Building the team against the NFC East

[Cowboyny]

Defense

-2 run/pass QB's in Hurts, Jones with a third that could be Watson, Newton, Lance.
-Be able to stop the run without the need of extra men in the box
-Backs in coverage. Short passing game with their running backs.
-Covering the TE.
-Matching up against elite speed on the outside

Offense

-countering the high level defensive fronts
-be able to run the football in 8 man boxes
-exposing their linebackers in coverage

What type of players could we target to better face our divisional opponents:

-Run Defense, to force these teams to beat us through the air. Handle read option/misdirection
-Instinctive, fast linebackers who can play in space. Be able to hold up in short area coverage.
-High level coverage safety to be able to matchup against the TE
-Corner who possesses elite speed to match up on the outside
-Upgrade the OL to force them to stack the box against the run

This kind of matches up all our needs, no matter if it's built for the division or not.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

This kind of matches up all our needs, no matter if it's built for the division or not.

It matches up any team's needs

 

[visionary]

Defense is defense

Intelligent players
Disciplined players

good scheme

then

great DL
Good LBs
Great safety play
Good CBs

it’s not complicated

 

[Future]

There isn't a team in the league who stops the run without an extra man in the box. That is how you stop the run.

 

[Cowboyny]

There isn't a team in the league who stops the run without an extra man in the box. That is how you stop the run.

Not true. When Wade was our HC, we were one of those few teams that didn't need to put an extra man in the box to defend the run. 2009 we had the #4 run defense.

 

[Aven8]

You lost the Cowboys brass at instinctual LB’s. Lee was the last of the Mohicans.

 

[Future]

Not true. When Wade was our HC, we were one of those few teams that didn't need to put an extra man in the box to defend the run. 2009 we had the #4 run defense.

Yes, true. The best run defenses are that way because they load the box. 2009 is irrelevant.

"Tampa defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is much more likely to stack the box and therefore incentivize opposing offenses to pass"
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-bucs-defense-dares-opposing-offenses-to-pass-so-they-do/

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/are-defensive-play-callers-consistent-enough-to-be-exploitable/

 

[Cowboyny]

Yes, true. The best run defenses are that way because they load the box. 2009 is irrelevant.

"Tampa defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is much more likely to stack the box and therefore incentivize opposing offenses to pass"
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-bucs-defense-dares-opposing-offenses-to-pass-so-they-do/

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/are-defensive-play-callers-consistent-enough-to-be-exploitable/

Certainly DC's will try to load the box in obvious run situations, but there are times where teams will look to exploit lineups playing more coverage. From the Cowboy perspective, even with extra men in the box, they still struggle stopping the run.

Team just has to get better on the early run downs, or their opponents will keep on seeing easy 3rd and short conversions. Facing that is extremely challenging as teams can either run or pass against you. What we want to see, is more 3rd and longs, where we can just rush the QB and play pass coverage behind them. This will give us the best chance for getting off the field.