CFZ Review: Cowboys Defense vs Eagles

[xwalker]

I focused the most on the CBs but I did review all position groups.

• Their top focus was run defense.
  • They went all-in to stop the run and dared the QB to beat them.
  • Often that meant the DLinemen were playing "run defense first".
  • They often didn't really try to pass rush on many run downs.
  • The DEs would play contain on many snaps (RB and QB run contain).
  • They rarely stunted which is a stark contrast to early in the season.
  • Early this season they were leading the league in stunts by a significant margin.

• They played a high percentage of zone coverage.
  • The most zone of any game I've reviewed with Dan Quinn as the Cowboys DC.
  • I think run defense was a big reason for playing zone.
  • They did mix it up using man coverage from the same of similar initial looks.
  • They played both 2-deep and single-high.
  • They played more off coverage but did play a fair amount of press.
  • They even played press but then dropped into zone coverage on occasion.

• Cornerbacks
  • Against 2 WR formations, Bland played outside CB.
  • Against 3 WR sets they alternated between Alexander and Bland as the 3rd CB.
  • When Alexander played it was as the Nickel (inside) CB with Bland outside.
  • When Wright played it was at outside CB with Bland as the Nickel CB.
  • Wright played 54% of snaps and Alexander played 20%.
  • It did count but it seemed that they played man more when Alexander was on the field.
  • It would make sense because it is easier for new CB to get up to speed on man than zone.
  • It is much more difficult to evaluate CBs in zone than in man.
  • Regardless of man or zone, they played conservatively.
  • Stay over (deeper) than the WR and then come up to play the WR once the ball was in the air.
• Nahshon Wright
  • He led the defense in passes defensed, solo tackles and total tackles.
  • In addition to the PDs, he had really good coverage on a couple of plays in the Endzone.
  • It appeared the QB wanted to go to his man on those plays but he had the WR blanketed.
  • He did struggle on a whip route by DeVonta Smith (also called a pivot or retrace route).
  • Smith runs an in route for a few yards then pivots 180 degrees to run towards the sideline.
  • Wright did recover to make the tackle for no YAC.
  • Maybe that's a limitation of Wright's physical ability but I think DeVonta Smith can likely run that route on Diggs in that coverage where there was no help in the area.
• McKenzie Alexander
  • Only 20% of snaps. Nothing great, nothing terrible.
  • Played it safe. Give the WR some cushion then come up to contest after the ball is in the air.
• DeRon Bland
  • Played outside and inside. Had his 5th INT for the season while only having played 50% of the total defensive snaps for the season (i.e. 5 INTs projects to 10 if he played as many snaps as Diggs).
  • On the outside, since they were often in zone, he was not challenged on deep routes like Brown and Joseph were earlier in the season which limits the evaluation of his outside CBs skills.
• Travon Diggs
  • On the wide open WR TD play, if he had stayed with the WR then the TE Goedert would have been wide open.
  • There was more wrong on that play than just Diggs.
  • Nobody moved to the other side when Goedert moved across the backfield from the (offensive) right to left.
  • Hooker had moved but that was before Goedert moved.
  • Bland, Wilson and Clark all stayed on the (offensive) right despite only 1 TE and no WR on that side.
  • Bland did try to get over when he saw the open WR but that was far too late.
  • Diggs did get beat early in the game on a deep pass with a double-move by the WR.
  • In some ways it was worse than what Joseph did in the game when he got benched.
  • Worse because on the Joseph play they started in 2-deep but the Diggs play only had 1 deep Safety.

@817Gill

 

[xwalker]

• Safeties
  • As normal, 3 Safety sets are their primary defense in terms of snap counts.
  • When Philly played 3 TEs, the Cowboys played 4 Safeties (Mukuamu as the 4th. Only 4 snaps).
• Jayron Kearse
  • He often played press coverage on the TE Goedert regardless of whether everyone else was in man or zone.
  • Kearse really battled (surprised no PI or holding called) but Goedert is both bigger and has quicker feet.
  • Goedert only had 3 catches but all were 1st downs.
• Donovan Wilson
  • The zone coverage changed his role more than the role of the other Safeties.
  • He often started in a 2-deep Safety look instead of his customary in the box alignment.
  • He would come up towards the line on some of those snaps if he thought it was going to be a run.
  • The 2-deep look seems counter-intuitive for run defense; however, I think the idea was to lessen coverage responsibilities for the LBs to allow them to stay up close to the LB.
• Malik Hooker
  • The zone coverage and more 2-deep looks changed his role to some extent also.
  • He seemed more active but that might have been the coverage.
  • His actions on the wide open WR for a TD play seemed odd.
  • He come across from the (offensive) riight to left circling behind the LBs and then burst in the backfield to chase the QB rolling left. It was essentially another cover-0 play which has burned them for TDs a few times this season including twice in this game.
• Israel Mukuamu
  • Played as the 4th Safety vs 3 TE sets. Only 4 snaps.

• Linebackers
• Anthony Barr
  • Night and day difference between this game and the previous game.
  • He was good in this game but terrible in the previous game.
  • Obviously his speed is limited but they masked over that problem for the majority of snaps.
  • He had good anticipation on outside runs.
  • He really stuck his nose into the trenches on some run plays going head to head with an OLineman.
  • He dropped back into a Tampa-2 type coverage on a few snaps and almost had an INT.
• Damone Clark
  • The fact that he is a rookie with no camp/preseason does show up on occasion but not often.
  • He appeared to be in the wrong gap a couple of times and his spacing on some zone drops seemed a little off but rarely ever any major mistakes.
  • His speed does help offset Barr's lack of speed. They couldn't have 2 Barr's on the field together.
• Luke Gifford
  • Played 17% of snaps including snaps on some of the most critical late game Eagles possessions.
  • He played some snaps next to Barr and some next to Clark.
  • There was some confusion on a short yardage play by either Gifford or Clark.
  • Gifford was telling Clark to move but I'm not certain if Gifford was correct or not.
  • He made a couple of really good plays and I didn't see any egregiously bad plays.
  • He is faster than Barr but not as fast as Clark.

• DLinemen
  • They played to contain the run on many snaps (contain RBs or the QB).
  • The DEs often didn't really try to pass rush on 1st/2nd downs as they were playing contain.
  • The DE rarely got deeper than the QB even when they were going all out pass rush.
    • I assume to prevent the QB from getting outside.
  • Minshew appears to like rolling out to pass and the Cowboys wanted to limit him in that regard.
  • On one play Parsons ran down Minshew out near the far sideline despite Minshew having a 5 yard head start.
  • The lack of an elite alpha-dog DT is the biggest weakness on the defense.
  • Quinn has revamped everything trying to compensate for it.
  • Gallimore is the biggest dissappointment to me of any player at this point.
    • He is defenseless vs double-teams and easily moved out of the way.
    • He is very fast/quick for a 300+ player and had an impressive play where he chased down a ball carrier out to the sideline.
    • His pass rushing hasn't been enough to offset the fact that he can't anchor well vs the run.
  • Odighi anchors really well for his size (better than Gallimore) but he is size limited.
    • Odighi would flourish next to a big time 1tech like Daron Payne but they often play him next to Gallimore.
    • Odighi flashed in games that he played next to Hankins.
  • Watkins is the starting 1tech with Hankins out.
    • Watkins is a grinder but not big (~305) for a 1tech.
  • Bohanna occasionally looks great and occasionlly looks terrible.
    • My guess is that the "great" is when rested and the terrible is after he has been on the field past some number of snaps. That was defnitely how he played in college.
  • Golston does not play many snaps but I noticed that the defense often makes a big play when he is on the field. Maybe it's just dumb luck but interesting.
    • Golston played 13% of snaps in the game, primarily on the final two drives.

 

[Chuck 54]

I focused the most on the CBs but I did review all position groups.

• Their top focus was run defense.
  • They went all-in to stop the run and dared the QB to beat them.
  • Often that meant the DLinemen were playing "run defense first".
  • They often didn't really try to pass rush on many run downs.
  • The DEs would play contain on many snaps (RB and QB run contain).
  • They rarely stunted which is a stark contrast to early in the season.
  • Early this season they were leading the league in stunts by a significant margin.

• They played a high percentage of zone coverage.
  • The most zone of any game I've reviewed with Dan Quinn as the Cowboys DC.
  • I think run defense was a big reason for playing zone.
  • They did mix it up using man coverage from the same of similar initial looks.
  • They played both 2-deep and single-high.
  • They played more off coverage but did play a fair amount of press.
  • They even played press but then dropped into zone coverage on occasion.

• Cornerbacks
  • Against 2 WR formations, Bland played outside CB.
  • Against 3 WR sets they alternated between Alexander and Bland as the 3rd CB.
  • When Alexander played it was as the Nickel (inside) CB with Bland outside.
  • When Wright played it was at outside CB with Bland as the Nickel CB.
  • Wright played 54% of snaps and Alexander played 20%.
  • It did count but it seemed that they played man more when Alexander was on the field.
  • It would make sense because it is easier for new CB to get up to speed on man than zone.
  • It is much more difficult to evaluate CBs in zone than in man.
  • Regardless of man or zone, they played conservatively.
  • Stay over (deeper) than the WR and then come up to play the WR once the ball was in the air.
• Nahshon Wright
  • He led the defense in passes defensed, solo tackles and total tackles.
  • In addition to the PDs, he had really good coverage on a couple of plays in the Endzone.
  • It appeared the QB wanted to go to his man on those plays but he had the WR blanketed.
  • He did struggle on a whip route by DeVonta Smith (also called a pivot or retrace route).
  • Smith runs an in route for a few yards then pivots 180 degrees to run towards the sideline.
  • Wright did recover to make the tackle for no YAC.
  • Maybe that's a limitation of Wright's physical ability but I think DeVonta Smith can likely run that route on Diggs in that coverage where there was no help in the area.
• McKenzie Alexander
  • Only 20% of snaps. Nothing great, nothing terrible.
  • Played it safe. Give the WR some cushion then come up to contest after the ball is in the air.
• DeRon Bland
  • Played outside and inside. Had his 5th INT for the season while only having played 50% of the total defensive snaps for the season (i.e. 5 INTs projects to 10 if he played as many snaps as Diggs).
  • On the outside, since they were often in zone, he was not challenged on deep routes like Brown and Joseph were earlier in the season which limits the evaluation of his outside CBs skills.
• Travon Diggs
  • On the wide open WR TD play, if he had stayed with the WR then the TE Goedert would have been wide open.
  • There was more wrong on that play than just Diggs.
  • Nobody moved to the other side when Goedert moved across the backfield from the (offensive) right to left.
  • Hooker had moved but that was before Goedert moved.
  • Bland, Wilson and Clark all stayed on the (offensive) right despite only 1 TE and no WR on that side.
  • Bland did try to get over when he saw the open WR but that was far too late.
  • Diggs did get beat early in the game on a deep pass with a double-move by the WR.
  • In some ways it was worse than what Joseph did in the game when he got benched.
  • Worse because on the Joseph play they started in 2-deep but the Diggs play only had 1 deep Safety.

@817Gill

If our DEs were playing contain, how did they, especially Parsons, take so many inside paths and allow Minshew to step outside under no pressure, and stand there till he found an open receiver. I felt we were awful at keeping him in the pocket.

 

[AsthmaField]

That’s what I was going to say. They played press some and then bailed to zone.

 

[xwalker]

If our DEs were playing contain, how did they, especially Parsons, take so many inside paths and allow Minshew to step outside under no pressure, and stand there till he found an open receiver. I felt we were awful at keeping him in the pocket.

They played 71 snaps on defense. Parsons went inside on ~7 snaps...

Of the plays the Parsons went inside, there was a fumble, a tackle for loss and a no-gain when Parsons chased Minshew to the far sideline.

The other DLinemen were playing it safe when Parsons did go inside as compared to early in the season when all 4 would criss-cross on stunts.

 

[JayFord]

Nice write up!!

the run defense was actually pretty stout because Sanders can run and if we didnt focus on it i think we lose about 27-20 because they wouldve grinded the clock down as he wouldve run for 130

 

[AsthmaField]

As far as Wright’s strengths vs weakness… his change of direction is always going to limit him a bit. Smith running that whip route will give Wright issues because he just has trouble getting his 6-4 frame headed back the way he just came from.

I did notice his great length bothering some WR’s though.

He needs to be used right.

 

[shabazz]

This long detailed post shows us what can be achieved by simply forgoing sex and using all of ones brain potential

Well done sir......

 

[817Gill]

I focused the most on the CBs but I did review all position groups.

• Their top focus was run defense.
  • They went all-in to stop the run and dared the QB to beat them.
  • Often that meant the DLinemen were playing "run defense first".
  • They often didn't really try to pass rush on many run downs.
  • The DEs would play contain on many snaps (RB and QB run contain).
  • They rarely stunted which is a stark contrast to early in the season.
  • Early this season they were leading the league in stunts by a significant margin.

• They played a high percentage of zone coverage.
  • The most zone of any game I've reviewed with Dan Quinn as the Cowboys DC.
  • I think run defense was a big reason for playing zone.
  • They did mix it up using man coverage from the same of similar initial looks.
  • They played both 2-deep and single-high.
  • They played more off coverage but did play a fair amount of press.
  • They even played press but then dropped into zone coverage on occasion.

• Cornerbacks
  • Against 2 WR formations, Bland played outside CB.
  • Against 3 WR sets they alternated between Alexander and Bland as the 3rd CB.
  • When Alexander played it was as the Nickel (inside) CB with Bland outside.
  • When Wright played it was at outside CB with Bland as the Nickel CB.
  • Wright played 54% of snaps and Alexander played 20%.
  • It did count but it seemed that they played man more when Alexander was on the field.
  • It would make sense because it is easier for new CB to get up to speed on man than zone.
  • It is much more difficult to evaluate CBs in zone than in man.
  • Regardless of man or zone, they played conservatively.
  • Stay over (deeper) than the WR and then come up to play the WR once the ball was in the air.
• Nahshon Wright
  • He led the defense in passes defensed, solo tackles and total tackles.
  • In addition to the PDs, he had really good coverage on a couple of plays in the Endzone.
  • It appeared the QB wanted to go to his man on those plays but he had the WR blanketed.
  • He did struggle on a whip route by DeVonta Smith (also called a pivot or retrace route).
  • Smith runs an in route for a few yards then pivots 180 degrees to run towards the sideline.
  • Wright did recover to make the tackle for no YAC.
  • Maybe that's a limitation of Wright's physical ability but I think DeVonta Smith can likely run that route on Diggs in that coverage where there was no help in the area.
• McKenzie Alexander
  • Only 20% of snaps. Nothing great, nothing terrible.
  • Played it safe. Give the WR some cushion then come up to contest after the ball is in the air.
• DeRon Bland
  • Played outside and inside. Had his 5th INT for the season while only having played 50% of the total defensive snaps for the season (i.e. 5 INTs projects to 10 if he played as many snaps as Diggs).
  • On the outside, since they were often in zone, he was not challenged on deep routes like Brown and Joseph were earlier in the season which limits the evaluation of his outside CBs skills.
• Travon Diggs
  • On the wide open WR TD play, if he had stayed with the WR then the TE Goedert would have been wide open.
  • There was more wrong on that play than just Diggs.
  • Nobody moved to the other side when Goedert moved across the backfield from the (offensive) right to left.
  • Hooker had moved but that was before Goedert moved.
  • Bland, Wilson and Clark all stayed on the (offensive) right despite only 1 TE and no WR on that side.
  • Bland did try to get over when he saw the open WR but that was far too late.
  • Diggs did get beat early in the game on a deep pass with a double-move by the WR.
  • In some ways it was worse than what Joseph did in the game when he got benched.
  • Worse because on the Joseph play they started in 2-deep but the Diggs play only had 1 deep Safety.

@817Gill

Thanks so much man. Really appreciate the breakdown, you’re killin it!

 

[Kolemmitt]

• Safeties
  • As normal, 3 Safety sets are their primary defense in terms of snap counts.
  • When Philly played 3 TEs, the Cowboys played 4 Safeties (Mukuamu as the 4th. Only 4 snaps).
• Jayron Kearse
  • He often played press coverage on the TE Goedert regardless of whether everyone else was in man or zone.
  • Kearse really battled (surprised no PI or holding called) but Goedert is both bigger and has quicker feet.
  • Goedert only had 3 catches but all were 1st downs.
• Donovan Wilson
  • The zone coverage changed his role more than the role of the other Safeties.
  • He often started in a 2-deep Safety look instead of his customary in the box alignment.
  • He would come up towards the line on some of those snaps if he thought it was going to be a run.
  • The 2-deep look seems counter-intuitive for run defense; however, I think the idea was to lessen coverage responsibilities for the LBs to allow them to stay up close to the LB.
• Malik Hooker
  • The zone coverage and more 2-deep looks changed his role to some extent also.
  • He seemed more active but that might have been the coverage.
  • His actions on the wide open WR for a TD play seemed odd.
  • He come across from the (offensive) riight to left circling behind the LBs and then burst in the backfield to chase the QB rolling left. It was essentially another cover-0 play which has burned them for TDs a few times this season including twice in this game.
• Israel Mukuamu
  • Played as the 4th Safety vs 3 TE sets. Only 4 snaps.

• Linebackers
• Anthony Barr
  • Night and day difference between this game and the previous game.
  • He was good in this game but terrible in the previous game.
  • Obviously his speed is limited but they masked over that problem for the majority of snaps.
  • He had good anticipation on outside runs.
  • He really stuck his nose into the trenches on some run plays going head to head with an OLineman.
  • He dropped back into a Tampa-2 type coverage on a few snaps and almost had an INT.
• Damone Clark
  • The fact that he is a rookie with no camp/preseason does show up on occasion but not often.
  • He appeared to be in the wrong gap a couple of times and his spacing on some zone drops seemed a little off but rarely ever any major mistakes.
  • His speed does help offset Barr's lack of speed. They couldn't have 2 Barr's on the field together.
• Luke Gifford
  • Played 17% of snaps including snaps on some of the most critical late game Eagles possessions.
  • He played some snaps next to Barr and some next to Clark.
  • There was some confusion on a short yardage play by either Gifford or Clark.
  • Gifford was telling Clark to move but I'm not certain if Gifford was correct or not.
  • He made a couple of really good plays and I didn't see any egregiously bad plays.
  • He is faster than Barr but not as fast as Clark.

• DLinemen
  • They played to contain the run on many snaps (contain RBs or the QB).
  • The DEs often didn't really try to pass rush on 1st/2nd downs as they were playing contain.
  • The DE rarely got deeper than the QB even when they were going all out pass rush.
    • I assume to prevent the QB from getting outside.
  • Minshew appears to like rolling out to pass and the Cowboys wanted to limit him in that regard.
  • On one play Parsons ran down Minshew out near the far sideline despite Minshew having a 5 yard head start.
  • The lack of an elite alpha-dog DT is the biggest weakness on the defense.
  • Quinn has revamped everything trying to compensate for it.
  • Gallimore is the biggest dissappointment to me of any player at this point.
    • He is defenseless vs double-teams and easily moved out of the way.
    • He is very fast/quick for a 300+ player and had an impressive play where he chased down a ball carrier out to the sideline.
    • His pass rushing hasn't been enough to offset the fact that he can't anchor well vs the run.
  • Odighi anchors really well for his size (better than Gallimore) but he is size limited.
    • Odighi would flourish next to a big time 1tech like Daron Payne but they often play him next to Gallimore.
    • Odighi flashed in games that he played next to Hankins.
  • Watkins is the starting 1tech with Hankins out.
    • Watkins is a grinder but not big (~305) for a 1tech.
  • Bohanna occasionally looks great and occasionlly looks terrible.
    • My guess is that the "great" is when rested and the terrible is after he has been on the field past some number of snaps. That was defnitely how he played in college.
  • Golston does not play many snaps but I noticed that the defense often makes a big play when he is on the field. Maybe it's just dumb luck but interesting.
    • Golston played 13% of snaps in the game, primarily on the final two drives.

Agreed about the DTS, especially Gallimore. I had high hopes for him this year, but he has been a major disappointment. I would not mind using out 1st round pick on a DT this year, but I doubt it happens.

 

[Praxit]

..hopefully, Galli steps it up soon.

 

[blueblood70]

C- if not for the TOs F- just another poor game b2b Jags etc bending is ok breaking is not and the damn broke far too many times.

 

[john van brocklin]

I focused the most on the CBs but I did review all position groups.

• Their top focus was run defense.
  • They went all-in to stop the run and dared the QB to beat them.
  • Often that meant the DLinemen were playing "run defense first".
  • They often didn't really try to pass rush on many run downs.
  • The DEs would play contain on many snaps (RB and QB run contain).
  • They rarely stunted which is a stark contrast to early in the season.
  • Early this season they were leading the league in stunts by a significant margin.

• They played a high percentage of zone coverage.
  • The most zone of any game I've reviewed with Dan Quinn as the Cowboys DC.
  • I think run defense was a big reason for playing zone.
  • They did mix it up using man coverage from the same of similar initial looks.
  • They played both 2-deep and single-high.
  • They played more off coverage but did play a fair amount of press.
  • They even played press but then dropped into zone coverage on occasion.

• Cornerbacks
  • Against 2 WR formations, Bland played outside CB.
  • Against 3 WR sets they alternated between Alexander and Bland as the 3rd CB.
  • When Alexander played it was as the Nickel (inside) CB with Bland outside.
  • When Wright played it was at outside CB with Bland as the Nickel CB.
  • Wright played 54% of snaps and Alexander played 20%.
  • It did count but it seemed that they played man more when Alexander was on the field.
  • It would make sense because it is easier for new CB to get up to speed on man than zone.
  • It is much more difficult to evaluate CBs in zone than in man.
  • Regardless of man or zone, they played conservatively.
  • Stay over (deeper) than the WR and then come up to play the WR once the ball was in the air.
• Nahshon Wright
  • He led the defense in passes defensed, solo tackles and total tackles.
  • In addition to the PDs, he had really good coverage on a couple of plays in the Endzone.
  • It appeared the QB wanted to go to his man on those plays but he had the WR blanketed.
  • He did struggle on a whip route by DeVonta Smith (also called a pivot or retrace route).
  • Smith runs an in route for a few yards then pivots 180 degrees to run towards the sideline.
  • Wright did recover to make the tackle for no YAC.
  • Maybe that's a limitation of Wright's physical ability but I think DeVonta Smith can likely run that route on Diggs in that coverage where there was no help in the area.
• McKenzie Alexander
  • Only 20% of snaps. Nothing great, nothing terrible.
  • Played it safe. Give the WR some cushion then come up to contest after the ball is in the air.
• DeRon Bland
  • Played outside and inside. Had his 5th INT for the season while only having played 50% of the total defensive snaps for the season (i.e. 5 INTs projects to 10 if he played as many snaps as Diggs).
  • On the outside, since they were often in zone, he was not challenged on deep routes like Brown and Joseph were earlier in the season which limits the evaluation of his outside CBs skills.
• Travon Diggs
  • On the wide open WR TD play, if he had stayed with the WR then the TE Goedert would have been wide open.
  • There was more wrong on that play than just Diggs.
  • Nobody moved to the other side when Goedert moved across the backfield from the (offensive) right to left.
  • Hooker had moved but that was before Goedert moved.
  • Bland, Wilson and Clark all stayed on the (offensive) right despite only 1 TE and no WR on that side.
  • Bland did try to get over when he saw the open WR but that was far too late.
  • Diggs did get beat early in the game on a deep pass with a double-move by the WR.
  • In some ways it was worse than what Joseph did in the game when he got benched.
  • Worse because on the Joseph play they started in 2-deep but the Diggs play only had 1 deep Safety.

@817Gill

Sounded like Wright was solid.
Big plus for us.

 

[CowboysJames69]

Thanks for the great write up and breakdowns, it is much appreciated and gives me more to watch out for during the games.

 

[john van brocklin]

I focused the most on the CBs but I did review all position groups.

• Their top focus was run defense.
  • They went all-in to stop the run and dared the QB to beat them.
  • Often that meant the DLinemen were playing "run defense first".
  • They often didn't really try to pass rush on many run downs.
  • The DEs would play contain on many snaps (RB and QB run contain).
  • They rarely stunted which is a stark contrast to early in the season.
  • Early this season they were leading the league in stunts by a significant margin.

• They played a high percentage of zone coverage.
  • The most zone of any game I've reviewed with Dan Quinn as the Cowboys DC.
  • I think run defense was a big reason for playing zone.
  • They did mix it up using man coverage from the same of similar initial looks.
  • They played both 2-deep and single-high.
  • They played more off coverage but did play a fair amount of press.
  • They even played press but then dropped into zone coverage on occasion.

• Cornerbacks
  • Against 2 WR formations, Bland played outside CB.
  • Against 3 WR sets they alternated between Alexander and Bland as the 3rd CB.
  • When Alexander played it was as the Nickel (inside) CB with Bland outside.
  • When Wright played it was at outside CB with Bland as the Nickel CB.
  • Wright played 54% of snaps and Alexander played 20%.
  • It did count but it seemed that they played man more when Alexander was on the field.
  • It would make sense because it is easier for new CB to get up to speed on man than zone.
  • It is much more difficult to evaluate CBs in zone than in man.
  • Regardless of man or zone, they played conservatively.
  • Stay over (deeper) than the WR and then come up to play the WR once the ball was in the air.
• Nahshon Wright
  • He led the defense in passes defensed, solo tackles and total tackles.
  • In addition to the PDs, he had really good coverage on a couple of plays in the Endzone.
  • It appeared the QB wanted to go to his man on those plays but he had the WR blanketed.
  • He did struggle on a whip route by DeVonta Smith (also called a pivot or retrace route).
  • Smith runs an in route for a few yards then pivots 180 degrees to run towards the sideline.
  • Wright did recover to make the tackle for no YAC.
  • Maybe that's a limitation of Wright's physical ability but I think DeVonta Smith can likely run that route on Diggs in that coverage where there was no help in the area.
• McKenzie Alexander
  • Only 20% of snaps. Nothing great, nothing terrible.
  • Played it safe. Give the WR some cushion then come up to contest after the ball is in the air.
• DeRon Bland
  • Played outside and inside. Had his 5th INT for the season while only having played 50% of the total defensive snaps for the season (i.e. 5 INTs projects to 10 if he played as many snaps as Diggs).
  • On the outside, since they were often in zone, he was not challenged on deep routes like Brown and Joseph were earlier in the season which limits the evaluation of his outside CBs skills.
• Travon Diggs
  • On the wide open WR TD play, if he had stayed with the WR then the TE Goedert would have been wide open.
  • There was more wrong on that play than just Diggs.
  • Nobody moved to the other side when Goedert moved across the backfield from the (offensive) right to left.
  • Hooker had moved but that was before Goedert moved.
  • Bland, Wilson and Clark all stayed on the (offensive) right despite only 1 TE and no WR on that side.
  • Bland did try to get over when he saw the open WR but that was far too late.
  • Diggs did get beat early in the game on a deep pass with a double-move by the WR.
  • In some ways it was worse than what Joseph did in the game when he got benched.
  • Worse because on the Joseph play they started in 2-deep but the Diggs play only had 1 deep Safety.

@817Gill

It's nice to have members with prior coaching experience posting here!

 

[ScipioCowboy]

If you compare Minshew’s efficiency last year and this year against Dallas, it’s similar. Last season, he scored 26 points with a passer rating around 81. This year, he scored 27 points with a passer rating near 86. The only difference was volume.

 

[xwalker]

Agreed about the DTS, especially Gallimore. I had high hopes for him this year, but he has been a major disappointment. I would not mind using out 1st round pick on a DT this year, but I doubt it happens.

Free Agent Daron Payne would be a good option.

He is a 3 downs 1tech...6-3, 320.

 

[john van brocklin]

I focused the most on the CBs but I did review all position groups.

• Their top focus was run defense.
  • They went all-in to stop the run and dared the QB to beat them.
  • Often that meant the DLinemen were playing "run defense first".
  • They often didn't really try to pass rush on many run downs.
  • The DEs would play contain on many snaps (RB and QB run contain).
  • They rarely stunted which is a stark contrast to early in the season.
  • Early this season they were leading the league in stunts by a significant margin.

• They played a high percentage of zone coverage.
  • The most zone of any game I've reviewed with Dan Quinn as the Cowboys DC.
  • I think run defense was a big reason for playing zone.
  • They did mix it up using man coverage from the same of similar initial looks.
  • They played both 2-deep and single-high.
  • They played more off coverage but did play a fair amount of press.
  • They even played press but then dropped into zone coverage on occasion.

• Cornerbacks
  • Against 2 WR formations, Bland played outside CB.
  • Against 3 WR sets they alternated between Alexander and Bland as the 3rd CB.
  • When Alexander played it was as the Nickel (inside) CB with Bland outside.
  • When Wright played it was at outside CB with Bland as the Nickel CB.
  • Wright played 54% of snaps and Alexander played 20%.
  • It did count but it seemed that they played man more when Alexander was on the field.
  • It would make sense because it is easier for new CB to get up to speed on man than zone.
  • It is much more difficult to evaluate CBs in zone than in man.
  • Regardless of man or zone, they played conservatively.
  • Stay over (deeper) than the WR and then come up to play the WR once the ball was in the air.
• Nahshon Wright
  • He led the defense in passes defensed, solo tackles and total tackles.
  • In addition to the PDs, he had really good coverage on a couple of plays in the Endzone.
  • It appeared the QB wanted to go to his man on those plays but he had the WR blanketed.
  • He did struggle on a whip route by DeVonta Smith (also called a pivot or retrace route).
  • Smith runs an in route for a few yards then pivots 180 degrees to run towards the sideline.
  • Wright did recover to make the tackle for no YAC.
  • Maybe that's a limitation of Wright's physical ability but I think DeVonta Smith can likely run that route on Diggs in that coverage where there was no help in the area.
• McKenzie Alexander
  • Only 20% of snaps. Nothing great, nothing terrible.
  • Played it safe. Give the WR some cushion then come up to contest after the ball is in the air.
• DeRon Bland
  • Played outside and inside. Had his 5th INT for the season while only having played 50% of the total defensive snaps for the season (i.e. 5 INTs projects to 10 if he played as many snaps as Diggs).
  • On the outside, since they were often in zone, he was not challenged on deep routes like Brown and Joseph were earlier in the season which limits the evaluation of his outside CBs skills.
• Travon Diggs
  • On the wide open WR TD play, if he had stayed with the WR then the TE Goedert would have been wide open.
  • There was more wrong on that play than just Diggs.
  • Nobody moved to the other side when Goedert moved across the backfield from the (offensive) right to left.
  • Hooker had moved but that was before Goedert moved.
  • Bland, Wilson and Clark all stayed on the (offensive) right despite only 1 TE and no WR on that side.
  • Bland did try to get over when he saw the open WR but that was far too late.
  • Diggs did get beat early in the game on a deep pass with a double-move by the WR.
  • In some ways it was worse than what Joseph did in the game when he got benched.
  • Worse because on the Joseph play they started in 2-deep but the Diggs play only had 1 deep Safety.

@817Gill

What level of coaching experience do you have ?
High school, college, pro?
Don't worry, won't ask what teams.

 

[SoBlue128]

Thanks @xwalker appreciate the hard work you put into your write ups. Very informative and big thanks for sharing the knowledge.

 

[xwalker]

What level of coaching experience do you have ?
High school, college, pro?
Don't worry, won't ask what teams.

College Grad assistant coach.