Cowboys Defensive Alignments

xwalker

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The Cowboys are running a multiple front defense.

Also, they often use a 4-3 defense but with 1 or both DEs standing up.
- The alignment is exactly the same as a 4-3 or 4-2-5 regardless of whether one or both DEs stand-up.

The majority of the snaps vs the Falcons were 4-3 (or 4-2-5) but with the DEs standing up.
- Sometimes in that same alignment, one DE puts his hand down.
- That makes it look like a 3-4 but it's not really.
- If one DE is more than a few inches outside of an OT, then it's not really a 3-4.

A true 3-4 has 3 DL between the outside shoulders of the OTs.
- They might be slightly outside on occasion but generally the DL are head up on the OTs or to the inside).
- A true 4-3 only has 2 DL between the outside shoulders of the OTs (The DTs).
- This is the reason that the 3-4 is really a run defense alignment.

Alignments most used by Cowboys in the Falcons game (these are not in order):
4-3 with 2 stand-up DEs.
4-3 with 1 stand-up DE.
3-4 (on run downs)
4-2-5 Nickel with various combinations of stand-up and hand-down DEs.​

DLaw/Griffen are different than Aldon Smith.
- Aldon Smith generally plays LB in 4-3 alignments.
- DLaw/Griffen never play as a 4-3 LB.

DLaw/Griffen
4-3 or 4-2-5 hand-down DE
4-3 or 4-2-5 stand-up DE
3-4 OLB​

Aldon Smith
4-3 OLB
3-4 OLB
4-3 or 4-2-5 hand-down DE
4-3 or 4-2-5 stand-up DE​

Most snaps with Aldon Smith as a DE (stand-up or hand-down) are in Nickel.
- He plays OLB in in the 4-3 regardless of whether the DEs are stand-up or hand-down.

I think Griffen and DLaw had the option on many snaps to play standing up or with their hand down.
- In those situations Griffen has opted to play with his hand down far more often than DLaw.
- That makes me think that DLaw somewhat likes standing up.
- I "think" that as long as 1 DE is standing up that Nolan is OK with the other one having his hand down.
 
xwalker

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The terminology 4-3 and 3-4 is limited in describing multiple front defenses.
  • This would be better:
    • DL-SDE-HLB-LB
      • DLineman
      • Stand-up DE
      • Hybrid Linebacker
      • Linebacker
  • A 4-3 would be 4-0-0-3.
  • A 3-4 would be 3-0-2-2 (i.e. 3-4 OLBs are Hybrid LB/DE types as compared to true 4-3 LBs).
  • In the Falcons game the Cowboys played most snaps as:
    • 2-2-1-2 (4 man DL but the DEs are standing up)
    • 2-2-0-2-5 (Nickel defense. 4 man DL with stand-up DEs and 5 DBs)
    • Aldon Smith was an HLB in the 2-2-1-2.
    • Aldon Smith was a Stand-up DE (SDE) in the 2-2-0-2.
    • DLaw and Griffen played both standing up and hand-down.
    • In a 2-2-1-2 with DLaw/Griffen at SDE, if one put his hand down, then it becomes:
    • 3-1-1-2
    • Note that a 3-4 is 3-0-2-2.
 
Last edited:
jazzcat22

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They should just go back to letting the DE's play with the hand on the ground, seems they can get a better push for initial leverage that way.
Nolan needs to adjust to the players strength as they said they would.
I do not want another Rod forcing his ways upon players. As that seems to be what is going on.
 
CowboyRoy

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xwalker said:
The Cowboys are running a multiple front defense.

Also, they often use a 4-3 defense but with 1 or both DEs standing up.
- The alignment is exactly the same as a 4-3 or 4-2-5 regardless of whether one or both DEs stand-up.

The majority of the snaps vs the Falcons were 4-3 (or 4-2-5) but with the DEs standing up.
- Sometimes in that same alignment, one DE puts his hand down.
- That makes it look like a 3-4 but it's not really.
- If one DE is more than a few inches outside of an OT, then it's not really a 3-4.

A true 3-4 has 3 DL between the outside shoulders of the OTs.
- They might be slightly outside on occasion but generally the DL are head up on the OTs or to the inside).
- A true 4-3 only has 2 DL between the outside shoulders of the OTs (The DTs).
- This is the reason that the 3-4 is really a run defense alignment.

Alignments most used by Cowboys in the Falcons game (these are not in order):
4-3 with 2 stand-up DEs.
4-3 with 1 stand-up DE.
3-4 (on run downs)
4-2-5 Nickel with various combinations of stand-up and hand-down DEs.​

DLaw/Griffen are different than Aldon Smith.
- Aldon Smith generally plays LB in 4-3 alignments.
- DLaw/Griffen never play as a 4-3 LB.

DLaw/Griffen
4-3 or 4-2-5 hand-down DE
4-3 or 4-2-5 stand-up DE
3-4 OLB​

Aldon Smith
4-3 OLB
3-4 OLB
4-3 or 4-2-5 hand-down DE
4-3 or 4-2-5 stand-up DE​

Most snaps with Aldon Smith as a DE (stand-up or hand-down) are in Nickel.
- He plays OLB in in the 4-3 regardless of whether the DEs are stand-up or hand-down.

I think Griffen and DLaw had the option on many snaps to play standing up or with their hand down.
- In those situations Griffen has opted to play with his hand down far more often than DLaw.
- That makes me think that DLaw somewhat likes standing up.
- I "think" that as long as 1 DE is standing up that Nolan is OK with the other one having his hand down.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info...………….defense still sucks.
 
xwalker

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jazzcat22 said:
They should just go back to letting the DE's play with the hand on the ground, seems they can get a better push for initial leverage that way.
Nolan needs to adjust to the players strength as they said they would.
I do not want another Rod forcing his ways upon players. As that seems to be what is going on.
Click to expand...

DLaw made the tackle on the first 2 plays of the game. He probably would have been a step or two short if he had started with his hand down.
 
Last edited:
ConstantReboot

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Don't fix what isn't broken. They practiced all their football lives rushing with their hands down. They won't miraculously start racking sacks because they are rushing standing up.
 
Big D

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I think getting back to the basics of tackling would help out tremendously no matter the formation.
 
Kaiser

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xwalker said:
DLaw made the tackle on the first 2 plays of the game. He probably would have been a step or two short if he had started with his hand down.
Click to expand...

My guess is that DLaw is playing 2 point because he was told to but he isn't comfortable with it yet. I get the scheme idea behind it but I do like going back to mostly 3 point because it plays to the strengths of DLaw and Griffen so much more.
 
Cowboyny

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big dog cowboy said:
Interesting information.

Unfortunately, the results are the same. No stops on 3rd down. No turnovers. No sacks.
Click to expand...

The one thing you missed was the team looking better against the run, which is very important. You cannot bring those pressure packages if you don't stop the run. We have plenty of legit pressure players, give them some time and they will start hitting home.
 
America's Cowboy

America's Cowboy

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Mike Nolan and his scheming looks are a joke.

All it's doing is confusing our players and working against what they do best.

Big mistake bringing this guy in.
 
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