How big of an advantage to the Cowboys have knowing the NE D?

[AtlCB]

Belicheat plays the same type of 3-4 that Parcells plays. The Cowboys' players should be very familiar with this defense. Do they have a big advantage?

 

[joseephuss]

Does he? I know they worked together for a long time, but it seems as their philosophies are a bit different. Wasn't that a squabbling point between the two of them? Little Bill uses a lot of different fronts and formations and blitzes. Big Bill played it straight most of the time. I would say that Belichek and Phillips have more in common than either of them to Parcells.

 

[AtlCB]

Does he? I know they worked together for a long time, but it seems as their philosophies are a bit different. Wasn't that a squabbling point between the two of them? Little Bill uses a lot of different fronts and formations and blitzes. Big Bill played it straight most of the time. I would say that Belichek and Phillips have more in common than either of them to Parcells.

Both Parcells and Belichick's defenses are based on a 2-gap system. Phillips' defense is a one-gap aggressive defense.

 

[superpunk]

Both Parcells and Belichick's defenses are based on a 2-gap system. Phillips' defense is a one-gap aggressive defense.

I don't think you can classify any defense as exclusively one or the other.

I also don't think familiarity with the style will make an enormous difference either way, since Bellichick changes things up so much from week to week.