Bend but don't Break defensive mentality

J12B · Oct 10, 2019

The bend but don't break mentality on defensive has been preached ever since Marinelli has taken over as Defensive Coordinator in 2014.

It has had relative success in terms of not giving up a lot of points for the most part. Which is ultimately the main goal of any defense.

However, defense regularly gives up a high amount of yardage and rarely force turnovers, especially interceptions because they keep everything in front of them.

Why not try up some different schemes and packages to confuse opposing offenses? Why does it appear that no changes are ever made?

Could it be because this style of defense protects defensive players from injury? I've noticed the Eagles always play aggressive on defense and will have some games where their defense is the main reason why they won. However, the last 2 years, Eagles have had a ton of injury problems because their defense is borderline reckless with how aggressive they are.

Sorry if this post is all over the place but I just wanted to start a conversation on why we don't see any changes in defensive scheme when a lack of turnovers has been an issue for like 4 years in a row now.

Interested in hearing your thoughts on this topic.

Sydla · Oct 10, 2019

I actually agree. People wonder why we don't force turnovers and the biggest issue, IMO, isn't that the CBs don't have good hands or the safeties don't react well or whatever other player problems people cite.

It's the scheme we play, the concepts we employ. Our defense is based on not giving up big plays and quick scores by playing soft and reactive to what offenses are doing. That doesn't lend itself to forcing turnovers. Our system is based on us not making a mistake and hoping the offense does make a mistake. We don't try to dictate anything.

I pulled up the takeaway stats and where the Cowboys ranked in takeaways since Marinelli has been here. Only once were the Cowboys in the Top 10. The other years, they were in the low teens and 20s. It's time to stop blaming lack of turnovers on the players.

BoysfanfromCanada · Oct 10, 2019

We've had bend don't break defences since before Romo came into the scene. I don't think we've ever actively tried to force turnovers through scheme, just relying on qb mistakes for the past 20 years probably. I'm over it

Creeper · Oct 10, 2019

I hate this style of defense unless you don't have the players to play good defense. If you have a lot of jags on defense then you can play a safe, don't give up the big play defense and hope poorer offenses shoot themselves in the foot - like Dallas did last week in the fist half. I particularly hate when Dallas goes into their 2 minute "prevent" style defense.

My question is, does Marinelli play this defense because he has weak defensive tackles or does he have weak defensive tackles because he plays this style defense? It seems to me, if they want to play a different style of defense, they would need to get a lot strong up the middle.

jwooten15 · Oct 10, 2019

"Bend-but-don't-break" works against mediocre or subpar offenses who are prone to make mistakes and can't sustain drives.

When we face legit offenses or all-world QBs though, we get absolutely shredded. They literally pick our soft defense apart, straight to the end zone.

I'd 10000X rather play an aggressive style of defense that gives up a few more chunk plays but also causes turnovers.

CF74 · Oct 10, 2019

MysteryIceGuro · Oct 10, 2019

J12B said:
The bend but don't break mentality on defensive has been preached ever since Marinelli has taken over as Defensive Coordinator in 2014.

It has had relative success in terms of not giving up a lot of points for the most part. Which is ultimately the main goal of any defense.

However, defense regularly gives up a high amount of yardage and rarely force turnovers, especially interceptions because they keep everything in front of them.

Why not try up some different schemes and packages to confuse opposing offenses? Why does it appear that no changes are ever made?

Could it be because this style of defense protects defensive players from injury? I've noticed the Eagles always play aggressive on defense and will have some games where their defense is the main reason why they won. However, the last 2 years, Eagles have had a ton of injury problems because their defense is borderline reckless with how aggressive they are.

Sorry if this post is all over the place but I just wanted to start a conversation on why we don't see any changes in defensive scheme when a lack of turnovers has been an issue for like 4 years in a row now.

Interested in hearing your thoughts on this topic.

This style of play obviously doesn't prevent injury considering A. Woods is still out, X. Woods was hurt, Frazier was hurt, D-Law has continuing injuries, etc.

There is no justification to this style of defense at all. None. It's terrible and I want it out of Dallas.

J12B · Oct 10, 2019

jwooten15 said:
"Bend-but-don't-break" works against mediocre or subpar offenses who are prone to make mistakes and can't sustain drives.

When we face legit offenses or all-world QBs though, we get absolutely shredded. They literally pick our soft defense apart, straight to the end zone.

I'd 10000X rather play an aggressive style of defense that gives up a few more chunk plays but also causes turnovers.

Exactly.

You hit the nail on the head.

:hammer:

GenoT · Oct 10, 2019

Maybe our defense didn’t completely break against GB...but they sure did get badly bent.
:thumbup:

CATCH17 · Oct 10, 2019

IF the run defense is working then i'm fine with it.

If we can't stop the run then i'd rather just go full on attack mode with our front 7.

Hennessy_King · Oct 10, 2019

It's a losers mentality. They are playing defense to not lose the game. Not playing to win and make plays. Same thing this team has preached since garrett has been the coach. Being ok with not creating turnovers is expecting your players to be perfect every single game.

stilltheguru · Oct 10, 2019

Hennessy_King said:
It's a losers mentality. They are playing defense to not lose the game. Not playing to win and make plays. Same thing this team has preached since garrett has been the coach. Being ok with not creating turnovers is expecting your players to be perfect every single game.

Just execute guys! Lol

charron · Oct 10, 2019

How many other teams play this style of defense? How are they doing? Difference in personnel? What are they doing differently?

The colts come to mind as a team who plays a similar style/scheme. Clearly letting Eberfleus go was a mistake.

Fletch · Oct 10, 2019

Sydla said:
I actually agree. People wonder why we don't force turnovers and the biggest issue, IMO, isn't that the CBs don't have good hands or the safeties don't react well or whatever other player problems people cite.

It's the scheme we play, the concepts we employ. Our defense is based on not giving up big plays and quick scores by playing soft and reactive to what offenses are doing. That doesn't lend itself to forcing turnovers. Our system is based on us not making a mistake and hoping the offense does make a mistake. We don't try to dictate anything.

I pulled up the takeaway stats and where the Cowboys ranked in takeaways since Marinelli has been here. Only once were the Cowboys in the Top 10. The other years, they were in the low teens and 20s. It's time to stop blaming lack of turnovers on the players.

Yep. Agree that Marmalade’s scheme is archaic, much like Linehan’s crap offense for his entire tenure.

Wake up D! Wake up GM, Jerruh!

Romo_To_Dez · Oct 10, 2019

I keep saying that this type of defense will only comeback to hurt this team against better offenses and QBs. Can't give up drive after drive all game long and allow better offenses to consistently get the ball into the redzone and always hope that the defense will luck out and only give up FGs each time.

EJK24 · Oct 10, 2019

I, like many, want to see the defense force some turnovers rather than just give up tons of yardage and hope to keep them out of the endzone. Maybe the scheme is to blame for the corners and safeties not in optimal position to make plays on the ball, however, wasnt the bears defense when Marinelli was there good at taking the ball away?

I don't have the numbers in front of me and I'm not saying that everything is fine with this defense but there may be more to it then just simply Marinelli's scheme.

MysteryIceGuro · Oct 10, 2019

I also forgot to add that this prevent defense keeps the opposing offense on the field for far too long. I watched the last 2 games where we lost and the opposing team had 10+ more minutes of ball possession than we did. That has to stop. The opposing offense can have up to a 7 minute drive just to have it end with a rushing TD, which takes off 7 potential minutes for our offense. I guess it doesn't help that running the ball kills the clock, and our Run D is a major problem,.Time of possession was big last year for Dallas. Maybe they need to get back into that potential groove, but I guess it doesn't help when your defense lets the opponent score 30+ points on you.

big dog cowboy · Oct 10, 2019

J12B said:
I just wanted to start a conversation on why we don't see any changes in defensive scheme when a lack of turnovers has been an issue for like 4 years in a row now.

4?

That's being conservative.

WillieBeamen · Oct 10, 2019

Meh.

If rather they fix this run defense. Turnovers are cool, but we gave up 34 points on Sunday and Aaron Rodgers threw for 0 Tds and less than 300 yards.

If someone were to tell you that the defense would hold Rodgers to under 300 yards (esp in this passing era) and 0 Tds, you would think the defense played well.

Our last 6 elite/good QBs we faced had these ratings in these games:

Rodgers- 85

Goff- 74

Luck- 81

Wentz- 120

Brees- 71

Ryan- 94

No “shredding happened” except maybe Wentz but that game, we mostly shut them down until the 4th. I suspect it had to do with Marinelli’s goofy fascination with prevent.

JoeyBoy718 · Oct 10, 2019

It's even worse when your offense is in "drive don't score"

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