I truly believe this is about players holding themselves accountable and they are being coached better than what they are showing. This is about the third time I can name that Quinnen is disappointed in his own play, as well as the entire defense, but trusts they will get better. When players don’t trust their coaches anymore, they don’t think they can actually turn anything around. That matters.
Cowboys DT Quinnen Williams was the one who called the players-only meeting on Monday. He chose to keep the message from that meeting to himself, but he did take accountability for the defense’s start:
“I take full personally responsibility for it. I look in the mirror at myself and know that I need to do better, play better. I take full accountability and I’m fully responsible for where this defense is going at the moment. I took a break this weekend and reset to learn and grow and focus on getting better.”
@kneupper@derekeagleton Gannon the only veteran DC in that list and it can be debated whether or not he’s considered a successful DC. Not saying I disagree but it’s still a debate.
@JohnOwning Probably setting up more of the 3-3-5 package look with Pettine in the building. He has enough versatility and instinct at MLB to function as both
@Bumi_mind@JoeJHoyt It’s a give and take approach. Hopefully with more pressures and better CB play, we can hide Bell better than what we’ve seen. We also saw Bell back there with Clark. Hooker back there with him to play more FS can help utilize Bell as SS and not always in deep coverage.
Perhaps too much blow back from all the moves happening made optics look bad.
I also know Pettine loves being in the booth and maybe originally CP decided to go up there before Pettine agreed to terms. Having them both up there doesn’t make sense and Pettine can now be CPs eye in the sky that’s he’s been missing.
Todd Bowles had a great plan for run blitzes after that first possession and called them beautifully on downs he expected us to run. It was an issue to getting our footing in the run game and we didn’t try to PA those run downs to keep them honest. They teed off on all rushing downs. Then when we were behind the sticks, here came the pass blitzes that affected Dak all game until the 4th.
Kenny Clark mentioned in a player interview yesterday that Pettine was around the team during OTAs. I know it’s relatively common for coaches in between jobs or retired coaches to be around a few teams, but that information helps in context of what is being reported about Pettine being a target for the staff earlier in the offseason.
Also find it hilarious that everyone is losing it over the fact that we had a DEFENSIVE players only meeting. I think whole team players only meetings can have more underlying meanings but one sided unit means the season over? Lol cmon man.
Being a fan of the cowboys is hilarious because our defensive players only meeting is getting more national attention than the 2-3 Rams and a player punching an opponent at the end of the game during jersey swaps lol
But yea Marvin Lewis, tell me more about how the Rams are so much more discipline than us because they wore the same shorts during training camp.