Pass Defense was elite potential!

CowboysFaninHouston said:
I beg to differ. You dont stop the run your pass rush becomes ineffective
Click to expand...
ChatGPT:

In the NFL, whether run defense or pass defense is more important depends on a team’s philosophy, personnel, and the modern game's strategic trends. However, pass defense is generally considered more critical in today’s NFL for several key reasons:



Why Pass Defense Is More Important Today​


  1. Passing Volume & Efficiency:
    • NFL teams pass more frequently than they run, especially in high-leverage situations (3rd down, late game).
    • Pass plays usually gain more yards per play than run plays, so stopping them is often more valuable.
  2. Quarterback-Centric League:
    • Offenses revolve around elite quarterbacks. If you can disrupt or limit a QB, you significantly impact an offense's effectiveness.
    • Cornerbacks and pass rushers are premium positions due to their role in countering top-tier passing attacks.
  3. Explosive Plays:
    • Most explosive plays (20+ yards) come via the air. Strong pass defenses limit big plays that change games quickly.
  4. Game Flow Considerations:
    • Teams often run when ahead to kill clock. Therefore, teams with good pass defenses can better maintain leads and stage comebacks.


️ But Run Defense Still Matters​


  • Physical Tone: Strong run defenses can set a physical tone and force offenses into 2nd-and-long or 3rd-and-long.
  • Red Zone & Short Yardage: Run defense is vital in goal-line situations or 3rd/4th-and-short.
  • Playoff Football: In colder months, run-heavy attacks can resurface, and run D becomes more relevant.


Analytics Perspective​


  • Metrics like EPA/play (Expected Points Added) and DVOA consistently show that pass defense has a greater correlation with winning than run defense.
  • Teams with elite pass defenses tend to rank higher overall, even if their run defense is average.


Summary​


In today’s NFL:


  • Pass defense is more strategically and statistically important.
  • Run defense is still essential, especially situationally and in specific matchups.

Would you like a breakdown of which teams excelled at each in the 2024 season?
 
Cowboyny said:
Wrote a post this week about concerns with the team's run defense, but if they can hold up on the early downs, they potentially could have special passing defense:

-They are loaded with edge rushers where several can be deployed in many spots. Parsons, Fowler are the proven guys, Ez is very advanced as a pass rusher heading into the league, then you have a player like Sam Williams on a contract year who might be the most talented out of the group not named Parson. Throw in Kneeland who has a non stop motor that was starting to figure it out prior to his injury and a player like Turner who was a former 1st rd selection. It is not a homer opinion, but the Cowboys might of the best group of pass rushers in the entire league and this is without Overshown who will come back at some point next season, hopefully fully healthy.

Keep in mind, Eberflus scheme is all about getting quick, up the field pressure and forcing the QB to throw quickly into tight windows. He has the players who can effectively accomplish that. It's all about surviving the run downs and unleashing hell!

-We do have health concerns about two potential starters at the corner position, but if all three get onto the field, the sky is the limit. First Revel at this same stage is the better prospect then both Diggs/Bland were. He was been recruited to transfer to all the power schools but decided he wanted to stay at East Carolina cause they gave him his chance. Diggs gets a ton of flack mainly cause of his tackling, but he has proven to be a lock down corner. He has had success against the top receivers in the game today. Bland is a turnover machine, still developing as a corner, but he is a true play maker at the position.

We hear that Eberflus wants to play a heavy zone scheme, so did Quinn and Zimmer, but they realized they have special man corners. Yes, he will disguise his coverages, but I am expecting a ton of press man cross the board. If the corners can play strong press coverage and our pass rush gets quick pressure, that is where all the turnovers start to happen like we saw two seasons ago.

This is why my first post was about their run defense, if they can just hold up, they could become an elite championship level defense. Teams are going to try to avoid the Cowboys pass rush at all costs, by running the football against this small front. This is why the defense success will be all about winning the early downs!
Click to expand...
Good write up.
 
Well, I mean as far as pass defense goes, Quinn got 'em a whole lotta turnovers 2 years in a row and a nice number of sacks too. Not sure where Zimmer's pass defense group stacked up last year numbers wise. What I do know is
Quinn's group led the league in turnovers caused and top 5 to 10 in sacks and that was a pretty good pass defense standard.
They just sucked at stopping the run.

I hope their pass defense is as good as Quinn's honestly.
The desperate need is at run defense improvement.
 
Last edited:
Wow.
I mean if a team doesn't even have to pass in order to score touchdowns then why is everyone trying to make this harder than it is?

If you can run at will on your opponent there's no need to pass.

A simple look at several Cowboy run defense failure losses last year and for probably going on a decade or more now will reveal the impact of run defense failure as the primary factor in most team losses.

Not even sure what else to say.

It's practically impossible to spin it to try and blame team failure on anything other than the number one reason is failure to stop the run.

It's trickle down effect has caused all facets of team functions to ultimately fail.
 
remember how the Saints beat us? maybe playing more zone is the way to go prevent big throws.
 
Cowboyny said:
Wrote a post this week about concerns with the team's run defense, but if they can hold up on the early downs, they potentially could have special passing defense:

-They are loaded with edge rushers where several can be deployed in many spots. Parsons, Fowler are the proven guys, Ez is very advanced as a pass rusher heading into the league, then you have a player like Sam Williams on a contract year who might be the most talented out of the group not named Parson. Throw in Kneeland who has a non stop motor that was starting to figure it out prior to his injury and a player like Turner who was a former 1st rd selection. It is not a homer opinion, but the Cowboys might of the best group of pass rushers in the entire league and this is without Overshown who will come back at some point next season, hopefully fully healthy.

Keep in mind, Eberflus scheme is all about getting quick, up the field pressure and forcing the QB to throw quickly into tight windows. He has the players who can effectively accomplish that. It's all about surviving the run downs and unleashing hell!

-We do have health concerns about two potential starters at the corner position, but if all three get onto the field, the sky is the limit. First Revel at this same stage is the better prospect then both Diggs/Bland were. He was been recruited to transfer to all the power schools but decided he wanted to stay at East Carolina cause they gave him his chance. Diggs gets a ton of flack mainly cause of his tackling, but he has proven to be a lock down corner. He has had success against the top receivers in the game today. Bland is a turnover machine, still developing as a corner, but he is a true play maker at the position.

We hear that Eberflus wants to play a heavy zone scheme, so did Quinn and Zimmer, but they realized they have special man corners. Yes, he will disguise his coverages, but I am expecting a ton of press man cross the board. If the corners can play strong press coverage and our pass rush gets quick pressure, that is where all the turnovers start to happen like we saw two seasons ago.

This is why my first post was about their run defense, if they can just hold up, they could become an elite championship level defense. Teams are going to try to avoid the Cowboys pass rush at all costs, by running the football against this small front. This is why the defense success will be all about winning the early downs!
Click to expand...
They're certainly not devoid of talent. It really is just the lack of run support that cripples the defense's potential. Teams know if they stick with the run, the D will break.

And unfortunately, I really don't see it improving much unless one or two of the newer players can come to aid in a big way.
 
Cowboyny said:
Wrote a post this week about concerns with the team's run defense, but if they can hold up on the early downs, they potentially could have special passing defense:

-They are loaded with edge rushers where several can be deployed in many spots. Parsons, Fowler are the proven guys, Ez is very advanced as a pass rusher heading into the league, then you have a player like Sam Williams on a contract year who might be the most talented out of the group not named Parson. Throw in Kneeland who has a non stop motor that was starting to figure it out prior to his injury and a player like Turner who was a former 1st rd selection. It is not a homer opinion, but the Cowboys might of the best group of pass rushers in the entire league and this is without Overshown who will come back at some point next season, hopefully fully healthy.

Keep in mind, Eberflus scheme is all about getting quick, up the field pressure and forcing the QB to throw quickly into tight windows. He has the players who can effectively accomplish that. It's all about surviving the run downs and unleashing hell!

-We do have health concerns about two potential starters at the corner position, but if all three get onto the field, the sky is the limit. First Revel at this same stage is the better prospect then both Diggs/Bland were. He was been recruited to transfer to all the power schools but decided he wanted to stay at East Carolina cause they gave him his chance. Diggs gets a ton of flack mainly cause of his tackling, but he has proven to be a lock down corner. He has had success against the top receivers in the game today. Bland is a turnover machine, still developing as a corner, but he is a true play maker at the position.

We hear that Eberflus wants to play a heavy zone scheme, so did Quinn and Zimmer, but they realized they have special man corners. Yes, he will disguise his coverages, but I am expecting a ton of press man cross the board. If the corners can play strong press coverage and our pass rush gets quick pressure, that is where all the turnovers start to happen like we saw two seasons ago.

This is why my first post was about their run defense, if they can just hold up, they could become an elite championship level defense. Teams are going to try to avoid the Cowboys pass rush at all costs, by running the football against this small front. This is why the defense success will be all about winning the early downs!
Click to expand...
Was or is elite potential?

Part of having an elite pass defense is putting offenses in obvious passing situations. If we can not stop the run, not sure we if we will reach any potential in pass defense.
 
Chasing6 said:
Was or is elite potential?

Part of having an elite pass defense is putting offenses in obvious passing situations. If we can not stop the run, not sure we if we will reach any potential in pass defense.
Click to expand...
That is the big IF.
 
Ironicalicon said:
They're certainly not devoid of talent. It really is just the lack of run support that cripples the defense's potential. Teams know if they stick with the run, the D will break.

And unfortunately, I really don't see it improving much unless one or two of the newer players can come to aid in a big way.
Click to expand...
What we also need to take into account is the scheme, will Eberflus come up with creative ways schematically to play better against the run?
 
Cowboyny said:
It wouldn’t surprise me if Dan Quinn or his former DL coach in Seattle has some interest
Click to expand...
Side note. Washington literally has no pass rushers. I think they believe they were going to get the Bengals pass rusher through a trade. They might have made a big mistake passing over EZ. Talk about players to compare during the season, the Oregon tackle and EZ. We really have a good chance to finish second in the NFC East.
 
goshann said:
ChatGPT:

In the NFL, whether run defense or pass defense is more important depends on a team’s philosophy, personnel, and the modern game's strategic trends. However, pass defense is generally considered more critical in today’s NFL for several key reasons:



Why Pass Defense Is More Important Today​


  1. Passing Volume & Efficiency:
    • NFL teams pass more frequently than they run, especially in high-leverage situations (3rd down, late game).
    • Pass plays usually gain more yards per play than run plays, so stopping them is often more valuable.
  2. Quarterback-Centric League:
    • Offenses revolve around elite quarterbacks. If you can disrupt or limit a QB, you significantly impact an offense's effectiveness.
    • Cornerbacks and pass rushers are premium positions due to their role in countering top-tier passing attacks.
  3. Explosive Plays:
    • Most explosive plays (20+ yards) come via the air. Strong pass defenses limit big plays that change games quickly.
  4. Game Flow Considerations:
    • Teams often run when ahead to kill clock. Therefore, teams with good pass defenses can better maintain leads and stage comebacks.


️ But Run Defense Still Matters​


  • Physical Tone: Strong run defenses can set a physical tone and force offenses into 2nd-and-long or 3rd-and-long.
  • Red Zone & Short Yardage: Run defense is vital in goal-line situations or 3rd/4th-and-short.
  • Playoff Football: In colder months, run-heavy attacks can resurface, and run D becomes more relevant.


Analytics Perspective​


  • Metrics like EPA/play (Expected Points Added) and DVOA consistently show that pass defense has a greater correlation with winning than run defense.
  • Teams with elite pass defenses tend to rank higher overall, even if their run defense is average.


Summary​


In today’s NFL:


  • Pass defense is more strategically and statistically important.
  • Run defense is still essential, especially situationally and in specific matchups.

Would you like a breakdown of which teams excelled at each in the 2024 season?
Click to expand...
Pass defense like pass offense generally wins in the regular season but in the playoffs you better be able to run and stop the run. We saw this the last 3 times we were in the playoffs.
 
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