How to improve the pass rush

[Trouty]

This is why I was praying on Gregory, a lot here scoffed at him from the gate, while I (foolishly) hoped we would get him back for the post-season. So much for that. Rue'ing hard on that, still, tho.

Agreed on Tapper, lord willing. And Collins' continued progress for this season. This offseason, it better be open ******* season on DE

 

[Cowboys22]

Teams are already under the salary cap.

No reason for any team to cut a player at this juncture unless they're a truly awful player.

Veterans are guaranteed their salaries for the full season so no gain in cutting them.

There could be incentives or future salaries they no longer want to be on the hook for. It's a longshot but how else can we get a few sacks down the stretch?

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Play David Irving more

 

[jobberone]

if you've noticed, our DEs play head up on the OT, even on passing downs. This alignment helps with our run defense, as the DE is essentially playing 2 gap. However, on passing downs, it is a liability for the pass rush for a DE because it is hard for the DE to get to the OTs outside shoulder without the OT getting his hands on him. To improve the rush, we need to implement more "wide 9" principles. This allows the DE to approach the OT from more of a 45 degree angle. And forces the OT to kick out wider. This gets the OT on a bigger island by himself and could free our DEs to rush around the edge or counter inside without running into the "trash" of the G. While there is downside of creating some rushing lanes, it's worth a shot. Just a thought.

My guess is they don't think that will help enough but they do rush from the 7 and 9. Crawford got a sack a week ago lining up in the 9. We don't have much in our DEs re bend and turn the corner.

 

[BAT]

Like I intended to suggest... our only sliver of hope to improve the pass rush would seem to be premised on Tapper's health.

Not making me feel all that confident then. Tapper not coming back THIS season and if Cowboys don't make moves to improve pass rush because they have Tapper then that is bad news.

Tapper is not a polished pass rusher at this point and is more suited stopping run on the strong side. Cowboys need a RDE.

 

[gimmesix]

Not saying I know better than him, but I did play college football and do have a trained eye. It's obvious to all of us that our front 4 is not generating pressure straight up, and these DE-DT stunts are not working either. Look at what DC Jim Schwartz (my college teammate) has done as PHI defensive coordinator with his wide 9 principles. They are generating a pass rush with no better talent at DE than we have IMO.

You think Philly doesn't have more talent than us at DE?

Connor Barwin had an 11.5-sack season even before he came to Philly and had 14.5 three years ago. Brandon Graham hasn't been great but has been in the 5.5 to 6.5 range fairly steadily the last four to five years. Even Vinny Curry had a nine-sack season three years ago.

We have DeMarcus Lawrence coming off a suspension and injury ... and not much else. Tyrone Crawford is a 3-tech playing out of position because we have nothing else. Benson Mayowa wasn't much more than promise when we brought him in and hasn't lived up to that. Jack Crawford is better as an inside rusher than outside rusher. Ryan Davis was a cast-off, although he did manage 6.5 sacks a couple of seasons ago for Jacksonville.

We just simply don't have the horses. Maybe if Tapper had not gotten hurt. Maybe if Gregory had not gotten suspended. But even then, it's mainly just a group of bodies help together by pads and tape. Lawrence is the only edge player we have on par with what Philly has.

 

[gimmesix]

Graham is a legitimate stud this year. One of the most productive pass rushers in the NFL. We have two Barwins, basically.

And neither of them are playing next to Cox.

I don't think we have two Barwins. Maybe one in Lawrence.

Tyrone Crawford is not an outside edge rusher. He simply does not have the type of speed for it, and if we're expecting him to do much more than occasionally use his power to get past a tackle and pressure the quarterback, we're expecting too much. It'll be nice when we find a starting-caliber edge rusher so Crawford can move back inside where he belongs. He has good quickness for the inside, which makes him effective at getting into the backfield to disrupt plays, but that quickness is negated on the outside.

Lawrence may be more effective at left end because he has good power but he's not a pure speed rusher like Gregory.

 

[jobberone]

I agree that we just don't have the guys that can get around the edge but look at how quick opposing QBs get rid of the ball against us.


It's not like the QB is just sitting back surveying the field. It's alot of 3 step drops and throw it to the checkdown over and over and over.

Cousins had all day to throw.

 

[pancakeman]

We can't cover even with 8 guys back there, might as well rush more than 4.

I see it the opposite way--we can't get to the QB even sending 5, might as well just use 3 or 4 and keep the rest back to cover.

 

[CATCH17]

Cousins had all day to throw.

Cousins took 3 steps drops and got rid of the ball quick.

Our defense gives up the underneath stuff and bets on you not cashing in when you get to the reDzone.



Dallas defense is TOP 10 in points allowed. The stat that matters more than sacks or anything else.


We give up 2.1 more points than the #1 team in points allowed.

 

[Verdict]

Crawford has to be let go after this season, that money better spent elsewhere

That is a possibility. Right now he is under performing his contract and is getting out performed by cheaper players. Having said that, I am not sure jettisoning Crawford is for sure the right move, yet.

 

[CATCH17]

I see it the opposite way--we can't get to the QB even sending 5, might as well just use 3 or 4 and keep the rest back to cover.

Exactly... Be conservative on defense and don't give up the big play.

 

[Common Sense]

That is a possibility. Right now he is under performing his contract and is getting out performed by cheaper players. Having said that, I am not sure jettisoning Crawford is for sure the right move, yet.

Too soon. You don't save any money by cutting him next year. Might as well move him back to 3T, draft a real DE, let Crawford rotate with Collins and see who wins the job.

 

[jobberone]

Cousins took 3 steps drops and got rid of the ball quick.

Our defense gives up the underneath stuff and bets on you not cashing in when you get to the reDzone.



Dallas defense is TOP 10 in points allowed. The stat that matters more than sacks or anything else.


We give up 2.1 more points than the #1 team in points allowed.

Yes he did.....some. He also had all day much of the time and I'm surprised he didn't complete more long passes. The fact they didn't is all on the good side of the DBs.

 

[CATCH17]

Yes he did.....some. He also had all day much of the time and I'm surprised he didn't complete more long passes. The fact they didn't is all on the good side of the DBs.

Look back on our season though.. We're not giving up a lot of long passes. We do a great job of making offenses play in front of us.

 

[jobberone]

Cousins took 3 steps drops and got rid of the ball quick.

Our defense gives up the underneath stuff and bets on you not cashing in when you get to the reDzone.



Dallas defense is TOP 10 in points allowed. The stat that matters more than sacks or anything else.


We give up 2.1 more points than the #1 team in points allowed.

You can't get the ball out in 2 seconds and make all those intermediate throws nor wait for people to come open in the back of the EZ etc. He passed quickly some and hung onto the ball long enough to make plays. So no he did not get rid of the ball quickly most of the time. He had too much time to throw and when we got some pressure finally he scrambled and made a pass or ran the ball.

 

[jobberone]

Look back on our season though.. We're not giving up a lot of long passes. We do a great job of making offenses play in front of us.

That I agree with.

 

[waldoputty]

That I agree with.

Does it seem like opponents are starting to throw more and more long?
It seemed like that started with Pittsburgh.
If true, Pittsburgh provided the proof of concept how to play us and others are simply copying.

 

[reddyuta]

Exactly... Be conservative on defense and don't give up the big play.

Sorry but this is a dumb strategy which will not work in the playoffs

Does it seem like opponents are starting to throw more and more long?
It seemed like that started with Pittsburgh.
If true, Pittsburgh provided the proof of concept how to play us and others are simply copying.

It's what happens when you lose 2 starters in the secondary.

 

[CATCH17]

Sorry but this is a dumb strategy which will not work in the playoffs


It's what happens when you lose 2 starters in the secondary.

It will work as long as our offense keeps running the ball effectively.

Again... They have to stop us too and we play keep away and not many teams are built to stop what we do.


You can't compare how the Cowboys play defense to a team that throws the all over the place with their offense.


We are different. Ball control offense makes us different.