I prefer some two gap defense with a rush coming off the edge but it's not happening this year anyway
It struck me against Minnesota how vulnerable Dallas is to a lead blocker. If everyone takes their gaps, then the guy in the target hole has to deal with a lineman and a fullback. Once that guy is beat, everyone is tied up and its relatively easy to turn it into an 8+ yard gain. That's what happens over and over in this defense. They stop for no gain frequently but when one guy gets beat, its a big play.
As a side note, the other problem with the defense is that it has a very soft middle on passing plays. I swear that teams can get 5 to 7 yards over the middle on every play if they want it. Its highly predictable too. There are no zone blitzes where a defensive lineman drops off into coverage. The QB knows where everyone is going to be and opposing players have publicly said so.
Dallas' offensive scheme needs to be tweaked but the defensive concept needs to be trashed entirely. As is being noted all over, the defense has sucked for the better part of a decade now. Its funny how the Romo vs Dak narrative is slowly changing as the Dak supporters see how hard it is when you have to score 30+ every week to get a W.
Marinelli is just a title this year. He is a glorifed DL coach. Richards is running the defense and doing the positioning and play calling. He's got LVE and Jaylon all screwed up, and that is the future foundation of the defense.
I think Marinelli is just going to retire. He's 70 years old.
I thought I'd run a strategy by you all for beating Marinelli.
His whole shtick is getting his defense upfield through a gap and run defending "on the way to the QB". Ok. Use that against him.
Either a defender is in a gap you plan to hit with the RB, or not.
If yes, block.
If not, usher the dlineman upfield *where he's trying to go* and go block a LB.
Unlike a two gap which holds a line of defense across the LOS, Marinelli's one gap rush is vacating the LOS if they can manage to get upfield. So let them. Help them. Help the *right* ones.
Teams seem to abuse us in the run game by getting up on our LBs. Eberflus simply spanked us that way. How? Should be one defender trying to get upfield somewhere the play ain't going. That's one blocker who can go looking for a LB.
There was talk about the Rams having "tells" on our dline. Do you really need tells? Just react on where the dlineman lines up and tries to go. If the dlineman is going somewhere the ball ain't, help him get there, and go block a LB. Or just another lineman.
I'm sure it's not quite so simple, but I do think this is the basic strategy to use against Marinelli. Use the attempt get upfield past the oline to our advantage.
This part isn't true. They are good when they know it will be a passing down. However, they struggle against the pass if the opposing team are on 1st down or down and distance where a run could be called.The pass defense hasn't been the problem, it's been solid. It's the run D, which is heavily reliant on not missing tackles. Giving up 140 yards after contact isn't going to get it done.
Teams have been letting our "rushmen" run right by them while they hit huge holes for awhile now. Im not sure if it started vs Colts but since that game we've been exposed several times.
I also think this defense is detrimental to our LBS. We need to keep em clean and utilize their strengths.
We need a more effective defense scheme.
I believe the story about the tells with the Rams. My point was that I don't think you need tells to beat Marinelli's system.
Obviously with better players you get better results, but even with high level DTs, will Marinelli's system work? I see a schematic issue against the run.
The one-gap rush is killing our linebackers. It would help with better DT’s but we don’t have that luxury right now. Hopefully, the DLine is properly addressed this offseason.
The Dallas defense is Basic.
No one is fooled.
Its all Cover 1 or 3.
Man or zone.
We see the odd LB or slot blitz a few times.
That's about it.
Everyone is playing 1 gap.
The DEs don't contain, so the outside is always open.
won't matter if the current DL coach remains here ,,as he will still insist on his preferred low regarded 1 tech (JAGs) that he thinks he can upgrade to a top defender, he is still going to want his
size /mass preference, he is still going to want his quick twitch movement type over brute strength/bulk, he is still going to run his one gap run scheme, which teams are either out-physical or/and out fooling them with stronger trench men or misdirection in one sense or another.
and he will still insist and be content with these revolving door 1 tech JAGs that we continue to come and go. And I will never understand how he puts his best DL guys on the sideline in many of these red zones and goal line situations.
He doesn't understand that this defense is outdated due to rule changes and offensive scheme changes.
A physical lead FB is an extra OL on the move into the incoming tackler, if you have a really good one that is great at that area, it runs such interefere and disruption to the secondary defenders
and presents a problem with LBs trying to shed off that key lead blocker... and it's several good teams ,..like even the Saints and Pats, that use an occasional lead FB, it's just they do it in spots,
occasions and select packages. and i'm assuming those FBs also contribute on special teams in one way or another. ..ala Keith Smith, Jamele Owalale (sp)
While I think a single backfield is the still by far leading state of art run plays, and it's better for the vision and maneuverability of the RB to not be as slow down waiting for a FB, I think
it really does help to have that occasional crush-blocking FB to add and change up the blocking scheme to the defense and it's second level of defenders.in delivering a different look and an immediate physical mode
But this current coaching staff doesn't place value in lead blocking as our starting FB Jamele is so very average and finesse in that area.
. Despite the Ram game, we had a top 5 run defense last year. Whats changed? IMO, the LB core has changed. It is trash this year. I don't know if its scheme or what.
Poor defensive tackles that lose their matchup. Pretty simple really.