Cowboys defender says playing full speed all game is impossible
One Cowboys defender made a statement that may turn some heads.
The Dallas Cowboys are a bit of a mess right now. The defense just allowed 49 points to the Cleveland Browns. That says all you need to know.
That outing against the Browns followed one in which the Seattle Seahawks dropped 38 points on the Cowboys. A week prior the Atlanta Falcons scored 39 before totally collapsing and giving Dallas its only win of the season.
Effort is in question and safety Xavier Woods touched on that topic in a way that will have some fans reacting negatively.
Cowboys S Xavier Woods: "The effort's been good. On certain plays, some guys – I mean, me included — there may be a lack. But overall, the effort is there. We're in the NFL. You don't expect guys to (go) full speed for 70 plays; that's not possible." But team pushing hard. Full: pic.twitter.com/EfE6FJioIU
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 7, 2020
Cowboys defense off to a bad start
Woods is not wrong here. Maximum effort on every single play is impossible in such a fast-paced game. Still, that is not the quote a player wants out there after his defense just got torched by the Browns.
Specifically tying “effort” to going full speed allows this quote to be picked apart. What Woods was going for is that every defender can’t give it their all physically on every down. The mental aspect is still there. If players aren’t paying attention on certain plays, that is a whole other issue.
2020 is a weird year for the Cowboys because Dak Prescott has a huge lead in passing yards for all NFL quarterbacks. That is almost out of necessity as his defense is allowing over 430 yards per game.
The focus on effort always comes up after such disastrous performances. What Dallas may be lacking is the proper talent on defense. That has some fans clamoring for the team to sign Earl Thomas after Jamal Adams was not acquired earlier this year.
dark. Next. Mike McCarthy only person left with confidence in Mike Nolan
The collective unit of the defense is the problem right now. One player is not going to fix that and it may take a new voice at defensive coordinator to turn this sinking ship around. Prescott throwing for 450 yards and the Cowboys losing just can’t happen. This is not Big 12 football.