How our Pass Rush can improve

[Bobhaze]

In the last 3-5 years, sack numbers are down all across the NFL. Even the best pass rushing teams are finding it more difficult to sack the QB. Why?

• QBs and the offenses they run are schemed to get the ball out much quicker. The 7 step drop with a deep pass is now a rarity in the NFL.
• Offenses with an empty 5 wide formation are designed for lightening quick passes when there is minimal protection.

So how can defenses adjust? If it’s harder to get sacks, what can the defense do to make it harder on the QB?

• Getting pass deflections at the LOS. Teach defensive lineman to block passing lanes and get more deflections. Getting a deflection at the LOS is also a way to get more TOs.
• Use more disguised and nuanced blitz packages. You don’t always have to get a sack to disrupt a pass play. Making the QB uncomfortable or disrupted in rhythm is also very effective. The last 5 years, the Cowboys blitz less than 2/3 of the league. Hopefully that changes.
• Utilize more Press coverage on occasion. The additions of Diggs last year and Joseph this year should help with this. Our defenses the last few years have tended to give way too much room to receivers.
  
• Having a disruptive force in the middle-this may be the hardest for us to come up with since we don’t seem to have a dominant DT. Hopefully that improves.

Here’s hoping Dan Quinn can find ways to get us more sacks, or at the very least, more deflections at the line and more overall pressure and hurries. Sacks are great, but as the league evolves, they are harder to get. Finding other disruptive measures will be one big key to our D improving.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

I'm not as much concerned about sacks as I am getting pressure on the QB.

If you can pressure the QB into making a throw a split second sooner then he would have then it's a win on that play. That causes the QB to either make a great throw or cause an incompletion. I am okay getting beat by a great throw, but I am not okay with the QB being able to just stand back there and read through all of his progressions.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Don’t remember for sure but I thought holding calls were down last year a lot. Maybe the NFL is letting OL get away with more holding to protect their moneymakers, the QBs.

I would expect to see a statistical relationship between # of holding calls and # of sacks.

 

[blueblood70]

the DC were ranked about 18 in sack% last year but were much higher in pressures..Tank gets roasted around here but hes usually ranks high in pressures etc..

its the middle of the line that needs to be fixed as Gregory and tank plus the rotations we have should be solid..

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I don’t think the Cowboys had the LBs to blitz the past few years. Neither Jaylon or LVE have the speed to be effective blitzers. Neither Jaylon or LVE have the toughness to bull through players on a blitz - too soft. Jaylon and LVE are average covering the check downs on a blitz.

Cowboy blitzes just don’t seem to get home and opposing offenses can easily go to their check downs.

Parsons and Cox can change that with speed blitzing and covering the check downs better. LBs have speed now.

 

[Coogiguy03]

In the last 3-5 years, sack numbers are down all across the NFL. Even the best pass rushing teams are finding it more difficult to sack the QB. Why?

• QBs and the offenses they run are schemed to get the ball out much quicker. The 7 step drop with a deep pass is now a rarity in the NFL.
• Offenses with an empty 5 wide formation are designed for lightening quick passes when there is minimal protection.

So how can defenses adjust? If it’s harder to get sacks, what can the defense do to make it harder on the QB?

• Getting pass deflections at the LOS. Teach defensive lineman to block passing lanes and get more deflections. Getting a deflection at the LOS is also a way to get more TOs.
• Use more disguised and nuanced blitz packages. You don’t always have to get a sack to disrupt a pass play. Making the QB uncomfortable or disrupted in rhythm is also very effective. The last 5 years, the Cowboys blitz less than 2/3 of the league. Hopefully that changes.
• Utilize more Press coverage on occasion. The additions of Diggs last year and Joseph this year should help with this. Our defenses the last few years have tended to give way too much room to receivers.
  
• Having a disruptive force in the middle-this may be the hardest for us to come up with since we don’t seem to have a dominant DT. Hopefully that improves.

Here’s hoping Dan Quinn can find ways to get us more sacks, or at the very least, more deflections at the line and more overall pressure and hurries. Sacks are great, but as the league evolves, they are harder to get. Finding other disruptive measures will be one big key to our D improving.

In our case we can practice WRAPPING up and sound tackling!!! How many times have we been at the qb and the qb somehow gets away!!!????

 

[Stash]

In the last 3-5 years, sack numbers are down all across the NFL. Even the best pass rushing teams are finding it more difficult to sack the QB. Why?

• QBs and the offenses they run are schemed to get the ball out much quicker. The 7 step drop with a deep pass is now a rarity in the NFL.
• Offenses with an empty 5 wide formation are designed for lightening quick passes when there is minimal protection.

So how can defenses adjust? If it’s harder to get sacks, what can the defense do to make it harder on the QB?

• Getting pass deflections at the LOS. Teach defensive lineman to block passing lanes and get more deflections. Getting a deflection at the LOS is also a way to get more TOs.
• Use more disguised and nuanced blitz packages. You don’t always have to get a sack to disrupt a pass play. Making the QB uncomfortable or disrupted in rhythm is also very effective. The last 5 years, the Cowboys blitz less than 2/3 of the league. Hopefully that changes.
• Utilize more Press coverage on occasion. The additions of Diggs last year and Joseph this year should help with this. Our defenses the last few years have tended to give way too much room to receivers.
  
• Having a disruptive force in the middle-this may be the hardest for us to come up with since we don’t seem to have a dominant DT. Hopefully that improves.

Here’s hoping Dan Quinn can find ways to get us more sacks, or at the very least, more deflections at the line and more overall pressure and hurries. Sacks are great, but as the league evolves, they are harder to get. Finding other disruptive measures will be one big key to our D improving.

I credit Brady and the Patriots for the change in offensive tempo and fewer sacks. It's how they and Brady have had success for so many years and the rest of the league is catching up.

 

[dreghorn2]

Don’t remember for sure but I thought holding calls were down last year a lot. Maybe the NFL is letting OL get away with more holding to protect their moneymakers, the QBs.

I would expect to see a statistical relationship between # of holding calls and # of sacks.

Yep, they simply weren't calling holding last season at the same rate as previous years.

They have stated this offseason that a renewed look at holding penalties is forthcoming.

The lack of holding calls was the number one factor in reduced sacks last season.

 

[Bobhaze]

Yep, they simply weren't calling holding last season at the same rate as previous years.

They have stated this offseason that a renewed look at holding penalties is forthcoming.

The lack of holding calls was the number one factor in reduced sacks last season.

I see that as a double edged sword. On the one hand, egregious holding needs to be called. On the other hand, I hate watching football games where there’s flag every play. All I want is some consistency in the calls. If it’s clearly holding as defined, call it. But if it’s marginal or worse, if it had no effect on the play, I HATE to see more holding calls.

When the refs become the stars of a game, football is in trouble.

 

[fivetwos]

I was just tired of being predictable.

VERY tired of listening to players from other teams saying they knew what we were going to do....yet we did nothing to counter it.

I thought some semblance of creativity would come along with Nolan....but I suppose not lol.

Hopefully we got the right guy here for this....and as long as he stays very far away from clock management we should be fine.

There's depth, there's competition....the air is far from stale.

 

[The Realist]

If people were paying attention to JJ Watt coming out of school besides the pass rush ability combined with freak size and athleticism, he had DB-like PBU numbers. Ali Gaye at LSU has some Watt-like ability in that regard. Not saying he’s Watt.

 

[Whyjerry]

In my opinion there are 4 things that will help the Cowboys pass rush.

1. A full season of Randy Gregory
2. An actual push from the interior DL
3. Better scheme - they should be much more effective blitzing
4. A subtle but huge one - Get out to a lead. For far too long Dallas has gotten off to slow starts and play way too many close games. Get a lead and let the pass rush play downhill.

 

[CowboyRoy]

In the last 3-5 years, sack numbers are down all across the NFL. Even the best pass rushing teams are finding it more difficult to sack the QB. Why?

• QBs and the offenses they run are schemed to get the ball out much quicker. The 7 step drop with a deep pass is now a rarity in the NFL.
• Offenses with an empty 5 wide formation are designed for lightening quick passes when there is minimal protection.

So how can defenses adjust? If it’s harder to get sacks, what can the defense do to make it harder on the QB?

• Getting pass deflections at the LOS. Teach defensive lineman to block passing lanes and get more deflections. Getting a deflection at the LOS is also a way to get more TOs.
• Use more disguised and nuanced blitz packages. You don’t always have to get a sack to disrupt a pass play. Making the QB uncomfortable or disrupted in rhythm is also very effective. The last 5 years, the Cowboys blitz less than 2/3 of the league. Hopefully that changes.
• Utilize more Press coverage on occasion. The additions of Diggs last year and Joseph this year should help with this. Our defenses the last few years have tended to give way too much room to receivers.
  
• Having a disruptive force in the middle-this may be the hardest for us to come up with since we don’t seem to have a dominant DT. Hopefully that improves.

Here’s hoping Dan Quinn can find ways to get us more sacks, or at the very least, more deflections at the line and more overall pressure and hurries. Sacks are great, but as the league evolves, they are harder to get. Finding other disruptive measures will be one big key to our D improving.

Two biggest ones for us are:

-Pressure up the middle. Didnt really get much help in that area with the FL but Parsons will help there on blitzes.

-Coverage making the QB hold the ball a little longer. Definitely think we helped out here.

 

[The Realist]

It would be nice if Lawrence would play better than the trash heap guys on the other side (Quinn/Aldon).

 

[CowboyRoy]

In my opinion there are 4 things that will help the Cowboys pass rush.

1. A full season of Randy Gregory
2. An actual push from the interior DL
3. Better scheme - they should be much more effective blitzing
4. A subtle but huge one - Get out to a lead. For far too long Dallas has gotten off to slow starts and play way too many close games. Get a lead and let the pass rush play downhill.

Who do you see as getting the pass rush from the interior DL?

 

[Risen Star]

It should be noted that Dan Quinn is not a guy who has used a lot of blitzes in the past.

 

[jazzcat22]

Wow, no one said to get better players yet...I am shocked....

Part of it could be what was a sack is now a roughing the passer call. How many legit sacks we have were called a cheap penalty. Same for other teams.
Therefore, the rusher may be a little hesitant to fully get there too unload.

 

[calicowboy54]

In the last 3-5 years, sack numbers are down all across the NFL. Even the best pass rushing teams are finding it more difficult to sack the QB. Why?

• QBs and the offenses they run are schemed to get the ball out much quicker. The 7 step drop with a deep pass is now a rarity in the NFL.
• Offenses with an empty 5 wide formation are designed for lightening quick passes when there is minimal protection.

So how can defenses adjust? If it’s harder to get sacks, what can the defense do to make it harder on the QB?

• Getting pass deflections at the LOS. Teach defensive lineman to block passing lanes and get more deflections. Getting a deflection at the LOS is also a way to get more TOs.
• Use more disguised and nuanced blitz packages. You don’t always have to get a sack to disrupt a pass play. Making the QB uncomfortable or disrupted in rhythm is also very effective. The last 5 years, the Cowboys blitz less than 2/3 of the league. Hopefully that changes.
• Utilize more Press coverage on occasion. The additions of Diggs last year and Joseph this year should help with this. Our defenses the last few years have tended to give way too much room to receivers.
  
• Having a disruptive force in the middle-this may be the hardest for us to come up with since we don’t seem to have a dominant DT. Hopefully that improves.

Here’s hoping Dan Quinn can find ways to get us more sacks, or at the very least, more deflections at the line and more overall pressure and hurries. Sacks are great, but as the league evolves, they are harder to get. Finding other disruptive measures will be one big key to our D improving.

i was thinking about this the other day:

why can you not have a 3 or 4 man line doing the batting of the balls while attacking the line to get to the QB + 1 Or 2 DPR guys coming at different times. You then CBs with play press man to zone at the top of the route (IE. press at line stay in man until you get 5 or some designated yards off and drop in to a quarters zone.) your other 2 LB's/DB backers play quarter zones underneath. You can then play a Cover 3 in the backend with Safeties (SS coming down to pick up other zone underneath, the FS playing back covering middle of the field) your CBs again will play quarters after dropping in to zone.

i was trying to figure out how to post a pic of a Defense i was designing for Madden (yes i know life is not madden). once i figure out how to get that off my PS5 and on to my macbook and upload here ill create a post.

 

[Jake]

Don’t remember for sure but I thought holding calls were down last year a lot. Maybe the NFL is letting OL get away with more holding to protect their moneymakers, the QBs.

I would expect to see a statistical relationship between # of holding calls and # of sacks.

I think it's obvious offensive linemen, tackles in particular, get away with stuff they couldn't do in the past.

Not only are they getting their hands on the outside of the DEs shoulder pads - that can only work if you're holding - they line up a yard deep in the back field in obvious passing situations. Rarely are they called for illegal formation.

 

[J-man]

To me the single most biggest factor to not getting sacks is the quick drops/passes by the offenses/QB's.

IMO, The best way to disrupt this is for the DT's to get instant push inside, causing distraction/concern right in the face of the QBs gets them rattled faster than anything else. While simultaneously the DE's must either burst, rip and dip wide; or run stunts w/ the LB's on the edge. This can create distraction/stress on the QB as well.
And at the same time as all of that, to take away the hot reads, the CB's need to play tight press coverage for the first 5 seconds of the route, with the LB's and S's running zone help underneath and over the top.
We have not yet evolved, or have had the personnel to accomplish this. With the new additions, hopefully that changes now.