The Cowboys running a 3-1-7 defense

Crown Royal

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Idk what number 14 for the Falcons is doing in this play, but I'm pretty certain it wasn't successful or what he was supposed to do!
 
Crown Royal

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Fuzzy is right btw - the alignment is an atypical nickel - 4 downline-men, 2 players lined at LB and 4 DBs. But 1 LB is playing edge/9-tech and Neal/Kearse who are often times our coverage LBs are both at LB.

This defense has become both multiple front AND players flex positions. It's really what McCarthy and Nolan wanted to do last year, but it's actually working this year.

It seems like having an offseason, Quinn being a better coach both are helpful. Parsons being not just DROY but sniffing at DPOY probably help a lot as well.
 

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plasticman said:
Mahomes possesses split second decision making. He is very difficult to sack because the ball is out of his hands so quickly. This implies accuracy and an almost instant open receiver. If Mahomes is too experience pressure from the D-line then it must comes quickly, something Gregory does especially well.

Unfortunately, Gregory is out as is Lawrence. They would have made this game far less challenging. Suffice it to say, they will have a gameplan for the rookie Parsons they would not otherwise have if the two DE's were healthy. By now, everyone knows about him and Reed is no fool.

Still, Reed intends to take advantage of the defense's obvious inexperience. There will be trick plays and misdirection plays. There will be some big play opportunities for the Chiefs offense as well as for the Cowboys defense. Think Diggs.

This Cowboys defense has the right attitude. They might give up big plays or they will make you pay for trying.

This Cowboys defense isn't about weathering the storm, it's all about being the storm. This is where it needs to begin.
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and yet he's been sacked 17 times so far this year after only being sacked 22 in all of 2020.
 
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plasticman

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buybuydandavis said:
Mahomes is another reason to have Parsons on the pass rush this week.
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INCowboysFan said:
and yet he's been sacked 17 times so far this year after only being sacked 22 in all of 2020.
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He has been sacked 3 times in the last 3 games with only one INT. Mahomes and the Chiefs are definitely trending up.

They are in the position that they need this victory to demonstrate they are ready to make their run.
 
Oz-of-Cowboy-Country

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Wow, you put speed on the field and they can get to the ball quicker. Who knew? We keep mixing it up with different packages and we'll keep the offense off balance. I assume the QB can't call the play, count the linebackers, set protections and make accurate audibles in 39 seconds, every time. Bound to be some brain farts in there somewhere.
 
T-RO

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That was a dime defense (4-2-5), except Dallas was using Neal, Kearse at LB and Parsons as edge.

How I view the play, anyways.

Kearse and Neal have played quite a bit at LB lately. Quinn wants SPEED.
 
MichiganCowboyFan

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AbeBeta said:
This is what happens when you have only one good linebacker
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I consider Jayron to be a quality linebacker too, he's worn the green dot at MIKE the past few games. At 6'4" he's much more of a LB than a SS. I'd like him to beef up around 15-20 pounds but I wouldn't want him losing any speed or quickness. Then again he's Jevon "The Freak" Kearse's nephew and his uncle ran a 4.4 as a 270 pound defensive end.

Neal has turned out to be very average. Not bad, not a liability, but nothing special.
 
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VaqueroTD

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Crown Royal said:
Fuzzy is right btw - the alignment is an atypical nickel - 4 downline-men, 2 players lined at LB and 4 DBs. But 1 LB is playing edge/9-tech and Neal/Kearse who are often times our coverage LBs are both at LB.

This defense has become both multiple front AND players flex positions. It's really what McCarthy and Nolan wanted to do last year, but it's actually working this year.

It seems like having an offseason, Quinn being a better coach both are helpful. Parsons being not just DROY but sniffing at DPOY probably help a lot as well.
Click to expand...

I'm sure Nolan is sitting angry at home with his bowl of cereal cursing what he could have done with a Parsons too. Not to mention Kearse, and a few other key additions. or youth improvement. But I still think Quinn is a better coach based on how the players speak about him and react in the videos we do get to see.
 
Crown Royal

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VaqueroTD said:
I'm sure Nolan is sitting angry at home with his bowl of cereal cursing what he could have done with a Parsons too. Not to mention Kearse, and a few other key additions. or youth improvement. But I still think Quinn is a better coach based on how the players speak about him and react in the videos we do get to see.
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I think Quinn is a better coach, but I do feel for Nolan. He was in a truly impossible situation. The defense improved after the offense stopped turning the ball over NONSTOP the first few games and they went to fundamentals. His gap system still didn't suit the players so he has to own that. But Jaylon was terrible and LVE not really much better.
 
LovinItAll

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plasticman said:
Mahomes possesses split second decision making. He is very difficult to sack because the ball is out of his hands so quickly. This implies accuracy and an almost instant open receiver. If Mahomes is too experience pressure from the D-line then it must comes quickly, something Gregory does especially well.

Unfortunately, Gregory is out as is Lawrence. They would have made this game far less challenging. Suffice it to say, they will have a gameplan for the rookie Parsons they would not otherwise have if the two DE's were healthy. By now, everyone knows about him and Reed is no fool.

Still, Reed intends to take advantage of the defense's obvious inexperience. There will be trick plays and misdirection plays. There will be some big play opportunities for the Chiefs offense as well as for the Cowboys defense. Think Diggs.

This Cowboys defense has the right attitude. They might give up big plays or they will make you pay for trying.

This Cowboys defense isn't about weathering the storm, it's all about being the storm. This is where it needs to begin.
Click to expand...

The knock on Mahomes this year is exactly the opposite of split second decision making, instead opting to extend plays unnecessarily and looking for the big shot. He didn’t do that in the Raiders game and was much more successful. He absolutely can be a quick strike guy if he exercises patience, and I don’t mean patience during the play.

Kelce is going to be a problem. If we play two high safeties and Mahomes takes all the underneath stuff that leaves open, that will be a problem, too. Jourdan and the other DBs will have their hands full all day.

This is going to be a tough game to win. Still, I took the money line. Hoping we steal some possessions via turnovers.
 
xwalker

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T-RO said:
That was a dime defense (4-2-5), except Dallas was using Neal, Kearse at LB and Parsons as edge.

How I view the play, anyways.

Kearse and Neal have played quite a bit at LB lately. Quinn wants SPEED.
Click to expand...
4-2-5 is Nickel
4-2-5 with 3 Safeties (usually Kearse playing a LB role and Wilson or Hooker replacing Kearse) is Big Nickel.
 
VaqueroTD

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Crown Royal said:
I think Quinn is a better coach, but I do feel for Nolan. He was in a truly impossible situation. The defense improved after the offense stopped turning the ball over NONSTOP the first few games and they went to fundamentals. His gap system still didn't suit the players so he has to own that. But Jaylon was terrible and LVE not really much better.
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Impossible situation no matter what type of coach Nolan was. Someone had to take the fall. Still think Quinn is a better coach, but just saying.....

Even Garrett, crying spilled milk now on what he inherited with the Giants. Well... you saw what you were walking into.

In non-NFL life, I see a lot of people successful who know how to pick opportunities. That's half the battle.

NFL coaches should do the same. You can't make miracles if you're walking into years of bad drafts at certain positions, players hobbled with injuries or age, or cap constraining issues.

The only coach I've seen who could walk into any situation and make them winners - Bill Parcells. Much respect.
 
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