'Boys lack Pass-Rush?

[Gryphon]

by GhettoBear04 on Sep 5, 2008 3:10 PM CDT

Last year, I (along with most people who followed the Cowboys) considered the defense to be great at stopping the run, very good at generating a pass rush, and mediocre to bad in coverage. As the season went on, it became obvious that the coverage problems revolved around two main guys: Jacques Reeves (Houston has a problem) and Roy Williams. The Cowboys spent the offseason upgrading the secondary with 2 draft picks and a trade, and could continue this by placing Roy Williams on the hot seat if his coverage doesn't improve this year. However, by all accounts, this is already a very good secondary, probably top 5 in the league once everyone is healthy (Newman) and practiced (Jones, Jenkins, Scandrick). So for most of us, the thought of a great defensive coach like Wade Phillips leading this collection of talent means that we'll finally see a domninant defense. I'm excited!

However, this recurring idea keeps popping up over the internet. Apparently, the Cowboys do not have a very good pass rush. Ummm...what? Here are some places I've seen it:

From Bill Simmons:
Postscript: I nearly picked the Cowboys before remembering that they can't rush the passer.
Link

From Peter "Burger" King:
But my feeling is they'll put up enough points to make up for a just-OK pass rush.
Link

I don't understand where this idea came from, but it's surely not from facts, right? The Cowboys finished the season with 46 sacks, third most in the league. NE had 47, NYG had 53 (with that fake inflation from the "Winston Justice" game). Also, DeMarcus Ware tied for 3rd most sacks with 14 (behind Jared Allen-15.5 and Patrick Kerney-14.5) with Ellis' 12.5 sacks tied for 6th most in the league.

So to review, we had the 3rd highest team total for sacks to go along with 2 of the top 6 pass rushers in the league. But we have a weak pass rush. Well....okay.

 

[Nexx]

i guess its because we lack pressure up the middle which really f's with QB's. everything we got last year came from the edge which is nice but it would be nicer to get people in front of the QB's face every once and awhile.

 

[Nav22]

I think that perception comes from Cowboys fans as well. Some think that if the opposing QB isn't flat on his back after every passing down, something is wrong.

 

[Real1st]

Im not worried about the defense. We might get Spencer back and that will improve our pass rush.

Plus what them idiots don't realize is that we were dropping Ellis back into coverage.

We still got pressure from alot of our blitzes so i don't know what game they were watching.

 

[LeonDixson]

by GhettoBear04 on Sep 5, 2008 3:10 PM CDT

Last year, I (along with most people who followed the Cowboys) considered the defense to be great at stopping the run, very good at generating a pass rush, and mediocre to bad in coverage. As the season went on, it became obvious that the coverage problems revolved around two main guys: Jacques Reeves (Houston has a problem) and Roy Williams. The Cowboys spent the offseason upgrading the secondary with 2 draft picks and a trade, and could continue this by placing Roy Williams on the hot seat if his coverage doesn't improve this year. However, by all accounts, this is already a very good secondary, probably top 5 in the league once everyone is healthy (Newman) and practiced (Jones, Jenkins, Scandrick). So for most of us, the thought of a great defensive coach like Wade Phillips leading this collection of talent means that we'll finally see a domninant defense. I'm excited!

However, this recurring idea keeps popping up over the internet. Apparently, the Cowboys do not have a very good pass rush. Ummm...what? Here are some places I've seen it:

From Bill Simmons:
Postscript: I nearly picked the Cowboys before remembering that they can't rush the passer.
Link

From Peter "Burger" King:
But my feeling is they'll put up enough points to make up for a just-OK pass rush.
Link

I don't understand where this idea came from, but it's surely not from facts, right? The Cowboys finished the season with 46 sacks, third most in the league. NE had 47, NYG had 53 (with that fake inflation from the "Winston Justice" game). Also, DeMarcus Ware tied for 3rd most sacks with 14 (behind Jared Allen-15.5 and Patrick Kerney-14.5) with Ellis' 12.5 sacks tied for 6th most in the league.

So to review, we had the 3rd highest team total for sacks to go along with 2 of the top 6 pass rushers in the league. But we have a weak pass rush. Well....okay.

Good post.

i guess its because we lack pressure up the middle which really f's with QB's. everything we got last year came from the edge which is nice but it would be nicer to get people in front of the QB's face every once and awhile.

Hopefully that's changing. If Sunday's game was any indication we are getting a better push up the middle this year. Spears is coming on, bless his heart.

 

[Real1st]

i guess its because we lack pressure up the middle which really f's with QB's. everything we got last year came from the edge which is nice but it would be nicer to get people in front of the QB's face every once and awhile.

Tank and Ratliff were doing a serviceable job last Sunday. We need more out of these dudes if we want to be at our best. Wades defense revolves around pressure but if we don't get that push up the middle we wont be as that effective with the pass rush

Zach and Bradie looked amazing blitzing the A and B gap

 

[Nors]

Our Dline rotation is nasty good

 

[dbair1967]

DMN has an article up tonight that said the Browns kept 6 and sometimes even 7 guys in to block our people, specifically Ware.

 

[Hong2221]

They are all wrong. Wade have already mentioned numerous times, he does not want pressure up the front, it's a 3-4 defense, the pressure can be form anywhere. The 3 upfront is for filling up the gaps and for run pressure not pass rusher. The linebacker's job is to get the main pressure.

 

[J-Skip]

Tank and Ratliff were doing a serviceable job last Sunday. We need more out of these dudes if we want to be at our best. Wades defense revolves around pressure but if we don't get that push up the middle we wont be as that effective with the pass rush

Zach and Bradie looked amazing blitzing the A and B gap

I agree, our defense is stacked with talent, we just need more out of the guys in the middle.

 

[notherbob]

It will be interesting this year to see how Wade's pressure the passer approach goes with Campo's stop, look and listen for the run first approach.

 

[Kangaroo]

DMN has an article up tonight that said the Browns kept 6 and sometimes even 7 guys in to block our people, specifically Ware.

If you ever focus on Ware it is amazing how many people they send at him

He gets chipped by running backs double teamed chipped by Te's and everything else. It is amazing the guy gets a sack at all he puts so much pressure on the oline of other teams

 

[Nexx]

Tank and Ratliff were doing a serviceable job last Sunday. We need more out of these dudes if we want to be at our best. Wades defense revolves around pressure but if we don't get that push up the middle we wont be as that effective with the pass rush

Zach and Bradie looked amazing blitzing the A and B gap

i agree 100%, ware gets no support from a inside push. he would easily have 20 sacks last year if the QB couldnt step in the pocket so easily.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I think that perception comes from Cowboys fans as well. Some think that if the opposing QB isn't flat on his back after every passing down, something is wrong.

It will be interesting this year to see how Wade's pressure the passer approach goes with Campo's stop, look and listen for the run first approach.

Er, what? Campo's just a DB coach... He has nothing to do with our philosophy on defense anymore.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I think our Pass Rush will be just fine.

 

[lonestar6]

Despite the sack total last year, I also didn't think the pass rush was that great last year. I could be wrong, but the impression I got of last year was that it was feast or famine...we'd either sack the quarterback or he'd have all day to throw.

Do they keep official stats of quarterback pressures? I'd be curious where we ranked last year in those terms. You can have a great pass rush without getting sacks if you are constantly knocking the quarterback down and forcing him to throw early or on the run.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Cleveland has the best ol in the league according to some reports I have read.....

 

[The Panch]

Cleveland has the best ol in the league according to some reports I have read.....

Exactly. Atleast top 5. I wasnt impressed with the rush either, but Cleveland has one of the best O-lines in the league and were doing a lot of max protect.

 

[2much2soon]

Not sure how Cleveland's offensive line ranks, but I saw Derek Anderson standing around a few times with no one to throw to because the coverage was so outstanding.
Problem is, no one seemed to be getting to him.
Hope this (QB pressure) changes Monday night and the coverage stays the same.

 

[DALLAS D]

Im not worried about the defense. We might get Spencer back and that will improve our pass rush.

Plus what them idiots don't realize is that we were dropping Ellis back into coverage.

We still got pressure from alot of our blitzes so i don't know what game they were watching.

And just to add too that, which is completely correct. DWare is getting attention from 2 offensive line men. If its one on one, drop ellis back and DWare is on the QB all day...Fantasy land tho..lets wait and see once we get newman back.