Minnesota threw the ball way too often early on. First few drives they were destroying the Cowboys with the outside zone runs. The 3rd and 3 on the opening drive they came out in an empty set....just stupid. At least make a team that got killed by the run a week ago at least think about the possibility of a run. Second drive once they got inside the 10 second and 3 they throw to the end zone. 3rd and 3 they throw the ball again. It's almost like we let them have Kellen Moore to call plays this game.
What should be encouraging is it really seems like the run defense up the middle is getting better. Bad news is they are still getting gashed on those outside zone runs. Our corners are terrible run players and our DTs are terrible at moving laterally to keep their olineman from getting onto the LBs.
I'm going back and watching the game now. One interesting piece that keeps popping out to me is #33. Damone Clark didn't make many plays, but he was on the field a ton early on and his presence was felt. The guys lateral quickness almost looks like a DB on the screen, and really seems to compliment LVE out there. I'm only a few drives in, but LVE seems to be more aggressive in filling gaps this game FWIW. Not sure that has anything to do with Clark, but I will say defensively it just looks different when he is on the field.
Regardless we still seem to have an issue where our LBs aren't even given a chance to make plays on outside runs.
