Defense Pressure

[sportsman]

With the play of our CBs the defense other than Ware has to apply pressure. We are just not getting enough collapse in the middle of the line. Qbs are allowed to step up in the pocket to often.We just don't have enough big big uglies in the middle. That being said, Rob has done a great job with what he has to work with.

 

[Doomsday101]

With the play of our CBs the defense other than Ware has to apply pressure. We are just not getting enough collapse in the middle of the line. Qbs are allowed to step up in the pocket to often.We just don't have enough big big uglies in the middle. That being said, Rob has done a great job with what he has to work with.

Dallas will give up plays at time but we also make big plays. Ryan defense takes chances and with those chances you risk giving up a big play. Dallas right now is 7th in Ints and 6th in forced fumbles. If not mistaken we were not even close to being amongst the top last season in forcing turnovers

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The Cowboys are 5th in sacks.

That's a decent number.

The fact is you aren't going to get pressure on every single passing attempt... It just doesn't work that way.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I remember a thread the other week from coachscout where he talked about Ryan putting a lot of pressure on his DB's with his scheme and play calling.

Perhaps Jenkins returning will help, and perhaps he will switch a few things up a bit in the upcoming games.

 

[JoeCorrado]

The Cowboys are 5th in sacks.

That's a decent number.

The fact is you aren't going to get pressure on every single passing attempt... It just doesn't work that way.

We have a total of 30 sacks. There have been 381 pass attempts. That breaks down to one sack in every 13 attempts. There have been 234 completions against us. We are attacked through the air more than most teams for a good reason- and it ain't our great run defense.

We are giving up completions at a better than 60% clip, then the reality is that our pressure is not adequate- number of sacks is an illusion that some may wish to use as a crutch to support our pass defense but when we give up a pass completion on third and 7 or less, it is statistically speaking, an automatic first down. I realize that statistics lie, but our third down and long (more than 6 yards) is horrible. THAT is why teams throw against us- we don't make them pay. We allow the completions instead.

And that is a function of not getting pressure and by extension- giving up the completion and a first down. We solve that, we are looking pretty. Until we do- it is ugly.

We have to find a way to get pressure up the middle and have pressure from somewhere... anywhere, any angle, reach the QB in 3 seconds- that is the point of a blitz. A blitz that does not "pressure" the QB into rushing his throws before he can complete his reads, or pressure him into making a mistake- or even result in a sack- is by definition a failure... one that leaves us short handed on the other end, where the QB (even Grossman!) is finding the weakest point, the open guy, and making the completions that leave us looking ineffective... because that exactly is what we are- ineffective.

Is the ineffectiveness a sign of a poor play in the secondary, or is it a symptom of ineffective blitzing?

Ineffective blitzing, lack of pressure. And we sure can't get much pressure without blitzing. And in a 3-4 that means bringing a 5th rusher.

I would say play zone behind the blitz- but the QB is getting too much time and the receivers are sitting down in the open spaces, or the flats are not covered.

If we play man... good luck hanging tight on most receivers past 3 or 4 seconds max. Not happening. Pick your poison, or get some pressure.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

We have a total of 30 sacks. There have been 381 pass attempts. That breaks down to one sack in every 13 attempts. There have been 234 completions against us.

When we are giving up completions at a better than 60% clip, then the reality is that our pressure is not adequate- number of sacks is an illusion that some may wish to use as a crutch to support our pass defense but when we give up a pass completion on third and 7 or less, it is statistically speaking, an automatic first down. I realize that statistics lie, but our third down and long (more than 6 yards) is horrible.

And that is a function of not getting pressure and by extension- giving up the completion and a first down. We solve that, we are looking pretty. Until we do- it is ugly.

We have to find a way to get pressure up the middle and have pressure from somewhere... anywhere, any angle, reach the QB in 3 seconds- that is the point of a blitz. A blitz that does not "pressure" the QB into rushing his throws before he can complete his reads, or pressure him into making a mistake- or even result in a sack- is by definition a failure... one that leaves us short handed on the other end, where the QB (even Grossman!) is finding the weakest point, the open guy, and making the completions that leave us looking ineffective... because that exactly is what we are- ineffective.

Is the ineffectiveness a sign of a poor play in the secondary, or is it a symptom of ineffective blitzing?

Ineffective blitzing, lack of pressure. And we sure can't get much pressure without blitzing. And in a 3-4 that means bringing a 5th rusher.

I would say play zone behind the blitz- but the QB is getting too much time and the receivers are sitting down in the open spaces, or the flats are not covered.

If we play man... good luck hanging tight on most receivers past 3 or 4 seconds max. Not happening. Pick your poison, or get some pressure.

Hey I know what you're saying. And I think it has merit. I'm just not sure how much better you can make the pass rush... Is there some area of improvement possible? Sure there is. But it's not like you could realistically expect this (or any) team to have say 70 sacks.

Between 3 step drops and max protection, there are many times when you simply aren't going to get pressure. At that point the goes in the back 7 have to be able to cover... And we have guys who apparently can't.

 

[BAT]

With the play of our CBs the defense other than Ware has to apply pressure. We are just not getting enough collapse in the middle of the line. Qbs are allowed to step up in the pocket to often.We just don't have enough big big uglies in the middle. That being said, Rob has done a great job with what he has to work with.

I agree, Cowboys need more pressure players (and not just on D). There are some vets who might have a little left for the stretch run:

FB Lorenzo Neal, Will Ta'ufo'ou, Mitch King
KR Yamon Figurs, Bryan McCann, Trindon Holliday, Johnny Lee Higgins, Justin Miller
LB Julian Peterson, Lofa Tatupu, Keith Bullock, Roy L. Williams, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Tully Banta-Cain, Keith Darby
DL Trevor Pryce, Pat Williams, Antwan Odom
DB Darren Sharper, Shawn Springs, Eugene Wilson, Pat Watkins
QB Marc Bulger
OL Kevin Mawae, Damien Woody, Vince Manuwai,

 

[followthestar]

I seem to have noticed Ware usually staying deep on his pass rush - he prevents the deep drops and forces the QB to step up or roll out if he's going deep. I think they use him too much on the outside, but I understand he is our best at containment. We need pressure up the middle, IMO, to make our pass rush better. I would stunt Ware into the middle more often with one of our ILBs coming from outside. Overall, I'm happy though. We're winning and stopping most drives when we need to.

 

[The30YardSlant]

The Cowboys are 5th in sacks.

That's a decent number.

The fact is you aren't going to get pressure on every single passing attempt... It just doesn't work that way.

The problem is that we arent getting pressure without the blitz, thus meaning we blitz alot and it exposes our average secondary.

Teams are doubling and tripling Ware and nobody else is stepping up. Spencer and Ratliff, two supposed pass rushers, are getting one on one routinely and rarely beating it. I think I read somewhere that we only have four sacks all year rushing four or fewer.

The bottom line is that Ryan has some great blitz packages, but they work because of confusion and unblocked rushers, not because players are beating their matchups regularly.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Ware is a GREAT pass rusher. No one else on the defensive line does ****.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Ware is a GREAT pass rusher. No one else on the defensive line does ****.

Hatcher has had his moments this year, considering that he hasnt been an every down player most of the season. Ratliff and Spencer have been MIA though. Spencer has only four sacks and even that is misleading as two of them were on rollouts where he tripped the QB purely on accident. I think Ratliff has only one.

 

[jnday]

Hatcher has had his moments this year, considering that he hasnt been an every down player most of the season. Ratliff and Spencer have been MIA though. Spencer has only four sacks and even that is misleading as two of them were on rollouts where he tripped the QB purely on accident. I think Ratliff has only one.

I think you found the problem.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The problem is that we arent getting pressure without the blitz, thus meaning we blitz alot and it exposes our average secondary.

Teams are doubling and tripling Ware and nobody else is stepping up. Spencer and Ratliff, two supposed pass rushers, are getting one on one routinely and rarely beating it. I think I read somewhere that we only have four sacks all year rushing four or fewer.

The bottom line is that Ryan has some great blitz packages, but they work because of confusion and unblocked rushers, not because players are beating their matchups regularly.

That's not just a "Dallas Cowboy" problem.

That's league wide.

I'm not seeing very many, if any at all, consistently getting pressure without having to blitz. I'm talking Pittsburgh, Giants, GB, Baltimore... The rules are such that bringing 4 pass rushers vs. 5 pass blockers isn't a recipe for success when it comes to pressuring the passer.

 

[The30YardSlant]

That's not just a "Dallas Cowboy" problem.

That's league wide.

I'm not seeing very many, if any at all, consistently getting pressure without having to blitz. I'm talking Pittsburgh, Giants, GB, Baltimore... The rules are such that bringing 4 pass rushers vs. 5 pass blockers isn't a recipe for success when it comes to pressuring the passer.

That's just not true. Baltimore and Pittsburgh get very good pressure without blitzing, and when they do blitz they usually overwhelm the QB. Baltimore is #1 in the league in QB pressures per game. The Giants usually do but they have been hit with injuries along the front seven this year. The Packers are much liek us in that they need to blitz a lot to get pressure, you are right about that.

You don't have to get a ton of sacks to be getting great pressure. You just need to make the QB uncomfortable, and too often we don't do that.

 

[JoeCorrado]

That's not just a "Dallas Cowboy" problem.

That's league wide.

I'm not seeing very many, if any at all, consistently getting pressure without having to blitz. I'm talking Pittsburgh, Giants, GB, Baltimore... The rules are such that bringing 4 pass rushers vs. 5 pass blockers isn't a recipe for success when it comes to pressuring the passer.

All I want for Christmas is a defense like the Ravens have.

Those 9 sacks against the 49ers last week looked pretty effective to me. Even when they didn't get there Smith was almost whimpering at the thought that they might.

Man, now THAT is being effective!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

All I want for Christmas is a defense like the Ravens have.

Those 9 sacks against the 49ers last week looked pretty effective to me. Even when they didn't get there Smith was almost whimpering at the thought that they might.

Man, now THAT is being effective!

But they blitz a lot themselves.

 

[JoeCorrado]

But they blitz a lot themselves.

Quite effectively. Smith had deer in the headlight eyes all night long. :