Image: Jeff Cavanaugh: Cowboys should open with 3WR, Broaddus: Cowboys OL matches up well with Lions DL

[perrykemp]

The fact they run their defense like that leads me to believe they trust in their front and don't trust their secondary.

If your team is ranked #1 in the NFL against the run in both total yards allowed and ypc and you are able to do it out of a nickel-defense, why wouldn't you?

I don't see this as Detroit not trusting their secondary -- I see it as Detroit taking advantage of one of their greatest strengths -- they have a DL and LB who plays in the nickel in Levy that are superb run defenders. The bonus is that they get to allocate an extra defender to the pass defense not because they have to but because they generally a 7th guy helping against the run.

Usually dominant 4-3 fronts are great pass-rushers -- the Lion's DL actually isn't all that good at pass rushing. Their speciality is stopping the run.

 

[jobberone]

It probably depends more on how they view Romo vs. Rodgers. I had initially thought that the Lions would not continue giving this look throughout their game given they got gashed to oblivion on the first drive. But here they are deep into the second quarter with only 6 in the box against a 22 formation. Not sure if that's just serious disrespect for the Packers running game or serious respect for Rodgers.

Looks like an 12 but the point remains those are some huge holes. Det must think they can bone on bone and pinch the running lane. I don't know who's in the B gap on the strong side but it appears to be a LBer although it may be the DT. Hopefully the LG takes the RDT inside and the center gets a helmet on 57 and Murray runs thru the left B gap. All kinds of ways to beat that. You don't know where the safeties are though and they can sneak up on the LOS just before the snap.

 

[Chuck 54]

Let's just hope we don't come out with 3 TEs and pull them in....that has been our MO for short yardage and goal line at times instead of spreading teams out.

 

[jobberone]

Let's just hope we don't come out with 3 TEs and pull them in....that has been our MO for short yardage and goal line at times instead of spreading teams out.

You got any numbers for running out of a posse formation?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

They lined up like this on the first play of the Packers game. Lacy went for 22 yards. No way they do that against us. Looks like this is the same play as the first tweet posted above.

Yeah but didn't Lacy carry 5 guys on him for about 20 of those yards lol

 

[WoodysGirl]

 

[punchnjudy]

Yeah, I really don't see Dallas getting tackled for many losses running against fronts like that. If Detroit plays it that way, run like crazy. Main thing would be staying disciplined enough to avoid penalties but that's true with any strategy.