This defense is still kind of "bend-but-don't-break". If this defense isn't getting turnovers or sacks, then they're not all that effective in most games. And you can only really get sacks if you can slow down the run enough to force a 3rd and long, and in many Cowboys games, they don't do that too often...because they can't stop the run. Quinn rarely brings any real pressure in the 1st quarter, and not even much in the first half. It's all safer defenses early on, making sure they keep everything in front of them...very little press coverage until they get to a 3rd down, and in some games, there's simply not enough 3rd downs.
So then it forces Dak and the offense to try to score early and often, so that the opposing team runs less. But if the Cowboys offense is slow out of the gate, and the defense doesn't simply hold the other team to FGs early on, then the Cowboys just seem to get behind and can't catch up. The defense's strengths are minimized right away if the Cowboys don't get a lead.
It's a conundrum, especially for Quinn. I think Quinn is going to have to get more aggressive early in the game, more 9 and 10 in the box to start the game...a COMMITMENT to stopping the run right away, even if it means giving up a big passing play early. The Cowboys Dee needs to set the tone on the first drive, not just play back and play "bend-but-don't-break", and hope for FGs. If we have good CBs, we're going to have to trust them early in the game so that everyone else can be around the LOS plugging up run gaps.
We'll see what they do against Miami, but the first few drives will tell us a lot.
