#4 is the most important thing you have said in a while.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.
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.
The DL as whole has to make the opposing offense pay for sliding protection that means if DLaw gets double teams the DT and RE need to make them re-think that. All joking aside after Aldon hit the wall teams only worried about DLaw.
I did not notice Lawrence getting double-teamed much. I noticed Lawrence couldn’t even beat average OL one on one. Lawrence could get pressure they tell me, which is basically calling him another ‘Almost Anthony.’ Close but no cigar.
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.
#4 is the most important thing you have said in a while.
Risen?Everything I say is important. Wake up.
Risen?
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?
So how can defenses adjust? If it’s harder to get sacks, what can the defense do to make it harder on the QB?
- 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.
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.
- 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.
I think what you said Bob makes a lot of sense. Getting people in the face of the QB to make him rush and thus make a mistake is harder giving that they tend to throw quicker in todays game.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?
So how can defenses adjust? If it’s harder to get sacks, what can the defense do to make it harder on the QB?
- 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.
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.
- 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.
All true Bob. I personally hate the ticky tack calls that happen on the complete opposite side of the field from the play. No need in that being flagged.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.
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.
Yeah I agree. Sacks are great and all but just getting the offense off the field has been our biggest fail the last couple seasons, well the last 10-12 seasons. QB gets the ball out quicker on today's NFL, as you stated, to me sound tackling is more important than sacks. 3 and outs and limiting RAC is what this defense needs. That's why I'm optimistic about Quinn.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?
So how can defenses adjust? If it’s harder to get sacks, what can the defense do to make it harder on the QB?
- 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.
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.
- 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.