News: BTB: With Emphasis On Cowboys Pass Rush Deficiencies, Don't Forget About Poor Rush Defense

[NewsBot]

The Cowboys were equally bad at stopping the run.

We've spent a lot of time bemoaning the Dallas Cowboys lack of a pass rush this offseason. Rightly so, as the Cowboys only had 31 sacks on the 2015 season. In addition, they will not have Greg Hardy back and Randy Gregory will be suspended for the first four games. They've made a couple of new additions to the defensive line in Cedric Thornton and Benson Mayowa, but neither of those players are sure bets to boost the sacks total for the Cowboys or significantly up their pressure. So there is plenty to worry about.

There is also something else to worry about. The Cowboys run defense we also bad last year. In today's NFL, the passing game and stopping the passing game gets the majority of the focus given the evolution of the game. Still, stopping the run is pretty important in the NFL. It's not something Dallas does well. In the "old school" metric of run defense, they were 22nd in the league giving up 121 yards per game on the ground. If you use the more "new school" metric of DVOA from Football Outsiders, the Cowboys run defense ranked 29th in the league. The Cowboys defense gave up the second-most first downs on the ground in the entire league. It sure makes it a lot easier on teams when they can pick up first downs against you on the ground. Only six other teams had more rushing attempts against their defense for the 2015 season, a sure sign that teams could run on the Cowboys defense, and did it often.

Of course some of that is because the Cowboys offense became so inept without Tony Romo that teams weren't forced to gamble as much. They could take the less risky options on many plays and at the end of games could try and grind down the clock on Dallas instead of desperately trying to catch up.

So when looking at adding players in the draft on defense, are we concentrating too much on how they will perform against the pass, and not enough against the run? Or should we focus the attention on stopping the pass and let the chips fall where they may?

Your thoughts, BTB?

Continue reading...

 

[jobberone]

We didn't play well on defense but teams did grind it at times as well as the D was on the field way too much. I thought they played better as a unit than they deserved talent wise factoring in injuries as well. They still weren't very good no matter how you look at it.

 

[Alexander]

The DL lost its way last year and honestly looks like they were too consumed being "rush men" and were not very disciplined overall, much less to the point of being able to stop the run. McClain was also very ordinary and it did not help.

But then again, teams could do whatever they wanted last year and ran knowing our offense could not do anything to threaten taking a lead. There is some relevance to the idea they were worn out to the point where eventually the dam blew open late in games.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Id focus on dts more than the edge. We had a good 2014 with Mincey on the edge. Hatcher was the guy dominating.

 

[StarBoyz83]

If they just draft smart and get some dt's and de's this could be a decent line for the 17-18 season.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Don't Forget About...Poor Rush Defense, Poor Pass Rush, Poor LB Play, Poor Secondary. That was fun. BTB will do the offense side Monday.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

If they just draft smart and get some dt's and de's this could be a decent line for the 17-18 season.

Most thought we'b be decent or better than last year. I have no expectations anymore. Garrett will be the clap master though.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Most thought we'b be decent or better than last year. I have no expectations anymore. Garrett will be the clap master though.

I can't lie I was excited about last season until week 2 lol this offseason on wasn't good though to me. Not expecting much this season.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I can't lie I was excited about last season until week 2 lol this offseason on wasn't good though to me. Not expecting much this season.

Well everyone here has been defending corner Jalen Ramsey for us to draft. Guess I'll give him the due if we pick him. Don't expect him to get the int's, but if he can stick to his man and play him tough. It will have to do. I will be pumped though if we go Ezekiel Elliott at rb or get one of the qb's. Doubt we go that way though.

 

[reddyuta]

Its really quite depressing.I frankly feel Marinelli doesnt even care for run defense,our continuing neglect for the DT position is set to continue when we dont draft a single DT in a draft which is considered the strongest Dt draft in years.I cant wait for this old man to leave.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Well everyone here has been defending corner Jalen Ramsey for us to draft. Guess I'll give him the due if we pick him. Don't expect him to get the int's, but if he can stick to his man and play him tough. It will have to do. I will be pumped though if we go Ezekiel Elliott at rb or get one of the qb's Doubt we go that way though.

Elliot would make an impact. I understand what you're saying about ramsey. I feel the same about DE.

 

[reddyuta]

Id focus on dts more than the edge. We had a good 2014 with Mincey on the edge. Hatcher was the guy dominating.

prepare to to be dissapointed,If the VR visits is any indication then we are not draft any this year.

 

[jobberone]

Well everyone here has been defending corner Jalen Ramsey for us to draft. Guess I'll give him the due if we pick him. Don't expect him to get the int's, but if he can stick to his man and play him tough. It will have to do. I will be pumped though if we go Ezekiel Elliott at rb or get one of the qb's. Doubt we go that way though.

I'd be happy with a QB R1 (or Rs2-4). I love Zeke but I'm not sure he's right FOR US R1p4. I think he's a special player. In fact if used like Faulk he's worth a R1p4.

If I were GM and I were to target Zeke R1p4 then I'd move back into the first and take Lynch and then I'd feel good about the 2016 draft.

 

[newera]

Id focus on dts more than the edge. We had a good 2014 with Mincey on the edge. Hatcher was the guy dominating.

Hatcher was a Commander in 2014. No single guy really dominated for us that year. Just a collection of guys who played above what their talent level would seem to dictate(looking at you George Selvie). Crawford had a nice year on film, but didn't show up in the stat sheet as much. Henry Melton started off ok but then didn't do much the second half of the season. It seems like last season our team just lost a little of that band of brothers mentality and that was the only thing that really allowed them to play even average for much of the 2014 season. ( well that and an offense with a healthy romo, dez, and murray playing)

 

[ElGatoGrande]

best defensive player available every round, then buy beg or steal a QB and #2 WR afterwards in free agency or trade.

 

[AmishCowboy]

Bosa can set the edge pretty well

 

[Eddie]

Bosa can set the edge pretty well

DE's traditionally do not make much of an impact their rookie years. So don't expect him to fix our defensive woes. Nor will he be the difference if Romo takes another bad hit.

If everyone is calling for an immediate impact, then DE is not the position. I'd rather get Romo's replacement and groom him for a year or two.

 

[NEODOG]

We are ATROCIOUS at stopping 3rd downs.

 

[nalam]

Its really quite depressing.I frankly feel Marinelli doesnt even care for run defense,our continuing neglect for the DT position is set to continue when we dont draft a single DT in a draft which is considered the strongest Dt draft in years.I cant wait for this old man to leave.

Not any more , we finally went and got a guy, Thornton should show upgrade over roller skate Hayden

 

[Kevinicus]

We didn't play well on defense but teams did grind it at times as well as the D was on the field way too much. I thought they played better as a unit than they deserved talent wise factoring in injuries as well. They still weren't very good no matter how you look at it.

If they were on the field way too much, then it seems that anything more than 20 minutes a game is too much.