Remember "The Flex" defense - Dallas Cowboys Forum

tkiehl · 03-27-2005

The innovative Tom Landry invented this defense.....Landry always came up with 1 or 2 plays in the big games that surprised all!

JackMagist · 03-27-2005

The Flex was an interesting defense. I don't think anyone ever used it but Dallas because it was so complicated. The D-line was staggered so that every other D-lineman was lined up a yard off the line of scrimage. Usually it was the right DT (Bob Lilly and Randy White's position) that was back. That made them almost like LB's in a down position and it was their job to stop the run up the middle. With the quickness of Lilly and White they would be gone before the guard could get to them. It also allowed for a lot of line stunts on passing downs. Probably Tom Landry and Ernie Stautner were the only two people in the world who fully understood that defense.

**MichaelWinicki** · 03-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkiehl

The innovative Tom Landry invented this defense.....Landry always came up with 1 or 2 plays in the big games that surprised all!

It seems like Tom Landry has never gotten the respect he deserves... Lombardi, Noll and Shula, and later Gibbs & Walsh always overshadowed him.

**MichaelWinicki** · 03-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackMagist

The Flex was an interesting defense. I don't think anyone ever used it but Dallas because it was so complicated. The D-line was staggered so that every other D-lineman was lined up a yard off the line of scrimage. Usually it was the right DT (Bob Lilly and Randy White's position) that was back. That made them almost like LB's in a down position and it was their job to stop the run up the middle. With the quickness of Lilly and White they would be gone before the guard could get to them. It also allowed for a lot of line stunts on passing downs. Probably Tom Landry and Ernie Stautner were the only two people in the world who fully understood that defense.

Morning Jack... I believe San Francisco fooled around with it to.

Avenging Hayseed · 03-27-2005

Correct me if im wrong, but im almost positive that the NY Giants were the 1st to use the Flex. Pretty sure that when Landry was an assistant in N.Y he came up with the flex as a way to stop Jim Brown. But, I do think that to my knowledge only the Giants and Cowboys have used it. When Landry left N.Y that defence left with him....

Avenging Hayseed · 03-27-2005

Remember seeing something that it helped to free up Sam Huff so he could make more plays against Brown....

Avenging Hayseed · 03-27-2005

Really shows the Greatness of Landry. The guy knew the game inside and out. Very innovative offensively and on defence. Very few Head coaches are/ were as well verced as Landry on BOTH sides of the ball....

JackMagist · 03-27-2005

Landry knew the game inside and out to be sure. He even go involved with the soccer style place kickers when they were just beginning to become popular. He worked with Raphael Septien on his kicking technique by applying the principles of a golf swing to his leg motion (Landry was a pretty decent golfer too). BTW Dan Reaves and Chan Gailey's offensive systems are decended from Landry's offensive system and there are still smatterings of it used around the league.

JackMagist · 03-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Morning Jack... I believe San Francisco fooled around with it to.

Hi Mikey.

I'm sure that there were probably others who toyed with it but I don't think it ever became anyone elses base D (or at least not for long).

Avenging Hayseed · 03-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackMagist

Landry knew the game inside and out to be sure. He even go involved with the soccer style place kickers when they were just beginning to become popular. He worked with Raphael Septien on his kicking technique by applying the principles of a golf swing to his leg motion (Landry was a pretty decent golfer too). BTW Dan Reaves and Chan Gailey's offensive systems are decended from Landry's offensive system and there are still smatterings of it used around the league.

100% CORRECT about Reeves and Gaileys offence decending from Landry. We have not run a decent screen play since Tom left. Thats a longgggggggggggggggggg time...LOL

**MichaelWinicki** · 03-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avenging Hayseed

100% CORRECT about Reeves and Gaileys offence decending from Landry. We have not run a decent screen play since Tom left. Thats a longgggggggggggggggggg time...LOL

What's a "screen"?

Next_years_Champs · 03-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Morning Jack... I believe San Francisco fooled around with it to.

You are right when Dick Nolan was the head coach in the late 60's and early 70's he used the "Flex". They didn't have much success with it and abandon it after a couple of years. But they did use it for at least a couple of years, Nolan was coach there from 68 thru 75.

Nolan played for Landry and was one of his coaching disciples.

Avenging Hayseed · 03-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

What's a "screen"?

LMBO! Whats a SCREEN? Thats about it too. Havent been able to run an effective screen in so long we dont even know what one is anymore...

Avenging Hayseed · 03-27-2005

Screen play...........Offensive lineman feign pass protection thus luring defensive lineman up field. Once the defensive lineman are allowed to slip the blocks of the o lineman the o lineman set up down field as run blockers. At this time the r.b slips out between the defensive lineman and our offensive lineman where he recieves a lob pass over the heads of the defensive lineman and makes his move up field with a bevy of lineman leading the way. VERY, VERY efective on 3rd and 8!....LOL p.s ... More agile athletic o lineman are preferable when running this play. Guys that can move, pull, and such...LOL Gailey never had the type o.l to have much success with it here.

Cbz40 · 03-27-2005

As defensive coach for the Giants Landry played a vital role in the development of the 4/3 D. His innovations in this somewhat new D were copied throughout NFL.
As we all know the 4/3 became the dominant defensive scheme used around the league.

The "flex" became a trade mark of the Dallas Cowboys.......The talents of the great defensive players such as Lilly, Jordon,Howley, Lewis, Renfro etc. were exploited to their fullest. Landry and Stotner, being great innovators, developed the "flex" which played to the strengths of the defensive personnel.