Cowboys legend DeMarcus Ware agrees with Mike Evans

[kumizi]

Maybe it’s because teams were running it down their throat at will.

 

[Beast_from_East]

“The [pass rush] package has been watered down. I don’t see a lot of the plays that they ran early,” said Ware to Sports Seriously. “When you first start the season, you start doing all these NASCAR, crazy packages and you see it become really effective and then you get comfortable.


You get comfortable with ‘alright, well then we’re just going to put guys here and say we’re going to beat you.’ Yes, we can do that. But that’s when the offenses can scheme and say ‘we’re going to double team Micah and slide to DeMarcus Lawrence.”

The numbers back that up, through their first 12 games of the season Dallas was averaging four sacks a game, which was tops in the NFL. In the last 5, that average has dipped to just over one sack a game.


“I think we gotta get back to being dynamic. You got a lot of dynamic players on that defense. Don’t water it down, let those guys go out and do what they need to do,” said Ware. “Yes, big plays will be given up, but the big plays will happen [on defense too], so Dak can score those points.”

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...them&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Ware is right, the defensive scheme was changed because teams were gashing us with the run. To counter this, the defense stopped doing all of these NASCAR packages and crazy stunts and instead focused on reading and reacting to the run blocks. No more stunting or shooting the gaps, you wait to see if the RB gets the ball before you rush.

They basically went from a 1 gap to a 2 gap defensive alignment.............This did work in shutting down our opponents run game, but totally nuked our pass rush.

Problem is, I dont know if you can just flip a switch and go back to a 1 gap scheme at this point when you have been playing this way for half the season. I guess we will find out Monday.

 

[xwalker]

Too bad we don’t have Aaron Donald.

You missed the point...

 

[Stash]

You missed the point...

Or you did.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

DWare.....what a hater...

 

[gimmesix]

That's interesting. I don't watch game film or anything, but watching the games live I thought they were trying the same stunts/alignments but just weren't as effective later in the season.

They limited their movement to play the run better. Fewer hard inside moves by the DEs with the DTs looping because it was opening up run gaps. I hope that we start off this game going with that style of attack even if it hurts us some against the run. Quinn needs to get back to what at least worked against the pass.

 

[ESisback]

And Lawrence having a broken bone in his foot, Armstrong having a busted knee, Williams being ineffective since his car crash etc doesn’t have anything to do with it?

That, plus a worn down Parsons, our top 2 corners gone, missing Hankins and LVE for a few games—add it all up, and it’s a lot. Add an ineffective offense at times because of a constantly shifting OL and opponent adjustments…

 

[Bullflop]

I'm reasonably certain that those on the d-line have been instructed to momentarily hold fast to improve the stoppage vs. the run. With that being the case, it's likely that those moments would naturally tend to render the pass rush less effective. You can't have it both ways.

 

[Playmaker3128]

Fairly simple to me. Teams have been running more and because of that they’re in 3rd and more manageable which has allowed them to throw the ball quicker on third down.

Also I agree I think Quinn was way to reliant on Micah getting pressure. Teams adjusted and Quinn hasn’t adjusted back

 

[xwalker]

Or you did.

If Tom Brady and a WR are not on the same page, by definition the WR is wrong.

If you disagree with me, by definition you are wrong.

 

[Stash]

If Tom Brady and a WR are not on the same page, by definition the WR is wrong.

If you disagree with me, by definition you are wrong.

 

[JayFord]

are they factoring in injuries?

you cant get exotic when you have injuries at each level

 

[zrinkill]

“The [pass rush] package has been watered down. I don’t see a lot of the plays that they ran early,” said Ware to Sports Seriously. “When you first start the season, you start doing all these NASCAR, crazy packages and you see it become really effective and then you get comfortable.


You get comfortable with ‘alright, well then we’re just going to put guys here and say we’re going to beat you.’ Yes, we can do that. But that’s when the offenses can scheme and say ‘we’re going to double team Micah and slide to DeMarcus Lawrence.”

The numbers back that up, through their first 12 games of the season Dallas was averaging four sacks a game, which was tops in the NFL. In the last 5, that average has dipped to just over one sack a game.


“I think we gotta get back to being dynamic. You got a lot of dynamic players on that defense. Don’t water it down, let those guys go out and do what they need to do,” said Ware. “Yes, big plays will be given up, but the big plays will happen [on defense too], so Dak can score those points.”

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...them&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

 

[ESisback]

are they factoring in injuries?

you cant get exotic when you have injuries at each level

Injuries for other teams are viable reasons. For the Cowboys, they’re irrelevant excuses.

 

[Creeper]

I think it is obvious after getting run over by a few teams the Cowboys decided to change the way they play defense. The run defense has gotten better, we don't leave the edges unprotected as much, but in the process the pass rush has withered away. I think for this game they need to go back to the pass rush they had, if they can. Sometimes when you do that it doesn't work like it once did. Maybe try to find a compromise. Brady is not going to run so I think they do have an opportunity to get after him a little more.

But, if they do go back to what they were doing earlier in the season be prepared to see Lawrence and Parsons crashing down inside while the ball goes around the ends for 10 yards at a time. That's what the Bucs did in the first game. Still, the Cowboys only gave up 19 points. Compare that to what they have been giving up lately. Even the Commanders with a rookie making his first NFL start put up more than that. The Commanders missed 2 FGs and an extra point or it would have been worse.

This game will be won or lost by the offense. They cannot score single digit points and expect to win. Dak cannot be off his best game this week.

 

[DFWJC]

This reminds me of ‘Remember the Titans’. When Denzel’s character says, “they are ahead of Yoast. You gotta get a hold of it or I’m taking over.”

Get ahold of it Quinn.

Great movie!

But I think injuries have dictated Quinn's moves.

 

[blueblood70]

“The [pass rush] package has been watered down. I don’t see a lot of the plays that they ran early,” said Ware to Sports Seriously. “When you first start the season, you start doing all these NASCAR, crazy packages and you see it become really effective and then you get comfortable.


You get comfortable with ‘alright, well then we’re just going to put guys here and say we’re going to beat you.’ Yes, we can do that. But that’s when the offenses can scheme and say ‘we’re going to double team Micah and slide to DeMarcus Lawrence.”

The numbers back that up, through their first 12 games of the season Dallas was averaging four sacks a game, which was tops in the NFL. In the last 5, that average has dipped to just over one sack a game.


“I think we gotta get back to being dynamic. You got a lot of dynamic players on that defense. Don’t water it down, let those guys go out and do what they need to do,” said Ware. “Yes, big plays will be given up, but the big plays will happen [on defense too], so Dak can score those points.”

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...them&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Yet Dware himself did this, many games he went without sacks then they came i bunches or in hollow moments. Not many in big moments or big games,..hes had few sure but comments like this are really what happens to most teams in all sports..so its more of generality then a knock on our defense.

however, easier to explain is getting worn down and having key injuries all along a D , same with our OL etc it takes toll later in the season and inconsistent play comes with being tired and injured.,

 

[blueblood70]

I think it is obvious after getting run over by a few teams the Cowboys decided to change the way they play defense. The run defense has gotten better, we don't leave the edges unprotected as much, but in the process the pass rush has withered away. I think for this game they need to go back to the pass rush they had, if they can. Sometimes when you do that it doesn't work like it once did. Maybe try to find a compromise. Brady is not going to run so I think they do have an opportunity to get after him a little more.

But, if they do go back to what they were doing earlier in the season be prepared to see Lawrence and Parsons crashing down inside while the ball goes around the ends for 10 yards at a time. That's what the Bucs did in the first game. Still, the Cowboys only gave up 19 points. Compare that to what they have been giving up lately. Even the Commanders with a rookie making his first NFL start put up more than that. The Commanders missed 2 FGs and an extra point or it would have been worse.

This game will be won or lost by the offense. They cannot score single digit points and expect to win. Dak cannot be off his best game this week.

Our OL, run game and other players needed their best game..Jeez, dak can't do it alone..hes rarely had an off game without the rest of the OL being also off..get it TEAMs win sure they need to score more now then the first 8 games and its why Dak needs to be appreciated having to once again having all the pressure on him then the run game and OL starts playing poorly and that how the Washington game along with the horrible special teams gaffs also added into a total team issue.

9er game yup OL 11 penalties , no run game etc etc etc etyc shall we gpo on.. needing dak to pay great without an OL or run game is horrible expectations. this offense will need to show up and at least give it their b game vs F game and we wil be fine as I do not believe Tampa is a high scoring team..

 

[kskboys]

If you had the choice for the Cowboys defense to create inside pressure:
Aaron Donald jumping a gap.
Or
Vita Vea bulldozing an OC into the QB.

Answer: Aaron Donald gets there 3x faster.

For the Cowboys:
DLaw inside on passing downs.
Or
Hankins playing on passing downs.

Beyond that answer: Donald gets there 6 times faster if the NT is bulldozing the OC into the QB. Need both.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

“The [pass rush] package has been watered down. I don’t see a lot of the plays that they ran early,” said Ware to Sports Seriously. “When you first start the season, you start doing all these NASCAR, crazy packages and you see it become really effective and then you get comfortable.


You get comfortable with ‘alright, well then we’re just going to put guys here and say we’re going to beat you.’ Yes, we can do that. But that’s when the offenses can scheme and say ‘we’re going to double team Micah and slide to DeMarcus Lawrence.”

The numbers back that up, through their first 12 games of the season Dallas was averaging four sacks a game, which was tops in the NFL. In the last 5, that average has dipped to just over one sack a game.


“I think we gotta get back to being dynamic. You got a lot of dynamic players on that defense. Don’t water it down, let those guys go out and do what they need to do,” said Ware. “Yes, big plays will be given up, but the big plays will happen [on defense too], so Dak can score those points.”

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...them&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Maybe they went vanilla for the Commanders game, and are saving the good stuff for the playoffs. I hope so.