Player acquisition is a 365 day practice, Jerry needs to find a NT/DT to stop the run & no 1 WR

[OmerV]

It's not specifically NT, we need mashers up front, talented horses who won't be blocked.

It's not size, it's talent. Disruption.

The guy specifically said a Vita Vea type player. And he specifically talked about size. That's the context I was responding to.

My point was that a Vita Vea type player isn't easily attainable, and that it's possible to still have a strong run defense without that kind of player. I agree that disruption is the key.

I certainly don't oppose having players that are better against the run. I would love to have Vita Vea.

 

[kskboys]

not sure a DT would really make that much of a difference since most of the chunk runs are edge rushes.

Not true. Interior disruption is everything on D. Makes your D go. Unfortunately, Jerry thinks as you do, and it keeps killing us in the playoffs.

 

[kskboys]

The guy specifically said a Vita Vea type player. That's what I was responding to.

My point was that a Vita Vea type player isn't easily attainable, and that it's possible to still have a strong run defense without that kind of player.

I certainly don't oppose having players that are better against the run though. I would love to have Vita Vea.

Agree.

 

[Shane612]

As long as we're indulging in fantasies, can someone hook me up with Kate Beckinsale?

Y'all know Stephen and Jerry aren't considering any of these ideas, some of which aren't even possible.

They're fantasy football nerds.

 

[RonnieT24]

not sure a DT would really make that much of a difference since most of the chunk runs are edge rushes.

Yeah I don't know why people keep harping on the DTs when it comes to the run.. Yes they get beat at times but most of the big runs have come on the edges because our DEs have not set the edge or when they have our ILBs have not filled. On the Sanders TD the DT stopped the play in its tracks and all LVE had to do was scrape off him and fill and that's a 2 yard gain at most. Instead, LVE dips inside for some reason leaving Sanders a clear path to the end zone. Our ILBs and DEs are the ones getting run all over.. not our DTs. Tank is an excellent run defender, which is why most teams run away from him, and Golston is decent.. other than that all the DEs are bad.. LVE and Barr have shown flashes of being decent at run fits but overall I'd rate them no better than a C- at this point. We desperately need a Sean Lee to diagnose the edge runs and then shoot through to make the tackle. Can Damone Clark maybe be that guy?

 

[kskboys]

Yeah I don't know why people keep harping on the DTs when it comes to the run.. Yes they get beat at times but most of the big runs have come on the edges because our DEs have not set the edge or when they have our ILBs have not filled. On the Sanders TD the DT stopped the play in its tracks and all LVE had to do was scrape off him and fill and that's a 2 yard gain at most. Instead, LVE dips inside for some reason leaving Sanders a clear path to the end zone. Our ILBs and DEs are the ones getting run all over.. not our DTs. Tank is an excellent run defender, which is why most teams run away from him, and Golston is decent.. other than that all the DEs are bad.. LVE and Barr have shown flashes of being decent at run fits but overall I'd rate them no better than a C- at this point. We desperately need a Sean Lee to diagnose the edge runs and then shoot through to make the tackle. Can Damone Clark maybe be that guy?

Or, the LB's are being asked to do too much due to a lack of talent at DT.

 

[cnuball21]

I think our LBs and DEs not named Lawrence have been worse against the run than the DTs this year.

Of course would love to add another horse to the DT room but it all goes hand in hand…you need everyone doing their job to be good against the run.

 

[RonnieT24]

Or, the LB's are being asked to do too much due to a lack of talent at DT.

No the job of the DTs in the run game is to occupy blocks and let the LBs run free to the ball. In years past we would frequently see offensive linemen pushing the DTs back into our linebackers or getting out to the second level to get hands on them. That hasn't been the case to my eyes this year. I see the DTs winning or stalemating most of the time leaving the backers a path to the ballcarrier. The only ILB who can consistently go get the ballcarrier has been Micah.. Of course he was playing with that groin injury Sunday night so he was limited in that regard. The other backers simply have not diagnosed the play and shot in to make the tackle often enough despite the DTs allowing them the freedom to do so. I don't know if it's lack of recognition or lack of quickness or lack of want to.. but they are failing to get there all too often.

 

[Creeper]

The issue is not the DTs. Sure we could use a DT that can push the pocket and stuff the run, but the problem Dallas has is stopping the run is the runs between the DT and DE. The offense will double team the tackle with the C and G and the OT takes out the DE. That creates the hole. The problem is filling the hole. The Cowboys LBs have been slow to get to the opening or they go the wrong way. There was one play in the Eagles game where the Eagles ran to their left. The hole opened and LVE ran in to the pile created by the double team on the DT. The runner ran right by him. I have no idea what LVE was thinking but he should have run into the hole and stuffed the run at the LOS.

The Cowboys LBs don't avoid or get off blocks and that is why Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson are making so many tackles in the running game.

Also, some experts probably can opine on this a bit more but it seems to me the Cowboys to not emphasize stopping the run. LVE, for example, plays deeper than a lot of teams play their LBs when expecting a run. It takes LVE longer to get to the hole and the OL has more time to get out and block him.

What a stud DT would do is not allow the OG or C to peel off and get to the 2nd level to block a LB or Safety. A big run stuffing DT would help but it is not the main problem.

Also, the Eagles run the ball well because Hurts presents a different problem. You could see it several times Sunday night. The Cowboys had to keep an eye on Hurts in case he kept the ball which caused just a momentary hesitation.

 

[Dak_Attack_09]

The guy specifically said a Vita Vea type player. And he specifically talked about size. That's the context I was responding to.

My point was that a Vita Vea type player isn't easily attainable, and that it's possible to still have a strong run defense without that kind of player. I agree that disruption is the key.

I certainly don't oppose having players that are better against the run. I would love to have Vita Vea.

Even if the player is 80% Vita Vea it will improve this Defense to elite level. Vita Vea type of player who has size, strength and little bit of mobility to move around.

 

[John813]

I don't know if Matt Ioannidis has fallen off a cliff or not but wasn't he a good DT/3-4 DE for the Commanders?
Signed just for this year so not a bad rental option.
Would like Brown but he's still on a rookie deal/high price to move.

(Carolina players)

 

[fifaguy]

In b4 "we like our guys"..

 

[conner01]

not sure a DT would really make that much of a difference since most of the chunk runs are edge rushes.

We have a pretty solid dline
We give up the edge on run plays because we want the pass rush

 

[RonnieT24]

We have a pretty solid dline
We give up the edge on run plays because we want the pass rush

It's all about assignments.. The reason teams get us on the edges is that our inside linebackers don't find the ball and don't fill their gaps consistently. They do it at times but they fail as often as they succeed. So they will flash and make a big stop for a loss or no gain.. then give up 15 yards on the next play because they didn't recognize where the ball was going and not be in position when the runner turns up field. People talking about the DTs are ignoring the obvious. DTs are not meant to make a lot of tackles in this defense. That's not the design. It's a bonus when they do but most of the time they're just suppose to hold ground against the double team and not get pushed off the ball. They talk about our guys being undersized but Bohanna, Hill, and Gallimore have plenty of girth and do a decent job of holding their ground. What makes us undersized is when we use Lawrence and Golston at DTs and Kearse as a linebacker. which frankly I would not have done nearly as much against a running team like Philly as Quinn did.

 

[fivetwos]

It's all about assignments.. The reason teams get us on the edges is that our inside linebackers don't find the ball and don't fill their gaps consistently. They do it at times but they fail as often as they succeed. So they will flash and make a big stop for a loss or no gain.. then give up 15 yards on the next play because they didn't recognize where the ball was going and not be in position when the runner turns up field. People talking about the DTs are ignoring the obvious. DTs are not meant to make a lot of tackles in this defense. That's not the design. It's a bonus when they do but most of the time they're just suppose to hold ground against the double team and not get pushed off the ball. They talk about our guys being undersized but Bohanna, Hill, and Gallimore have plenty of girth and do a decent job of holding their ground. What makes us undersized is when we use Lawrence and Golston at DTs and Kearse as a linebacker. which frankly I would not have done nearly as much against a running team like Philly as Quinn did.

This is what I’ve been wondering. Doesn’t seem like our DTs are playing terribly, but we are getting gashed in the run game.

I wonder if moving Clarkes rehab along aggressively isn’t part of things that they know are a problem.

 

[glimmerman]

Yeah I wish we would not have lost Ridgeway. Not saying he was the answer but seemed to be that big dude with strength we talk about. Maybe he was nothing or maybe he helped improve our Defense in the middle. We HAVE GOT TO STOP THE RUN.

 

[RonnieT24]

This is what I’ve been wondering. Doesn’t seem like our DTs are playing terribly, but we are getting gashed in the run game.

I wonder if moving Clarkes rehab along aggressively isn’t part of things that they know are a problem.

Even the getting gashed part is not consistent. Sometimes they have looked like the 85 Bears in how they have attacked the line of scrimmage and the ballcarrier. It just hasn't been consistent.. and to my eye at least, the problem appears to be at DE and LB more so than DT. Not saying I'm 100% right.. but that's what it looks like to me.

 

[fivetwos]

Even the getting gashed part is not consistent. Sometimes they have looked like the 85 Bears in how they have attacked the line of scrimmage and the ballcarrier. It just hasn't been consistent.. and to my eye at least, the problem appears to be at DE and LB more so than DT. Not saying I'm 100% right.. but that's what it looks like to me.

Semantics on that one.

Yeah they play it well on some plays, then give up huge gains on others. I don’t know XO well enough to understand why, but it does appear that the second level is a tick slow to the ball.

 

[RonnieT24]

Yeah I wish we would not have lost Ridgeway. Not saying he was the answer but seemed to be that big dude with strength we talk about. Maybe he was nothing or maybe he helped improve our Defense in the middle. We HAVE GOT TO STOP THE RUN.

I think for our run defense to get where we want it two things absolutely have to happen.

1) The DEs have to quit hunting the QB on run downs, play assignment football and not get hooked inside and shed that damn tight end sent to block them on edge runs.
2) LBs have to get better and recognizing and filling. LVE and Barr have been terribly inconsistent about their run fits. Sometimes they see it and go get the ballcarrier and at other times they're standing flat footed waiting for the action to come to them or even running away from the ballcarrier for reasons only they can explain.

I don't have a big problem with how the DTs have performed. Yes they have given up some plays but by and large teams have not had a great deal of success between the tackles against us. It has been the edges where we have been whupped. Which frankly is an absolute mystery for a team with this much team speed on defense..

 

[RonnieT24]

Semantics on that one.

Yeah they play it well on some plays, then give up huge gains on others. I don’t know XO well enough to understand why, but it does appear that the second level is a tick slow to the ball.

In Barr's case it may be that he is thinking too much as he learns Quinn's system. I don't really have an answer for LVE. As I've mentioned many times. Armstrong, Parsons and Williams have not shown they can play the run well when it comes at them. I have always favored just blowing the whole thing up as the solution. I think having the ends play passive and trying to contain instead of attacking goes against what they are good at. Williams and Parsons have the speed to just go after the ballcarrier.. Let them do it.