News: Cowboys’ new-look defense ready for fast-paced Eagles

[CCBoy]

Cowboys’ new-look defense ready for fast-paced Eagles

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.



IRVING
The Dallas Cowboys’ new-look defense got off to a solid start in Sunday night’s 27-26 season-opening victory over the New York Giants.

But now it faces the unenviable task of stopping the high-powered, fast-paced offense of Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys must do so without their best pass rusher in rookie defensive end Randy Gregory, who is sidelined four to six weeks with a high-ankle sprain.

It will also be their first glance at the new-look Eagles offense that features the power running of former Cowboys star DeMarco Murray to go along with their uptempo passing game led by a new quarterback and former Oklahoma star Sam Bradford...


Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article35521110.html#storylink=cpy

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

a number of times i hear folks talking how the eagles offense is a style used a lot in the college and high school level and refer to it as a gimmick.

but the way these Cowboys defensive players talk from what im reading in the article they say the uptempo offense chip kelly uses is very dizzying and tiring because they use a lot of packages and run plays quick etc.

if this chip kelly offense is so gimmicky and so college/highschool than why are defenses on the NFL level having trouble with it? shouldn't they have been figured out already and this offensive scheme been weened out already? whats the deal? is it the pace of the style? does it get even more uptempo since we are dealing with NFL level players?

just curious. forgive me im not fluent in all the strategy concepts but im working on it.

 

[JDSmith]

a number of times i hear folks talking how the eagles offense is a style used a lot in the college and high school level and refer to it as a gimmick.

but the way these Cowboys defensive players talk from what im reading in the article they say the uptempo offense chip kelly uses is very dizzying and tiring because they use a lot of packages and run plays quick etc.

if this chip kelly offense is so gimmicky and so college/highschool than why are defenses on the NFL level having trouble with it? shouldn't they have been figured out already and this offensive scheme been weened out already? whats the deal? is it the pace of the style? does it get even more uptempo since we are dealing with NFL level players?

just curious. forgive me im not fluent in all the strategy concepts but im working on it.

IMO anyone would have trouble with the pace of the offense. I'm sure the players do get tired, and to a degree the Eagles players are less so because that's how they always practice. But ultimately that offense scored less points than the Cowboys offense did last year. The big issue with the offense IMO is the affect it has on his own defensive players. Chip runs his super fast offense and ignores time of possession, that means his defense is on the field more than half of every game. His defensive players wear out over the course of the season. Combine that with the fact that his defense might be out there for a long drive, then see the Eagles offense go 3 and out and actually end up back on the field in less than 2 minutes. They don't get any time to rest.

His defensive players start to suffer late in the season, when they are needed most. In high school and college that's not an issue, because rosters are huge and players are much more interchangeable. They haven't been weeded out yet to the degree that NFL players have. So he's got a small rotation of guys who are now extremely good at what they do, before he had a huge rotation of guys who were probably pretty good at what they did. So if he had to grab another guy from the roster and plug him in it probably didn't make a huge difference. Well now he's only got so many guys, and you can't just grab a guy and put him some place else. So when his guys start to wear down and get beat up over the course of the season he's left with guys who simply have to stay out there and perform, but not at the level they could if they were well rested.

As a result I can't see his team ever winning a Super Bowl. They'll get less efficient the longer the season is, and the competition will get tougher. The teams he's facing will be better prepared deep in the season, and an opposing DC knows he's only got to force a couple of three and outs to get the Eagles defense gassed. Chip has created what I think of as a sprint team - if the season was short it would be viable, which again is why it lends itself to college and high school.

Now I haven't talked at all about the X's and O's because frankly I don't know much about those things. I'll leave that stuff to somebody who knows more about it, but those are my opinions based on watching the Eagles under Chip.

 

[CCBoy]

There is a lot of movement and use of hash markers to force an opposing defense to not only keep up with package changes, fast...but to run all the way across the field to line up as well.

They spread the field as well as use play developments for over loads, quickly, and to set up open spaces. For a scheme, this provides normal as well as situational responses, which are difficult to on short notice and time, hard to prepare for...from the base defensive scheme perspective. There may be gimmicks, but with a trained offense that also has individual skill sets, they are hard to defeat over the wear of an entire game.

They are a team that needs to be behind from the start, and strong depth to keep up with their physical drain over an entire game's time.

 

[FiveTime]

IMO anyone would have trouble with the pace of the offense. I'm sure the players do get tired, and to a degree the Eagles players are less so because that's how they always practice. But ultimately that offense scored less points than the Cowboys offense did last year. The big issue with the offense IMO is the affect it has on his own defensive players. Chip runs his super fast offense and ignores time of possession, that means his defense is on the field more than half of every game. His defensive players wear out over the course of the season. Combine that with the fact that his defense might be out there for a long drive, then see the Eagles offense go 3 and out and actually end up back on the field in less than 2 minutes. They don't get any time to rest.

His defensive players start to suffer late in the season, when they are needed most. In high school and college that's not an issue, because rosters are huge and players are much more interchangeable. They haven't been weeded out yet to the degree that NFL players have. So he's got a small rotation of guys who are now extremely good at what they do, before he had a huge rotation of guys who were probably pretty good at what they did. So if he had to grab another guy from the roster and plug him in it probably didn't make a huge difference. Well now he's only got so many guys, and you can't just grab a guy and put him some place else. So when his guys start to wear down and get beat up over the course of the season he's left with guys who simply have to stay out there and perform, but not at the level they could if they were well rested.

As a result I can't see his team ever winning a Super Bowl. They'll get less efficient the longer the season is, and the competition will get tougher. The teams he's facing will be better prepared deep in the season, and an opposing DC knows he's only got to force a couple of three and outs to get the Eagles defense gassed. Chip has created what I think of as a sprint team - if the season was short it would be viable, which again is why it lends itself to college and high school.

Now I haven't talked at all about the X's and O's because frankly I don't know much about those things. I'll leave that stuff to somebody who knows more about it, but those are my opinions based on watching the Eagles under Chip.

I think the age of the players in high school and college is also more conducive to the fast tempo. It is easier for a teenager or 20 or 21 year old to keep up with the pace. Although 30 is still young I think it is already becoming more difficult for your body to recover.

 

[maxdallasfan]

I would like to argue the use of the term "high powered"

Chips offense is 80% throws to the RB.

Like I said before, put Patmon on the RB all day.

 

[camelboy]

Just give the play calling duties to M. Kiffin this one time (and again Nov. 8th). For some reason he has CK's number...

 

[remdak]

Cowboys scored more points last year than the high powered Eagles offense.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I would like to argue the use of the term "high powered"

Chips offense is 80% throws to the RB.

Like I said before, put Patmon on the RB all day.

Here's the thing.... Somewhere in the last 20 years the word embarrassing seems synonymous with the Dallas cowboys.

Soooooo..... I expect us to get embarrassed by some bs big play or two... Then we buckle down and win the game.

 

[Aven8]

Funny how Clarence Hill is already saying that our best pash rusher is out in Gregory. Although I agree with him, that's scary considering he's only played 1 game!

 

[jazzcat22]

IMO anyone would have trouble with the pace of the offense. I'm sure the players do get tired, and to a degree the Eagles players are less so because that's how they always practice. But ultimately that offense scored less points than the Cowboys offense did last year. The big issue with the offense IMO is the affect it has on his own defensive players. Chip runs his super fast offense and ignores time of possession, that means his defense is on the field more than half of every game. His defensive players wear out over the course of the season. Combine that with the fact that his defense might be out there for a long drive, then see the Eagles offense go 3 and out and actually end up back on the field in less than 2 minutes. They don't get any time to rest.

His defensive players start to suffer late in the season, when they are needed most. In high school and college that's not an issue, because rosters are huge and players are much more interchangeable. They haven't been weeded out yet to the degree that NFL players have. So he's got a small rotation of guys who are now extremely good at what they do, before he had a huge rotation of guys who were probably pretty good at what they did. So if he had to grab another guy from the roster and plug him in it probably didn't make a huge difference. Well now he's only got so many guys, and you can't just grab a guy and put him some place else. So when his guys start to wear down and get beat up over the course of the season he's left with guys who simply have to stay out there and perform, but not at the level they could if they were well rested.

As a result I can't see his team ever winning a Super Bowl. They'll get less efficient the longer the season is, and the competition will get tougher. The teams he's facing will be better prepared deep in the season, and an opposing DC knows he's only got to force a couple of three and outs to get the Eagles defense gassed. Chip has created what I think of as a sprint team - if the season was short it would be viable, which again is why it lends itself to college and high school.

Now I haven't talked at all about the X's and O's because frankly I don't know much about those things. I'll leave that stuff to somebody who knows more about it, but those are my opinions based on watching the Eagles under Chip.

Great post.
Also, and was mentioned in another post. High School and College players and larger rosters. Younger too. So they can keep up this pace for 10 to 12 games. Especially at 17 to 22 years old.
Now enter off season work, Training Camp, 4 preseason games, 16 regular season games for 24 to 35 year old players. And injuries, recover time just from the game itself takes longer. It makes a difference toward the end of the season.

The Bills had this no huddle fast paced offense at times, and in SB 27, pundits said it will wear out the cowboys. But they were the younger team, youngest in the NFL. This Cowboys team is young also. Well, the Cowboys players said that it was the Bills Offense and especially the OL that were huffing and puffing later in the game.

 

[CCBoy]

Funny how Clarence Hill is already saying that our best pash rusher is out in Gregory. Although I agree with him, that's scary considering he's only played 1 game!

Now that is an interesting view...

 

[CashMan]

Considering, the CBs still play 10yards off the WR, I kinda think Philly might be successful.

 

[CF74]

Fast defense meets fast offense, Cowboys win 28-20

 

[VACowboy]

Talent is much more diluted in college than it is the pros. Running lanes are a little bigger. Receivers are more open. Defenders aren't as big and don't react quite as quickly. There's much less time for game planning and preparation in college, so schemes can have a much greater effect. And while scheme certainly has a place in the pro game, success in the NFL ultimately comes down to players and execution.

The Philly offense rolls up some big numbers, sure, but they don't do it against good teams (Kelly is 4-7 against playoff contenders). They have to get first downs and put the ball in the end zone, just like everybody else. The difference is, when they don't, all they achieve by running plays fast is giving the opposition more time to score.

 

[tyke1doe]

Here's the skinny in short:

In order for Chip's fast-pace scheme to work, his offense has to score touchdowns. If not, the Eagles offense is not on the field long, which means their defense is. If the defense is on the field long, it wears down. And if it wears down, it's not able to stop opposing offenses late in the game.
Also, fast-pace offenses (passing offenses in general) are more apt to turn the ball over. So if you're not scoring, and you're turning the ball over, you're basically killing your defense.

Chip's scheme is the inverse of the Cowboys scheme. The Cowboys offensive is designed to chew up clock. But in order for that to work, it has to score touchdowns, not field goals. Even so, by keeping our defense off the field - whether scoring 3 or 6 - we are keeping our defense fresh.

However, the difference for the Cowboys is that we have a quarterback who can win a shoot-out if need be. We PREFER to win by running the ball. We CAN win by passing the ball.

 

[CCBoy]

Here's the skinny in short:

In order for Chip's fast-pace scheme to work, his offense has to score touchdowns. If not, the Eagles offense is not on the field long, which means their defense is. If the defense is on the field long, it wears down. And if it wears down, it's not able to stop opposing offenses late in the game.
Fast-pace offenses (passing offenses in general) are more apt to turn the ball over. So if you're not scoring, and you're turning the ball over, you're basically killing your defense.

Chip's scheme is the inverse of the Cowboys scheme. The Cowboys offensive is designed to chew up clock. But in order for that to work, it has to score touchdowns, not field goals. Even so, by keeping our defense off the field - whether scoring 3 or 6 - we are keeping our defense fresh.

However, the difference for the Cowboys is that we have a quarterback who can win a shoot-out if needs be. We PREFER to win by running the ball. We CAN win by passing the ball.

Good view here...

 

[dallasdave]

I think the age of the players in high school and college is also more conducive to the fast tempo. It is easier for a teenager or 20 or 21 year old to keep up with the pace. Although 30 is still young I think it is already becoming more difficult for your body to recover.

Well said my friend

 

[dallasdave]

Fast defense meets fast offense, Cowboys win 28-20

Cowboys win but the score is Cowboys 38 and Eagles 21

 

[tyke1doe]

Cowboys win but the score is Cowboys 38 and Eagles 21

I'd prefer the Cowboys not play a speed game. I think this offensive line will lean on the Eagles defense, matriculate down the field and score. The Eagles offense will take the field and try to match the score quickly. Whether they do or don't, their defense returns on the field more quickly.
The Eagles defense will be gassed by the end of the game, just like last year in Philly.