This past offseason, the Dallas Cowboys focused the majority of their time and resources on fixing the defensive secondary. After watching the unit blow lead after lead last season, the front office decided it was time for a change. So they changed things. The Cowboys signed budding star Brandon Carr away from the Chiefs for more money than the rest of us will make in a lifetime. The team traded up in the 2012 NFL Draft to select the consensus best defensive player available, Morris Claiborne. They even decided not to trade disgruntled former pro-bowl CB Mike Jenkins due to what he could add as a depth player in the secondary.
And yet, as the page turns to week 3 in the NFL, we've yet to really see the investments payoff. Well, that's not completely accurate. We haven't seen fullbacks jumping over our CBs, or 15 yard cushions on 3rd and 3. But, another thing we haven't seen? Turnovers.
We saw you do it in the preseason Brandon, now do it when it counts! (Photo / Reuters)
There can't be any denying the fact that creating turnovers wins football games in the NFL. Last year, the top 5 teams in the NFL in turnover differential were San Francisco, Green Bay, New England, Detroit, and the New York Giants. All 5 teams made the playoffs and two of them even played in the Super Bowl. The bottm 5? Arizona, Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay. One playoff appearance and a loss to Tim Tebow between them.
In 2012, the Dallas Cowboys are one of 9 teams yet to record an interception. As a group, their collective record is 5-13 (5 teams 1-1, 4 teams 0-2). Interceptions are plays that can turn an entire game around. Of course, as recent history has shown (Giants, Eagles), teams can still win while they're quarterbacks are throwing interceptions. Yet, just try to wonder the score of last weeks Bucs-Giants game if Eli didn't throw 3 picks. Or how about the score to the Eagles-Browns game in week 1 if either Brandon Weeden or Michael Vick hadn't thrown for 4 picks apiece.
Branon Carr has 8 career picks. Morris Claiborne had 11 picks in his career at LSU. These are tough, physical, ball-hawking corners who like to play on their man and be near the ball at all times. Rob Ryan's pressure system (well, at least that's what we thought it was) is made to have corners like these on the outside. Add in Mike Jenkins' 8 career picks and Sensabaugh's 14 and this is a unit that should be handing the ball to the offense every single game. Head Coach Jason Garrett was recently asked about the problem and said,
“We keep emphasizing it, our players understand the importance of it and hopefully they’ll start to come for our defense.”
To be honest, that sounds like a pretty relaxed answer from a rather intense man. There is no "hopefully" in the NFL. Things happen because players are put into the right positions and make plays on the ball; not because they "hopefully" are able to make a play. It is time for Coach Ryan's bunch to start producing in the form of turnovers. Hopefully it happens this week against the Bucs.
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