Archer: If Cowboys' Defense truly wants to be elite, it must stand up to the test

[America's Cowboy]

What/who is underachieving? Run defense

After allowing more than 200 yards rushing in back-to-back games against the Lions and Packers, the Cowboys were much better against Minnesota, giving up just 73 yards. But for the season, the run defense has been lacking. The Cowboys have allowed at least 117 yards in seven games and have given up 43 runs of 10 yards or more. With Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Travis Etienne Jr., Miles Sanders and Dameon Pierce remaining on the schedule, the run defense will be tested. If the defense truly wants to be elite, it will have to stand up to the test. -- Todd Archer

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Dalvin Cook averaged 6 1/2 yards per carry Sunday. He had 72 yards on just 11 carries.

We weren't "much better" in run defense Sunday. It just looks that way because we got a lead and Cook only had 3 carries in the entire 2nd half.

The run defense is a big problem and if it doesn't get better then will be a huge part of the reason this team is an early out.

 

[DripTooHard]

Dalvin Cook averaged 6 1/2 yards per carry Sunday. He had 72 yards on just 11 carries.

We weren't "much better" in run defense Sunday. It just looks that way because we got a lead and Cook only had 3 carries in the entire 2nd half.

The run defense is a big problem and if it doesn't get better then will be a huge part of the reason this team is an early out.

Perhaps part of the remedy is to play with a lead and force the other team to throw. Bears didn’t do that and carved up the Cowboys. They however didn’t have time to score enough points to win by running the ball.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Perhaps part of the remedy is to play with a lead and force the other team to throw. Bears didn’t do that and carved up the Cowboys. They however didn’t have time to score enough points to win by running the ball.

Well sure, if you can do that then great, but that won't always be the case.

The Packers didn't give up on the run when we were up 14 on them and it paid off.

 

[Rayman70]

the statement Archer said can be applied to the last 26 years

 

[Diehardblues]

What/who is underachieving? Run defense

After allowing more than 200 yards rushing in back-to-back games against the Lions and Packers, the Cowboys were much better against Minnesota, giving up just 73 yards. But for the season, the run defense has been lacking. The Cowboys have allowed at least 117 yards in seven games and have given up 43 runs of 10 yards or more. With Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Travis Etienne Jr., Miles Sanders and Dameon Pierce remaining on the schedule, the run defense will be tested. If the defense truly wants to be elite, it will have to stand up to the test. -- Todd Archer

For the record we gave up consecutive 200 yard rushing games on defense to Packers and the Bears not Detroit who we played a week earlier.

 

[zrinkill]

Thanks Archer for stating the obvious

That's some hard hitting journalism there.

 

[Rayman70]

For the record we gave up consecutive 200 yard rushing games on defense to Packers and the Bears not Detroit who we played a week earlier.

yeah, its still an issue...until the trend gets going that says we fixed it. 1 game doesn't tell me much in that regard. Lets see 2 more games.

 

[Rayman70]

Thanks Archer for stating the obvious

yeah as per usual.

 

[Diehardblues]

The key to our success is fast stats by our offense. If we gain the early lead we not only can continue pounding the rock ourselves which enables our QB and passing offense to be more effective and efficient while forcing our opponents to throw more which plays into our strength on defense .

Dallas is 15-0 when leading at half last two seasons .

 

[thunderpimp91]

Well sure, if you can do that then great, but that won't always be the case.

The Packers didn't give up on the run when we were up 14 on them and it paid off.

Yeah if you're going to go with that strategy and basically just give up on fixing the run defense you need the offense to be clutch as well. Against Minnesota they were....against Chicago they were. Against Green Bay not so much. The better teams in the playoffs (Philly, SF) already run the football at a high level. It needs to be fixed unless the offense plans on carrying this team.

 

[Diehardblues]

yeah, its still an issue...until the trend gets going that says we fixed it. 1 game doesn't tell me much in that regard. Lets see 2 more games.

Whenever we get the lead early we dictate our opponents need to pass more which plays into our strength on defense .

 

[big dog cowboy]

The best run defense is the offense jumping out to a lead early and forcing our opponents into abandoning the running game.

 

[Redline360]

Good on paper last week however run defense was still complete and utter trash. Glad the Vikings came in with a **** game plan and stuck with it.

Cook averaged 6.5ypc and had (2) 10+ runs called back. Happens to every rb but puts it into perspective. Absolutely no idea why the Vikings didn't run all over us. They tried and continued to hammer the ball downfield while Cousins was getting blown up. Then it just cascaded from there. Vikings coaching was horrendous but were take it.

If they established Cook it would have been worse then the GB game. Horrible game plan on them played right into our strength

 

[Playmaker3128]

I thought we stopped the run when it mattered on Sunday. I think as long as we can get teams to third down we’ll have an advantage.

I though on early downs we did a good job containing cook. Even if we give up a little pass rush to do so… so be it. Everyone maintain their responsibilities and stop the run. Hankins made a big difference as well.

now the key is how would we hold up vs a 49er type offense…. Or running qbs. Which seem to give us problems

 

[conner01]

Dalvin Cook averaged 6 1/2 yards per carry Sunday. He had 72 yards on just 11 carries.

We weren't "much better" in run defense Sunday. It just looks that way because we got a lead and Cook only had 3 carries in the entire 2nd half.

The run defense is a big problem and if it doesn't get better then will be a huge part of the reason this team is an early out.

They took the run away by scoring, not stuffing it
It may be easier to do that than shut it down with your defense lol
Score on 7 straight drives and teams will shut their own run game down

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Yeah if you're going to go with that strategy and basically just give up on fixing the run defense you need the offense to be clutch as well. Against Minnesota they were....against Chicago they were. Against Green Bay not so much. The better teams in the playoffs (Philly, SF) already run the football at a high level. It needs to be fixed unless the offense plans on carrying this team.

Scoring points early would help them more than anything (and keep scoring), remove the run as a viable option and allow these pass rushers to do what they do best!

 

[quickccc]

Dalvin Cook averaged 6 1/2 yards per carry Sunday. He had 72 yards on just 11 carries.

We weren't "much better" in run defense Sunday. It just looks that way because we got a lead and Cook only had 3 carries in the entire 2nd half.

The run defense is a big problem and if it doesn't get better then will be a huge part of the reason this team is an early out.

That's exactly why i am not convinced at all that our defense is " fixed and back to normal".

And remember that the very last two playoff appearances, playoff foes flat ran us out of the playoffs, ala Rams and Niners.
But the Cowboys organization swear it's not a matter of " player-personnel" but rather a matter of scheme and gap integrity.

 

[JBond]

Dalvin Cook averaged 6 1/2 yards per carry Sunday. He had 72 yards on just 11 carries.



We weren't "much better" in run defense Sunday. It just looks that way because we got a lead and Cook only had 3 carries in the entire 2nd half.



The run defense is a big problem and if it doesn't get better then will be a huge part of the reason this team is an early out.

In a cap driven parity based league no team will be great at everything. In a passing league I will take the best pass rush in the NFL.

 

[john van brocklin]

What/who is underachieving? Run defense

After allowing more than 200 yards rushing in back-to-back games against the Lions and Packers, the Cowboys were much better against Minnesota, giving up just 73 yards. But for the season, the run defense has been lacking. The Cowboys have allowed at least 117 yards in seven games and have given up 43 runs of 10 yards or more. With Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Travis Etienne Jr., Miles Sanders and Dameon Pierce remaining on the schedule, the run defense will be tested. If the defense truly wants to be elite, it will have to stand up to the test. -- Todd Archer

Run defense looked much improved against the Vikes.
Hope we can continue...