Cowboys Run Defense vs Rams: Solution

[Future]

This is simple. They have 6 blockers in the line against 6 box defenders - there is nobody unblocked. With 1 yard to go, Dallas is playing with 2 high safeties. It is the exact opposite of what Zeke always faces.

This isn't representative of poor defense. It's representative of good offense. Had the safety come into the box, they would have simply audibled to a pass, where they have the matchups. McVay must have been giggling like a school girl to see the Cowboys so passive with such a short distance to go, because this is SO EASY.

 

[OmerV]

Would be to have a QB that could sustain drives....and not have the Rams offense on the field @ all. That was the forumula that was winning us games. Problem is...Our QB is so inconsistant...you just never know what your going to get from series to series.

Give it a rest. This thread is about the Cowboys defending against the Rams, not a Go after Dak. Opportunity. Dak has improvement to make, but not every topic has to be about that.

 

[Stash]

I didn't see that coming.

 

[InTheZone]

Rams have owned us regardless of run defense since McVay.

 

[Stash]

What happened:

Blocking and RB path indicate
Zone Run Outside (Offensive Left).

RDE (playside DE)
Has outside contain.
Blocked by LT (induced to jump upfield)

RDT (playside DT)
Lined up in A gap (playside).
Once the play flows outside he must flow to the outside.
Blocked by LG then OC on a hand-off block.
Blockers let him flow outside.

LDT (backside DT)
Lined up in backside B gap.
RG with inside position stalls him and hands-off to RT.
RG moves to 2nd level.

LDE (backside DE)
Must be aware of cut-back by RB or backside QB roll out, reverse, jet sweep.
TE aligned outside RT reach blocks him.

I very much appreciate all of the work you put into this, thank you!

 

[Little Jr]

Possible Issues with new alignment:
Only 1 LB behind the DL now but...
Before 4 inside gaps covered by 2 DTs, 2 LBs.
Now 4 inside gaps covered by 2 DTs, RDE and 1 LB.

If pass:
The OLB obstructs inside path by WRs.
Zone: Play a 3 man zone on 2 WRs (OLB, CB and Safety).
Man: Safety/OLB hi/low on 1 WR. CB on the other WR.
OLB in good position to blitz.

What are your "credentials" to break down film?

 

[sean10mm]

Had the safety come into the box, they would have simply audibled to a pass

One correction: Goff really can't audible. Part of how the Patriots shut him down was they changed their defensive look after the headset radio to McVay cut out at 00:15 on the play clock and dared him to change the play at the line - and he couldn't do it. Goff is McVay's sock puppet out there, he can't make independent decisions.

 

[jterrell]

The Rams are in a division with SEA and played Richard twice a year.
They knew how to attack his defense better than most.
They then had a week off to watch our team in the playoffs put on an A defensive performance and choose what to install to beat that.
They did. And soundly.

I expect us to get better from it.
To have a different set of defensive formations when we see that again.

 

[jterrell]

One correction: Goff really can't audible. Part of how the Patriots shut him down was they changed their defensive look after the headset radio to McVay cut out at 00:15 on the play clock and dared him to change the play at the line - and he couldn't do it. Goff is McVay's sock puppet out there, he can't make independent decisions.

The Pats run a variable defense that offers many looks so they can change up on the fly.
DAL plays it much more straight forward.
I expect us to add more wrinkles now with Richard in place longer.

 

[CATCH17]

so basically, Marinelli got schooled by McVay.

Richard, Marinelli, all of them.


It was never a talent issue as to why we couldn’t stop the run. We had a top 5 run defense during the season.

 

[Sydla]

The Rams are in a division with SEA and played Richard twice a year.
They knew how to attack his defense better than most.
They then had a week off to watch our team in the playoffs put on an A defensive performance and choose what to install to beat that.
They did. And soundly.

I expect us to get better from it.
To have a different set of defensive formations when we see that again.

Well technically, the Rams coaches only faced Richard twice.............. Richard's last year as DC in Seattle was 2017 and McVay's first season was in 2017.

 

[CATCH17]

One correction: Goff really can't audible. Part of how the Patriots shut him down was they changed their defensive look after the headset radio to McVay cut out at 00:15 on the play clock and dared him to change the play at the line - and he couldn't do it. Goff is McVay's sock puppet out there, he can't make independent decisions.

Yep.

Goff would be labeled a bust at this point without Mcvay.




I hate the thought of us playing a equal team in the playoffs and having to overcome our coaches as well but it’s our only shot within the Jerry parameters of having a coach he has full control over.

 

[xwalker]

One correction: Goff really can't audible. Part of how the Patriots shut him down was they changed their defensive look after the headset radio to McVay cut out at 00:15 on the play clock and dared him to change the play at the line - and he couldn't do it. Goff is McVay's sock puppet out there, he can't make independent decisions.

That only works on plays where the Rams didn't snap the ball before the radio turned off.

The Rams start most of their plays before that time.

 

[sean10mm]

That only works on plays where the Rams didn't snap the ball before the radio turned off.

The Rams start most of their plays before that time.

They didn't go to tempo in the Super Bowl until like the 3rd quarter or something.

 

[charron]

The Pats run a variable defense that offers many looks so they can change up on the fly.
DAL plays it much more straight forward.
I expect us to add more wrinkles now with Richard in place longer.

Their entire team does this. They change untill they find something works.

 

[jterrell]

Their entire team does this. They change untill they find something works.

they have a top 2-3 defensive coach of all-time.
it's really an unfair bar.
they play great defense with very mediocre players when it matters most

 

[jterrell]

That only works on plays where the Rams didn't snap the ball before the radio turned off.

The Rams start most of their plays before that time.

yup, they run an offense that's like basketball. 2 options, see what defense is in then go fast. formation is same for 2 plays. they only run very few total but each is an option.
so there's no audibling but the coach is calling the option based off formation.

 

[xwalker]

They didn't go to tempo in the Super Bowl until like the 3rd quarter or something.

No, I just re-watched the 1st half of the Super Bowl on the All-22.

The Pats were not moving coverage players around even when the play clock was at less than 15 seconds.

Based on what the Pats were doing, it wouldn't have mattered if the Comm system stayed on for the duration of the play.

On run downs, the Pats used a formations that eliminated the issues the Cowboys had against the Rams running game.

On pass downs the Pats often replaced 1 DT with either a LB or DB and had the remaining DT playing Zero Tech.
They still had the DEs out wide where they played in the 4 man line (i.e. 3 man line but not a 3-4 look).

The LBs were up near the line and the DT would at times stay standing up.
This allowed them to keep the Rams OLine off balance and prone to making mistakes.
Some combination of the 2 LBs behind the DL and a LB lined up on the line outside the DL would rush.

When /#55 (Simon) played DE he would often stand up and move around a bit to confuse the Rams blockers.

Basically what Rob Ryan tried to do with his "Amoeba" defense in the past, except the Pats actually execute it.

Summary:
The Pats won against the run with alignments that mucked up the Rams precision blocking scheme.

The Pat won against the pass with pressure on the QB due to confusing the Rams blockers and
often getting pressure while also having an extra LB or DB in coverage due to using a 3 man line.

 

[Floatyworm]

What are your "credentials" to break down film?

Zero.....besides...I'm 100% sure he's plagerising someone elses work. He wouldn't know the difference between an A-gap and an A-hole.

 

[xwalker]

yup, they run an offense that's like basketball. 2 options, see what defense is in then go fast. formation is same for 2 plays. they only run very few total but each is an option.
so there's no audibling but the coach is calling the option based off formation.

Yes, they have options built into their plays such that they can vary the play based on defensive alignment without having to call an audible.

They do audible at times, but their base concept is having options built into plays.

The option does not have to change the requirements for all players. Sometimes it might just change the play for the QB and 1 or 2 other players.