What our defense should be doing

Bobhaze

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I know Cowboys fans have been frustrated as we’ve watched our defense (for years) adopt a “bend but don’t break” style that includes few blitzes, mostly soft two deep zones, and keeping our best players in stationary positions, making them easier to scheme for. It’s frustrating to watch our D game after game, employ the same tired old approaches to stopping opponents.

Sam Darnold famously said last week (after the sad sack Jets carved us up) that our defense did exactly what they expected- in fact he said, “It’s what they do every week.” That quote exemplifies what’s wrong with the habits of this defense- It’s completely predictable.

Here are some simple ways this defense could immediately get better with the same personnel:
  • Move DLaw and Robert Quinn around as pass rushers. It’s too easy for our opponents to game plan us defensively when they always line up in the same position. What if DLaw and Quinn lined up in some different spots to throw opposing linemen a curve?
  • Create a few max blitz packages that send 7 people, leaving our 4 best cover guys in man coverage. Opponents usually can’t block 7 with 6.
  • How about using a different package than the usual 4-3 you’ve shown literally every week for years. How about a 4-2-5 or even a 3-3-5 scheme on occasion, especially in obvious passing situations. This team employs the same simple packages over and over in the most predictable ways.
In short- stop being so predictable and “safe”! Being safe has not made this defense better. When a second year QB without much success says you are easy to prepare for, it should be a siren warning to this coaching staff.
 

Creeper

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Sounds like its time for a new DC. But I do agree they need be more aggressive and scheme more for specific opponents. Develop some wrinkles for each opponent. But I also agree they need to throw in some max blitzes.

But there is one thing, their execution of certain plays sucks, whether its screens on offense or blitzes on defense, they seem to telegraph what they are doing and then they don't get guys in the positions their are supposed to be in.

The Lombardi Packers ran the same power sweep all the time, every week and yet no one could stop it. Lombardi made them practice that same play over and over every day despite how good they were at it. The play was successful because his offensive guys were always blocking where and who they were supposed to block because they ran it so much in practice they were prepared for anything the other team tried. The Clapping Carrot's teams do not execute well.
 

Fletch

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I know Cowboys fans have been frustrated as we’ve watched our defense (for years) adopt a “bend but don’t break” style that includes few blitzes, mostly soft two deep zones, and keeping our best players in stationary positions, making them easier to scheme for. It’s frustrating to watch our D game after game, employ the same tired old approaches to stopping opponents.

Sam Darnold famously said last week (after the sad sack Jets carved us up) that our defense did exactly what they expected- in fact he said, “It’s what they do every week.” That quote exemplifies what’s wrong with the habits of this defense- It’s completely predictable.

Here are some simple ways this defense could immediately get better with the same personnel:
  • Move DLaw and Robert Quinn around as pass rushers. It’s too easy for our opponents to game plan us defensively when they always line up in the same position. What if DLaw and Quinn lined up in some different spots to throw opposing linemen a curve?
  • Create a few max blitz packages that send 7 people, leaving our 4 best cover guys in man coverage. Opponents usually can’t block 7 with 6.
  • How about using a different package than the usual 4-3 you’ve shown literally every week for years. How about a 4-2-5 or even a 3-3-5 scheme on occasion, especially in obvious passing situations. This team employs the same simple packages over and over in the most predictable ways.
In short- stop being so predictable and “safe”! Being safe has not made this defense better. When a second year QB without much success says you are easy to prepare for, it should be a siren warning to this coaching staff.
What? Stop with this creative ****!!! We only get creative after 10 years worth of futility. We’ve barely started on the offensive side!
 

CB61

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I know Cowboys fans have been frustrated as we’ve watched our defense (for years) adopt a “bend but don’t break” style that includes few blitzes, mostly soft two deep zones, and keeping our best players in stationary positions, making them easier to scheme for. It’s frustrating to watch our D game after game, employ the same tired old approaches to stopping opponents.

Sam Darnold famously said last week (after the sad sack Jets carved us up) that our defense did exactly what they expected- in fact he said, “It’s what they do every week.” That quote exemplifies what’s wrong with the habits of this defense- It’s completely predictable.

Here are some simple ways this defense could immediately get better with the same personnel:
  • Move DLaw and Robert Quinn around as pass rushers. It’s too easy for our opponents to game plan us defensively when they always line up in the same position. What if DLaw and Quinn lined up in some different spots to throw opposing linemen a curve?
  • Create a few max blitz packages that send 7 people, leaving our 4 best cover guys in man coverage. Opponents usually can’t block 7 with 6.
  • How about using a different package than the usual 4-3 you’ve shown literally every week for years. How about a 4-2-5 or even a 3-3-5 scheme on occasion, especially in obvious passing situations. This team employs the same simple packages over and over in the most predictable ways.
In short- stop being so predictable and “safe”! Being safe has not made this defense better. When a second year QB without much success says you are easy to prepare for, it should be a siren warning to this coaching staff.
Not bad ideas at all and I'll add another one to that get up on the damn receivers and jam them this playing 10 yards off the ball especially on 3rd 7 3 + 5 3rd and 9 is ridiculous you're basically telling them throw it and we're going to try to stop you and we all have seen how that works out? I would rather have the guy up on the ball can the receiver Get Physical then if you get beat you get beat but at least you made an effort set of standing back 10 yards looking like a jackass
 

charron

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I like the 4-3 and almost always send 1 LB but not the same one every time, not into the same gap every time but also have 2 crouch the line of scrimmage then have atleast 1 fall back into zone coverage. I like CB's to play man, stick to the receiver like glue. refs are letting guys put an arm on cooper and ride him all the way down field so why not do something similar.
 

ItzKelz

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What I thought our defense would be doing.....
giphy.gif
 

xwalker

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I know Cowboys fans have been frustrated as we’ve watched our defense (for years) adopt a “bend but don’t break” style that includes few blitzes, mostly soft two deep zones, and keeping our best players in stationary positions, making them easier to scheme for. It’s frustrating to watch our D game after game, employ the same tired old approaches to stopping opponents.

Sam Darnold famously said last week (after the sad sack Jets carved us up) that our defense did exactly what they expected- in fact he said, “It’s what they do every week.” That quote exemplifies what’s wrong with the habits of this defense- It’s completely predictable.

Here are some simple ways this defense could immediately get better with the same personnel:
  • Move DLaw and Robert Quinn around as pass rushers. It’s too easy for our opponents to game plan us defensively when they always line up in the same position. What if DLaw and Quinn lined up in some different spots to throw opposing linemen a curve?
  • Create a few max blitz packages that send 7 people, leaving our 4 best cover guys in man coverage. Opponents usually can’t block 7 with 6.
  • How about using a different package than the usual 4-3 you’ve shown literally every week for years. How about a 4-2-5 or even a 3-3-5 scheme on occasion, especially in obvious passing situations. This team employs the same simple packages over and over in the most predictable ways.
In short- stop being so predictable and “safe”! Being safe has not made this defense better. When a second year QB without much success says you are easy to prepare for, it should be a siren warning to this coaching staff.

4-2-5 is the Cowboys standard pass defense.

3-3-5 is something they've been using in most games this season on 3rd and 5 or longer.

What Darnold meant is that it's easy to know if the Cowboys are in man or zone.
 

Bobhaze

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4-2-5 is the Cowboys standard pass defense.

3-3-5 is something they've been using in most games this season on 3rd and 5 or longer.

What Darnold meant is that it's easy to know if the Cowboys are in man or zone.
I understand...the problem is WHEN they use these schemes has become so predictable a young QB with very little prior success had little problem carving it up. Predictability has become this team’s calling card.
 

75boyz

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Sounds like its time for a new DC. But I do agree they need be more aggressive and scheme more for specific opponents. Develop some wrinkles for each opponent. But I also agree they need to throw in some max blitzes.

But there is one thing, their execution of certain plays sucks, whether its screens on offense or blitzes on defense, they seem to telegraph what they are doing and then they don't get guys in the positions their are supposed to be in.

The Lombardi Packers ran the same power sweep all the time, every week and yet no one could stop it. Lombardi made them practice that same play over and over every day despite how good they were at it. The play was successful because his offensive guys were always blocking where and who they were supposed to block because they ran it so much in practice they were prepared for anything the other team tried. The Clapping Carrot's teams do not execute well.


But nowadays scheming is more important because talent levels are close to equal. Execution of the Packers sweep and even when Nate talked about that second Super Bowl against the Bills and running Emmitt b on the same off tackle inside run over and over in the second half cuz the Bills couldn't stop it

I think it was more a superiority of talent...
Plus some basic execution as well, I guess you're right to some extent

But nowadays, the coached up lesser guys enjoy success based off scheme and game plan

We have zero of that

Garrett still does the beat the man in front of you and simple execution failure as the explanation to all losses
At some point the strategy has to change in order to compete with these opponents that are just as talented as you nowadays

I thought that was the whole philosophy behind the Linehan firing and Moore promotion
Less predictability and more creativity to the offense

Something happened between games 4 and 6 and it wasn't one hundred percent because competition got stiffer

The offense changed and has returned to previous years tendencies that have been pointed out by much more qualified people than myself

They better have some backup/contingency game plans for the Eagle Dee...

If they stick to predictability and execution of beat your man, it's gonna get ugly

In a real bad way
 
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Bobhaze

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But nowadays scheming is more important because talent levels are close to equal. Execution of the Packers sweep and even when Nate talked about that second Super Bowl against the Bills and running Emmitt b on the same off tackle inside run over and over in the second haldpf cuz the Bills couldn't stop it

I think it was more a superiority of talent...
Plus some basic execution as well, I guess you're right

Nowadays, the coached up lesser guys enjoy success based off scheme and game plan

We have zero of that

Garrett still does the beT the man in front of you and simple execution failure as the explanation to all losses
At some point the strategy has to change in order to compete with these opponents that are just as talented as you nowadays
Well said. Good coaching is at a premium in the NFL- now more than ever. The most creative and adaptable coaches who can develop schemes, game plans and add new wrinkles that maximize their talent are the ones winning multiple playoff games.

Not the ones printing motivational T-shirt’s that say things like “fight” or who make no adjustments when backups play.
 

Dre11

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4-2-5 is the Cowboys standard pass defense.

3-3-5 is something they've been using in most games this season on 3rd and 5 or longer.

What Darnold meant is that it's easy to know if the Cowboys are in man or zone.

Lol...you beat me to it.
 

xwalker

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I understand...the problem is WHEN they use these schemes has become so predictable a young QB with very little prior success had little problem carving it up. Predictability has become this team’s calling card.

Predictability is a problem but defensive personnel packages are not really the issue.
 

buybuydandavis

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In short- stop being so predictable and “safe”! Being safe has not made this defense better. When a second year QB without much success says you are easy to prepare for, it should be a siren warning to this coaching staff.

Except that's exactly Marinelli's coaching philosophy. Simple. Safe. We'll out execute you and you'll make an error before we do.

Neither Garrett nor Marinelli believe the coaches have any job on gameday but to exhort the team to try harder.
 
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