Battle Lines: more depth than ever at DT

[jazzcat22]

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/battle-lines-more-depth-than-ever-at-def-tackle

Biggest Question: Is this run defense better? That's the question going into the season and even though it was addressed by the pick of Mazi Smith, we won't really know what happens until Week 1 against the Giants, who have one of the NFL's best backs in Saquon Barkley.

Thing is, I don't recall Barkley ever having a lot of success against us, no matter our DT's.

Mazi will be the key as to how well the run defense improves and how quick he picks everything up.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

The personnel might be better but there's not going to be much, if any, of a material difference in the run defense this year.

 

[shabazz]

the middle of the line was a sieve at times…..Quinn knows this is a priority

 

[gtb1943]

The personnel might be better but there's not going to be much, if any, of a material difference in the run defense this year.

Care to explain that? Are you saying our coaches are incompetent?

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Care to explain that? Are you saying our coaches are incompetent?

No I'm saying that the run defense was good last year, just had two-three bad games. The only game that Dallas gave up a positive EPA against the run - Chicago - they won by 20-something. There isn't much better they can actually be.

The run defense is not and was not a problem last year. At all.

EPA- 4th
SR- 3rd(36.9%)

DVOA- 5th
Early downs(1st&2nd)
EPA- 5th
SR- 4th(34.4%)

Philly and SF had no success, and were markedly worse against Dallas than their average.

 

[ChuckA1]

By "material differense" are you suggesting the run defense won't be improved this year?

Just saw your reply, no need to answer again. I think where they'll be improved is stopping the critical 3rd down runs that weren't stopped last year.

 

[charron]

With Hankins in the line up the run D was ok. My hope is Mazi turns the DT from just ok into a dominant force in the next 2 years.

 

[Bullflop]

This team's present pass defense should improve significantly over what it was in 2022. With that being the case, opposing offenses will be likely to rely more upon their running games to a greater extent. I'm expecting our run defense to improve somewhat but, of course, much remains to be determined. Hopefully, that will be good enough to boost the entire team's performance as a whole. Whether it helps our cause in the playoffs remains to be seen.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds058]

Think you need two studs on the DL interior, Mazi & Hankins and then our ends should be able to pin there ears back on passing downs and just maintain outside control on runs.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

By "material differense" are you suggesting the run defense won't be improved this year?

Just saw your reply, no need to answer again. I think where they'll be improved is stopping the critical 3rd down runs that weren't stopped last year.

Again, this is largely a myth.

They were 7th in EPA and 6th in success rate on 3rd and 4th down runs. There's just not a lot better to get.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

No I'm saying that the run defense was good last year, just had two-three bad games. The only game that Dallas gave up a positive EPA against the run - Chicago - they won by 20-something. There isn't much better they can actually be.

The run defense is not and was not a problem last year. At all.

EPA- 4th
SR- 3rd(36.9%)

DVOA- 5th
Early downs(1st&2nd)
EPA- 5th
SR- 4th(34.4%)

Philly and SF had no success, and were markedly worse against Dallas than their average.

Not sure fans understand this.......sure we have to do a better job but we are not as bad as some seem to think.
In fact, even in the two playoff games....our interior D did very well.

Bucs ......the D gave up 336 total yards but only 52 rushing yards
49ers.......total yards 312 total yards but 113 rushing

Hopefully, Smith's addition will close the gap a bit

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/2022.htm

 

[EenonyMoose]

Get ready for this look:

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Get ready for this look:

They never run 4-3 personnel.

 

[75boyz]

Again, this is largely a myth.

They were 7th in EPA and 6th in success rate on 3rd and 4th down runs. There's just not a lot better to get.

They're still stuck on the Rams playoff loss from a few years back and to a more recent extent, the 9ers '21 playoff loss which you've effectively addressed in a previous post.

So when the Cowboys totally shut down the 9er run game in the playoffs last year it was like,
Hmmm...

Where should we go with the blame now?

Hint: it wasn't the defense.
OR the playcaller, lol

 

[gtb1943]

They're still stuck on the Rams playoff loss from a few years back and to a more recent extent, the 9ers '21 playoff loss which you've effectively addressed in a previous post.

So when the Cowboys totally shut down the 9er run game in the playoffs last year it was like,
Hmmm...

Where should we go with the blame now?

Hint: it wasn't the defense.
OR the playcaller, lol

Maybe because the offense was so inept the 49rs really were not trying.

Think about that.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Maybe because the offense was so inept the 49rs really were not trying.

Think about that.

Lmao yea, when it was tied 9-9 at the end of the third the 49ers thought it was a good idea to not try to score points.

 

[gtb1943]

No I'm saying that the run defense was good last year, just had two-three bad games. The only game that Dallas gave up a positive EPA against the run - Chicago - they won by 20-something. There isn't much better they can actually be.

The run defense is not and was not a problem last year. At all.

EPA- 4th
SR- 3rd(36.9%)

DVOA- 5th
Early downs(1st&2nd)
EPA- 5th
SR- 4th(34.4%)

Philly and SF had no success, and were markedly worse against Dallas than their average.

22nd in yards given up and 17th in YPC.

Try again.

 

[gtb1943]

Lmao yea, when it was tied 9-9 at the end of the third the 49ers thought it was a good idea to not try to score points.

Watching our Offense I would not have worried much.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

22nd in yards given up and 17th in YPC.

Try again.

Total yards doesn't matter, YPC doesn't account for game situation (i.e. Chicago).

Try again with adult numbers.

 

[75boyz]

Maybe because the offense was so inept the 49rs really were not trying.

Think about that.

Totally agree. It was a total offensive failure.
But what I was also saying was that you cant lay any of the blame on last year's 9er loss to run defense.
Like maybe you could the year before or definitely the run dee as a major reason for the playoff loss to the Rams a few years earlier.

It was indeed an offensive fail, no doubt.