This video guy continues to mislead Cowboys fans.
This video might be the worst analysis in the history of Cowboys football.
Video guy tries to take advantage of an existing narrative by creating his videos “analyzing” the problem.
Narrative: Robert Quinn was a bad run defender.
Reality: Quinn was not a plus run defender; however, the plays that video guy “analyzes” were actually plays where Quinn did his job vs the run.
The “analysis” is so bad that video guy repeatedly shows plays where the Cowboys should be praised for changing up from the primary style of run defense which had been the biggest problem going back to the Rams playoff game. If they had played this alternate style in the Rams playoff game they probably would have won.
Hint: You’ll need to keep reading to get the details of the “alternate style”; however, it’s basically having the DL “stay home” vs runs that start to the outside instead of vacating the inside trying to quickly get to the outside.
The problems with the video:
1:21
Video guy says "bad play by Quinn". In reality Quinn maintains outside contain (outside of his blocker). The RB cuts back all the way to the other side.
2:26
Video guy shows Michael Bennett and claims Quinn should play the same way. Video guy has no awareness that Bennett is playing LDE which is always the “Strong Side” in Marinelli's scheme. As the Strong Side DE Bennett is aligned right on the outside shoulder of the OT. In this play the 3tech DT is on the side with Bennett which means no open gap to the inside of Bennett.
Notice that Quinn as the RDE is aligned a full 2 positions further outside the OT (i.e. Quinn at 7tech, Bennett at 5tech).
3:09
Video guy shows that DLaw flows down the line as the backside DE. Video guys raves about how DLaw goes down the line instead of up-field like Quinn had done on the previous play as the backside defender. Big problem on that analysis...the OT moved down the line away from DLaw. Literally nobody was blocking him. No player would run up-field on that play.
On the previous play with Quinn, it was a different run play and the OT was blocking Quinn. It's not a remotely similar situation.
4:14 (note: this is an example of the alternate style)
The RB didn't gain yards on this play. Video guy complains about Quinn staying inside the TE. The run play was intended to be a cut back to the inside and Quinn was a major reason that didn't happen.
Video guy also can't understand that there are two basic ways the Cowboys defend these plays and it's based on the defensive play call.
The Cowboys going back to the Rams playoff game, had generally had the DL quickly moving laterally towards the outside on run plays that started to the outside. They had the DL (primarily the front side DT) taking themselves out of the inside leaving the inside vulnerable to the inside cut-back.
They finally started changing it up on occasion with the DL “staying home” and not jumping towards the outside. On this play the front side DT plays straight up by not initially moving outside of his original alignment. By seeing how the front-side DT played it tells us that Quinn was required by the defensive play call to play straight up which means inside the blocker on a play flowing outside.
The other clue is that the SS is aligned outside of Quinn. When a LB or SS is aligned outside the RDE, it means the RDE likely does not have outside contain responsibility (outside of his blocker).
6:40
Video guy now complains because Quinn stayed outside the LT. Notice that the 3 LBs are all aligned inside. There are no LBs or Safeties outside the LT. Quinn obviously has outside contain responsibility.
The problem on this play was a recurring problem where the backside OT is able to get inside the backside DT. That gives the backside OG a free release to get out and block LBs.
Jaylon hesitated a split second and the RB cuts all the back with the extra free OL blocking on the 2nd level.
7:17 (“alternate style” again)
Like one of the previous plays, the front-side DT plays straight up instead of jumping towards the outside. It is a designed cut back play but Quinn and the front-side DT stay inside and it's a no-gain play.
It's not obvious from this camera view, but Byron Jones is outside with no WR blocking him. Like the clue of seeing either a LB or Safety outside of Quinn, having a CB with no blocker also gives us a clue that Quinn might play the run to the inside (because of the play call, not because Quinn randomly makes that decision).
8:16 (“alternate style” again but offense schemed against it)
Again, SS aligned outside Quinn. Watching Quinn's hands show that he wanted to engage the LT but the LT blocked back to the inside with the LG and OC pulling around.
Like some previous plays, the backside DT is easily blocked by the OT giving the backside OG a free release to get out and block Jaylon.
The OC is able to pull around and block Lee.
The Cowboys tried to change things up by having the DL “stay home” instead of over-committing outside but the offense recognized what the Cowboys were trying to do and called a play to counter it.
It was a good schematic win for the offense on that play.
8:45
At least Video guy finally acknowledges that there is coordination between the DL and DE with regards to when the DE plays inside or outside vs the run. The problem is he seems to think the DE and LB just make up those rules themselves…Hello video guy, there are coaches that create schemes and force players to play by those scheme rules. Even if the coaches don’t do a great job of it, the coaches and scheme dictate those concepts.
It was obviously the defensive play call for Quinn to play inside and for Jaylon to have outside contain.
If Quinn had stayed outside then both Quinn and Jaylon would be on the outside because of the defensive play call.
Quinn was the primary force player on that play and it resulted in lost yards for the RB with Hill coming over to make the tackle.