Run defense is a liability

[CouchCoach]

..I think Quinn knows this, and is defense first priority. Losing Hanks, does not help. But will have him for playoffs, maybe sooner.

You have point maybe moving Parsons away from Dline and back to LB.

Knowing isn’t the problem as most coordinators know their weaknesses.

Quinn knew it last year when SF was coming to town and they could not stop it.

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

Cowboys must continue to play the run tough vs run, guys must maintain their gaps for run defense to continue to do their jobs. No doubt Philly can run and Tenn as well as Wash. Fact it they have improved in stopping the run since GB game and yes they must continue but pretending they have not improved really shows that people are not paying attention or else like always people need something to complain about.

The vaunted Philly run game that everyone is so afraid of averaged 3.5 yards per carry against the early season version of this defense that was struggling to stop the run at all.

This isn't to say things could be different next time around, this is the NFL, but to be quaking in our boots over it is stupid.

 

[OmerV]

Cowboys are 23rd worst in run defense. This is my only worry going forward towards the playoffs. The offense is doing their job scoring plenty of points to win an NFL game. The problem has been on the defensive side of the ball. Cowboys are just allowing too many yards rushing the ball. They’ve got to focus on fixing this. The hell with trying to get #11 the DPOY. He’s got plenty of sacks already. Probably a Jerry thing trying to get #11 more sacks. Quinn needs to prove his worth and lay down the law. The hell with the sacks first mentality, those will come, how about stopping the dam run! When a team can run the ball against you, it changes to entire game. It opens up play action pass so a guy like Mills can complete passes. It takes time off the clock. This has been a Quinn weakness with his inability to control the run offense. It’s got to change.

The Cowboy defense has definitely had some struggles against the run this season, but the timing of this thread is a bit curious given that the team has only allowed an average of 96 rushing yards per game the last 4 games

 

[Rockport]

I can agree it’s the top defensive concern, but anyone that follows the team should know the chief concern in the past several games is the quantity and consistency of turning the ball over on the offense. No turnovers in the past game and the Cowboys win easily in my opinion-pull that against a team like SF or PHI and they could be down by three possessions.

I disagree. If they can’t stop the run it doesn’t matter what the offense does because they won’t be getting the ball much.

 

[Rockport]

Since GB Cowboys have improved vs the run, guys are now maintaining their responsibility and gap control in the run game. Parson was right guys were getting greedy and looking to rush the passer and blowing assignment but since GB game they have done much to improve it

They’ve improved some.

 

[Rockport]

How about if we just get a quarterback that doesn't leave a mess on the field.
If it wasn't for this defense we'd be struggling to get a 500 record you can take that to the bank

That bank went bankrupt.

 

[Doomsday101]

They’ve improved some.

They gave up over 200 yards to GB I would say they have improved quite a bit vs some very talented RB. After GB it was the supposed blue print? that has not worked out so well for opposing teams.

 

[phildadon86]

……and in other breaking news, water is now been determined to have been deemed wet.

still nice that some are discovering a trend after 13 games….perhaps the games are now just being televised In Hawaii after the long delay.

Top of the morning, lads

This has been a trend since the Rams playoff game.

 

[Rockport]

Here are the ypc for each of the Cowboys last 4 opponents.

Houston - 3.1/ypc
Indy - 3.5/ypc
NYG - 4.3/ypc
Minnestoa - 4.3/ypc

Those aren't exactly numbers that will blow your doors off. In fact, the league average right now is 4.5 yards per rush, so the last 4 weeks Dallas has held good rushing attacks to below the league average. Holding a team to sub-4/ypc is an excellent week. I think this notion that the run defense is not improved is a fallacy.

I think the rushing defense has actually been much better than early in the season. I would have to look at the numbers, but it seems that they are surrendering far fewer explosive runs. LVE, Barr, and Damone Clark are flying around a lot faster and our DEs are setting a much harder edge. The problem now lies in the war of attrition going on in the defensive backfield. Kelvin Joseph and Nashon Wright are going to end up being a big issue for us if they can't figure something out. The pass rush was negated in Houston by the quick passing game. Their wideouts had DBs beaten so quickly there was no way for the rush to get home. This is what worries me more with Tom Brady, one of the best quick passing QBs of all time, being the likely first round matchup.

They all have rushed for over 100 yards against the Cowboys.

 

[blueblood70]

Damon Pierce- 22 for 78

Jonathon Taylor- 21 for 82.

I'd say we are just fine.

right, rock is living in the past, yes a bit of a weakness but no 100-yard rushers or big runs in month really. those stats came from the first 8 games when we were horrible i mean B2B 250 yard nearly given up will ruin some yearly stats.

 

[blueblood70]

They all have rushed for over 100 yards against the Cowboys.

total team rushing, thats not bad at all.,.,jeez we were allowing 180-240 at one point that huge improvement.

 

[Rockport]

The Cowboy defense has definitely had some struggles against the run this season, but the timing of this thread is a bit curious given that the team has only allowed an average of 96 rushing yards per game the last 4 games

The Colts had to pass for most of the 2nd half. They’ve done ether but it’s still a liability.

 

[Skynet]

Here are the ypc for each of the Cowboys last 4 opponents.

Houston - 3.1/ypc
Indy - 3.5/ypc
NYG - 4.3/ypc
Minnestoa - 4.3/ypc

Those aren't exactly numbers that will blow your doors off. In fact, the league average right now is 4.5 yards per rush, so the last 4 weeks Dallas has held good rushing attacks to below the league average. Holding a team to sub-4/ypc is an excellent week. I think this notion that the run defense is not improved is a fallacy.

I think the rushing defense has actually been much better than early in the season. I would have to look at the numbers, but it seems that they are surrendering far fewer explosive runs. LVE, Barr, and Damone Clark are flying around a lot faster and our DEs are setting a much harder edge. The problem now lies in the war of attrition going on in the defensive backfield. Kelvin Joseph and Nashon Wright are going to end up being a big issue for us if they can't figure something out. The pass rush was negated in Houston by the quick passing game. Their wideouts had DBs beaten so quickly there was no way for the rush to get home. This is what worries me more with Tom Brady, one of the best quick passing QBs of all time, being the likely first round matchup.

The Vikings abandoned the run after they started getting blown out.the giants had all of their starting oline out. The colts rushing offense is ranked 26th and the Texans rushing offense is ranked 28th. While I agree the cowboys run defense has improved and Bohana has play d better, I don’t think they have really been tested yet. With Hankins out, it might become a liability again. It was hard to get people to admit the run defense was a problem earlier in the season too

 

[blueblood70]

The Vikings abandoned the run after they started getting blown out.the giants had all of their starting oline out. The colts rushing offense is ranked 26th and the Texans rushing offense is ranked 28th. While I agree the cowboys run defense has improved and Bohana has play d better, I don’t think they have really been tested yet. With Hankins out, it might become a liability again. It was hard to get people to admit the run defense was a problem earlier in the season too

No it wasnt it was well stated it sucked.. its vastly improved.

 

[Doomsday101]

The Vikings abandoned the run after they started getting blown out.the giants had all of their starting oline out. The colts rushing offense is ranked 26th and the Texans rushing offense is ranked 28th. While I agree the cowboys run defense has improved and Bohana has play d better, I don’t think they have really been tested yet. With Hankins out, it might become a liability again. It was hard to get people to admit the run defense was a problem earlier in the season too

Fair enough every week is a test and Cowboys must continue. I had no issue with saying run defense was a problem and I expected Quinn to address it and thus far he has. Does not mean it will stay that way and this team has to go out and continue it. But acting as if they have no improved it? After GB it was the blue print to beat Dallas and yet none of those teams have been able to do it

 

[Skynet]

No it wasnt it was well stated it sucked.. its vastly improved.

Not from my memory. . I distinctly remember several posters in several different threads claiming the cowboys run defense wasn’t a issue.I agree it has improved but, now that Hankins is out, it might become a issue again

 

[thunderpimp91]

They all have rushed for over 100 yards against the Cowboys.

How many games in the NFL dont have teams rushing for 100+ yards? Only four teams in football are allowing fewer than 100 yards per game this season. The Cowboys could still do better in this department, but what you are calling a liability feels overboard. In reality this team went from the run defense being a liability to above average, just not top tier.

I think there is a real discussion around can they continue the recent trend. I think there is a real discussion around their ability to to play the run and be racking up 5 sacks per game. I think it's only fair that we set proper expectations around what a good run defense is in 2022 though.

 

[DuceizBak]

Our run defense has actually been very good, lol. I will edit with stats give me a second.


Rush Stats: Yards per Carry against avg.
Vs Colts 3.5
vs Texans 3.1
Vs Giants 4.3
Vs Vikings 4.3, but you have to account for the fact they were down early, and running draws and on passing downs which isn't really in the flow of the game.


It's like people think the Eagles killed us on the ground, they really didn't. They ran for 136 yards true, but averaged 3.5 a carry.

 

[KJJ]

The run defense has been a liability for years, especially when facing mobile QBs. Defending the read option is a real issue.

 

[Skynet]

Fair enough every week is a test and Cowboys must continue. I had no issue with saying run defense was a problem and I expected Quinn to address it and thus far he has. Does not mean it will stay that way and this team has to go out and continue it. But acting as if they have no improved it? After GB it was the blue print to beat Dallas and yet none of those teams have been able to do it

That’s true . I do agree the run defense has improved since the packers game , which is why
I’m a little confused about this tread.I am worried that fans and the front office might become complacent and not try to continue to improve the dline and lb corps going forward.I’m also worried about losing Hankins