Fox: Where (Ware) are the sacks?

[CCBoy]

Where (Ware) are the sacks?
By Bob Sturm


http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/12/15/11/Where-Ware-are-the-sacks/landing_cowboys.html?blockID=627136&feedID=4680



The Cowboys defense has been heavy under the microscope this week after surrendering 400 yards passing, 510 yards in total offense, and 37 points in the home loss to the Giants on the weekend. Rob Ryan's credentials have been examined closer and the defense in general has been targeted for ridicule for their inability to come close to sacking Eli Manning.

The best way to stop an aerial show in the NFL is to apply pressure to the QB. When you cannot get to him in a reasonable amount of time, he is able to then get comfortable, go through his read progressions, and then make an easy throw to his intended target. The QBs at this level are too good to allow that to happen. Yet, again, the Cowboys did just that.

So, over the last several days, I have been asked to break down the pass rush of the Cowboys by the numbers and attempt to figure out how the Giants are doing this, and who on the Cowboys we should be asking much more of.

First, I believe it should all be heading of how good Eli Manning played in this game from an intelligence standpoint. His ability and maturity as a QB has really progressed over the last few seasons, and as critical as I have been of him over the years, I leave this evaluation very impressed by Manning. Rob Ryan threw a ton of things in his direction and was unable to rattle him. In 2008, Eli Manning was sacked 8 times in his final visit to Texas Stadium (the biggest sack performance by a Cowboys defense since 1997) and looked very poor. Since then, he has played 3 games at Dallas and has been sacked once. And I submit that much of it is due to the QB learning how to slow down a pass rush by making sound decisions and getting the ball out quickly. His older brother has been a master of this art for more than a decade, and now it appears Eli is figuring it out, too...

[CCBoy]

The bottom line on sacks is here:

...But, what of the rest of those Dallas defenders? Anthony Spencer was largely facing single-teams (as is often the case) and he couldn't get home. In fact, Victor Butler had one of the two QB hits (Barry Church) in his spells for Ware late in the game. The defensive ends rushed 68 times and never touched the QB once. Jay Ratliff makes plays every game, but interior pass rush is merely a bonus to his arsenal until the Cowboys move him outside (which doesn't appear to be an option on a defense without a true nose tackle).

Bottom line seems to be this: We can continue to blame Rob Ryan for getting the scheme wrong and wonder why DeMarcus Ware doesn't have 4 sacks a game, but the truth is that Ryan tried everything and the Giants only objective is to stop Ware. The Giants gambled that nobody else would bother Eli Manning on the Cowboys defensive front and they were quite right. The Tyron Smith pick was a marvelous one that addressed a real need on the offensive line, but passing on elite rookie defensive ends like JJ Watt really hurt after games like this one. If only the Cowboys had 2 picks at #9....

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And with the two teams that have abused the Dallas defense coming up in Philadelphia and the Giants again, the problems in this area should be well driven home before it is all said and done.

[ykc]

The bottom line on sacks is here:

...But, what of the rest of those Dallas defenders? Anthony Spencer was largely facing single-teams (as is often the case) and he couldn't get home. In fact, Victor Butler had one of the two QB hits (Barry Church) in his spells for Ware late in the game. The defensive ends rushed 68 times and never touched the QB once. Jay Ratliff makes plays every game, but interior pass rush is merely a bonus to his arsenal until the Cowboys move him outside (which doesn't appear to be an option on a defense without a true nose tackle).


It is a hot topic to discuss Rat to DE, but our other DEs are just happy stopping the run and are basically useless in applying pressure. give that we gave Rat a new contract, we need to find another NT and move RAT to DE, then we can have some pressure from inside and ware coming from outside.

Also if we can find another OLB who can get 8-10 sacts a season opposite to Ware (like Greg Ellis), we can cover our weakness in the secondary

[CCBoy]

It is a hot topic to discuss Rat to DE, but our other DEs are just happy stopping the run and are basically useless in applying pressure. give that we gave Rat a new contract, we need to find another NT and move RAT to DE, then we can have some pressure from inside and ware coming from outside.

Also if we can find another OLB who can get 8-10 sacts a season opposite to Ware (like Greg Ellis), we can cover our weakness in the secondary

My focus as well, and it does look like a valid plan now.

[BAT]

My focus as well, and it does look like a valid plan now.
I guess Sturm does not realize that Spencer is an unbelievable run defender, or that the SOLB is not supposed to rush the passer. ;)