Why Cowboys Had To Replace Rob Ryan, Part II: Adapting To A Changing Landscape

[Sam I Am]

I can't figure out why people keep saying the Cowboys don't have the personal to switch to a 4-3. That is bull****. They are closer to be a 4-3 than a 3-4. Hell, the team doesn't even have a real NT. Ratliff played the position, but he isn't one and now he is older too. They are also on the verge if possibly losing one of their two starting quality OLBs. (nobody else on the team is starting quality for an OLB at this point)

Switching to a 4-3 will extend Ratliff's career and Lissemore will become more effective than he was playing a 3-4 DE.

Many people question Spencer's ability to play a 4-3 DE, and I call BS there too. While he may need to add a little weight, the guy is solid and isn't easily pushed around, not to mention his ability to shed blockers is on par with D.Ware.

Linebackers? Between Lee, Carter, and Albright, you have all three linebacker positions covered. The only real question is safety and the Cowboys can address that in a draft that has quite a bit of safety talent in it or on the FA market.

The Cowboys have several players on the staff right now that can play DT in a 4-3 and some (a bet rather weak) depth for the DE position.

I think the switch to a 4-3 is a must at this point. Both personal wise (ie, who is already on the team) and scheme wise with the direction the NFL is going with the read option.

[FLcowboy]

Originally Posted by btcutter

Fantastic article on defense!

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2013/...i-monte-kiffin

Good find. And it makes pretty good sense for what happened in the REdskin games.

[jcollins28]

Nice read and that 92 Cowboys D was nasty!

[ABQcowboyJR]

A very good read. Too bad Russell Wilson doesn't have an Aikman arm

[Erik_H]

Originally Posted by Hoofbite

No Ryan and no Henderson now?

I guess nobody was at these meetings and somehow the most publicly visible football team in the NFL was able to keep it under wraps.

according the the Break, Henderson was fed up With the fact that Ryan was blowing off meetings, and then skipped them as a response.

[ABQcowboyJR]

Originally Posted by Hoofbite

As it is being run right now, in the backfield and not down the line of scrimmage, I'm not sure where a team could hit a QB without drawing a flag.

Out in the open when running with it? Seems like they could slide and still get protection.

Perhaps the NFL should remove the slide component on designed runs but I think it still applies to everyone though in that you can't hit a player who "gives himself up".

I agree with the previous poster. If the want to run the read option the DE should crash down on the qb and hit him everytime. If they are not hesitating for the read they are gonna get there pretty fast.

[InmanRoshi]

Originally Posted by Yakuza Rich

We need better safeties.

Doesn't make a difference what the scheme is.

But outside of that, we could probably use some speed at the SAM and strongside DE. Although if we retain Spencer at SDE, then I think that gives us good team speed. Particularly if we find a SAM backer with good speed...which isn't exactly mandatory. The Bears ran this scheme with Urlacher (very fast), Briggs (about Lee's speed, slower than Carter) and Hunter Hillenmeyer. They had Adawale Ogunlye and Alex Brown at the DE's. So not exaclty like their speed was far superior than ours.





YR

Yeah, I've targeted SAM and SDE as well. But, as you pointed out, those aren't the deal breakers for the defense. Even in the Kiffin glory years in Tampa Bay, he had some rather pedestrian guys at SOLB ... Greg Nece, Ian Gold and Al Singleton. Just guys who can play over a tight end and not get overwhelmed, but still athletic enough to pursue a ballcarrier running weakside. Even if they didn't think Albright or Wilbur could be that guy, they could probably go out on the UFA market and get that kind of guy rather cheaply with a Kirk Morrison or a Rocky McIntosh.

SDE is a little more hard to find if they let Spencer walk, but again, you're talking about finding a Greg Spires ... a 265 lbs. guy who never had more than 8 sacks a season. I'm kinda okay with just going with Crawford on base packages and substituting him out with a nickel pass rusher in sub packages.

[btcutter]

I strongly believe with the fast pace offense with speed around the league we are seeing a paradigm shift in offensive philosophy. Part of the strategy is to wear out the defense.

The new defense required to combat the evolved (you can all it rehashed) offense has to be SPEED and DEPTH. You will need guys chasing from sideline to sideline but also need depth to rotate in players to keep them fresh. Because tired players miss tackles and that's how you give up big plays.

Speed is easier to obtain then depth in the current NFL system. To begin this new defense the first order must be increasing the speed and depth of the D line. On paper we may look OK with Ware, Ratliff, Lissamore, Hatcher and Spencer/Crawford. But Ratliff and Ware were injured. Crawford is an unknown and Spencer is unsigned. Even if they all stay healthy, you cannot expect Ware/Spencer to rush the passer and chase RG III/Chip Kelly offense all year.

I fully expect DL, another fast LB who can play multiple positions to be focus of the offseason. Oh, let's not forget OL/S.

[proline]

Carter, Lee, and Sims would put plenty of speed at the LB position.

[Eddie]

Originally Posted by proline

Carter, Lee, and Sims would put plenty of speed at the LB position.

For about 3 games together.

[jjktkk]

Originally Posted by Eddie

For about 3 games together.

Are you a Cowboys fan? Seems like alot of your posts are quite negative towards the Cowboys.

[DFWJC]

Great read.
And I love getting the reminder of how the game keeps evolving.
I'm psyched to see how this unfolds.

[Eddie]

Originally Posted by jjktkk

Are you a Cowboys fan? Seems like alot of your posts are quite negative towards the Cowboys.

Just a very disappointed Cowboy fan.

Is there really anything positive to spin about this franchise?

It's like Groundhogs Day every season. Nothing changes .. regardless of the pieces.

I know, I know ... if you don't like Jerry Jones, go follow another team.

Yeah, it's Jerry's team and he can do as he likes. Blah, blah, blah.

I think I'll go beat my kid.

[jjktkk]

Originally Posted by Eddie

Just a very disappointed Cowboy fan.

Is there really anything positive to spin about this franchise?

It's like Groundhogs Day every season. Nothing changes .. regardless of the pieces.

I know, I know ... if you don't like Jerry Jones, go follow another team.

Yeah, it's Jerry's team and he can do as he likes. Blah, blah, blah.

I think I'll go beat my kid.

Definitely understand.

[rwalters31]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

A big DT?

Why?

Kiffin didn't have a big DT at Tampa.

And Carter played OLB in college.

Johson didn't have big DT's at Dallas.

The original Tampa 2 had TWO 325 pounders! I think that's big!! That is how they got away with two light weight DE.