JJT | Bump-and-run takes a hit - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Bluefin · 08-02-2004

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Bump-and-run takes a hit

Defensive backs bracing for NFL's new emphasis on freeing up receivers

09:34 PM CDT on Monday, August 2, 2004

OXNARD, Calif. – The NFL is making illegal contact and defensive holding a point of emphasis this year.

This is bad news for a unit that led the NFL in defense last season, yielding only 176.25 yards per game.

The Cowboys were the only team in the league to allow quarterbacks to complete fewer than 50 percent of their passes, in part, because coach Bill Parcells and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer teach their players an aggressive, bump-and-run scheme.

The Cowboys want to attack receivers at the line of scrimmage, forcing them out of their comfort zone. Zimmer wants his defensive backs to re-route receivers and pressure them throughout the pass route, so they can't go where they want to go.

One of the reasons the NFL wants the illegal contact and defensive holding rules emphasized is because last season's passing statistics (200.4 yards per game) amounted to the lowest average in 11 years.

Playing the style Zimmer and Parcells prefer becomes a lot more difficult if officials strictly enforce the rule that says a defensive player can't touch a receiver once he gets five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Or if a player is going to get penalized for defensive holding every time he tugs a receiver's jersey, regardless of whether it impeded his progress.

"We're going to have to be a lot more disciplined with our technique. I'm a little worried, because we're a bump-and-run team and we don't want the rules to take us out of what we're doing good," Zimmer said. "We've already got one guy playing a little tentative because he doesn't want to get called for a penalty."

There's also a league-mandated emphasis to make sure outside receivers are lining up on the line of scrimmage. Receivers previously have lined up as much as a yard off the line of scrimmage without being penalized.

But with the illegal contact and defensive holding being called more closely, the NFL wants the receivers on the line, so they can't maneuver before the defensive back can engage him.

Field judge Tom Sifferman, a 19-year NFL veteran who has worked consecutive Super Bowls, and his staff have spent the last two days officiating the Cowboys' practices.

Their presence has given Zimmer and players an opportunity to ask whether a particular play would be penalty.

"We don't anticipate more flags," Sifferman said. "They'll make adjustments in training camp and preseason. Coaches will coach differently, and players will react differently."

Clearly, Sifferman is an optimist.

In 1994, the first year of the illegal contact penalty, teams were penalized for it 117 times. Last season, there were 79.

But there's little doubt that emphasizing the rule should make it easier to pass.

It's no coincidence that passing yards, completions, yards per pass and scoring each increased in 1994.

"We're trying to figure out exactly how to deal with it and coach our techniques properly," Zimmer said. "That's why it's good that the referees are here."

TheSkaven · 08-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluefin

Zimmer said. "We've already got one guy playing a little tentative because he doesn't want to get called for a penalty."

Mario Edwards is gone, but he's talking in the present tense. Any idea who he's talking about?

DallasEast · 08-02-2004

...the release of Mario "I'm A Living Pass Interference Maker! Yeeee Hawwww!" Edwards this past offseason is an even better [and sweeter] decision.

Hostile · 08-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by DallasEast

...the release of Mario "I'm A Living Pass Interference Maker! Yeeee Hawwww!" Edwards this past offseason is an even better [and sweeter] decision.

Interesting sig line DE. I wish it was a little slower.

Tio · 08-02-2004

Good thing newman is a finessed baed corner...

DallasEast · 08-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSkaven

Mario Edwards is gone, but he's talking in the present tense. Any idea who he's talking about?

My guess is that Zimmer's referring to Pete Hunter. Hunter was probably hoping that his size advantage would allow him to "muscle" his receivers in their routes. That would've allowed him to make the adjustment to starting cornerback easier [should he win out during training camp]. Now, he's going to have to develop his own covering technique faster... and eliminate as much of his natural ability to hard press his receiver as possible.

DallasEast · 08-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

Interesting sig line DE. I wish it was a little slower.

Critic.

I'll see what I can do.

Edit: How's that Hos?

Hostile · 08-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by DallasEast

Critic.

I'll see what I can do.

Edit: How's that Hos?

Very nice.

Man that rocks.

SALADIN · 08-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by RW31

Good thing newman is a finessed baed corner...

In press coverage both CB play bump and run. Have you ever seen K-States defense? You don't have a chance at getting any playing time if you can't jam your man at the LOS.

Besides, for two years at K-State I watched T-New mug plenty WR at the LOS. He's actually pretty aggresive for his size. (before bulking up this offseason)

EGG · 08-02-2004

The NFL is quickly becoming a mirror reflection of US politics. There are a million rules(laws) on the books and their solution for stopping lawlessness is to pass more rules(laws) instead of enforcing the ones on the books...

speedkilz88 · 08-03-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by EGG

The NFL is quickly becoming a mirror reflection of US politics. There are a million rules(laws) on the books and their solution for stopping lawlessness is to pass more rules(laws) instead of enforcing the ones on the books...

Actually they didn't add any new rules, the competition committee just told the refs that they need to enforce those rules better this season. New England mugged people last season.

Hopefully Zimmer was talking about Nathan Jones, he's been beaten like a drum from what has been reported so far.

Bluefin · 08-03-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by DallasEast

My guess is that Zimmer's referring to Pete Hunter. Hunter was probably hoping that his size advantage would allow him to "muscle" his receivers in their routes. That would've allowed him to make the adjustment to starting cornerback easier [should he win out during training camp]. Now, he's going to have to develop his own covering technique faster... and eliminate as much of his natural ability to hard press his receiver as possible.

It'd also make sense because Hunter is the new starter.

He doesn't want to get toasted a lot early in camp and see others considered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SALADIN

In press coverage both CB play bump and run. Have you ever seen K-States defense? You don't have a chance at getting any playing time if you can't jam your man at the LOS.

Besides, for two years at K-State I watched T-New mug plenty WR at the LOS. He's actually pretty aggresive for his size. (before bulking up this offseason)

I'll say.

Newman finished fifth on the team in tackles with 80 and he tied Roy Williams for second place with six tackles for loss.

T-New wasn't at all hesitant to mix it up last year and he'll be better equipped to handle physical play this year due to his work in the off-season program.

ravidubey · 08-03-2004

Zimmer's comment was the player was afraid of being penalized, not afraid of contact. I believe he could be referring to any one of our corners, including Newman.