Stop the Run!

[Stash]

While I feel very encouraged about the relatively strong finish and the player talent assembled on this team, as well as the change at offensive coordinator, one thing still has me concerned, the team's run defense.

For the most part, that area was strong and in most of their games, they stopped the run very effectively. But when they didn't? It essentially guaranteed a loss.

Take a look at the game-by-game results from 2018:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/2018.htm

One of the best indicators of whether the game was a win or a loss can be seen in the rushing yards they gave up. With two exceptions - one a one point victory and the other an overtime loss - the line between a win and a loss was 100 yards rushing. Versus the Texans, the Cowboys did hold them to under 100 yards (88), but the game ultimately came down to a coaching decision. Versus the Giants, the Cowboys offense was able to rally for that 'miracle' pass and catch at the back of the endzone to capture that victory. The exceptions to the 'rule'.

But in all other cases, it was dictated by that 100-yard mark. If the Cowboys gave up less? They won. More than 100? and it was an 'L'.

And I don't think anyone can forget the two biggest defeats:

First to Indianapolis when it seemed like nobody even got off the bus, where they gave up 178 yards rushing. (bonus points if you can tell everyone exactly who it was that ran over them!)

And secondly, and most importantly, giving up 273 yards rushing in the playoff loss to the Rams, who claimed that they knew what the Cowboys would do "90% of the time".

Objective number one has to be to eliminate whatever tips and tells allowed the Rams to so thoroughly dominate your defensive line. If that isn't done, it won't matter what players they have on the field. Time for some self-scouting gentlemen! But objective two should be making sure that their run defense gets tightened up, and that it is made a higher priority for the 'Rushmen' on their way to all of these sacks that never seem to happen.

I am of the opinion that Marinelli had the defensive line stunting more than usual in an effort to improve the interior pressure that wasn't getting there otherwise. And I think that teams caught on to that change and ultimately made the Cowboys pay for it when it mattered most.

But for as much optimism as I have in many other areas, run defense remains among my biggest concerns. And the numbers show that when we can stop the run, we can win, and when we can't, we can't.

 

[ItzKelz]

We have been one of the best defenses against the run for the last few years. Expect the same this year. Hopefully the additions will make us better.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

Rushing yards against is more of an effect of a loss than the cause of a loss.

The other team is going to rack up rushing yards in losses because teams run more when they are up.

Same with us having more rushing yards during wins. You see Zeke's attempts go up in wins because the winning team wants to grind out the clock and avoid turnovers.

Most important thing as far as rush defense goes is limiting yards per carry against.

 

[John813]

The Colts had 55 rushing yards in the first half and the score was 0-10
To start the second half, their first drive they had 56 rushing yards to make the game 0-17.
111 yards in the first 34 minutes of the game.

 

[CF74]

Big Woods blowing his shoulder down the stretch exposed us against the run game...

 

[Stash]

Big Woods blowing his shoulder down the stretch exposed us against the run game...

Actually that wasn't the case, the Rams were gashing the Cowboys both before and after Woods injury. They simply knew exactly what the Cowboys were doing.

 

[Eanwen]

Rushing yards against is more of an effect of a loss than the cause of a loss.

The other team is going to rack up rushing yards in losses because teams run more when they are up.

Same with us having more rushing yards during wins. You see Zeke's attempts go up in wins because the winning team wants to grind out the clock and avoid turnovers.

Most important thing as far as rush defense goes is limiting yards per carry against.

That may be true in general but not in these specific cases, especially against the Rams. They primarily moved the ball by running and the Cowboys only forced one punt and zero turnovers.

 

[Ranching]

Big Woods blowing his shoulder down the stretch exposed us against the run game...

Big Wood exposed!!!!!! Sounds like a good movie!

 

[Reverend Conehead]

The Rams appeared to have found the magic bullet to run all over our defense. It was so frustrating. They ran down our throats at will. I hope our coaches have been studying that film because our opponents certainly will. It's the blueprint for how to beat the Cowboys.

 

[OmerV]

I think a fair amount of the problem against the Rams can be attributed to the youth and inexperience of our LB's (Smith & LVE), who bit hard on the motion and misdirection, but I think the coaches have to bear blame for not preparing those LBs, along with the rest of the defense, to deal with the motion and misdirection. Hopefully those are lessons learned and that in itself should help.

 

[jazzcat22]

The game against the Giants when Barkley had over 100 yards, was due mostly to not having the regular starters and some players on D in the 2nd half IIRC.

Colts and Rams we were out schemed and out coached and out played, and as usual they refuse to make adjustments on both sides of the ball.

 

[Stash]

The Rams appeared to have found the magic bullet to run all over our defense. It was so frustrating. They ran down our throats at will. I hope our coaches have been studying that film because our opponents certainly will. It's the blueprint for how to beat the Cowboys.

And their overall dominance was overwhelming. They didn't just abuse the Cowboys defensive line with the running game, the Cowboys couldn't lat a hand on Jared Goff in the passing game either. Goff was only hit one time, and that came from LB Jaylon Smith. The "Hot Boyz" were reduced to the "Not Boyz" when it mattered most. And that's why it definitively supports the claims from the Rams players that they "knew what the Cowboys were doing 90% of the time". That's actually a mistake on their part, telling everyone that they knew the Cowboys tips and tells. That let's the rest of the league know, and let's the Cowboys know exactly how they were beaten so badly and gives them a head start on self-scouting.

 

[Stash]

I think a fair amount of the problem against the Rams can be attributed to the youth and inexperience of our LB's (Smith & LVE), who bit hard on the motion and misdirection, but I think the coaches have to bear blame for not preparing those LBs, along with the rest of the defense, to deal with the motion and misdirection. Hopefully those are lessons learned and that in itself should help.

That was the initial assumption, yes, and the Cowboys coaches felt that way on gameday as well. But it was further clarified that the problems started up front, with the Rams offense knowing everything the Cowboys defensive line was doing. Nobody is winning a chess match where your opponent already knows what you're doing.

 

[AsthmaField]

Big Wood exposed!!!!!! Sounds like a good movie!

Lol... you forgot the part about the stretch.

 

[erod]

We have been one of the best defenses against the run for the last few years. Expect the same this year. Hopefully the additions will make us better.

We're excellent against average to poor running teams. Good running teams absolutely mash Dallas. Fortunately, there aren't very many of them because most of the NFL doesn't value running the football anymore.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

And their overall dominance was overwhelming. They didn't just abuse the Cowboys defensive line with the running game, the Cowboys couldn't lat a hand on Jared Goff in the passing game either. Goff was only hit one time, and that came from LB Jaylon Smith. The "Hot Boyz" were reduced to the "Not Boyz" when it mattered most. And that's why it definitively supports the claims from the Rams players that they "knew what the Cowboys were doing 90% of the time". That's actually a mistake on their part, telling everyone that they knew the Cowboys tips and tells. That let's the rest of the league know, and let's the Cowboys know exactly how they were beaten so badly and gives them a head start on self-scouting.

Yes, I found that most disturbing that they were able to figure out a bunch of "tells" about the Cowboys and those were reliable predictors. I expect a team to figure out whichever tells the other team might learn about you and then use those in deception. For instance, indicate that you're going to run and then do playaction. Being less predictable is an important part of the puzzle, though not everything. You still have to execute. I remember a big part of Landry's coaching was to make the team unpredictable. In some cases, both sides know what's coming and you just go for outplaying them. That's a legit thing, but I don't think it's what the team should always do. This team doesn't mix things up enough.

 

[Stash]

We're excellent against average to poor running teams. Good running teams absolutely mash Dallas. Fortunately, there aren't very many of them because most of the NFL doesn't value running the football anymore.

I thought so at first too, but that's really not the case. We were able to totally shut down Seattle's run game in the playoff victory and they led the league in rushing yards and were 5th overall in yards per attempt. And we were gashed by the Colts, who ended up 20th overall in the league. We also managed to shut down New Orleans who had the 6th ranked running game overall.

 

[Stash]

Yes, I found that most disturbing that they were able to figure out a bunch of "tells" about the Cowboys and those were reliable predictors. I expect a team to figure out whichever tells the other team might learn about you and then use those in deception. For instance, indicate that you're going to run and then do playaction. Being less predictable is an important part of the puzzle, though not everything. You still have to execute. I remember a big part of Landry's coaching was to make the team unpredictable. In some cases, both sides know what's coming and you just go for outplaying them. That's a legit thing, but I don't think it's what the team should always do. This team doesn't mix things up enough.

Sadly, it seems to be exactly what this team, relies on far too often "Go beat the man across from ya!" All player responsibility, no coaching responsibility. One in which the coaches show themselves to be a liability not an asset.

 

[ClappingCarrot]

I thought so at first too, but that's really not the case. We were able to totally shut down Seattle's run game in the playoff victory and they led the league in rushing yards and were 5th overall in yards per attempt. And we were gashed by the Colts, who ended up 20th overall in the league. We also managed to shut down New Orleans who had the 6th ranked running game overall.

And not to mention we shut down the run game against Seattle in the playoffs.

I think the real issue in the Rams game was a lack of adjustment/coaching in the second half and the fact that half our defense needed surgery.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Looking over the games where we gave up 100 yards rushing, I think we were better than the volume stats make us look.

vs Carolina: struggled to scheme against Cam Newton, he and McCaffrey both averaged 5 yards a pop.
vs Seattle: Gave up 100 yards through sheer volume. Seattle spent 37 carries to get 114 yards, at 3.08 YPC.
vs Washington: ditto. Commanders dialed up 32 run plays for an average of 4.06 YPC.
vs Tennessee: ditto. The Titans dialed up 36 run plays for an average of 3.46 YPC.
vs Colts, never got off the bus.
vs Giants, meaningless game where starters were sitting
vs Rams: thoroughly outcoached.

So all in all, I wouldn't say the run defense is a problem; I think it's pretty great actually. When the team showed up and their coaches had them prepared, they basically locked down everything the NFL threw their way.

The problems come when teams throw something beyond simplistic downhill runs at them. Dallas stuffs those plays for fun, but throw in some QB runs, motion, or anything past the 1990s football the players are coached for, and their heads start spinning.