DC.COM Blog: Max Protections, No Rotation Slow Pass Rush

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by jellis at 9/26/2009 1:30 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

Even though they have no sacks in back to back games for the first time since 2001, everyone knows the Cowboys can get to the quarterback.

In fact, that's part of the reason the Cowboys have gone sackless. After leading the league with 59 last year, teams have decided they have to max protect, keeping tight ends and running backs in to block, especially on third downs in known passing situation.

It's something the Cowboys have seen before, but maybe not to this extent. Heading into Monday night's game against the Panthers, Wade Phillips and his team are looking for new ways to get after the quarterback.

The coach said the Cowboys had been close on third downs, and they do have a number of hits on opposing passers, they just haven't gotten there in time.

Part of the problem, Phillips says, is the Cowboys don't have a good rotation of pass rushers right now.

"I do think we’ve had a tough time at the end of ball games the last two games," Phillips said. "Some of it is not having a rotation with the three backers, I think, having two backers playing every play basically, so we’re trying to eleviate that and work some other guys in so they’ll be fresher at the end of the game."

Monday could be the Cowboys debut of outside linebacker Curtis Johnson, who the team signed off waivers from Indianapolis during the preseason and has yet to play while recovering from a hamstring injury.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Then combat that by showing blitz, and dropping back in coverage.

A 3-man zone blitz could be nice after a 9 man front.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Then combat that by showing blitz, and dropping back in coverage.

A 3-man zone blitz could be nice after a 9 man front.

The real problem is the corners and Campo's lousy coaching job of them. In '07 we had 19 picks with Bowles as the DB coach and we had 46 sacks. In '08 we went up to 59 sacks, but with Campo as the coach we only had 8 picks. Now in '09 the opposing offenses are using a massive amount of max protect and we can't stop the pass. We should have the advantage in pass coverage. So dropping more in coverage probably won't work either, even if we show blitz.




YAKUZA

 

[landryscorner]

Man I've been saying this since Monday...here's how to beat the Cowboys. Shootout...Dallas will score points on offense you have to outscore them how??? easy Max protect and depend on your receivers against our weak secondary and abandon the run atleast until they have a good lead. Bootlegs will kill us...lets hope this doesnt happen.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Posted by jellis at 9/26/2009 1:30 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

Even though they have no sacks in back to back games for the first time since 2001, everyone knows the Cowboys can get to the quarterback.

In fact, that's part of the reason the Cowboys have gone sackless. After leading the league with 59 last year, teams have decided they have to max protect, keeping tight ends and running backs in to block, especially on third downs in known passing situation.

It's something the Cowboys have seen before, but maybe not to this extent. Heading into Monday night's game against the Panthers, Wade Phillips and his team are looking for new ways to get after the quarterback.

The coach said the Cowboys had been close on third downs, and they do have a number of hits on opposing passers, they just haven't gotten there in time.

Part of the problem, Phillips says, is the Cowboys don't have a good rotation of pass rushers right now.

"I do think we’ve had a tough time at the end of ball games the last two games," Phillips said. "Some of it is not having a rotation with the three backers, I think, having two backers playing every play basically, so we’re trying to eleviate that and work some other guys in so they’ll be fresher at the end of the game."

Monday could be the Cowboys debut of outside linebacker Curtis Johnson, who the team signed off waivers from Indianapolis during the preseason and has yet to play while recovering from a hamstring injury.

Hmmmmm now the great defensive coordinator says that we dont have enough backers to spell players, how come you let greg ellis go then wade/ without having a proven player to back him up

wade is always giving excuses

 

[Hoov]

i think they planned on letting some of the rookies get some time in, but the injuries in preseason left them without depth

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Man boobs didn't think this would be a problem at the start of the season????

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Man boobs didn't think this would be a problem at the start of the season????

Parcells?

 

[Beast_from_East]

If opposing teams are going max protect, then that means no more than 3 receivers going downfield.

How the hell can our secondary not cover 3 freaking receivers???


Now StayPuff says we dont have any depth and our defense is getting tired at the end of the game.

W T F !!!!!!


So we have discovered so far this year that we cannot run blitz (see Tampa game), we cannot play man coverage (see Giants game) and now our fearless leader StayPuff says our defense gets tired because we do not have any depth in with to rotate with, thus guys have to play the whole game.


Hey fatboy Wade, enough with the excuses. There is winning and there is not winning, there is nothing else. If you blow another home game, I would start packing if I were you.

 

[theogt]

Man I've been saying this since Monday...here's how to beat the Cowboys. Shootout.

Scoring a lot of points is usually a good way to beat a team, yes.

 

[NextGenBoys]

The real problem is the corners and Campo's lousy coaching job of them. In '07 we had 19 picks with Bowles as the DB coach and we had 46 sacks. In '08 we went up to 59 sacks, but with Campo as the coach we only had 8 picks. Now in '09 the opposing offenses are using a massive amount of max protect and we can't stop the pass. We should have the advantage in pass coverage. So dropping more in coverage probably won't work either, even if we show blitz.




YAKUZA

You make a point.

I'm not ready to give up on this defense just yet though. We'll create turnovers, we'll be fine.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

LINK

Posted by jellis at 9/26/2009 1:30 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

Even though they have no sacks in back to back games for the first time since 2001, everyone knows the Cowboys can get to the quarterback.

In fact, that's part of the reason the Cowboys have gone sackless. After leading the league with 59 last year, teams have decided they have to max protect, keeping tight ends and running backs in to block, especially on third downs in known passing situation.

It's something the Cowboys have seen before, but maybe not to this extent. Heading into Monday night's game against the Panthers, Wade Phillips and his team are looking for new ways to get after the quarterback.

The coach said the Cowboys had been close on third downs, and they do have a number of hits on opposing passers, they just haven't gotten there in time.

Part of the problem, Phillips says, is the Cowboys don't have a good rotation of pass rushers right now.

"I do think we’ve had a tough time at the end of ball games the last two games," Phillips said. "Some of it is not having a rotation with the three backers, I think, having two backers playing every play basically, so we’re trying to eleviate that and work some other guys in so they’ll be fresher at the end of the game."

Monday could be the Cowboys debut of outside linebacker Curtis Johnson, who the team signed off waivers from Indianapolis during the preseason and has yet to play while recovering from a hamstring injury.