Let’s go back to the first game of the Cowboys season for a second, where we see a loss to the New York Jets twenty first ranked pass offense and twenty second ranked rushing offense. Which mattered more: Romo’s fumble and interception, or the fact that we couldn’t stop Mark Sanchez from connecting with Plaxico Burress? Take into account we had the Jets pinned at their own 15 yard line and didn’t hold them to a 3rd down play until they were at the Dallas 26 yard line. If we had a defense worth their salt we would have won that game, changed our entire season and the seasons of many other teams (including the New York Giants). But we didn’t and sadly our Cowboys were scheduling tee times instead of practice times.

I’ll skip the Detroit Lions game for obvious reasons, but how about our week six match up against the AFC Champion Patriots? The Cowboys were winning heading into the 4th quarter, but once again the Cowboys defense failed to hold Tom Brady to much more than a 3rd and 1. Three plays after that 3rd and 1, we were watching Aaron Hernandez throw imaginary dollar bills into the air from the end zone. Again, another situation where a good defense could come in handy, don’t you think? Keep looking at our loss column and you will see the same thing over and over again.

Cardinals game: Couldn’t stop the mighty Kevin Kolb from hooking up with Stephens-Howling for a 52 yard scamper to win the game.

Both Eagles games: Our defense couldn’t stop a nose bleed.

Both Giants games: Our defense looked like they made a wrong turn heading to the Texas Rangers game.

All 8 of our losses can be credited, in many ways, to the lack of play by our defense. When Romo messes up, we should be feeling confident in our defense making a stop, not holding our breath and betting on the over/under for how long it takes them to score.

Defense is just as important now as it was fifty years ago. Heck, even the best offense in the league can have a bad day. Look at Green Bay. I thought they were Super Bowl bound the very second Aaron Rogers put up 61 points in one of my fantasy leagues. But wouldn’t you know it, the Giant’s defense held the great Aaron Rogers to only two touchdowns. Meanwhile the Packer’s Defense that was so good last year, gave Eli the opportunity to throw for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Putting defense on the back burner this draft could make for another painful season next year. Like I said in my last article, I like DeCastro, from Stanford not USC, but I would feel very disappointed if we were to draft him with our fourteenth pick. If we don’t address the needs of our twenty third ranked pass defense then the Cowboys are in trouble.

Now, if the Cowboys did draft DeCastro and then made some big free agent pick ups I would feel a little more comfortable. But the 2011 Cowboys were interested in getting younger so I don’t see them pulling a 180 and spending what little cap space we have left on a big name free agents. During the Jerry Jones era of the Dallas Cowboys we have seen two types of teams: the Troy Aikmen led winners and the interchangeable Quarterback black hole led by Ryan Leaf and Quincy Carter. I don’t want to be known through out the league as winning one playoff game in 15 years anymore. I want our doomsday defense back. I saw enough offense at Texas Tech during the Mike Leach era to know that however good your offense is you can still lose without a good defense. I know that drafting a DB could be boom or bust, and I know DeCastro could be Pro Bowl material, but we would be picking him just to pick him, or for the “safe play”. Research who our last ‘safe’ draft picks are and you’ll find Barbie…I mean Bobby Carpenter, the slow starting Anthony Spencer, the highly touted yet highly mediocre Felix Jones, and Mike Jenkins. Even if we go with Quinton Couples, like the mock draft 2.0 projects, I would be happy. And at this point, I don’t care who we draft as long as they play defense.

Defense still matters. Go Cows.

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In the days following the Dallas Cowboys’ crazy loss in the desert, the anger of the Cowboy Nation has shifted: it started with Jason Garrett, but now it seems to be directed toward the defense.  The defense certainly had a major breakdown in overtime, and they must be held accountable for that.  That being said, this angry criticism filled with invectives like “The defense sucks”, “The secondary is awful” and “The secondary is the worst in the league” just can not withstand any reasonable and objective assessment.

Let me try a baseball analogy.  If your starting pitcher only gives up two runs through 9 innings, but then walks a few batters in the 10th only to give up a grand-slam, does that terrible ending negate the rest of his day?  Does it make him an awful pitcher?  Make no mistake about it, that is what happened to the Cowboys defense on Saturday: they played an excellent game for 60 minutes, only to have it erased by a few poor plays in O.T.

Click on the link to consider an alternative perspective on the defense.

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(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Before Sunday’s game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys, Cowboy fans could be heard around the blog-o-sphere chanting “Trap Game” and “Strange things happen in Arizona”. But at the end of the day, it was predictable play-calling, penalties and a wrongly taken time-out that decided the game’s outcome. Despite a very weak offensive performance, the Cardinals were still able to defeat the surging Cowboys in overtime, 19-13.

The game that ended the Cowboys winning streak, also started by ending another streak. This one was rookie kicker Dan Bailey’s streak of consecutive field goal makes. Bailey’s streak of  26 made field goals ended when he missed a 53 yard attempt mid-way through the first quarter. Arizona’s veteran kicker, Jay Feeley would take  advantage of his opportunities. Feeley hit a 48 yard  attempt late in the first quarter to give Arizona the 3-0 lead. (more…)