Reasons for the Soft Zone???

[Rounder]

What seems more likely?

Our corners can't play man coverage or our front 8 can't be trusted to get to the QB?

 

[links18]

The function of the soft zone in Phillips' philosophy is to keep the receivers in front of the defense and prevent giving up the big play. Phillips' philosophy is supposed to center on getting consistent pressure on the QB, but he plays the zone so that in case the pressure doesn't get there, the QB has to throw underneath. This is supposed to lengthen the game for the opposing offense, giving the pressure more chances to get to the QB and make a play (sack, turnover, force a bad throw into the zone for an INT), etc.

The problem is we have just not been able to get consistent pressure on the QB and force many mistakes, so opposing offenses have been driving the field.

We are also supposed to have a powerful enough offense that we are supposed to outscore our opponents, but we have has a problem doing that lately--which is why Jerry traded for RW...

 

[NextGenBoys]

What seems more likely?

Our corners can't play man coverage or our front 8 can't be trusted to get to the QB?

My question to you. Have you ever seen a hard zone?

 

[Paniolo22]

The function of the soft zone in Phillips' philosophy is to keep the receivers in front of the defense and prevent giving up the big play. Phillips' philosophy is supposed to center on getting consistent pressure on the QB, but he plays the zone so that in case the pressure doesn't get there, the QB has to throw underneath. This is supposed to lengthen the game for the opposing offense, giving the pressure more chances to get to the QB and make a play (sack, turnover, force a bad throw into the zone for an INT), etc.

The problem is we have just not been able to get consistent pressure on the QB and force many mistakes, so opposing offenses have been driving the field.

We are also supposed to have a powerful enough offense that we are supposed to outscore our opponents, but we have has a problem doing that lately--which is why Jerry traded for RW...

Also, the CB's should be able to keep an eye on the qb and pounce on mistakes, but as you say, no pressure = accurate passes = very few turnovers.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

a little of both

 

[AdamJT13]

As links18 said, it's to avoid giving up big plays. We've allowed only 11 passes of 20-plus yards, which is seventh-best in the NFL. If not for a couple of breakdowns, we'd be tied for first.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I have nothing against playing off (Wade's philosphy to capitalize on mistakes)once in a while the WR's... we just need mix it up.... be less predictable.

 

[arglebargle]

I really think that the Cowboys have been playing with so many different combinations of DBs that Wade has been playing it safe and simple. Guys are being switched from position to position and the rookies fed into the system, hence the soft stuff. He's also been playing the LBs in coverage a lot, at least if you believe Ellis.

Seemed like they blitzed a lot more in the second half of the 'Zona game, not sure it ended up being a real positive though.

 

[Rounder]

My question to you. Have you ever seen a hard zone?

I say "soft" because even if your playing cover 2 the corners could still get a jam on the line.

 

[fortdick]

My question to you. Have you ever seen a hard zone?

I was in Amsterdam once....................

 

[DaBoys4Life]

cuz we have jaquee revees oh wait that was last years excuse............

 

[stealth]

This is the first time I have ever done this.

 

[jobberone]

That's the strategy but teams are taking advantage of it by beating our pressure up front and making all those dink and dunks. I don't think most teams have the OL to keep us off the QB if they decide to taker longer drops and try to connect with longer routes.

I do think Wade is going to have to push them out of that by trying to take the underneath away. But I'm not certain we have the personnel to do that consistently. If they allow WRs to get behind them we haven't had the stellar safety play to back that up. Nor do I trust those youngsters and Henry to play them that well underneath. But I do agree they should mix it up and occasionally test them. If they prove they can do it and the safeties can help them when necessary then Wade has more options.

 

[Aliencowboy]

The function of the soft zone in Phillips' philosophy is to keep the receivers in front of the defense and prevent giving up the big play. Phillips' philosophy is supposed to center on getting consistent pressure on the QB, but he plays the zone so that in case the pressure doesn't get there, the QB has to throw underneath. This is supposed to lengthen the game for the opposing offense, giving the pressure more chances to get to the QB and make a play (sack, turnover, force a bad throw into the zone for an INT), etc.

The problem is we have just not been able to get consistent pressure on the QB and force many mistakes, so opposing offenses have been driving the field.

We are also supposed to have a powerful enough offense that we are supposed to outscore our opponents, but we have has a problem doing that lately--which is why Jerry traded for RW...

This is the wrong philosophy with the players we have at corner and the offense we have. Waiting for a team to make a mistake in the passing game is an 70's philosophy in a precision 2000 passing game it doesn't work.

Teams will keep walking down the field until we take on a defensive mentality that tries to dictate with aggressiveness and press coverage what the other teams' offenses do.

With Dallas' offense and an aggressive defense games could get out of reach quickly. We've seen Dallas get up on the score board and the coaches take their foot off the gas on defense.

Soft zone is for fat softies. When you're afraid of the quick score you played scared and curb your players talents on defense.

We see it in a couple series during the game and it works. Then we get a lead and the coaches back off. It's a loser mentality!

 

[Aliencowboy]

I really think that the Cowboys have been playing with so many different combinations of DBs that Wade has been playing it safe and simple. Guys are being switched from position to position and the rookies fed into the system, hence the soft stuff. He's also been playing the LBs in coverage a lot, at least if you believe Ellis.

Seemed like they blitzed a lot more in the second half of the 'Zona game, not sure it ended up being a real positive though.

I saw Henry playing 8 yards off the ball when Zona was at the 12 yard line- playing man. What type of man coverage is that? Henry is covering shifty WR while Pac-man was covering Fitz one on one. How about Henry jamming Fitz at the line and playing man when you blitz? *** type of soft crap are they playing. We did see the def. play more aggressive. They played well considering the turnovers.

Jenkins and Henry jamming receivers at the line and bring it. Play to your strengths don't have henry chasing guys in soft zones. I thought Wade was a player coach and not a system coach.

 

[mperfection]

This is the wrong philosophy with the players we have at corner and the offense we have. Waiting for a team to make a mistake in the passing game is an 70's philosophy in a precision 2000 passing game it doesn't work.

Teams will keep walking down the field until we take on a defensive mentality that tries to dictate with aggressiveness and press coverage what the other teams' offenses do.

With Dallas' offense and an aggressive defense games could get out of reach quickly. We've seen Dallas get up on the score board and the coaches take their foot off the gas on defense.

Soft zone is for fat softies. When you're afraid of the quick score you played scared and curb your players talents on defense.

We see it in a couple series during the game and it works. Then we get a lead and the coaches back off. It's a loser mentality!

On point!

Best post on this thread thus far.

 

[notherbob]

The Cowboys are playing soft zone because their leadership does not have confidence in their players. Of course the coaches see them every day so they know more about them than I do.

 

[ologan]

On point!

Best post on this thread thus far.

Agreed ! Seems you play 'soft zone',you accomplish a number of things,to wit:
You give up long,time sustaining drives to their offense,cause they will take what you give them;
Long,time sustaining drives sure wears down your defense,to the point that in the fourth quarter,they are gassed;
On the flip side,long, time sustaining drives on their part keeps their defense on the sidelines,and therefore fresher for the end of the game;
Long,time sustaining drives keeps our high octane offense off the field,preventing us from having long,time sustaining drives of our own,which leads to their defense being gassed at the end of the game.

Sorta a simple philosophy,but quit being so passive.....Be aggressive and force the issue. If they score quick,so be it...Take the ball from there and wear them down! It'll pay off in the games latter stages.