I did a deep dive in our run defense after the Lions blowout loss last season. Not only did I look at the Cowboys but also around the league:
-I discovered that bigger personnel teams were more effective against the run. Also, the top run defenses employed a 3-4 front. Wanted a 3-4 defensive HC or DC and to re-shape the front with bigger players within the front 7. Cowboys management decided to not make the switch and would rather keep continuity playing a similar 4-3 scheme.
-When I researched the Cowboys specifically, they averaged 4.8 yards per rush (third worst), gave up 25 rushing TD's (worst) and were dead last in red zone defense. They actually were 9th in 3rd down defense, which tells us, they are getting killed on the run downs.
Outside runs gave this team fits: Early on both Parsons/DLaw struggled to set the edge, Golston was far better when he replaced DLaw as the starter. Parsons got better as the season progressed. Diggs who was the last line of the outside defense struggled filling his gap. Zimmer started to use more down lineman to force runs inside to was effective.
Especially early on, our defensive tackles were getting completely pushed down the field. Signing out of shape, late street fa's was apart of the problem. Phillips looked better with the Bills, Joseph played much better later in the season. Mazi had some real good stretches, but struggled with consistency. He played far better in year 2 under Zimmer. The interior was awful early on, but their play did improve.
Our linebackers really struggled to get off of blocks, Wilson was awful early on taking several bad angles and not maintaining his gap responsibilities. Maintaining gap responsibilities was a common theme, many were playing hero football and not maintaining their run fits, this opened up huge cut back lanes.
Lastly, Cowboys were a terrible tackling team early on in the season, but got much better under Zimmer as the season progressed, became the 2nd best after week 7.
Fixing the run defense, isn't just about upgrading Mazi Smith, he is the easy target but it is the whole front:
-Defensive Ends have to effectively set the edge and force all the runs inside where there are more players to make the tackle.
-Defensive Tackles have to hold their ground, cannot be 3 yards down the field, have to get some tackles for loss.
-Linebackers have to make quicker reads and do a better job getting off of blocks
-Cannot play hero ball and run out of their gap responsibilities
-Must continue to be a strong tackling team
-Consider using bigger fronts on the obvious run downs.
