
