theogt
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November 14, 2007
Closer look at the Calling All Pass Rushers package
In this week's Tale of the Tape, Albert "Einstein" Breer mentioned the passing-situation package that puts DeMarcus Ware, Greg Ellis and Anthony Spencer all on the field together.
This is something the Cowboys have toyed with since Ellis' return, but it was a major part of the game plan for the first time against the Giants.
The Cowboys' three best pass rushers are joined up front by NT Jay Ratliff and DE Jason Hatcher. LB Kevin Burnett and the Cowboys' regular nickel secondary (three CBs and two starting safeties) are the rest of the guys on the field.
The goal is to get as many mismatches up front as possible. The Cowboys were able to confuse the Giants on several occasions by moving the primo pass rushers around, often shifting just before the snap. Ratliff's ability to drop back in coverage -- he played safety and linebacker in high school -- aids the Cowboys' ability to be creative with their rushes out of this personnel package.
Follow the jump for a breakdown of the dozen times the Cowboys' three edge rushers were on the field together.
For each play, I'll list the situation, where the three pass rushers lined up, who blocked them and what happened on the play.
Situation: Third-and-6 from the Cowboys 44, Giants' first possession
Ware: Lined up on RG's outside shoulder.
Ellis: Lined up at LOLB.
Spencer: Lined up over center, standing up.
What happened: Giants called timeout.
Situation: Third-and-6 from the Cowboys 44, Giants' first possession
Ware: Lined up at ROLB, popping up from 3-point stance as play clock ticked down.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE.
Spencer: Lined up at LOLB, shifting from inside.
What happened: Spencer jumped offsides.
Situation: Third-and-8 at 50, Giants' last possession of first quarter.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by RT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG.
Spencer: Lined up at ROLB, doubled by LT and RB.
What happened: Ken Hamlin intercepted the pass after Ellis bull-rushed the RG and hit Eli Manning's wrist as he threw. Cowboys came with four-man rush, with Ratliff dropping to cover short middle zone.
Situation: Third-and-20 at Giants 32, right before first half two-minute warning.
Ware: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by LT with chip from RB.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE over RG, doubled by RG and RT with RG trying to peel back to help on Spencer.
Spencer: Lined up at LOLB, shifting late after standing behind Ellis, blocked by TE.
What happened: Spencer whipped Jeremy Shockey and got to Manning before the RG could help. Sack for loss of 12 yards. Cowboys came with four-man rush, with Ratliff floating out in the flat.
Situation: Third-and-8 at Giants 49, Giants' first possession of third quarter.
Ware: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by RB.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, splitting out wide, blocked by RT.
Spencer: Lined up at RDE, standing up over TE, blocked by C after stunting inside.
What happened: Ware whipped Brandon Jacobs to force Manning to get rid of the ball before he wanted. Shockey gained 6 yards on reception, forcing a punt. Ellis got good bullrush on RT. Cowboys came with five-man rush.
Situation: Third-and-5 from Cowboys 46, last drive of third quarter.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE.
Spencer: Lined up at RILB.
What happened: Delay of game.
Situation: Third-and-10 from Giants 49, last drive of third quarter.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by LT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG with help from C.
Spencer: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by TE with late help from LT.
What happened: Ware almost got to Manning, but Manning hit Amani Toomer on a slant for a 23-yard gain. Cowboys came with four-man rush, with Ratliff floating out into flat.
Situation: Third-and-8 from Giants 25, midway through fourth quarter.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by RT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG with C help.
Spencer: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by LT.
What happened: Four-man rush (Ratliff dropping to cover short middle) didn't get pressure on Manning, who completed a 10-yard pass to Shockey.
Situation: First-and-10 from Giants 35, next play
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by RT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG with C help.
Spencer: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by LT with chip from RB.
What happened: Giants went no-huddle, and Cowboys came with same rush. Manning hit TE Kevin Boss on a corner route for an 18-yard gain.
Situation: First-and-10 from Cowboys 37, two plays later.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by RT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG with C help.
Spencer: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by LT.
What happened: Draw to Jacobs for 6 yards.
Situation: Second-and-4 from Cowboys 31, next play.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by RT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG.
Spencer: Lined up at RILB, dropped into coverage.
What happened: Burnett came free on blitz between C and RG, hitting Manning and forcing an incomplete pass.
Posted by Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:50 PM (E-mail this entry)
Practice Report
Here's what the Cowboys turned in to the league:
DID NOT PRACTICE: WR Terry Glenn (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB Anthony Henry (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Isaiah Stanback (shoulder)
Posted by Albert Breer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:39 PM (E-mail this entry) Permalink | Comments (0)
At practice ...
The only guy on the 53-man not in attendance was WR Terry Glenn, so the Cowboys' good health has rolled on. Here's what else we got:
-- CB Anthony Henry still isn't running with the first group, which is an indication he may still be limited on Sunday. In two games since returning from his high ankle sprain, Henry has worked as the team's right corner in nickel and dime looks, with Terence Newman moving to the slot in those situations.
-- WR Isaiah Stanback looks ready to go. He wasn't held back at all, and this marks his second practice back in drills.
Posted by Albert Breer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 1:40 PM (E-mail this entry) Permalink | Comments (5)
Closer look at the Calling All Pass Rushers package
In this week's Tale of the Tape, Albert "Einstein" Breer mentioned the passing-situation package that puts DeMarcus Ware, Greg Ellis and Anthony Spencer all on the field together.
This is something the Cowboys have toyed with since Ellis' return, but it was a major part of the game plan for the first time against the Giants.
The Cowboys' three best pass rushers are joined up front by NT Jay Ratliff and DE Jason Hatcher. LB Kevin Burnett and the Cowboys' regular nickel secondary (three CBs and two starting safeties) are the rest of the guys on the field.
The goal is to get as many mismatches up front as possible. The Cowboys were able to confuse the Giants on several occasions by moving the primo pass rushers around, often shifting just before the snap. Ratliff's ability to drop back in coverage -- he played safety and linebacker in high school -- aids the Cowboys' ability to be creative with their rushes out of this personnel package.
Follow the jump for a breakdown of the dozen times the Cowboys' three edge rushers were on the field together.
For each play, I'll list the situation, where the three pass rushers lined up, who blocked them and what happened on the play.
Situation: Third-and-6 from the Cowboys 44, Giants' first possession
Ware: Lined up on RG's outside shoulder.
Ellis: Lined up at LOLB.
Spencer: Lined up over center, standing up.
What happened: Giants called timeout.
Situation: Third-and-6 from the Cowboys 44, Giants' first possession
Ware: Lined up at ROLB, popping up from 3-point stance as play clock ticked down.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE.
Spencer: Lined up at LOLB, shifting from inside.
What happened: Spencer jumped offsides.
Situation: Third-and-8 at 50, Giants' last possession of first quarter.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by RT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG.
Spencer: Lined up at ROLB, doubled by LT and RB.
What happened: Ken Hamlin intercepted the pass after Ellis bull-rushed the RG and hit Eli Manning's wrist as he threw. Cowboys came with four-man rush, with Ratliff dropping to cover short middle zone.
Situation: Third-and-20 at Giants 32, right before first half two-minute warning.
Ware: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by LT with chip from RB.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE over RG, doubled by RG and RT with RG trying to peel back to help on Spencer.
Spencer: Lined up at LOLB, shifting late after standing behind Ellis, blocked by TE.
What happened: Spencer whipped Jeremy Shockey and got to Manning before the RG could help. Sack for loss of 12 yards. Cowboys came with four-man rush, with Ratliff floating out in the flat.
Situation: Third-and-8 at Giants 49, Giants' first possession of third quarter.
Ware: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by RB.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, splitting out wide, blocked by RT.
Spencer: Lined up at RDE, standing up over TE, blocked by C after stunting inside.
What happened: Ware whipped Brandon Jacobs to force Manning to get rid of the ball before he wanted. Shockey gained 6 yards on reception, forcing a punt. Ellis got good bullrush on RT. Cowboys came with five-man rush.
Situation: Third-and-5 from Cowboys 46, last drive of third quarter.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE.
Spencer: Lined up at RILB.
What happened: Delay of game.
Situation: Third-and-10 from Giants 49, last drive of third quarter.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by LT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG with help from C.
Spencer: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by TE with late help from LT.
What happened: Ware almost got to Manning, but Manning hit Amani Toomer on a slant for a 23-yard gain. Cowboys came with four-man rush, with Ratliff floating out into flat.
Situation: Third-and-8 from Giants 25, midway through fourth quarter.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by RT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG with C help.
Spencer: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by LT.
What happened: Four-man rush (Ratliff dropping to cover short middle) didn't get pressure on Manning, who completed a 10-yard pass to Shockey.
Situation: First-and-10 from Giants 35, next play
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by RT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG with C help.
Spencer: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by LT with chip from RB.
What happened: Giants went no-huddle, and Cowboys came with same rush. Manning hit TE Kevin Boss on a corner route for an 18-yard gain.
Situation: First-and-10 from Cowboys 37, two plays later.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by RT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG with C help.
Spencer: Lined up at ROLB, blocked by LT.
What happened: Draw to Jacobs for 6 yards.
Situation: Second-and-4 from Cowboys 31, next play.
Ware: Lined up at LOLB, blocked by RT.
Ellis: Lined up at LDE, blocked by RG.
Spencer: Lined up at RILB, dropped into coverage.
What happened: Burnett came free on blitz between C and RG, hitting Manning and forcing an incomplete pass.
Posted by Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:50 PM (E-mail this entry)
Practice Report
Here's what the Cowboys turned in to the league:
DID NOT PRACTICE: WR Terry Glenn (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB Anthony Henry (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Isaiah Stanback (shoulder)
Posted by Albert Breer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 2:39 PM (E-mail this entry) Permalink | Comments (0)
At practice ...
The only guy on the 53-man not in attendance was WR Terry Glenn, so the Cowboys' good health has rolled on. Here's what else we got:
-- CB Anthony Henry still isn't running with the first group, which is an indication he may still be limited on Sunday. In two games since returning from his high ankle sprain, Henry has worked as the team's right corner in nickel and dime looks, with Terence Newman moving to the slot in those situations.
-- WR Isaiah Stanback looks ready to go. He wasn't held back at all, and this marks his second practice back in drills.
Posted by Albert Breer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 1:40 PM (E-mail this entry) Permalink | Comments (5)