Cowboys effectively playing 4-4-3?

[perrykemp]

Barry Church is quite possibly the most sure handed tackler I've seen on the Cowboys in nearly a decade. He is incredibly physical. As I've somewhat jokingly mentioned here - he is my favorite Cowboys linebacker.

To that point, at times it seems like the Cowboys are really playing a 4-4-3 with Church playing more linebacker than safety. I haven't seen a lot of him in coverage.

If the Cowboys ARE effectively playing a 4-4-3, it might explain the fact the Cowboys are tracking to have one of the worst pass defenses in the entire history of the NFL up this point.

 

[links18]

Barry Church is quite possibly the most sure handed tackler I've seen on the Cowboys in nearly a decade. He is incredibly physical. As I've somewhat jokingly mentioned here - he is my favorite Cowboys linebacker.

To that point, at times it seems like the Cowboys are really playing a 4-4-3 with Church playing more linebacker than safety. I haven't seen a lot of him in coverage.

If the Cowboys ARE effectively playing a 4-4-3, it might explain the fact the Cowboys are tracking to have one of the worst pass defenses in the entire history of the NFL up this point.

We have a terrible pass defense because our LBs can't cover and Claiborne is getting eaten alive.

 

[TheCowboy]

Great against the run, horrible against the pass. At least we fixed one part of the defense lol

 

[perrykemp]

We have a terrible pass defense because our LBs can't cover and Claiborne is getting eaten alive.

Well, if you are effectively playing a 4-4-3 AND and out of the three defensive backs one is Claiborne and the other is a rookie safety, that really only leaves Carr.

It think it DOES go a long way explaining why the defense is tracking for 40 passing TDs allowed and a bit under 5000 yards passing allowed.

 

[links18]

Great against the run, horrible against the pass. At least we fixed one part of the defense lol

The Chargers were getting a consistent five yards every time they ran left yesterday.

 

[TheCowboy]

The Chargers were getting a consistent five yards every time they ran left yesterday.

My bad I meant as in recent years. Yesterday was all around awful

 

[dwmyers]

Barry Church is quite possibly the most sure handed tackler I've seen on the Cowboys in nearly a decade. He is incredibly physical. As I've somewhat jokingly mentioned here - he is my favorite Cowboys linebacker.

To that point, at times it seems like the Cowboys are really playing a 4-4-3 with Church playing more linebacker than safety. I haven't seen a lot of him in coverage.

If the Cowboys ARE effectively playing a 4-4-3, it might explain the fact the Cowboys are tracking to have one of the worst pass defenses in the entire history of the NFL up this point.

To be plain, there isn't a team in the league that doesn't play safeties at some time at linebacker depth. There are plenty of ways to go about it, but almost no one lines up in it, outside of Virginia Tech (and really, they were playing a 4-2-5 disguised as a 4-4-3).

It is known in the coaching ranks that Monte Kiffin is an expert at disguising his use of 4-4 fronts.

Let me note that *most forms* of the Cover 3 involve a so called monster secondary man.

Ironically, in the history of defenses, ignoring the wide tackle six for the moment and concentrating on college defenses with 4 man backfields, the use of a concept similar to this appeared after colleges introduced the flanker as a serious weapon (note the pros had been doing it for years, but the split T ruled in colleges until the middle 1950s, and did not require a flanker or split end).

It was called the "inverted rotation" and appeared in the late 1950s. Later the monster, a safety stationed at linebacker depth, became common practice at the college level. It was a reaction to the effect that flankers had on run defenses in the 1950s. For a year, having a widely split flanker gave Army its last undefeated season (Lonely End formation).

In simplest terms, with a Lonely End, college teams can't cornerback force on the strong side end run. So they invert their secondary, using a three man rotation with safety closer to the line to handle the end run. This is also called the "safety force" in the book "Vince Lombardi on Football".

D-

 

[links18]

To be plain, there isn't a team in the league that doesn't play safeties at some time at linebacker depth. There are plenty of ways to go about it, but almost no one lines up in it, outside of Virginia Tech (and really, they were playing a 4-2-5 disguised as a 4-4-3).

It is known in the coaching ranks that Monte Kiffin is an expert at disguising his use of 4-4 fronts.

Let me note that *most forms* of the Cover 3 involve a so called monster secondary man.

Ironically, in the history of defenses, ignoring the wide tackle six for the moment and concentrating on college defenses with 4 man backfields, the use of a concept similar to this appeared after colleges introduced the flanker as a serious weapon (note the pros had been doing it for years, but the split T ruled in colleges until the middle 1950s, and did not require a flanker or split end).

It was called the "inverted rotation" and appeared in the late 1950s. Later the monster, a safety stationed at linebacker depth, became common practice at the college level. It was a reaction to the effect that flankers had on run defenses in the 1950s. For a year, having a widely split flanker gave Army its last undefeated season (Lonely End formation).

In simplest terms, with a Lonely End, college teams can't cornerback force on the strong side end run. So they invert their secondary, using a three man rotation with safety closer to the line to handle the end run. This is also called the "safety force" in the book "Vince Lombardi on Football".

D-

Wut?

 

[dwmyers]

Getting back to Kiffen's defense and why we're getting beat. We were not getting beat deep by split ends and flankers.

Danny Woodhead got behind Bruce Carter twice. A TE on a seam down the middle beat Sean Lee and any deep help he had.

We're getting beat by traditional anti-zone, anti-Tampa 2 techniques.

D-

 

[Smith22]

We're getting beat by traditional anti-zone, anti-Tampa 2 techniques.

D-

Not good with Mr. Manning coming to town. Kiffen better come up with some bright ideas rather quickly.

I think Denver presents quite a few match up problems for the Boys.

Hoping for any given Sunday this week.

 

[Richmond Cowboy]

I think Denver presents quite a few match up problems for the Boys.

Understatement of the decade...

 

[links18]

Not good with Mr. Manning coming to town. Kiffen better come up with some bright ideas rather quickly.

I think Denver presents quite a few match up problems for the Boys.

Hoping for any given Sunday this week.

Funny, because all I heard on here the last week was how Denver doesn't match-up well against us. This was of course before Phillip Rivers de-pantsed our defense.

 

[Smith22]

Funny, because all I heard on here the last week was how Denver doesn't match-up well against us. This was of course before Phillip Rivers de-pantsed our defense.

Didn't hear it from me. They have an athletic TE and big WRs that will be hard to bring down. I think Carr will be ok, but Mo is going to have his hands full. I'm quite perplexed by the lack of coverage skills our linebackers have shown to this point.

I think our offense could be the best defense vs the Broncos. Keep Manning off the field at all costs. IMO, that gives the Boys the best chance at winning. That also requires us running the ball a bit more than we seem willing to do.

 

[BAT]

The Chargers were getting a consistent five yards every time they ran left yesterday.

Wilber has never been able to set the edge and neither could an injured Ware. But Carter was not just getting beat in coverage, he had trouble getting through the trash and looked like he was either slow diagnosing the plays, or just slow period. Guy was consistently a step or three late. And with Scandrick hurting early on, Mo had way too many reps.

 

[Future]

Wilber has never been able to set the edge and neither could an injured Ware. But Carter was not just getting beat in coverage, he had trouble getting through the trash and looked like he was either slow diagnosing the plays, or just slow period. Guy was consistently a step or three late. And with Scandrick hurting early on, Mo had way too many reps.

Carter looked slow last week too.

 

[BAT]

Carter looked slow last week too.

But the Cowboys were able to keep Cook and Austin under control by immediately hitting them as they got the ball. Cowboys could not do the same with either Woodhead or Gates. There was just too much cushion against the Chargers. And allowing Gates a clear release all game long even after it was evident he was killing them was mind blowing.